When In Sint Maarten/Saint Martin, Vive La French Side! Part One: Grand Case

The Grand Case Beach Club has lust gardens with the most stunning bougainvillea climbing the walls of the resort. (Photo: Douglas MacKaye Harrington)

There are several fine hotels and resorts in Grand Case, but in my opinion none surpass the Grand Case Beach Club. Intimate and understated, this walled and security gated gem of a resort was an unexpected surprise during my four hotel stay on the island. This hotel has not only a beautiful beach front, but lust gardens with the most stunning bougainvillea climbing the walls of the resort.

Our Loft Studio, like most of the rooms, had a spectacular view of Grand Case Bay, the Caribbean and the island of Anguilla. The décor and palette was appropriately light and airy with tropical touches in the appointments. The living area was lovely with a pull out sofa/bed, arm chairs, a flat screen TV, third-floor veranda and WiFi is available throughout the resort. Our loft bedroom had a king bed with linens that were luscious, a full dresser and another flat screen TV. We had a full kitchen that was well stocked for in-room cooking, but frankly why anyone would eat-in when in Grand Case is beyond me, particularly since the Grand Case Beach Club is less than a 10 minute walk from Restaurant Row, Grand Case Boulevard.

The intimate and charming Grand Case Beach Club. (Photo: Douglas MacKaye Harrington)

The resort has a pool, fitness room and tennis court, along with water sports like wakeboarding, waterskiing, snorkeling and scuba diving. Of course, there are chaise lounges, umbrellas, cocktail and food service and definitely try a beach massage from one of the local practitioners, which can be arranged with the front desk.

There is a complimentary continental breakfast served each morning in the resort’s Sunset Café, which is transformed in the evening to a beautiful white linen, candle-lit alfresco restaurant with sunset views that are as spectacular as the cuisine. I highly recommend the Escargot cooked in a Roquefort fondue served in light, flakey pastry and the Island Fish Carpaccio for starters. The Mahi-Mahi filet in lobster cream sauce was delicious and cooked perfectly and my Grilled Beef Tenderloin topped with brie was simply superb, accompanied by the best gratin potatoes I had during my trip. The wine list is more than adequate, as we enjoyed a lovely 2010 Joseph Drouhin Rully. Save room for dessert, particularly the perfectly executed Crème Brulee with a nice thick crust and a Pineapple Carpaccio soaked in ginger sauce with peanut ice cream that had Lily literally shaking in her chair with delight.

Grand Case Beach Club General Manager Stephen Wright with the warm, friendly, caring staff that made our stay one of the most memorable of all our years in St. Martin. (Photo: Douglas MacKaye Harrington)

Beyond all the aforementioned accolades, perhaps the most stunning aspect of my stay at the Grand Case Beach Club was the warm, friendly, caring staff that made our stay one of the most memorable of all my years in St. Martin. Charming and genial Brit-born General Manager Stephen Wright has infused this French side resort with pure British hospitality and leads what I will call a “family” rather than a staff of Grand Case Beach Club employees that never pass a guest without a “Hello, are you having a nice day?” or an “Is there anything you need?” I highly recommend this wonderful, affordable and intimate boutique resort for any Hamptonian visiting St. Martin. (www.grandcasebeachclub.com)

Ocean 82 is one of dozens of fine restaurants that make Grand Case the gourmet captital of the Caribbean. (Photo: Douglas MacKaye Harrington)

Getting back to the culinary oasis that is Grand Case, there are dozens of restaurants representing as many cuisines with French, of course, the most dominant. Our second dinner in Grand Case during our two night stay was at Ocean 82, at the location of the now gone Fish Pot Village Café. Like all the restaurants on the north side of Grand Case Boulevard, this beautiful dining room opens onto the bay. You are literally dining waterside with the sound of soothing lapping waves and a beautiful Caribbean vista complimenting your culinary experience.

We opened with a delight that I can never resist, Foie Gras! The homemade duck liver pate stuffed with fig preserve at Ocean 82 is indeed celebrated and we coupled it with Moules d’ Espangne. The large Spanish mussels were perfectly gratinated in garlic butter. We did a double dose of appetizers also trying the Escargots in puff pastry in a garlic pesto sauce and Smoked Marlin Carpaccio, both excellent.

At Ocean 82 the presentation was as perfect as the cuisine. (Photo: Douglas MacKaye Harrington)

For our main course I had the Braised Lamb Shank with a white wine, rosemary and honey sauce and Lily had the Seared Duck Breast with figs and caramelized balsamic vinegar reduction, fantastic on both counts! The wine list at Ocean 82 is substancial and each course was paired beautifully with a selection by owner Romain. No room for dessert this visit, we opted for the Assorted Cheese Board that was served with a balsamic salad with grapes and walnuts. A perfect end to a perfect meal, I highly recommend Ocean 82. (www.ocean-82.com)

Among other popular restaurants I have dined at in Grand Case include Auberge Gourmande with a décor that is pure Paris Latin Quarter in a classic Creole cottage, the Blue Martini Bistro which has a lovely back garden that features live music most nights, and Piazza Pascal for the best Italian cuisine on the island as Italian decent/Paris born and raised Chef Pascal Paviani and his American wife Donna have created a beautiful restaurant with an exquisite French accented Italian menu. These are but a few of the fine restaurants that make Grand Case the gourmet capital of the Caribbean and do not miss the chance for some native BBQ from street vendors called “Lolos.”

A view from Paradise Peak, the highest point on Saint Martin. (Photo: Courtesy of www.TripAdvisor.com)

For the adventurous, driving inland from Grand Case one can experience the best views of the island from its highest point, Paradise Peak. Park your car at the end of the road, literally in front of a gated private home on a dead end, and make the climb. However, do not leave any valuables in your car, which is true for any vacation destination. Not far from Paradise Peak is the Loterie Farm Hidden Forest eco-preserve. This tree top adventure park with the Fly Zone zip line, elevated walkways, hiking trails and the Hidden Forest Café is a must, particularly for families with children visiting the island. (www.loteriefarm.com)

Zip Lining through the Hidden Forest. (Photo: Courtesy of Loterie Farm)