Saint Martin is celebrated not only for its stunning beaches and lively culture but also for a remarkable culinary scene. French haute cuisine mixes with abundant local ingredients and bold island flavors, creating a rare gastronomic landscape in the Caribbean. Each year the island’s culinary passion culminates in Le Festival de la Gastronomie de St. Martin, a showcase of top restaurants, private chefs, beach clubs and mixologists. Held on the French side of the island, the festival is a highlight for food lovers and anyone eager to taste Saint Martin’s distinctive culinary voice. Ahead of this year’s edition, I toured French Saint Martin to sample the cuisine and bar programs of past winners — from private chefs and white-tablecloth dining to relaxed beach fare — and here’s what I discovered.
Our welcome dinner at Del Arti Ristorante in Anse Marcel was an immediate revelation. Last year’s winner of the Gourmet Star category and Best Table, Del Arti proved how well-executed Italian cooking can thrive on an island long known for its French influence. The menu balanced deceptively simple classics — wood-fired pizzas and fresh pastas — with refined mains like catch-of-the-day preparations, osso buco and a signature duck tagliata. Thoughtful seasonal ingredients and an open-air setting that welcomed marina breezes created a relaxed elegance that repeated throughout the week.
© Discover Saint Martin
We later visited Villa Hibiscus, the runner-up for Gourmet Star, for an unhurried tasting menu crafted by Chef Bastian Schenk. Plates arrived throughout the evening with inventive presentation and balanced flavors, paired with craft cocktails that earned the venue second place in the festival’s mixology category. Perched on Saint Martin’s highest point, the villa’s romantic atmosphere was a perfect match for a meticulous multi-course tasting.
For award-winning cocktails, an evening at Le Pressoir gave a glimpse into the island’s high bar standards. Mixologist Alessandro Corona prepared the restaurant’s signature cocktail tableside, setting the tone for a meal that lives up to the venue’s reputation. Housed in a historic Creole cottage, Le Pressoir serves refined French Caribbean cuisine alongside a large wine list, an extensive rum selection and an attached cigar bar, earning repeated recognition among top Caribbean restaurants.
© Discover Saint Martin
Outstanding food in Saint Martin extends beyond fine dining rooms. Beach clubs on the island deliver impressive menus in breathtaking seaside settings. Coco Beach, located on picture-perfect Orient Bay and winner of the festival’s Beach Star competition, pairs surfside views with dishes like black truffle beef tartare, red tuna tacos and spice-crusted mahi mahi. For larger appetites it offers heartier options such as grilled veal tomahawk and black rice risotto with roasted scallops, proving beach cuisine here can be as sophisticated as any table-service restaurant.
Saint Martin also caters to a well-traveled crowd with private chefs and luxurious villas that make for intimate culinary experiences. During the trip we stayed at Villa La Perla Estate, a seven-bedroom beachfront property with multiple pools, hot tubs and a suite of private amenities. The villa’s open-air dining areas and chef’s kitchen allowed us to host private meals prepared by winners of the festival’s Private Chef category, including first-place Chef Laura Antonelli and runner-up Chef Jean-Marie Jackson. Their curated menus showcased the personalized, high-level service that draws many travelers to hire private chefs on the island.
© Discover Saint Martin
For another type of private dining, Pyratz Gourmet Sailing offers half- and full-day charters where exceptional meals are served onboard. Sailing Saint Martin’s clear blue waters brought snorkeling, paddleboarding and island stops, but the onboard cuisine elevated the experience — a reminder that fine food and island adventures go hand in hand here.
This year’s festival runs Nov. 11–22 and will feature cooking demonstrations by many of the island’s best chefs, tasting events, gourmet dinners, workshops and culinary competitions as new champions are crowned. Whether you prefer white-tablecloth dining, casual beachside fare or a private meal aboard a yacht, Saint Martin’s festival and year-round dining scene deliver memorable flavors and thoughtful hospitality that reflect the island’s diverse culinary influences.