Our Favorite places
and Things to Do in St. Barth
We’ve compiled a list of our favorite spots and things to do. We hope you find this helpful and we encourage you to explore the island!
Lunch Spots Near Eden Rock
While lunch is available at Eden Rock each day, St. Barth has so many fabulous restaurants to discover. These are A few of our favorites.
Nikki Beach
Best known as a party spot, we think Nikki Beach is under-appreciated for its wonderful food and service. It also has gorgeous views. Always lively and chic, and very St. Barth.
Ti’ Corail
Hands down our favorite lunch spot on the island. casual, charming, and set right on the sleepy, beautiful beach in Grand Cul-de-Sac. Chef/owner Yann previously helmed the kitchen at Hôtel Isle de France / Cheval Blanc before creating his “food truck without wheels” concept. It is low-key, toes-in-the-sand dining perfection. They offer three fixed lunch seatings each day and book up quickly, so do not go without a reservation.
Pearl Beach
Low-key, relaxed, and one of the best beach bars on the island. Great food with a dramatic backdrop of low-flying planes taking off and landing nearby.
Lunch Spots by taxi or car
Le Toiny Beach Club
Quiet, relaxed, and beautifully done. The setting is beachside and rustic in the best way.
La Guérite
This is a Saturday lunch hot spot — the second Saturday seating can fill up weeks, sometimes months, in advance, so make a reservation early if you want to go. Great DJ and fun vibe – but be careful – you won’t want to miss our Eden Rock party Saturday night!
Cheval Blanc
Wonderful food, polished service, and gorgeous beach views, with toes-in-the-sand dining available. Be sure to order the croq’ truffe appetizer at La Cabane.
Le Select
A classic St. Barth stop. Come for a Ti’ Punch and a cheeseburger in paradise — or fresh grilled mahi with rice and beans — and stay for some of the best people-watching on the island. It feels like the whole island passes by this spot.
SHOPPING
a very popular shop for resort wear. The pieces are feminine, colorful, and easy to wear. They specialize in printed dresses, tunics, skirts, tops, cover-ups, airy silks, soft cotton voile, and signature crochet pieces.
Clic is a great Gustavia stop for a mix of fashion, photography, books, art, home pieces, and resort accessories. It is especially good if you want something stylish but not obvious. We have several pieces of art from here in our Miami home, and the photographer who shot our wedding, Jean-Philippe Piter, often shows his art here.
Located in the Cheval Blanc hotel, This boutique is always worth a visit when in Flamands. They carry breezy Italian ready-to-wear for men and women — including Pucci — along with elegant accessories and polished pieces.
Beside the entrance to Nikki Beach, stop into Terra and Mandarine, two boutiques next to each other filled with beautifully curated resort wear, swimwear, sandals, jewelry, bags, and easy island pieces.
For beauty and body products, Ligne St Barth is a lovely island-made option. They specialize in shampoos and conditioners, body oils, lotions, skincare, sun care, and fragrances inspired by the island. They also have a second location in Lorient.
Sea Memory is one of those special, owner-run St. Barth shops. They design and produce most of the Shagreen products they sell. We have many souvenirs from here — including our bear bench in Aspen!
Poupette St Barth is one of the island’s iconic resort wear brands. Think colorful dresses, tunics, cover-ups, kimonos, sets, and easy pieces made for sun, beach, and long lunches.
Bijoux de la Mer is an upscale shop for Tahitian-pearl-on-leather-strand jewelry with true St. Barth heritage. The pieces feel organic and elegant, and are very St. Barth even though the pearls originate in the French South Pacific. It is owned and operated by three generations of the same St. Barth family.
For fine jewelry and watches, Diamond Genesis in Gustavia is a serious stop. They are a Patek authorized dealer (they own the Patek Philippe boutique a block away) and an important Audemars Piguet dealer as well. If interested, ask for an appointment with Genseric.
Lolita Jaca is a St. Barth–born resort wear brand (the founder is the daughter of the owners of Le Select and Eddy’s Ghetto) with a feminine, bohemian feel. It is great for dresses, tunics, kimonos, tops, skirts, pants, and jumpsuits. This is a good stop for women who want something island-specific, polished, and a little more special than a basic cover-up.
