Last Updated on September 3, 2024 by Eve Dawes
Where to eat, sunbathe and relax on St Jean Beach St Barths
Eden Rock St Barths, Nikki Beach St Barts and Gyp Sea Beach Club are my top 3 picks for the best places to spend the day and eat lunch on St Jean Beach St Barths. Which is indisputably the best beach in St Barts. We visited a few different beaches and St Jean beach was our favorite as it had the calmest water, best sand, best beach clubs and restaurants. All 3 restaurants are fabulous to dine at but 2 are also the 2 best beach clubs in St Barts. I’ll get to that.
Eden Rock St Barths is the ultimate bucket list destination but Nikki Beach St Barts and Gyp Sea Beach Club St Barths are 2 other St Barts hot spots also worth checking out if you’re looking for somewhere to eat and play on St Jean Beach. All of these beach restaurants and beach clubs are different and we loved all 3 for very different reasons. Some are more buzzy, others more chill and all have excellent food and views of Baie de St Jean.
Here’s what you need to know before you go, what we liked about each, and how to choose which ones right for you if you don’t have time to check out all 3 while visiting the French West Indies.
Sand Bar Eden Rock St Barth
Eden Rock St Barth has been on my bucket list for the longest time and their Sand Bar restaurant kept coming up in all of my searches for the best place to have lunch in St Barts.
It was actually way more casual, relaxed and less pretentious than I was expecting. Dress code is casual/elegant and most guests were in coverups or resort wear chic and flats but leave the baseball cap at home. Think more laid back but elegant beach dining than elegant fine dining. Which is perfect for a day at the beach and a long, leisurely lunch where no one was rushing us or trying to flip tables.
It was also a lot more family friendly than we were expecting. Making it a great choice for families. Especially if you’re looking for more of a hotel on the beach dining experience with a view than a beach club experience. For that, go to Nikki Beach or Gyp Sea Beach Club.
As with most if not all St Barts restaurants, especially of this caliber, expect St Barts pricing. Lunch for the 2 of us with 2 drinks each was North of $200. Top menu pick: the lobster roll.
Eden Rock Sand Bar restaurant reservations.
Nikki Beach St Barts
We love Nikki Beach. So whenever we see it’s at our location we try to visit. The menus and food so far have been consistent from location to location. The only difference with this one was the speed. The food came out within minutes and we did feel rushed. However, the food was still excellent and it has one of the best views of St Jean Beach St Barts out of all 3 of these hot spots as it’s right on the beach.
If you’re looking for a buzzy beach club scene, cocktails and party music, this is the best beach club in St Barts for you during the weekends. It’s loud, busy and the hot spot. If you’re looking for somewhere to relax in peace and quiet, don’t go on a weekend in peak season. However, when we went on a week day off season it was really nice and quiet.
This is the place to go to see and be seen, dress up and wear your best resort wear.
Top menu pick: Lobster linguine. Come for lunch, stay for the beach and daybeds.
Nikki Beach St Barth restaurant reservations. As with Eden Rock, expect St Barts luxury dining prices.
Gyp Sea Beach Club St Barth | St Jean Beach St Barts
We had free access to Gyp Sea Beach Club as we stayed at Gyp Sea Hotel. We went everyday for the service, views and beach but visited a different place for lunch every day. It’s the most laid back and quiet of the 3 and there isn’t a dress code so go as you are from the beach (with the addition of a coverup).
Gyp Sea Beach Club is the only one (between Nikki Beach, Eden Rock and here) that’s set back from the beach and doesn’t really have a view unless you’re right at the front.
However, it’s the only lunch restaurant of these 3 on St Jean beach where you dine with your feet in the sand. Menu highlights include 125gr Mozzarella di Buffala, Baby Back ribs texan style, Grilled local tuna, Grilled Caribbean lobster with candied lemon, and whole fish from their BBQ.
Lewis and I actually split a burger as it was too hot to want to eat a whole one.
Gyp Sea Beach Club reservations
Which of these has the best view of the beach? Eden Rock, Nikki Beach or Gyp Sea Beach Club
Nikki Beach St Barts has the best views of the beach as it’s right on the beach. Especially if you get a front row table like we did. Eden Rock is beach front but more elevated and you need to request a table at the front to see the view. Gyp Sea Beach club restaurant is set back from the beach so doesn’t really have a view.
