TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin sunset beach bar

Do topless women still drink free?

Year before last they were catering almost exclusively to the cruise ships - weren't even open in the evenings. So I doubt it. Too bad - used to be a fun place.

We were there near the end of April....saw very few people there, never mind topless.

They probably do but i don't think there are still a lot of takers with the new expansion and family oriented crowds they have from cruise ships. Hopefully not.

It is a totally different place than it was a few years ago. It doesn’t have the same charm anymore...

When there in April 2017,we never saw any topless or even remember seeing the sign. The menu had changed a lot and the service was not good.

It is not what it used to be. There are no late night parties and they are closed by about 8:00 PM. Once they started catering to the cruise ship people, they didn't need the night life people.

Incorrect. THey have Jam sessions scheduled for every Sunday in April that starts at 7:00 and goes till late. Long after the cruise people have left.

That may be correct for April, but in the old days in December, every night was a late night and we didn't leave until 1 or 2 in the morning. In 2016 , when we were there in November/December,for three weeks, every night the place was closed at 8:00 PM. We had to start going to the Red Piano for any late night music and dancing. When we asked the manager why they didn't stay open late, he said he didn't need to since they had the cruise ships during the day. We will check it out again when we go this November/December but it will probably not be like it was back 5 years ago.

I tried to edit my post to state August instead of April but it was to late. I would think part of the reasoning behind them not being open late when you were there was due to the lack of turism post Irma.

Generally it is only busy on the week-ends for the night part with a lot of the locals.
During the week Monday to Friday in the evening they do close very early. The current flow of Tourists are only from the Cruise Ships and that's only for the daytime .

Irma happened in 2017 and we were there for the 16 years before Irma. So what we were experiencing had nothing to do with Irma.

I have always had great service and food before Irma and this last trip after Irma. Been going there for over 20+ years. Always make a point of going there with newbe's and they have always enjoyed it. Glad they came back strong after Irma and wish them all the success they deserve.

I would rate it very low. Kind of like Cheri's that is way past its prime compared to what it used to be. Poor service, poor attitude and mediocre (at BEST) food.

When you spend what you spend there, most will not admit it was for a lost cause.

To each their own. That's why there's vanilla and chocolate.

And timeshares.

That's another subject all by it's self. Let's not go there.

Sunset Beach Bar misses Neil Rooney. After Neil left, SSBB expanded, blew out and lost it's personality. Not saying growth is bad because the business grew. But it lost the personality it had as the Bar at the End of The Runway where you could watch airplanes and where Topless Women Drank For Free. It just became a Commercialized place to go.

JMHO

Why, you love timeshares and you responded to the wrong poster.

Yep, my bad for not hitting the reply under your post. **it happens but don't want to hijack this thread for a timeshare bashing fest.

I love timeshares, they give me the opportunity to rent for around or less than the MF and I pay nothing upfront.

Isn't Sunset located on a timeshare property?

The reason I asked, we are traveling there the first week of Dec and have some first timers w/ us. The wives have no problem getting a free drink or 2 out of fun. And I agree, please don't hijack this thread. If you want to talk about timeshares, please start a new thread. Thanks

Go and report back to us about changes or no changes.

I understand the need for fun! A few years ago with a bunch of us we went everyday for the shot of the day. But service there has really gone down hill and not impressed by the food either. Only thing going for them is a great location. (Ex. I asked bartender for a beer, nope didn't have it. Asked for another, nope. What do you have? The beers are on the other side of the bar. I looked on the shelf and there were the beers I had asked for. Hmmm) If you want fun, walk down to Driftwood Boat Bar. The rum punch is a killer and I have seen topless women there although they don't drink for free!

Technically I don't believe topless is legally Ok to do in public on the Dutch side. Some do but it is not really acceptable practice by law.

Interesting, as I've never had good service there and was treated quite rudely on one occasion. I ordered a drink and was told that they didn't have an ingredient for that drink. Five minutes later I saw the bartender making one for someone else. And no, it wasn't because I was rude or didn't behave appropriately.

Same experience as you Georgia. We went a few times when we first visited because it was a "must do", but learned quickly it wasn't worth the gas to get there, and we only live 5 minutes away! Lousy service, lousy food.

20 years ago! Used to be great. Neil owned it. Tiny bar.
Packed.
Too sad.
Cheers
irina

I go back to when Neil/Brad had it and there was not much to it. It grew, food was pretty decent and new owners took over. As it continued to grow, food went downhill, service went from bad to very bad and it lost the "charm" that made it a great spot.

Last several times I was there, it continued to go downhill and I would be hard-pressed to return.

I totally agree. It is definitely not the place it used to be. It really started going downhill about 6 years ago.

Well after hearing all this...The Driftwood it is.

Once about 6+ years ago there were a few women drinking topless at the bar and they seemed to be part of a group and the group was having a good time with it.
Fast forward to 2 years ago we were there and there was one topless woman...it was a bit awkward. The expansion has changed the 'beach bar' vibe at the end of the runway. We didn't have a good experience at Driftwood. Just my personal experience.

I forget when the guy from PA (John?) took over but he was the first to start running it into the ground and I think that was well longer than 6 years ago.

Regardless, it is nothing at all like it used to be.

Dolfer....our most recent trip at the end of May we did not visit Sunset once. We hit Driftwood 3 times! lol

For me, Maho beach is for drinks, watching both surf and planes and killing time. It doesn't need to be the 'coolest bar' or have great food. There are plenty of other places to experience that offer that.

I have to agree. We were there twice in January & enjoyed the food & service was very good. There was a good group of people there enjoying the day.
We will be back there in January. Going 20 years as well.

Yes it was way longer than 6 years ago when John was there. He's the one that changed the name to SSBB & G.
Didn't he then go do BBB? Then left island?

I don't think he was ever at BBB but he did leave, or was forced to leave, the island. He had some anger and legal issues from what I recall.

What is the parking situation at Driftwood post Irma? We usually go to SSBB to have a drink and wait for our plane to come in because parking is easy. I would love to try Driftwood this time.

Parking is the same as before. If you can find a spot out front, you are very lucky!!