TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Can u eat at Club O's restaurant...

Can you eat at Club O's restaurant even if you're not staying there at the resort? I know you can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas, which we have in the past, but I never checked out the restaurant.

Yes, but you can not drive beyond the gate. The guards will drive you to the restaurant if you ask them as it gets really dark at night on the back road. They will typically pick you up and return you to the guard hut if you have the restaurant call. Or you can walk the short distance around to back road.
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Was there yesterday and the open air seating area was blocked off, but the remainder was open. At lunch and early afternoon restaurant was almost full.
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Thanks !

Why was "open air seating" blocked off?

It's been blocked off since the hurricane last October. There are structural issues and cracks in the floor there. I'm not sure when it's going to be fixed. I sure do miss it on the hot nights.

How many seats are they losing every night by having this blocked off? Seams like they would be taking quite a financial hit with the delay in the repair.

If you go to the beach @ lunchtime check out their take out. The salads are enormous and delicious. Also, the sandwiches. I've eaten there at night as a guest and was allowed to drive up the roadway.....could be because the guard knew me. It was wonderful.
Good Luck.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> Contessa ( from Reveah )

They don't lose that many seats. I think there are maybe 4 tables that sit a max of 6 people each. I liked it because it was open air. If you had a noisy group it was a good place to sit since you wouldn't disturb people.
I thought that once they shored up the restaurant back last November, that it would be re-opened, but as of beginning of March it was still closed. I never did get to ask what the plans were for it.

the pillars have to be shored up beneath the "patio" or what you are calling open air seating. There are not that many seats there and were mostly used during lunch so I don't think it is making a huge difference.
Papagayo does a great lunch business...and every time we ate there for dinner in April it was also full.

Anyone can eat there...which is the original question.

It does not have the best food on the island....but we enjoy the entertainment and the convenience. We usually go for happy hour and stay for the evening. We can drink and not worry about driving home.

And you don't have to worry about what to wear for dinner.

Cathy, did they still have a wine & cheese reception when you were there? It was always held mostly on the closed-off section, but there is none scheduled in the new Leafless. Not exactly gourmet, but a good chance to meet your new neighbors.

Papagayo's new gold paint job, and their new sign.

WOW I cant believe all the sand. Did they put it there or did it come back naturally?

If you look closely, you can see they built a seawall.

Yes I can see that. The rocks didn't used to be that far away from the building. Hopefully it will help with the erosion.And the steep climb into the restaurant. And will be able to walk the entire length of the beach

Cool! Thanks for the picture! Hopefully this will solve the situation with the erosion. Looks like the outside patio is now back in service!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

They were working on it when we were there in February, We watched them bring in huge rocks as a base, then tons of sand. It was impressive watching the operator do his thing with the front end loader - he was good.

yes...the wine and cheese party was Tuesday night

carol...the part of the restaurant shown in this picture is in service....it is the part BEHIND it...closer to the restrooms that is closed

They were installing the sign on the roof while we were there in April

Oh, ok, thanks.

That looks great. First time in 3-4 years that the water hasn't been splashing up against the building.

Once again, thanks for the photos, David & Pauline. Papagayo is looking good, can't wait 'til Nov.

As DarkDiggler said... they built a seawall that seems to be holding up very well. Here's a better shot of the size of that seawall.


This is the area that was once wooden with some outdoor seating. It is being reconstructed.


Finally a shot the new gold paint job. It used to be white.

thanks for posting all these pictures!

Modi, thanks for the picture, it looks great. During our last trip in November, they were just starting to place the rocks in front. This is a major improvement.

I love the photo of the "No Photo" sign. Sorry Modi, you are now banned from Club O!

Well that was indeed awkward! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/sorry.gif" alt="" /> I can say that we do our work very early and with the utmost discretion. Often we have to wait for the background to clear in order to snap a picture. Pictures do speak volumes though.

Is the shower gone? The one that was near the bathrooms. Are the bathrooms open?

Years ago, there used to be lots of sand in between the restaurant and the water. Chairs and umbrellas would be in the area that is now water. One year the sand went away and it never came back.

We were there two weeks ago. The bathrooms and shower are still there. Make sure there is no one taking pictures when you use the shower! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Over the years, I've seen many people (who were trying to sneak photos) chased down the beach by security. The confrontation was always fun to watch. Back in the days of film they would actually confiscate the film. With digital, they would ask the "sneaks" to delete the photos. Today, only the most blatant get caught. Technology has given those intent on sneaking photos of naked people the upper hand.

Holy moly, film? Yes, they seem to be particularly picky on the far end near Papagayo maybe because they figure those folks are going out of their way for privacy? Last year I saw guy that was very upset insisting that he was doing landscapes but security wouldn't hear about it.

Sure he was doing landscapes, sure he was... (Sarc).

...like the Twin Peaks and the Rift Valley... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/boohoo.gif" alt="" />

"Here sir, your camera has sand on it...let me rinse it off in the sea water for you!"

What a difference a day makes... Last night we passed by the Papagayo cordoned off old wooden deck area, and they are now laying main beams, so the reconstruction of that part seems to have begun in earnest!

Just in time for our arrival next Wed.! --sxmdoc <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /><img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

Great news! I really missed that patio!

Here's the Papagayo deck reconstruction progress as of this morning 6/6/2015 - SXMDOC I don't think it will be ready by next Wednesday.



Also I waded out a ways and took a picture that shows the extent of the seawall... as you can see here it tapers off all the way to the Watersports area. It's pretty huge.

thanks for the pictures! Don't know what all they are going to do on that deck, but just putting down decking boards usually goes pretty quick!

Hope springs eternal! --sxmdoc <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />

Yes you can eat there and the food is good! Love their french onion soup. I eat burgers only a couple times a year and I think last trip I had 2 blue cheese burgers at Papgayo during our stay.

...and have JP make you a cocktail while you are there!