You have certainly selected the best place to stay if you expect to have excellent meals. All up and down Grand Case row are great places to eat and many here will suggest their favorites. Check the menu boards on each and see what you may care to try. We also enjoy nearby Orient Village where there are several fantastic restaurants centered in a courtyard area. Many of these restaurants have fantastic food. A day trip to Philipsburg will be fun and interesting. If you want a quiet day, click on the Cruise Schedule on this board and choose a day when there are few ships in port, but you may chance that some of the stores may be closed on those days. Don't try the town on Sunday until after lunch. Also many places to eat in Philipsburg. Gonna be a busy 10 days for you, so make sure you take some time on the beautiful beaches that line the perimeter of the island. Everyone has their favorites and our favorites are Orient, Happy Bay, Baie Rouge and Friars. We too enjoy the French side and the quiet atmosphere of that side, so I'm not a good one to suggest a place to head for nightlife. Click on my blog link below and then the heading marked St. Martin/Sint Maarten to find more things to try and places to visit.