Yellow fin tartare, smoked wahoo, Burgundy escargots, mahi mahi and the daily local catch may be on the menu at this sophisticated restaurant at Le Barthelemy Hotel & Spa, with comfortably chic banquette seating, open walls and pretty views of the cove. The crisp white color scheme and high beamed ceiling are punctuated with an enormous handblown blue glass sculpture from France that hangs over the room, echoing the surrounding sea (and pieces throughout the property). When we were there last, the soundtrack at dinner was a little aggressive (who knew there was a dance mix version of Michael McDonald’s “Ride like the wind?”), but a new chef—Vincent Gomis and his wife, sous chef Marie Cécile Gomis-Alexandre—have introduced a Chef's Table and Experience Tables for those looking for something extra special. For lunch, on-trend salads with quinoa and kale, poke bowls and sandwiches can be ordered at Amis Plage. The kids’ menu includes Nuggets Poulet, Poisson du jour, steak haché and a scoop of glacé or sorbet. The staff is attentive and friendly, though things can get busy quickly, so order early to avoid a rush.

Manhattan’s Bagatelle landed in Gustavia harbor in 2011 and has since become a mainstay of the St. Barth’s nightlife scene. Surprising critics, the food is downright good, while the crowd is exactly what you’d expect – good looking, fun loving and definitely not price sensitive. There are a few outdoor tables on the small terrace overlooking the harbor, which are ideal for couples in search of a quieter evening. To be a part of the DJ-fueled revelry, however, come with a group and sit indoors. Get friendly enough with your neighbors, and you may even score an invite back to the yacht afterwards. Note: Most diners can be found wearing white.

You may not have come to St. Barth’s expecting to eat Thai food, but you won’t be disappointed here. The vibe is chic and sleek with minimalist black and red furniture and accents and a tropical outdoor courtyard. On the menu, to eat in or take out (next door): dishes like papaya and mango salad, marinated fresh fish with lemongrass, Massaman curry with coconut milk, and an array of stir fry and vegetarian options.

Locals and regular visitors alike agree that Bonito has become one of the island’s best dinner destinations, so book your reservation in advance. It may be a little hard to find, but the open-air restaurant, tucked into the hillside overlooking the twinkling lights and red rooftops of Gustavia harbor, can’t be beat, and the Peruvian-inspired French food is also excellent. Reserve a table on the balcony and be sure to try the ceviche and tiradito menus—the options for seafood here are extensive. Conveniently, there's also a Lolita Jaca outpost for a quick pre- or post-dinner shopping fix.

• This small, quirky tropical restaurant on the water in Gustavia offers a taste of Creole fusion (and maybe a little Thai for good measure). The kitchen gets somewhat mixed reviews, depending on the night. Look for the lizard etched into the sidewalk just outside the door, the

sign outside and locals filing in around 9. Rumor has it that Eddy Stakelborough is the son of the owner of Le Select, the burger joint where Jimmy Buffet allegedly wrote “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

When you pass by this unassuming local hangout every time you drive through Lorient on the way to somewhere else, the tables are, more often than not, full. The reason: some of the most reasonable prices on the island for a burger and a Caribbean beer. It may not be fancy, but if you’re traveling with kids or want a low-key alternative to Le Select for a burger or quick french fry fix, it’s not a bad pitstop. There are also vegetarian  options.

There’s no missing the fire engine-red shutters outside this two-story restaurant overlooking the harbor in buzzy Gustavia.

L’Esprit itself has been a St. Barth’s mainstay for years. But ever since Chef Jean-Claude Dufour took over following his 2011 departure from Eden Rock, it has become a true culinary hot spot as well. The romantic garden setting makes for an excellent lunch following a morning at Saline beach (just down the road), but it’s equally charming for a candlelit evening dinner. Expect a sophisticated menu, excellent wines and warm, unpretentious service.

The premiere restaurant at Cheval Blanc, just steps from Flamands Beach, was completely redone in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, with a new look by designer Jacques Grange and a brand-new menu from chef Jean Imbert, who also oversees La Cabane, the more casual option on-property. Nonetheless, it still epitomizes the easy, breezy sexiness and sophistication that St. Barth’s is famous for. The menu highlights fresh fish cooked with regional spices and local produce from nearby islands. Long a favorite island watering hole, the restaurant is always busy at lunch and dinner, so it is best to make reservations in advance.

