What food is St. Maarten known for?

St. Maarten occupies a rare spot in the Caribbean where cultural flavors meet and mingle. Once split between French and Dutch colonizers, the island retained recipes and cooking customs from both cultures, which then became layered over long‑established Caribbean ingredients. The result: dishes that are basically food fusion dreams come true. Seafood grilled with a Caribbean seasoning might share a table with Dutch cheeses or a buttery French pastry. Or you might spot a plate of smoky barbecued ribs served beside a crisp French salad studded with island‑grown fruit. 

What we’re trying to say is that this is one place where the familiar becomes surprising, and you’re almost certainly going to find exciting taste combinations you’ve never considered. This blending sets it up as a prime example of Caribbean food, and is part of what gives the island its nickname: the ‘Culinary Capital of the Caribbean.’

Fresh seafood at the heart of St. Maarten cuisine

Surrounded by clear blue waters teeming with fish, shrimp and shellfish, locals have mastered turning sea harvests into meals that are loaded with the best the ocean has to offer. St. Maarten shells it out with style, so you can bring your taste buds up to speed with the sea legs you’ve been cultivating. 

Grilled lobster

I’m not sure how hard we really need to try to sell you on the idea of fresh Caribbean lobster, but here it goes: Picture yourself seated on a wooden stool near the beach with waves lapping just beyond your feet. A cook brings out a hefty Caribbean lobster caught that morning. He cracks the shell, slices it in half and lays it on a hot grill. The meat hisses, edges crisp and soon the whole thing is brushed with garlic butter or a tangy island rub. Each bite bursts with briny sweetness and a kind of flavor depth that matches the sunset. 

Conch dishes

Food doesn’t get much more Caribbean than conch. This shell-dwelling sea snail might not win any beauty contests, but it holds a prized spot in island kitchens. St. Maarten locals have been cooking with conch for generations, turning it into dishes that are bold, satisfying and deeply rooted in tradition.

Conch fritters and conch stew count among the island’s legendary offerings. The fritters are small golden rounds made by tossing bits of conch into a seasoned batter and frying until crispy. They arrive at your table warm and chewy, often served with a spicy dip or tangy tartar sauce. Conch stew takes things deeper; tender conch simmered in a tomato-rich broth with peppers, onions and herbs becomes a thick soup that somehow tastes exactly like Caribbean soul… hey, when you try it, you’ll understand.

Traditional Caribbean dishes with St. Maarten flair

Beyond seafood, many of the island’s most beloved recipes draw from shared Caribbean roots. These dishes reflect generations of culture and local ingredients, often served with a twist you’ll only find in one place.

Callaloo

Callaloo turns leafy greens into a dish that’s as nourishing as it is flavorful. The leaves (often taro or amaranth) get cooked down into a thick soup or stew with spices, onions, sometimes okra or coconut milk. It might arrive steaming hot in a bowl or served with rice or bread on the side. Whatever form it takes, it's smooth, hearty and full of earthy flavor and just a little bite. It may not turn heads (unless someone sticks a cocktail umbrella in it), but it’s the kind of dish locals swear by and visitors end up craving long after the cruise pulls away.

Saltfish and rice

Saltfish and rice represent a classic Caribbean breakfast. Or lunch; we won’t judge you for sleeping in. Salted cod gets soaked to remove excess salt, then cooked with onions, peppers, herbs and sometimes tomato. Paired with fluffy rice and perhaps a side of fried plantains or vegetables, it offers a hearty, flavorful meal that fills you up for the day. On a slow morning ashore you might find this dish alongside strong coffee for an energizing-yet-somehow-also relaxing start to your day.

Johnny cakes

Johnny cakes are slightly sweet, lightly fried breads that arrive crispy on the outside and soft inside. Similar to a warm, dense doughnut (but less sugary), they go perfectly beside savory dishes like stews or saltfish. Some people like to slice one open and let warm butter melt inside before taking their first bite. Others skip the knife and just tear into it like a shark in a feeding frenzy. That works too. 

Dutch and French influences in St. Maarten food

Island eats wouldn’t be what they are without influence from the European settlers who once called this place home. That heritage shows up in little touches like specialty cheeses, pastries and café culture.

