Join/
Travel Spotlight
St. Barth’s has long been a favorite Caribbean destination for Indagare members, thanks to its stylish resorts and restaurants, lively beach scene, sophisticated shopping and pulsing nightlife. Here, we tapped some of our favorite island insiders for the latest intel—everything you need to know if you’re heading to the island right now or planning a visit in the future. We have also been following all the latest hotel news, restaurant openings (and closings), Covid protocols, entry and testing requirements, the hottest spots for cocktails, people-watching and much more.Contact Indagare for assistance in booking your trip to St. Barth’s. Our Trip Designers can help match you with the hotel or resort that is best for you and your needs and offer restaurant, activities and shopping recommendations, along with advice about Covid testing and travel requirements for the island.
, La Cabane has added the brand-new Tiki Bar, serving up tropical concoctions day and night. There’s a new villa with a view at Le Sereno on the island’s Grand Cul de Sac, and this hideaway is the place to be on Monday nights from 7:00 p.m. onwards. Have a cocktail and listen to one of the island’s coolest singers, Soleil, work his raspy magique, before (or during) dinner. Taking full advantage of its rugged southeast coast location, Le Toiny is launching a brand-new Surf Shack boutique and surfing school directly on-property, with lessons available for all levels—from beginner to experts—with a pro surf champion. The hotel has also renovated its 13 Signature suites with new decks, pools and larger bathrooms with bathtub and shower, and there’s a fantastic new four-bedroom villa overlooking the ocean. Contact your Trip Designer for more details or assistance with booking the island villa that best suits your needs.
, Michelin two-star chef Arnaud Faye melds Mediterranean flavors with local fare and lots of shared plates at Rivyera Plage. There's also a new chef (Benjamin Zannier) and a new menu at Francois Plantation at Villa Marie, and brunch will now be served on Sundays. With a menu by Pierre Gagnaire, Le Foquet’s at Le Carl Gustaf debuted in Gustavia last year with a menu of surf-and-turf classics and harbor views. Also on our list: Quarter Kitchen and Cocktail Lab is still a buzzy new favorite.
Shellona—are back for the season at full tilt. At last year’s newcomer Gyp Sea Beach Club, Villa Marie's beach club offering, may remind you of Mykonos, with its blue-and-white look, Med menu and plenty of grilled options. Book early at all of the above. For lighter fare in town, try Heiko, the poké bowl bar in Gustavia. L’Arawak, a café space in the courtyard between Cartier and Hermès, is now serving light fare for breakfast and lunch, as well as cocktails and tapas with a DJ from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. If after-dinner cocktails or a little late-night fun are what you’re after, Kinugawa has a DJ and bar with a guaranteed scene. And Casa (formerly Ociela) is a fun new spot for French-Italian, and the open loft space upstairs turns up the volume after dinner (until well after midnight). You'll still find us at Baz Bar and we'll never turn down whatever Johann is suggesting for a cocktail before (or during) dinner at Bonito.
Related See our favorite Top Tables, here:
Fashion photography lovers take note: During the holidays, 10 of the island's top five-star hotels will be showcasing the work of 10 top fashion photographers, including Ben Watts and Ellen von Unwerth, at the St. Barth's Photo Festival, so keep an eye out. A show called "Emergence," featuring the work of emerging photographers is also on view at the Wall House Museum, through December. From December 2 to 19, St Barth's hosts its very own Christmas Village in Gustavia, with holiday shopping and musical entertainment in the evenings, along with tastings and activities for kids—including a visit from Santa. Always a hot topic on the island over the holidays is where to ring in the new year: duking it out for party of the year in the days between Christmas and New Year's—it's a toss up between the annual White Party at Lil' Rock, the 20th Anniversary party of Nikki Beach and Eden Rock's New Year's Eve party themed "To the Moon and Back," from 7:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m.
Last but not least: For those curious about the ongoing controversy surrounding the new Hotel L'Etoile (formerly Emeraud Plage, located just down the beach from Eden Rock, and now held by the owners of Le Barthélemy) that's been under construction in St. Jean for some time, you'll have to wait a bit longer to learn the fate of the underground parking garage that has been the subject of great debate (and an environmental impact study) on the island over the past year.
Contact Indagare for assistance in booking your trip to St. Barth’s. Our Trip Designers can help match you with the hotel or resort that is best for you and your needs and offer restaurant, activities and shopping recommendations, along with advice about Covid testing and travel requirements for the island.
We only feature hotels that we can vouch for first-hand. At many of them, Indagare members receive special amenities.
Get In Touch