TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Sunset Bar and Grill. OMG!!!

Wow, it's hard to explain what Sunset is now. I would love to know what Neil might think of it. When we drove in through the gates and parked, all I could think was OMG!!! This place is huge!



I took a bunch of pictures, but none seems to really capture how big this place is!




The pool area is amazing..






There are something like 4 bars..



You can look out toward the planes



or toward the beach




but of course, the real reason to be here is KLM!!!







Afterward, we came back to BSV, and watched them take off..

From the looks of the photos, they took Bliss, spruced it up and made a few additions and then added access to Sunset.

Great shots Carol! Sunset definitely looks more inviting!

Wow, come along way since we were there in February. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

According to our waiter the are around the pool will be a high end restaurant in the evenings.

Wow and double wow

No Bliss, was not this good. Maybe that is why they went out of business.

Adding access, does not make a business! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Major Wow! Huge changes! Thanks so much for the awesome pictures! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks....looks great...and nice pics <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

By the way, forgot to put in the post--$8 mixed drinks and $4 beers!! Guess they have to pay for it some way!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

There is also a row of about 6 or 8 dedicated taxi parking spots inside the Caravanseri lot, (yeah, I know it's not Caravanseri any more) as well as some seating for people waiting for taxis. That is an improvement anyway.

Thanks for the pics and info.
Isn't Sunset now owned by the jerk who Alegia(sp)?

I have no idea. People say that, but I have no idea where they get their information.

Thanks for posting photos Carol. Wow it looks very different. We still love watching the planes but it was crazy crowded with cruise excursions back in November so we just kept driving each time we had to pass it. Not sure a facelift and additional parking will sway us to return?

Time will tell.

If there are not many ships in, it's not bad.. High season is another thing.

Norm we were told by someone who lives on the island half the year that it is the guy who owns Algeria-he wouldn't go there for that reason.

sorry-Alegria not Algeria
what does it mean anyway?

I believe Alegria means happiness/joyfullness in Spanish.
Cheers
irina

There are at least two other restaurants scheduled to open at the end of the sunset ''boardwalk''. definitely a lot of work has been done since we left the first week of april. The small sunset beach bar is long gone.

That looks very nice.

Thanks Irina- Happiness-how ironic.

Thanks for the pictures! Is the pool just for show or are they letting people use it?

I didn't see anyone in it. I think actually the Refuge is not really open yet..

So is the original bar gone or is all this just in addition to the original hut?

Yes, Is the original SSBB structure gone? Hope not!

Are drinks still free for women?

"Are drinks still free for women?"

No and I don't recall that was ever in effect in all the years of going there.

Scubaman--they are talking about free drinks for topless women.. Don't know, I didn't see any sign to that effect, but didn't look for it in particular.

I figured that was the case but there was no mention of "topless" and people sometime seem to do get customs and policies mistaken driven by hearsay. I didn't notice the sign either but then I wasn't really looking for it when I was there. I was too amazed buy all the improvements taking place.

I kinda miss the old surf board sign where it was actually written Topless Women Drink For Free... It did add to the charm of the place. The new owner should bring it back, I'm sure it will bring more business and add a little more spice to this place....

Actually, the surf board is still there. I don't think I got a picture of it, but it's definitely still there. I didn't look at it though. I always used it to look for flight arrival times though! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Just guessing but since this has become a cruise excursion destination with many families with kids they probably did away with that "topless women drink for free" policy.

We stayed at La Plage last week, and spent quite a bit of time at the expanded Sunset. We really liked it. The original small, "round" bar is still there, and the expansion is really nice. Many, many new tables and spots from which to view the planes. We saw one bar open in addition to the original one, plus a third bar at the very back that was still being decorated and was not open yet. The staff was numerous and efficient. We had breakfast, lunch and dinner there on various days, and all meals were quite good, especially the pizza. The pool was full and clean, but roped off with little "closed" signs. Regardless of who owns it, we thought it was great to see it expand to accommodate its popularity, so that folks who go there will have a good experience.

Yes the surf board is there, but I don't think that this is the "original one" from 2005-2008.... Just a sweet memories....

The website states that women with "No Shirt" drink free. The old (unwritten policy) was that the free drink had to be consumed at the bar - no where else on the property. Except on fairly rare occasions, I do not think that it ever was common to have free drinks being received during the day.

True but "no shirt" doesn't mean topless in my book. The "no shirt" might be their way of skirting the issue but keeping a tradition going with out advertising the "Topless" requirement. What ever, it really isn't a big deal as I rarely have seen any women capitalizing on it now days. And the ones that I have seen would be better off paying for their drinks. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Back in the day when Neil owned it, the topless women drink for free sign was nailed to the post in the center of the bar.
That was like 7 iterations ago. Used to be a nice funky place.
Now it's just like Disney. Sad.
irina

The original Refuge Restaurant is located in Melville, NY and is co-owned by the same guy who bought the Caravanserai. Apparently, he likes that name for some reason, rightly so, as he may need some refuge himself some day soon with all those lawsuits in the court system. Irina, you are so right - sounds like Disney. The charm disappeared the moment Neil sold it years ago. So sad.

Yes, you are so right! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

I thought he liked the name Trash since he was caught on video throwing trash at the A building residences. He is doing everything he can to drive people out. Story here.