Above: Skim boarding at St. Jean Beach, on St. Barthélemy in the French West Indies.
With end-of-year festivities on the horizon, we asked villa expert Peg Walsh of St. Barth Properties to recommend a beach with some sizzle, and she came back with this response:
“St. Jean is St. Barth’s sexiest and sceniest beach, great for swimming, playing, and people watching, and it boasts several toes-in-the-sand bars and bistros. It’s where all the action is, especially on Sundays at the beachfront restaurant La Plage or the Nikki Beach Club. St. Jean is divided into two beaches by Eden Rock hotel. The most action occurs on the runway side of the beach, where the little planes come in. Nikki Beach is on the quiet side but the beach club is wild, especially on Sundays. Costumed waiters sashay out to deliver Jeroboams of Champagne while the DJ spins a great rock-and-roll soundtrack, so good it inspires patrons to get up and boogie—sometimes on the tabletops. The quality of the food is not sacrificed for all the merriment. It’s terrific. The comprehensive menu includes lots of fresh fish, a variety of salads (try the Niçoise) and yummy barbecue.”
Peg and her team manage a portfolio of some 190 villas on St. Barth, which is her home from December to May. She has villas for every budget, and her guest services range from 24-hour butler service to advice on where to go for the best sunset view or freshly caught fish. To see some of her properties, click here.
There are 14 beaches on St. Barth, each with its own character. Some are festive, particularly on Sundays, and some are quiet and secluded.
