A TASTE OF ST. BARTS

How you arrive and depart St. Barts is as much a conversation starter as where you'll dine. The single airstrip into this Caribbean gem is as famous as the island’s rosé-all-day mantra. Discerning travelers know the best places to get to are often the hardest, yet when discovering fabulous St. Barts, your effort will be deliciously rewarded at these top tables.

SAND BAR AT EDEN ROCK-ST. BARTS

Island shopping will kick up an appetite (Eden Rock’s Eden Being is a global edit of hip clothes and accessories by style siren and hotel co-owner Jane Matthews), and whether enjoying lunch or dinner, dining at Eden Rock’s Sand Bar should top your list. Order the crispy salmon truffle pizza or the catch of the day while swaying to the sound of the sea or local DJs.

TAMARIN

After a sunset walk, your evening revs up with dinner at Tamarin. Dine al fresco among the lush tropical garden and a century-old tamarin tree while savoring a bottle of vino from one of the island’s most applauded wine cellars. Lastly, if the dance floor is calling, hit the infamous Le Ti (known for a nightly cabaret show and pirate-inspired costume room) for music and revelry.

BONITO

A chic hillside restaurant with indelible sunset views and decadent flavors, Bonito was originally built as a private beach home and is now helmed by Chef-Owner Laurent Cantineaux. The outpost is an island mainstay, thanks to such dishes as lobster ceviche tamarind and honey-glazed grouper. Start your eve with the tableside Smoked Manhattan — as sultry and sophisticated as St. Barts itself.

LE TOINY ST. BART
This hip hotel and its tucked-away Beach Club is an island must. During a toes-in-the-sand lunch, order the burrata topped with shaved truffle and the fillet of red snapper. Afterward, your Moke rental awaits. As you zip up and down the coastline, take in the views of skilled surfers riding remote swells.

GYPSEA BEACH

Navigate the tickle of the ocean as you walk five minutes from Eden Rock to dine at GypSea Beach. On the menu? French rosé (St. Bart’s “pink water” as the server jokes) and grilled mahi mahi served with fresh veggies.

NIKKI BEACH

Talk of St. Barts, and there’s talk of the famous Nikki Beach. This Saint-Jean hot spot defines barefoot luxury. Expect a see-and-be-seen crowd, with plenty of table dancing (especially during the weekly “Amazing Sundays” parties) à la buzzworthy international DJs. What to order? The triple threat: Caviar, crab, and champagne.

STAY ST. BARTS

Your chic headquarters? Three gorgeous private residences. The Club’s four- and five-bedroom luxury villas maintain an air of hillside seclusion, yet remain in close proximity to beaching, shopping, dining, and nightlife. Lounge poolside and toast the sunset with an ocean view (from nearly every window) before exploring all the see- and-be-seen locales the island offers. Expect come-hither residences, finished with individual décor and sea-inspired artwork, while the charming capital of Gustavia — with plenty of locally sourced boutiques and upscale outposts — is just a short drive away.