TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Dress code - Dinner in July

What is normal dress code for most restaurants for Dinner in July? We plan on doing a mix of casual (lolos) and couple nice diners (Grand Case etc) and anything in between. Did not want to pack to many outfits just for dinner. Dockers and collar shirts (tropical/golf) acceptable for men or are jackets required? Thank you!

SXM is very laid back. I usually go to dinner in decent shorts and as you said tropical/golf shirts. Grace usually goes out in capris or a very casual skirt and a collared shirt of some sort. I do NOT even bring a pair of long pants. July is off season and restaurants are usually slower. I don't believe you will find any turning you away.

I agree, Eric usually doesn't even bring a pair of long pants. Jacket? No.. I would not personally dine in a t-shirt at one of the better restaurants, but even at that, you probably wouldn't be turned away. However, a collared shirt and a nice pair of shorts for men, and capris or shorts or sundress for a woman, is fine.

While I'm sure that we would not be turned away, I dressed in long pants for our dinner at Temptation in Cupecoy. It's elegant and air conditioned. Shorts just don't seem right to me in a place like that.

Other than that, collared shirt and nice shorts.

For what it's worth, my DH ALWAYS used to bring a pair of long pants which he NEVER wore, and we do often dine in many of the nicer dining spots on the island. No jackets for at least twenty-five years......" <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> "......says the man I married.

And of course, there are a few venues where you might be more comfortable in long pants and even a jacket but they are the exception and not the rule.

About fifteen years ago I started my own visual survey in the places we dined and to a night, including weekends when we personally would normally tend to dress up a bit more, there were always a few men in long pants but the majority were generally in nice dress shorts and collared shirts, be they golf style or button up types. Ladies would typically be seen in anything from dressy shorts and/or slacks/capris with nice tops to skirts and tops and/or sundresses and you might even see a few in more formal evening wear, but they are generally the island movers and shakers as opposed to the typical island vacationer.

These are merely my personal observations but I do think the bottom line, judging merely from the fact you thought to ask in the first place, you will be comfortable and dressed correctly wherever you go.

LOL

I also....for the first twenty plus years used to always bring one pair of long pants to wear. Finally, after all the years of NEVER using them, i stopped bringing them. There is NO PLACE on the island that one needs to get dressed up for......from the lolos to the finest dining. A decent pair of shorts, along with a polo type shirt is more than enough for any restaurant. And.....I always go during ''high season". One will never feel uncomfortable in any way they are dressed on the island.

Hi, Ed,

We generally go at the tail end of the 'high season' and even on Easter Sunday, we saw many male diners - visitors and islanders alike - dressed in nicer dress shorts but I will say, on that day - the majority of females, ourselves included, were more dressed up but I think that was personal choice, as opposed to anything dictated by the holiday or the venue as there were others dressed more casually, too.

That's one of the many really great things about SXM - or so it seems to me. Almost anything within reason is acceptable.

Would we ever go to dinner in jean type shorts and tee shirts? - only at the lolos, Cheris or a Pineapple Pete type place maybe but I wouldn't hesitate to wear a pair of nice shorts or capris with a nice top almost anywhere short of the Bajatzu, LeMoulin Fou, Mario Bistro. LaSamana, Le Sental, La Cigale, Antoines type places, all of which, IMHO, demand a more respectful attire.

Tee shirts are for the day, over a bathing suit or shorts for lunch.

La Samana still has a dress code. Jacket & tie for gentlemen, no shorts or T's.

Last visit ate in Grand Case at a very nice place and the owner turned away a couple in shorts. Immediately after other couple dressed in a sundress for her, slacks and a short sleeve dress shirt (no tie) for the man and he seated them without a reservation.

Haven't been to Sol e Luna since it sold but never saw shorts when we were there.

In Simpson Bay where most restaurants are casual, shorts should be okay. Any beach restaurants should be okay for t-shirts.

I've also seen that happen in Grand Case. David always brings one pair of long pants.

Which CG restaurant turned someone away for wearing shorts? This is news to me, but maybe because I have never eaten there.

I saw it happen at Spiga, several years ago. They had on shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops.

Perhaps it was the flipflops that caused the dinner refusal. Then again, there are 'shorts' and there are dress shorts. Who's to say.........

What I can say is when we were there in April I know for a fact John had on linen Bermuda shorts and a nice plaid collared shirt. I wore a sundress and the other party in our group I believe wore capris, and we were definitely NOT turned away. And for the record, there were many others dressed in approximately the same type attire.

