Monocle 25/25 St Barths Caribbean

Monocle 25/25
St Barths
Caribbean
Between Christmas and New
Year, the tiny French island
of St Barths hosts a phalanx
of movie stars, models, and
music moguls who enjoy
a fast-paced social whirl
set between fabulous yachts
and windswept villas.Things
slow down the rest of the
year when the island revels
in both the relaxed charm
of the Caribbean and the
sophistication of France,
with miles of unspoiled
beaches, clear azure waters,
and breathtaking views.
Essentials
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Getting there – don’t
even think about taking
the ferry from St Martin.
Take the puddle jumpers:
WinAir and the St Barth
Commuter.
St Barths is polyglot,
with French as the official
language, but English is
widely spoken.
The local currency is the
euro but dollars are
accepted everywhere.
Modern Mini Coopers
and and classic Mini
Mokes are popular
and better for the
narrow roads.
Take a walking tour of
Gustavia (named after
King Gustav III of
Sweden).
For more Monocle travel guides
visit monocle.com/25-25
Guide/Info
Hotels
Independent and easy
La Banane
Baie de Lorient
+590 590 520 300
labanane.com
Dependable chain
Hotel Guanahani & Spa
Grand Cul de Sac
+590 590 529 000
leguanahani.com
Premium
Hotel Saint-Barth Isle
de France
Baie des Flamands
+590 590 276 181
isle-de-france.com
Dining
Fast breakfast
Maya’s To Go
Les Galeries du
Commerce, St Jean
+590 590 298 370
mayastogo.com
Leisurely breakfast
La Plage
Tom Beach Hotel, St Jean
+590 590 528 133
tombeach.com
Mid-morning coffee
Bar de l’Oublie
Rue du Roi Oscar II,
Gustavia
+590 590 277 006
Beachfront lunch with
friends
O’Corail
Grand Cul de Sac
+590 590 293 327
st-barths.com/ocorail
Authentic Creole lunch
Au Regal
Sports bar with real Creole
food, Corossol
+590 590 278 526
Dinner on your own
La Saintoise
Classic pizza spot offering
delivery across the island
Corossol
+590 590 276 870
Sunset cocktail
Head to the beach in
Corossol with a cold bottle
of bubbly from La Cave
du Port Franc in Public.
Dinner with friends
Victoria’s at Carl Gustaf
Hotel
Rue des Normands,
Gustavia
+590 590 297 900
hotelcarlgustaf.com
Dinner for two
Black Ginger
Rue Samuel Fahlberg,
Gustavia
+590 590 292 103
Big dinner with friends
Bonito
Rue Lubin Brin, Gustavia
+590 590 279 696
ilovebonito.com
Drink after dinner
Dõ Brazil
Shell Beach, Gustavia
+590 590 290 666
dobrazil.com
Late drinks
Yacht Club
6 Rue Jeanne d'Arc,
Gustavia
+590 590 511 580
caroleplaces.com
Reading
Newsstand
Oasis
International newspapers,
books and stationery.
Lorient
+590 590 297 246
Basics
Pharmacie de la Savane
St Jean (across from
the airport)
+590 590 276 661
Shopping
Something you can’t get
anywhere else
Check out the straw hats
and baskets made from
palm fronds and sold in
the fishing village of
Corossol.
Lost luggage – where to
buy shirts, socks and
underwear
The Pelican Shops
Boutiques near
the beach, St Jean
Something for the kids
Beach toys from
Dimanche à la Mer
Vaval Shopping Centre,
St Jean
+590 590 275 613
Something for someone
you love
Beautiful contemporary
photography from Clic
Gallery
Rue de la République,
Gustavia
+590 590 297 017
clicgallery.com
Something for yourself
Relaxing massage or facial
at The Spa at the
Guanahani hotel
Grand Cul de Sac
+590 590 297 017
Two-hour tour
Classic wooden sailboat to
charter for sunset cruises
Lone Fox
Owner/skipper Ira Epstein
+590 690 332 685
lonefoxcharters.com
Limousine/car
Premium IV
concierge service
+590 590 290 007
premiumiv.com
Transport
Minivans
Grab one at the port in
Gustavia for around-theisland tours in an
air-conditioned minivan.
+590 590 277 059
Fitness
Hiking
+590 690 634 609
stbartheasytime.com
Gym
Form Fitness
Everything from workout
machines and pilates to
yoga and salsa classes.
+590 590 275 123
formfitness-stbarth.com