The French side of the island is more laid back at night than its Dutch counterpart. Most large hotels have music and dancing, but the most popular evening activity is fine dining. Some restaurants have live entertainment, however patrons usually rely on pleasant dinner conversation and a bottle of perfectly aged French wine.
Whatever it lacks in live entertainment, St. Martin makes up for it with scrumptious cuisine. It has earned a well-deserved reputation for being the capital of dining in the Caribbean. There are more than 50 places in Marigot, another 20 or so in Grand Case, with more sprinkled around the island's interior. Visitors can taste dishes from a wide range of restaurants serving traditional and French nouvelle cuisine to spicy Créole and regional specialties. In addition, fares from other cultures including Italian, Swiss, Vietnamese and Chinese are available throughout the island. No matter where you go, you are sure to find delicious fresh seafood cooked to order.
If you're planning on seeing the sun rise, drop by the discos in Sandy Ground and Marigot, which are open until the wee hours of the morning. Other hot spots are the Rock & Roll Café and Peace & Love, in Grand Case.
L'Atmosphere is a chic nightclub at Marina Port La Royale, usually packed with trendy French-speaking locals.La Fiesta and Le Bar de la Mer, both on the waterfront, are also popular hangouts for French residents and visitors alike.
Andy Susko, in Grand Case, is all the rage with beach parties every other Sunday. Every full moon there is another beach party at Friar's Bay. So leave your shoes at home. Also, there are barbecues on the beach every Friday and Saturday nights that are beyond compare.