During the course of our meal Lara came to the table and instead of just a quick welcome, she actually stayed and chatted for a bit. I doubt she would have done that had she been upset with our appearance.

I have been to most of the restaurants on Grand Case...and have never worn long pants. LaSamanna...never been too...don't plan too. I also don't go to the fancier places in a tee shirt...like i mentioned..usually a polo type collared shirt. If someone turned away diners on Grand Case....willing to bet it was NOT over the dress code, but probably filled for the night. If any restaurant wants to be that ''stuffy'' and require a ''dress code'' they won't last long on such a casual island. La Samanna is a whole different world...along with the people that stay there.

Ed,

In all honesty, we haven't been to La Samana in years and the last time we were there it was for brunch and we were nicely dressed but in more casual daytime attire.

The only time we dined at Le Santal it was probably 35 years ago or more, and yes, DH wore a jacket and tie, but truthfully, everyone did back in those days. It was a wonderful evening and one I won't ever forget but not one I've ever particularly wanted to repeat, primarily because of the dress code. For a very special evening here at home, that would be fine, but for us - not what we want on vacation.

Do they still have the loner jackets and ties? They did have and offer them to those not quite up to their dress standards when we were there so very many years ago. Personally speaking, if that happened to us I would be offended and not really want to dine there, but that's just me. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

IMHO there is a nicer look when men have a nice casual cotton pair of pants with polo or cotton shirt when out for a dinner with his other half in a sundress than the wife semi dressed up & hubby in shorts (flip flops are for shopping & beach again my humble opinion) good to know about la Samanna requiring jacket & tie. Too hot for that. Blanc du nil in phillipsburg & at airport have really nice white cotton clothing also Tilley.com. Just my thoughts. Enjoy your stay!

No, I don't think it was the shorts at all. These folks had on board shorts and t-shirts, and they just looked sloppy. It was Lara that turned them away. The restaurant was nearly full at the time.

I know you and John well enough to know that you wouldn't go to any restaurant looking sloppy.

Thank you everyone for the feedback. Casual it is and the pants stay home

That's the ticket. Bottom line......go and enjoy!!!

I'm a fan of nice pants (short or long) and a collared shirt. No tee shirts.
Neat and clean enhances the fine dining experience for everyone...including the wearer!
;-)

We dined at Spiga and I had Docker shorts and a buttoned, collared shirt with flip flops and there was no issue. Now of course, my flip flops were Michigan State Spartan flip flops so maybe that made the difference. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

This is why I prefer Papagayo. Just a towel in hand. Not sure I even wore flip flops.

My husband prefers nice shorts over long pants in the evening. I guess if a restaurant doesn't allow that, there are plenty of other ones that will appreciate our business! Too many good places to choose from, anyway!

First trip the cab driver looked at our luggage and asked us if we were staying for a month. It was only a week. We finally whittled it down to two carryons for a week and still bring back unused clothes.

I'm racking my brain to remember the name of the GC restaurant but can't. I'd hate to say the name I think it was if that wasn't the place. It had the best onion soup I've had yet. I'm sure I'd recognize it by sight. We sat in front in a curved section facing the street. It's on the non-water side of street.

We did NOT have a reservation and neither did the couple after the couple that was refused seating. So being "full" wasn't in question. In fact after our 3 course meal the place still wasn't full to capacity. I believe it was their attire.

PS Ed you posted

if restaurant wants to be stuffy they won't last long.

This restaurant is one of the oldest in Grand Case. I expect they'll be around for a long time to come.

I don't know, I think wearing shorts over long pants is kind of dorky, but it still beats capris.

Sorry, Pony, I couldn't resist.

Now, wait a minute, I LOVE capris.... (...well, maybe not over long pants... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />)

LOL, Cruzer! You got me there!

Carol, I think they were talking about men who wear capris, and any man that wears capris would herd cats.

Manpris are very stylish in Europe!

If I saw a man wearing capris, I would just assume that he lost a bet.

Capt.Rick always wears white linen capris. I think they look pretty good

Enough said, just proves my point!

I can only think to bring long pants for one reason and that would be mosquitoes. That said, we didn't take any and put mosquitos milk spray on before going out to dinner. No big problem last two weeks for us, but we have been bit before on other trips at dinner on both sides of island.

Don't know the gentleman in question but perhaps it's the man who makes the capris look pretty good? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Well, David has a pair of white ones, and I think he looks excellent in them; so I agree with your theory, Pat.

Really?? Never heard of men wearing capris!! Learn something every day!

They must be part of that "metro-sexual" crowd.

There's sex on the metro? Who knew?