For 15 years we have welcomed travellers to Orient Bay, Saint Martin's famous Orient Beach. Here is what we tell our friends: the beach, our favourite restaurants, the little islands, the island's best beaches, a one-week plan and all the practical tips.
Orient Beach from above
At the end of the garden
Orient Beach, Orient Bay
Orient Bay (Baie Orientale in French) is Saint Martin's most famous beach: about 2 km (1.2 miles) of white sand on the island's north-east coast, French side, facing the little island of Caye Verte. It is sometimes called the "Saint-Tropez of the Caribbean" for its beach clubs. From the SALT apartments you are there in a few steps, through your garden gate.
In the middle
Beach clubs
Loungers, umbrellas, service at your chair and lunch with your toes in the sand. The liveliest part of the bay, especially from December to April.
On the water
Water sports
The trade winds make Orient Bay one of the island's best kitesurf and windsurf spots. Jet skis and parasailing are also available on the beach.
At the south end
Clothing-optional area
The southern end of the bay, around the former Club Orient, is the island's traditional clothing-optional area. Good to know if you walk the length of the beach with children.
Caye VerteFacing the beach
The small island you see from the beach is Caye Verte (Green Cay), part of Saint Martin's nature reserve. Its coral reefs shelter colourful fish and sometimes turtles. For snorkelling, bring a mask, snorkel and reef-safe sunscreen.
Our beach tips
Orient Bay faces the Atlantic: the sea is often livelier than on the west coast, with nice waves on windy days. Mornings are the calmest, and the late-afternoon light is beautiful. Beach towels, chairs, an umbrella and a cooler are waiting for you in the apartment.
Where to eat
Our favourite restaurants
Saint Martin is often called the culinary capital of the Caribbean. Here are our picks, within walking distance of SALT or a short drive away. In high season, book dinner ahead, especially at weekends.
Orient BeachOn foot
Beach club
Le Waï
The beach club right in front of the SALT apartments: step out of the garden and you are there, for lunch, a lounger or a drink facing the sea.
Our next-door neighbour
Beach club
Kontiki
The bay's iconic spot: a big terrace on the sand, French-Caribbean cooking and fresh fish, loungers and a boutique.
Perfect for a long lunch
Beach club
Coco Beach
Quieter, with a beautiful sea view and carefully cooked food. Ideal between two swims.
For a quiet lunch
Beach club
Kkô Beach
Thatched beach beds and a Peruvian-inspired kitchen: tiradito, ceviche, pisco sour. Music and a lively vibe.
For the vibe
Beach club
Bikini Beach
French and Caribbean food, efficient service, a friendly family atmosphere.
Easy with kids
Dinner
L'Astrolabe
Orient Bay's fine-dining table, at the Esmeralda Resort: refined French cooking with island flavours.
For a special night out
The village squareOn foot
A few minutes' walk away, the Orient Bay village square gathers about eight restaurants, a small grocery and boutiques. In the evening it is our favourite place to have dinner without taking the car.
Steakhouse
L'Atelier
A French-style steakhouse, open in the evening: exceptional meats from around the world (Black Angus, Wagyu, Iberian pork) and local fish, on a chalkboard menu.
Southern French
Le Piment
Southern French cooking with a Mediterranean touch, generous plates and a lovely terrace.
Modern French
Le Télégraphe
Modern bistro cooking and fresh fish from local fishermen, with a chalkboard menu that changes daily.
Fine dining
Maison Mère
Dishes from France's regions with Caribbean flavours, and its dessert trolley.
Asian
SAO
A trip through Asia in a lounge setting: handmade dumplings, sushi, pad thai and fusion dishes.
Takeaway for your terrace
Music and drinks
Le Yellow Sun
The evening hangout on the village square: a drink or dinner with music, in a festive atmosphere.
For a fun evening
Grand Case15 min by car
The village of Grand Case is the island's culinary capital: renowned restaurants along the seafront boulevard, and the "lolos", open-air grills serving ribs, lobster, grilled fish and accras with rice, beans and plantains. An evening in Grand Case is a must. In season, the "Grand Case Tuesdays" turn the boulevard into a street party with music and dancers.
Fine dining
Le Pressoir
In a small Creole house, top-level French cooking, regularly named among the best restaurants in the Caribbean.
Book well ahead
French-Caribbean
La Villa
A sure bet in the heart of the boulevard, loved for its welcome and French-Caribbean dishes.
Sea view
Ocean 82
A dining room open onto the bay, fish and seafood: ideal at sunset.
