St. Maarten Highlights Nightlife and Casino Hotspots
The island of St. Maarten is promoting nighttime activities at clubs, casinos and beach bars. Many of the island’s hotspots host live bands at least once a week. Much of the nightlife can be found within the big resorts, which combine lounges, night clubs and restaurants.
Many of the hotels offer beachside barbecues with steel pan players and local musicians that are available for both hotel and non-hotel guests. On Friday nights, the boardwalk on Front Street in Philipsburg is a center of activity, and on weekends the Maho village area features fire-eaters, acrobats and belly dancers.
Tantra is the newest addition to the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino complex and the largest nightclub in the Eastern Caribbean. The Asian-inspired atmosphere provides a backdrop for live DJ’s and international musical performances. A popular nightspot in Maho Bay is Bliss, located inside The Caravanserai Beach Resort. Bliss is one of the most popular nightspots in St. Maarten and reflects a Miami-style disco with a large pool area and cabanas. Every afternoon features a different theme or promotion, while live DJs play the latest hits on the weekends.
Bamboo Bernies Buddha Lounge recently moved to the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino complex and serves food and drinks into the early hours of the morning. The Lady C, docked at Simpson Bay, is an old vessel from 1938 that has been refurbished and turned into a floating bar. It’s the only bar of its type to be found in St. Maarten and features weekly theme parties.
Sopranos Bar, located on the first floor of the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino, is a piano bar that features nightly live performances by renowned pianists and local jazz artists. The piano bar is inspired by the hit TV show and offers a selection of wines, champagnes, cocktails, cognac and Cuban cigars.
The Axum Art Café on Front Street in the heart of Philipsburg doubles as a laid back café during the day and an art gallery displaying various paintings and sculptures including the works of owner Ras Mosera. During evening hours, Axum features live jazz and reggae music, poetry readings and entertainment for the artistically inclined.
Gambling is only legal on the Dutch side of the island and travelers can choose from over 14 casinos, all of which offer live entertainment, slot machines and gaming tables.
The Princess Casino at Port de Plaisance in Cole Bay features more than 12,000 square feet of gaming tables, slots, private “high-roller” rooms, a gourmet restaurant with live entertainment and nightly music for dancing.
The Jump Up Casino, located in Philipsburg, offers the widest variety of slots and live entertainment, all themed after the St. Maarten Carnival. Hollywood Casino in Simpson Bay has a variety of table games, popular slots and a sports desk amidst an array of Hollywood star images. Casino Royale, located by the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino has 14,000 square feet of gaming, featuring 20 tables from roulette, craps, baccarat, blackjack and poker, and more than 400 slot machines.
Located in Cupecoy, Atlantis World Casino is a destination casino featuring award-winning restaurants and other entertainment alternatives to give visitors the ultimate experience. Atlantis World Casino offers more than 400 of the latest slot machines, as well as tables for baccarat, poker, three card poker, Caribbean poker, Texas hold’em, roulette, and blackjack.
