5 Best Restaurants in St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Maarten

Located in a historic sugarcane boiling house from the 1700s, St. Maarten's most talked-about fine dining experience invites you to "dine with history" on nouveau Caribbean cuisine. The award-winning restaurant is named after Emilio Wilson, who bought the plantation on which his grandparents worked and died as enslaved people and which today is the location of the restaurant and Rainforest Adventure park. The knowledgeable owner of this family-run establishment, Norman Wathey, is more than happy to talk to you about the "old days" on his beloved island. The menu is a delight of dishes like the charred garlic octopus with spicy avocado purée, rosemary rack of lamb with mushroom risotto, and the snapper en papilotte. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available. The wine cellar with more than 100 different wines can be rented for private, intimate dinners or for small events. Emilio's serves an extraordinary brunch on Sunday and is open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday.

Both locals and tourists seem to love this restaurant at Great Bay Marina. Seafood is the main focus, but steaks, burgers, pasta, and poultry are all on the dinner menu. You can also come for breakfast, lunch, or happy hour (5–7). If you love sophisticated cuisine, look elsewhere, but the portions are big and the prices reasonable. Delivery to area condos and time-shares is available.

Made famous by the late Anthony Bourdain after he stopped here in 2000, this local, vibrant spot on the edge of town is well-known for its colorful exterior and animated owner. Serving ital food (vegan and organic) made of strictly local ingredients from either their own land out back or from local farmers, the Ital Shack has a very loyal following. It is family-owned and -operated by Ras Bushman together with his wife and son. Take your lunch or breakfast to go or take a seat inside the charming restaurant, where you surely will be entertained by Ras Bushman himself, who is very knowledgeable about the island and especially the medicinal purposes of the plants and herbs that grow here. On Saturday, Ital Shack hosts Redemption Night, an evening of reggae music and local drinks.

An airy modern verandah perched on the Philipsburg boardwalk gives a distinct South Beach vibe. You'll want to linger over fresh fish and steaks as you watch tourists pass by on romantic strolls by night or determined cruise-ship passengers surveying the surrounding shops by day. There is also a fun beachfront lounge with a menu of bar snacks and martinis. It's a bit hard to park here so consider taking a taxi at night. Holland House is the only hotel in the middle of town, and late in the day the lounge gets busy.

Ribs and burgers are the specialty at this casual beachfront restaurant, but Gouda cheese sticks and quesadillas, not to mention the flatbread pizza options, are not to be ignored. Opt to have lunch on the beach; beach chairs and umbrellas are complimentary with lunch and beach service is available.