FITNESS
Zion Gym
A very cool open-air gym across the street in St. Jean. Think fresh air, island energy, and a much more fun version of getting a workout in on vacation.
FORM FITNESS
A short drive away in Lurin, Form Fitness is an indoor, air-conditioned gym with plenty of equipment.
A short walk from Eden Rock in St. Jean. Courts book up — especially in the cooler morning hours — so reserve in advance.
St. Barth Tennis & Padel
Favorite Walks, Runs, Hikes & Lookouts
“The Loop”
For a longer walk or hike that gives you a great feel for the island, try “The Loop” from Eden Rock. You can do it in either direction — or try both during your stay.
If you head right from Eden Rock, continue past the airport to the roundabout at the top of the hill, then turn left toward Gustavia (and the lighthouse). Walk through Gustavia, maybe stopping for a crêpe at La Crêperie or a fresh almond croissant at Boulangerie Choisy. Head up the hill toward Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf / Fouquet’s Saint-Barth, passing the hotel as the road gets especially steep. Continue up through Lurin, then make your way back down the hill, turning left toward St. Jean and Eden Rock (you can see the hotel for most of the walk down).
The full loop takes about 1.5 to 2 hours and is a super rewarding way to get your bearings and see more of the island.
St. Jean Airport Lookout
A short walk from Eden Rock, and one of the most fun “only-in-St.-Barth” experiences, is watching the planes land over St. Jean. The landing approach is famously dramatic, with planes coming in low over the hill before dropping onto the short runway. It is quick, easy, and always entertaining — especially for first-timers.
also in the loop walk.
Lighthouse Lookout
For a beautiful view over Gustavia and the harbor, head up to the lighthouse lookout. It is a great spot for photos!
also on the loop walk.
Grand Fond Natural Pools Hike
For a more adventurous outing, the Grand Fond hike is a favorite. The terrain is rocky and uneven, but the payoff is beautiful coastal scenery and the chance to explore the natural pools. Wear real sneakers or hiking shoes for the walk, and bring water shoes if you plan to get in or climb around the pools. The rocks can be sharp, and there are usually sea urchins, so this is not the place for bare feet. The urchins are easy to spot in the clear, shallow pools.
Flamands to Colombier and Back
Valet park at the Cheval Blanc hotel, then begin your walk or run toward Colombier. The road turns into a mostly flat hiking path to the remote and beautiful Colombier Beach, with dramatic views along the way. From Colombier, either turn around and go back or continue up the path to the left. It gets steep, with lots of steps and stairs.
At the top, be sure to step over to the overlook point and map on the left for a breathtaking view. From there, continue down the road toward Gustavia, using Google Maps to find the easy-to-miss one-way road on your left that leads back down the hill. This road may be the steepest paved road on the island — and possibly anywhere. End with a dip in Flamands Beach and, if the mood strikes, a petite piscine glass of rosé from the Cheval Blanc bar.
Colombier Beach Stairs
You do not have to do the full hike to enjoy Colombier. For a shorter but still rewarding outing, take the stairs down to Colombier Beach and back up again. It is a strenuous but fairly short hike, with enough of a climb to feel like you earned your cocktail afterward.
Eden Rock to Lorient
This is a great run or walk from Eden Rock. Start at the Eden Rock entrance and head east on the sidewalk toward Lorient. Continue through the Village Créole area, staying left as you head up the hill toward Lorient. You will have beautiful views most of the way around the point and down into Lorient.
Walk out onto the beach by the surf shack and watch the local surfers. If you want to add a little island history to the route, visit Johnny Hallyday’s grave (the “French Elvis,” adored by a generation of French people) in the cemetery across the street before heading back to Eden Rock.
Gouverneur Beach Walk
For a beautiful beach outing with a little workout built in, head to Gouverneur Beach — the turn-off is near the Form Fitness gym. Park at the top and walk down the road toward the beach, taking in the views as you descend. The walk down is easy and gorgeous — the walk back up is where you earn it! Or park at the bottom and enjoy a nice swim afterward. Gouverneur is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, with clear water, soft sand, and a wonderfully undeveloped feel. There are no beach clubs or restaurants here, which is part of the charm.