Hi! taking my first, 'other than a day on a cruise", vacation to st. martin, next week! I'm looking for the best happy hours on the island.

i'm staying in nettle bay beach club and also looking for the best places to buy fresh seafood as we plan on cooking our own meals.

any other info is appreciated... thanks! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Can't help too much with the happy hour question since we spend most of ours on our balcony with drinks in hand but that said, we've enjoyed the Greenhouse, and the Boat Bar.

For best fresh fish I'd suggest the Marigot marketplace very early in the morning since it's not that far from you, and as a back-up, Skipjacks in Simpson Bay has their own fish market though I haven't bought anything there. It always looks good when we go there for dinner. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

for Happy Hour ...
try the St. Maarten Yacht Club (SMYC)
it is open to the public.
located in Simpson Bay, next to the Simpson Bay Drawbridge.

Go for the 4 o'clock and 5 o'clock bridge openings and you may get to watch some mega-yachts passing thru.

thanks for this tip,,,,happy hour watching yachts come and go....sounds awesome to me and to be honest, I never even thought of going to sbyc. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

We enjoyed drinking at Buccaneer beach bar when not sitting on the balcony.

Just watch out for the Frenchie police DUI checkpoints if driving yourself.

Dinghy Dock, Oyster Pond
Order a rum and tonic, they will put a bottle of each on the bar
Pour your own as you like it
All manner of sailors and scaliwags habituate

Le Grand Marche gets fresh fish a couple of times a week as well. From the airport, you will take the causeway over the pond. The way to Nettle Bay will be to your left, but Le Grand Marche is just to the right of the roundabout. As you pass through, note that the local drivers down here seem to stay in the left lane of the roundabout to turn right. No idea why.

Very good breakfast and "possibly the best Bloody Mary on island" there as well!

I think you posted this on the wrong thread!
This thread is about Happy Hours! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Raspy,

I can see why you might have missed it since happy hours are a lot more fun than fish, but part two of the original post was asking where the OP might find the freshest fish to prepare at home. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Yup, checked the Original Post, you are right.

However, I disagree with the post about sending someone who is not familiar with the island over the Causeway Bridge to get to Nettle Bay, on their first day, they will probably get lost in Marigot.

Much easier (simpler) to go thru Maho and Cupecoy, easy direction wise, and may be about the same amount of time.

I agree ..... too many options for potential wrong turns taking the causeway route for a first timer. Much easier, IMO, to stay on the main road out of the airport and through Maho, Mullet, and Cupecoy past Porto Cupecoy development up the hill and straight into the Nettle Baie area. As someone once said, Eezy Peezy even if you have no island experience. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

For a more local experience for fresh fish, one could always buy from the locals at the corner in the French Quarter next to the fresh produce stands there.

As far as HH, I fully support Seth and the Dinghy Dock crew. For a nice view at sunset you could also try Chesterfields for some drinks too.