In St. Maarten/St. Martin The Beat Goes On 'Til the Sun Comes Up

By Marvin Hokstam

When in Rome do as the Romans do, an old proverb advises. As far as the party scene in St. Maarten/St. Martin is concerned, there is really no better advice to give.

The locals know best where the ultimate "lime" resides; so whether you'd prefer a relaxed drink with tapas in a cozy lounge or dancing the night away to live music under the stars, just follow those in the know.

Every Friday there is live music on The Boardwalk, a festive pathway that lines the Great Bay Beach. Just hang at one of the Center Bars, pop in at Taloula Mango's, Oualichi Restaurant or one of several other top-notch restaurants this strip has become famous for. The Boardwalk is a favorite family hangout, frequented by islanders from all walks of life. While there, you may well be rubbing shoulders with one of the island's dignitaries.

A personal favorite for any early evening of the week is watching the sun set over Great Bay from the comfy Terrace at Holland House Beach Hotel. The warm island sun pairs well with a glass of wine, and a waiter is always close by to be sure it's never empty.

Half an island away, at Pic Paradis on the French side, The Tree Lounge at Loterie Farm takes this kind of relaxing start of the evening a notch higher. Hidden between the trees and perched 35 feet high atop the original milk shed of this 17th-century former plantation (now a nature preserve), this Bohemian-style lounge just invites you to stretch out on its long benches and canvas cushions. Order a drink and a light snack and enjoy alternative music. The Lounge sometimes hosts a DJ or local artists, and occasionally Veronique, the sensual Senegalese owner, will hold a theme night dominated by the island's culture.

At Sopranos the fun is classy. Decorated with pictures that depict scenes of its namesake HBO Mafia TV series, this bar on the first floor of the Sonesta Maho property is the spot for a sultry, jazzy atmosphere. Every month a new, professional pianist is flown in to keep things fresh, and Sopranos also organizes regular jam sessions for local jazz artists; the atmosphere that emanates from this spot alternates accordingly.

In the mood for a mid-week party quickie? The Green House remains the king of the "Two for Tuesday" hangout, where drinks are two for the price of one. A DJ starts blasting music early in the evening and the party goes on till late — politely taking into consideration that the next day is a working day.

Another restaurant that serves up a perfect pre-party mood is Boathouse Restaurant in Simpson Bay. Overlooking the Simpson Bay Lagoon, this cornerstone of the St. Maarten/St. Martin culinary tradition is known for its superb seafood dishes. Hosts Paps and Chocolate Watts, a fun saxophone and alt-guitar duo, perform every Saturday night. Though they prefer jazz and reggae, they can play every tune upon request. Beers are two-for-one during this gig.

During the weekends, the hot spots for late hours are Boo Boo Jam, Bliss, Q-Club and Club Vibes. Boo Boo Jam, located on the Orient Beach strip, kicks off just before midnight on Fridays and Sundays and winds down a few hours later. Here the music of preference is Zouk and Kompa (cadenced music from the French Caribbean).

Bliss is an untamed, semi-open-air disco, where the music flows between R&B and European beats. Sometimes a drummer will accompany the DJ's flows on his conga… and the sound is a funky blend of classic island instrumental jam paired with the fresh sounds of urban beats. Hot guys and girls dress their finest and, to keep the crowd going, the owners have arranged special spots for dancers to work up a sweat to the beat of the music. Bliss is located in The Caravanserai Beach Resort, off the rocky south coast of the island. Here, a moonlit night can easily turn into one of the most romantic, if you are lucky enough to walk in with someone special and find one of the cozy cabanas unoccupied.

At Q-Club and Club Vibes it's all about Jamaican dancehall. DJs and dancers that live for this New-Age style of Caribbean music dominate these clubs. There are no words to describe what you'll experience if you dive into this wild world that's definitely not for the fainthearted; if you're inexperienced you will catch yourself watching bug-eyed and with dropped jaw as skilled, sexy dancers move. Located upstairs at the Casino Royale opposite the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, it's a take-it-or-leave-it world that you instantly fall in love with and return to again and again.

If gambling is your thing, Casino Royale on the Maho strip, in the same building as Q-Club is the ultimate choice for this type of nightly entertainment. Conveniently open every day from 1 p.m. to 4 a.m., gambling is made easy any time you feel a surge of luck come on. Casino Royale is the largest and most visited casino on St. Maarten/St. Martin.

For after-hours partying, go to The Platinum Room located in the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort. Offering a great environment for the best in adult entertainment on the island and open every night from 10 p.m., The Platinum Room is the perfect place to start and end your night out.

It's evident that St. Maarten/St. Martin definitely knows how to keep the party alive. Even the government seems to support this fact. Just before the 2007 Carnival season in April, the public was introduced to the new Festival Village; formerly the Carnival Village, this compilation of food shacks was transformed into an open-air concert area that can compete with any showground in the Caribbean. Where before there was sand (and when it rained, mud), there is now a spread of red bricks. The food shacks are now properly housed and the stage is state-of-the-art… a performer's dream and a hearty invitation to avid showgoers. Since its opening, the Festival Village has already hosted numerous international shows and indications are that this trend will continue. u

Use our Dining Guide to find the islands great restaurants - St. Maarten/St. Martin is the culinary capital of the Caribbean! Or, use our Activity Guide to find casinos, clubs and entertainment.