La Playa Beach Bar & Restaurant — Restaurant in Saint Martin (France)

This is a very nice bar in terms of location and atmosphere. If those were the criteria, this place stands out among the string of places along the beach here. However, my wife and I came away from the place puzzled and extremely disappointed after stopping for a drink here. We ordered some colada drinks and the bartender literally measured out a tiny amount of rum when making both cocktails. We could see him pouring out drops and I wanted to ask, "are you rationing the rum for some reason," but I didn't feel like getting into an argument on vacation. Of course, they ended up tasting like "virgin" drinks - nice taste, but essentially no alcohol. We were both wondering what this guy, who appeared to be quite experienced, was thinking. He wants to save a few pennies of rum (on an island that is literally overflowing with the stuff), and have guests walk away feeling ripped off? Who does that benefit exactly? Certainly not the bar. We left after one drink, didn't stop there again, and we will not on future trips to St. Martin. And it's not like we were looking for a big pour of rum in a beach drink. During out entire stay in St. Martin this year and last year we've never had a single complaint about any drink at any place. So with all of this competition on an island where rum drinks are the speciality, this is just unacceptable - not just to guests but to the bar's management. Again, the place's location and setting are first rate, but if you go there, be sure to tell the bartender not to ration...

Can one ever have too much sushi and sashimi, not in my world ! What a fabulous day at LaPlaya Beach in Saint Martin! White sand, crystal blue water, and just the right amount of waves. Plus, beachfront makes it all even better. Life doesn’t get much tastier than this! Thanks to Alexandra for always making us feel welcome and giving us such great service.

On the platter: Mahi Mahi nigiri Tuna & salmon sashimi Specialty...

The first few days while we were at the hotel, service at the bar was excellent. However, the bar literally refused the welcome coupon we were given for complimentary drinks on our last night of the stay. So be wary! Once you get past the stage where you can tip the bartenders, you may be left off the customer service list. Very disappointing for what was normally such a great place. Huge let down at the end...