La Petite Plage is a popular Gustavia hot spot on the waterfront, with a beach-chic vibe and a menu with fine fresh seafood dishes.

This bohemian beach restaurant, located just down the road from Saline Beach, is another good option for a long lunch not far from the sand and sea. It serves world cuisine by day and Creole at night.

The inspiration behind Jimmy Buffet’s Cheeseburger in Paradise, this Gustavia main-stay is a classic dive that’s perfect for a casual lunch or post-shopping beer and burger.

Even if you are not staying at the Christian Liaigre hideaway on Grand Cul de Sac, you should make a point of coming for a meal to enjoy delicious seafood and the serene scene. Under a giant tent-like roof, you can sit in director’s chairs, eat fresh grilled fish and watch the spectacle of kite surfers. With gentle breezes blowing and attractive couples lounging on the beach, you feel like you’ve slipped into a friendly house party.

The secluded beach below Le Toiny has been turned into one of the nicest spots on the island for a relaxed lunch—thanks to Mandie and Charles Vere Nicoll who were the founders of Isle de France (a.k.a. Cheval Blanc) and now own Le Toiny. They brought the same elegance and simplicity that made Isle de France famous to this side of the island, so it’s no surprise that reservations are a must.

Visitors can park at the hotel, at which point the careful attendants will shuttle you down the cliffside restaurant by the beach. A sign that says “If you are not barefoot or in flip flops you are too formal,” greets you. Leave your shoes in the bins and pass the sunbathers on loungers to find tables set underneath a grove of palm trees. The chalkboard menu features simple fresh fare. Lunches with rosé last for hours here, but don’t miss the little boutique in the small stone cottage. Le Toiny’s owner has been setting the beach style on St. Barth’s for decades and the tiny shop features a fabulous selection of her finds. Open only for lunch and private events.

Clearly inspired by St.-Tropez’s Club 55, Nikki Beach has become synonymous with daytime beach partying on St. Barth's. The crowd is fun-loving and gregarious, from older couples to the young and beautiful who come to pop Champagne bottles, lounge on the white mattresses and dance on the tables. The food is surprisingly good (especially the local fish sashimi and the offerings from the new sushi menu) and prices unsurprisingly high. Come with a bikini (or buy one at the boutique) for a post-lunch swim in St. Jean bay. Prime people-watching is guaranteed.

Situated in a prime spot right next to Nikki Beach, in St. Jean, this beach club and restaurant, formerly Tom Beach and La Plage, have become one. The best dishes on the menu at Pearl Beach are a light and flavorful tuna sashimi, a Thai salad with shrimp, and grilled lobster; the prosecco, rosé, and rum punch flows all day long and then some. The crowd spills over from next door at Nikki Beach, but the scene is just as young and hip, like the tiny beach boutique called Pop, which is tucked into a corner by the bar and features a healthy dose of crochet and slinky see-through caftans.

The backdrop at chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Sand Bar is hard to beat, but the food and the scene are equally impressive at this St. Barth's restaurant.

Located on Gustavia’s famous Shell Beach in the space formerly home to Dō Brazil, Shellona opened in late 2016 and immediately became an island classic. With stunning waterfront views, the restaurant and beach club offers an alfresco dining area with blue cushions and sun umbrellas, as well as white beach chairs for pre- or post-lunch sunbathing. The hot spot eatery has live music and serves sophisticated Mediterranean fare from former La Guérite chef Yiannis Kioroglou. The Greek-inspired cuisine, which includes roasted vegetables with fennel tzatziki and grilled mahi mahi with coconut milk sauce, is some of the best in all of St. Barth’s. It's the perfect place to while away a lazy Sunday afternoon with the locals over a long lunch. All that remains to be seen is when the Hôtel Barrière will re-open Le Carl Gustaf, perched just above the beach.

This playfully named rooftop bar, at Le Barthelemy Hotel & Spa, attracts a buzzy crowd for private parties and on Fridays and Saturdays, when a DJ plays the fast tracks and the rum drinks are flowing. The loungey indoor-outdoor space above the hotel’s fitness center has a view of the pool and the cove and gets a nice breeze after dark. A playful bamboo "nest" on the back deck for lounging echoes the hanging birdcage-like swing in the lobby.