Lolo
Talk of the Town
Grand Case's best-known lolo: grilled ribs, chicken and fish, lobster, at small prices and with no fuss.
Our Tuesday dinner
Lolo
Sky's the Limit
Another historic lolo on the boulevard, to taste genuine Saint Martin cooking.
French cuisine
L'Auberge Gourmande
A warm, classic French restaurant on the Grand Case boulevard, a favourite of island regulars.
Evenings
Le Cottage
A lively spot on the boulevard, perfect for dinner and a long evening, especially at the weekend.
Friday and Saturday night vibe
Evenings
Blue Martini
A bar and restaurant with music: the place to end the evening in Grand Case at the weekend.
Friday and Saturday night vibe
Pinel Island5 min + ferry
Lunch by the water
Karibuni
A wooden restaurant on Pinel Island since 1988: lobster, house-smoked fish and homemade rum infusions.
Get the lobster!
Toes in the sand
Le Yellow
Pinel Island's other favourite: loungers, lunch on the beach and cocktails, facing the turquoise water.
What to do
Our favourite things to do
Saint Martin is a small island (96 km², 37 sq mi) shared by France and the Netherlands, with no border to cross. From Orient Bay, everything is less than 40 minutes away.
5 minutes away
Pinel Island
Our favourite outing. A white-sand islet in the marine reserve, with iguanas, crystal-clear water and easy snorkelling. Small ferry from Cul-de-Sac roughly every 30 minutes during the day (about €10 return, cash only).
Go in the morning
By boat
Tintamarre Island
A wild, uninhabited island off Orient Bay. Catamaran or speedboat trips to swim with sea turtles and picnic on an empty beach.
On the beach
Kitesurf and water sports
Orient Bay is one of the Caribbean's best kitesurf spots, especially from November to June. Beginner lessons, plus jet skis and parasailing.
Nature
Loterie Farm & Pic Paradis
A former plantation in the rainforest at the foot of Pic Paradis, the island's highest point (424 m): hiking trails, treetop zip lines, a pool and a restaurant. 360° views over the island and Anguilla from the summit.
Wednesday and Saturday mornings
Marigot and its market
The capital of the French side. The waterfront market is at its busiest on Wednesday and Saturday mornings: spices, fruit, the day's catch, crafts. Then walk up to Fort Louis for the view over the bay.
Dutch side
Maho Beach and its planes
The world-famous beach where planes land a few metres above the swimmers. Watch the arrivals from the Sunset Bar & Grill. Never stand behind the big jets at take-off.
Dutch side
Philipsburg
The capital of Sint Maarten: duty-free shopping on Front Street, the beachfront boardwalk and the buzz of cruise-ship days.
In the evening
Sunset in Grand Case
Orient Bay faces the sunrise, Grand Case the sunset. A drink on Grand Case beach, then dinner on the boulevard: the perfect evening.
Tailor-made
Our concierge
Boat trips, excursions, restaurant bookings: a trusted long-time partner arranges everything for you on request. Just ask Laure.
More than 30 beaches
The island's most beautiful beaches
Orient Bay is our everyday beach, but the island has more than thirty. Here are the ones worth the drive.
5 min · families
Galion Beach
Just south of Orient Bay, a bay sheltered by the reef, with calm, shallow water: perfect with young children and to learn kitesurfing.
15 min · calm
Anse Marcel
A sheltered cove between green hills, with calm, clear water.
25 min · snorkelling
Friar's Bay & Happy Bay
Friar's Bay and its beach bars, then a 10-minute walk to Happy Bay, a wild, unspoilt beach.
35 min · wide open
Baie Rouge
A wide beach that never feels crowded, with views of Bird Cliff. Superb snorkelling along the rocks.
35 min · Dutch side
Mullet Bay
One of the island's finest beaches: pale sand, turquoise water, a local crowd at weekends.
15 min · sunset
Grand Case Beach
A calm village beach facing west: the best late-afternoon light, steps from the restaurants.
Itinerary
An ideal week from Orient Bay
Day 1
Arrival and beach.Settle in, first swim at Orient Bay, dinner on foot at the village square.
Day 2
Pinel Island.Morning ferry from Cul-de-Sac, snorkelling, lunch at Karibuni, back in the late afternoon.
Day 3
Beach club day.Loungers at Le Waï, in front of the residence, and lunch on the sand. In the evening, dinner with music at Le Yellow Sun.
Day 4
Marigot and Grand Case.Marigot market in the morning (Wednesday or Saturday), Fort Louis, then sunset and dinner in Grand Case.
