Most visitors consider a sunset aperitif followed by a French Creole dinner under the stars enough of a nocturnal adventure. Beyond that, the lounge and live music scenes have exploded, enlivening the once quiet evenings.
In Gustavia, one of the most popular gathering places is Le Select, rue de la France (tel. 590/27-86-87), a 50-year-old institution named after its more famous granddaddy in the Montparnasse section of Paris. Locals love this classic dive with the friendly vibe. It's a glorified shanty, though most patrons congregate at tables in the open-air garden (called "Cheeseburgers in Paradise" in homage to honorary St. Barthian Jimmy Buffett), where a game of dominoes might be under way as you walk in. You never know who might show up here -- Mick Jagger perhaps? It's closed Sunday.
Former French tennis star and singer/performer Yannick Noah is one of the owners of Do Brazil (tel. 590/29-06-66; http://dobrazil.com), right on the Plage de Shell Beach. This bar and café is a great place to hang out after a swim on Shell Beach. It serves a French-Thai cuisine and a sampling of French-Brazilian dishes.
Le Bête à Z'Ailes (also known as the Baz Bar) on the harbor in Gustavia (tel. 590/92-74-09) is a sushi bar and live music club, where an eclectic assortment of bands play soul, jazz, blues, urban folk, and indie tunes, accompanied by excellent fusion food.
Draped in red, Le Ti St. Barth (Pointe Milou; tel. 590/27-97-71; www.ksplaces.com) calls itself a Caribbean tavern, and the setting, in a pitched-roof Creole-style cottage, manages to be both charming and sexy at once. The club has a fashion show nightly at 11pm in high season.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