Dutch cheeses and savory pastries

In cozy cafés and food shops on the Dutch side of the island, you’ll find wedges of Edam, plenty of rich yellow cheese and savory pastries stuffed with spiced meats or seasoned veggies. Imagine biting into a crisp crust only to find a pool of melty goodness hiding inside (like a grilled cheese sandwich went on vacation and came back changed). These make excellent snacks during a market stroll or a quick, satisfying lunch, particularly when you’re trying to squeeze in just one more excursion.

Dutch cheeses and savory pastries

On the French side, croissants, baguettes, éclairs and other patisserie favorites are available fresh each morning. Walk past a bakery and you might smell buttery laminated dough or sugar caramelizing over fruit tarts. Sit down with a café au lait or a fruit‑filled pastry and you’ll catch the European rhythm woven seamlessly into island life. It’s a small luxury that pairs well with slower pace and salty breezes.

Desserts and drinks to try on the island

Once you’ve done justice to seafood, stews and sandwiches, it’s time to let your sweet tooth have its day in the sun. On St. Maarten, desserts and drinks lean sweet, tropical and occasionally boozy — the kind of indulgences that feel like a reward for doing exactly what you came to do.

Guavaberry liqueur

Guavaberry is a bright red berry native to the islands. It’s good on its own, but Saint Martiners help it become its very best self by transforming it into a fragrant, sweet liqueur. You might sip it straight, over ice or mixed into a cocktail with rum and tropical juice. The flavor tends toward tart fruitiness balanced by sugary warmth. It’s one of those drinks that tastes like sunshine and wraps you up like a warm hug from the inside out.

Guavaberry rum cake

This dessert packs guavaberry flavor into a dense, moist cake laced (or should we say spiked?) with rum. Often sold as a souvenir or enjoyed at local gatherings, it pairs beautifully with coffee or a creamy dessert wine. The cake’s sweetness and slight fruit‑tang create a core flavor memory that’s likely to pop up whenever you catch a whiff of rum.

Coconut-based sweets

Coconuts show up everywhere on the island: in drinks, sauces and desserts alike. You’ll find coconut tarts with flaky pastry, custards blended with shredded coconut and candies that carry a chewy bite and rich nutty flavor. These treats deliver gentle sweetness and a subtle creaminess that contrasts nicely with heavier meals.

Where to try these iconic St. Maarten dishes

Finding good food on St. Maarten is an adventure made no less exciting by the fact that it’s really not hard to do. Local eateries, markets, beach shacks and cafés on both sides of the island offer dishes that show off the full range of flavors from sea to land, from old world to new.

When you cruise to St. Maarten, your ship will drop you off within walking distance of areas with a high concentration of restaurants and food vendors (ideal for spontaneous food‑hopping). Pass a locally run shop and you might smell grilled fish tempting from the sidewalk or ovens filling the air with pastry aromas. Ask around to find the best spots… or just follow your nose.

Markets are an obvious place to start. Fruit stalls, freshly caught fish, baked goodies and small snack counters create a micro‑world of tastes and textures. Beach shacks tend to serve the freshest seafood, typically cooked while you wait so it ends up hot and smoky when it reaches your plate.

St. Maarten food experiences and excursions

Want to put the culinary experience front and center? Let Princess handle the details with these food-focused St. Maarten excursions:

Chef’s table experience

Why limit yourself to food stalls and cafes when you could be dining with a true culinarian? With the Chef's Table Experience with Culinary Expert excursion, you’ll ride a chairlift up to Sentry Hill at the historic Rockland Estate — a sugarcane plantation turned cultural landmark. Up there you’ll gaze across panoramic island views, then head down for a four‑course lunch in a former sugar‑boiling house turned restaurant. Your chef walks you through dishes rooted in local ingredients and old recipes, giving you a taste of how the past and present meet on your plate. After your meal you’re free to browse a gift shop filled with souvenirs and mementos before heading back to the dock.

Toppers rhum tasting & cooking class

Visit the distillery known for crafting some of St. Maarten’s smoothest rums. Dive into its process and history on the Toppers Rhum Tasting & Cooking Class with Expert Guide excursion. A knowledgeable chaperone leads you through the fermentation, distillation and aging process. You sample several signature rums, taste a slice of famous rum cake and learn how to cook simple dishes using rum as an ingredient. After the distillery, a leisurely sightseeing drive takes you back to port (and after all that rum it’s definitely a good thing that you aren’t the one behind the wheel).