Day 5
Nature.Hike to Pic Paradis or zip-line at Loterie Farm in the morning, afternoon at Anse Marcel.
Day 6
The Dutch side.The planes at Maho Beach, a swim at Mullet Bay, a stroll down Front Street in Philipsburg.
Day 7
At sea.Catamaran trip to Tintamarre, swimming with turtles, then one last sunset on your terrace.
Good to know
Practical Saint Martin
Driving times from SALT
Orient Beach
end of the garden
Village square, restaurants
a few minutes' walk
Hope Estate (Super U, pharmacy)
5 min
Cul-de-Sac (Pinel ferry)
5 min
Grand Case
15 min
Marigot
20 min
Philipsburg
25 min
Princess Juliana Airport (SXM)
30 min
Maho Beach
35 min
Approximate driving times without traffic (often heavy at rush hour towards Marigot and Philipsburg).
Getting here
Direct flights from Paris, North America and nearby islands to Princess Juliana Airport (SXM). Airport taxi to Orient Bay on request, about 30 minutes, paid to the driver.
Car
Driving is on the right. Not essential in Orient Bay, but highly recommended to explore the island: 10% off with our partner golfecarrental.com using the code LAURESALT.
Two countries, one island
French side (Saint-Martin) and Dutch side (Sint Maarten), with no border control: you drive freely from one to the other.
Money
Euro on the French side, US dollars widely accepted everywhere. Cards work almost everywhere; keep some cash for the Pinel ferry and the lolos.
Electricity
220 V and European plugs on the French side, 110 V and US plugs on the Dutch side. Several 220 V / 110 V adapters are waiting for you in the apartment.
Groceries
A small grocery on the village square on foot, a large Super U supermarket and a pharmacy at Hope Estate, 5 minutes by car.
Health
Several GPs and nurses work near Orient Bay, with or without an appointment, and many make house calls: ask Laure, she will give you the right contacts. Pharmacy at Hope Estate, 5 minutes away. Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital in Concordia (Marigot), 24/7 emergency room. Emergencies: dial 15 (ambulance) or 112.
When to come
High season runs from December to April, dry and sunny, around 29 °C (84 °F). May and June are quieter and just as lovely. Hurricane season runs from June to November, mostly August to October. The sea stays around 27 to 29 °C (81 to 84 °F) all year.
Water and power
Water is scarce and power is produced on the island: please switch off the air conditioning when you go out and don't leave taps running.
Safety
The island is welcoming. Common sense as anywhere: nothing valuable left in the car, lock up when you go out. The Seaside Park residence and the whole of Orient Bay are secure.
FAQ
Your questions about Orient Bay
Where to stay in Saint Martin to be right on the beach?
Orient Bay is the best choice to live on the beach with restaurants and shops within walking distance. The SALT 5, 6 and 7 apartments in the Seaside Park residence have direct beach access from their garden, a pool and a terrace extended by a deck.
Can you swim at Orient Bay?
Yes, all year round, in water around 27 to 29 °C (81 to 84 °F). The bay faces the Atlantic, so the sea can be rough on windy days: be careful and stay where you can stand. For very calm water with young children, Galion Beach just to the south is ideal.
Do you need a car in Orient Bay?
Not for the beach, restaurants and village, which are all on foot. To explore Grand Case, Marigot, Pinel or the other beaches, a car is highly recommended.
How do you get to Pinel Island?
Drive to Cul-de-Sac (5 minutes from Orient Bay), then take the small ferry, roughly every 30 minutes during the day, for about €10 return, paid in cash.
Is Orient Beach a nude beach?
Only its southern end, around the former Club Orient, is clothing-optional. The rest of the bay, including the part in front of the SALT residence, is a regular beach.
Where to eat in Orient Bay?
At lunch, at the beach clubs: Le Waï right in front of the SALT residence, Kontiki, Coco Beach, Kkô Beach or Bikini Beach. In the evening, on the village square (L'Atelier, Le Piment, Le Télégraphe, SAO, Le Yellow Sun for music) or at L'Astrolabe. For a big night out, Grand Case is 15 minutes away.
What is the best time to visit?
December to April for the driest weather. May and June offer lovely weather, fewer people and lower prices. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with most activity from August to October.
How far is Orient Bay from the airport?
About 30 minutes by car from Princess Juliana Airport (SXM), depending on traffic. We can arrange a taxi for you.
Guide updated October 2026. Places, opening hours and prices can change: just ask Laure, she will tell you what is open during your stay.
Dreaming of Orient Bay?
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