TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Driftwood

Ok. I've heard good things about Driftwood. Did a "walk through" on our visit 4/14. Not seein it. What am I missing? Why do YOU like Driftwood? Returning in July and want to give it a shot. 🍻🍕🍗🍔🍹🍹

I'm in the minority as I don't get the fascination with Driftwood.... We tried it a couple of times based on comments on the board and it just wasn't anything special or maybe we just don't get it.....

I think the biggest thing is you basically have the same view as SBAG and much lower drink prices. Parking can be a challenge as can service but I have never had anything other than mediocre service at SBAG. In both cases, you are going for the view and circus atmosphere.

I think you're more in touch with the OCEAN at Driftwood, but parking is really a problem. And the last time we went there, the pizza was very missable..

We like Driftwood because like others said you get the same kind of "circus" atmosphere without the congestion of Sunset. The rum punch is really a rum punch (almost like the ones on Anguilla). We NEVER try to park there! Instead we park over at Sunset, grab a drink, and walk to Driftwood while surveying the crowd. I'm in the minority but I just LOVE to see the excitement on everyone's face when planes come in or take off. By the time we get there our drinks are gone and it is time for another! We also really love the tuna pizza!!

They had an outstanding bartender who is no longer there so much of the glitz is gone.
Drink prices and quality clearly beat SSBB. Have enjoyed their pizza.
Views of planes or sunset are the same as SSBB.
Parking was tough before they lost some spots to barriers.
Toilet is not the best, or even close.

Long and involved story with the bartender.

Pizza is usually good but I have also witnessed some not so good.

It is not gourmet or a high end bar. It is a beach bar, service can be hit or miss but to me, it beats the alternative in the area.

For parking, I suggest the garage across the street.

Agree on the toilet.

Still not seeing it.....sorry but we went last year and were pretty much ignored by the bartender. I guess I'm just a Sunset person. BTW - We were at Sunset with a party of 8 and had a selection of food and it was all good. Not Grand Case good but pub food good.

Was at Sunset today after diving. Great fast, attentive service and good food for the four of us. Will go again before my next two weeks are up.

I'm not fond of being blasted with the jet engine exhaust as they turn around before takeoff, parking is difficult as well. SBAG is generally a daily stop when on island and we make a point to get to know the bartenders so service is mostly not a problem. I even liked John when he owned it so perhaps I'm a bit odd.

Kind of how myself and several others feel about BBB.

Well I'm not a Tourist , hence with Driftwood , I never had their food , but loved the atmosphere that Melanna did for the business and she was great . Real sorry about her lost of her job there . She was in the beginning and beautiful . I don't go back there anymore also a lot of local people don't either. Real sad, but my point.

Very much not the same as it once was. Seems like since they opened the place in town and "expanded" that things changed for the worse.

We tried the Crazy Cow and Pink Iguana last trip. Not the same but something different for a change.

Don't know the back story about staff turnover but we spoke to the owner in December and told him that his friendly staff was one of the big draws compared to SBAG. He agreed and said he liked to keep his staff happy.
The other thing that makes Driftwood stand out is thei rum punch. It is miles ahead of the rum and koolaid punch at the other end of the beach.
Parking can be a problem but as others have said park at the other side and walk over.

I also have no idea what the Driftwood draw is with the exception of the planes and beach. We stay next door, and have way before the driftwood was there. When it first opened, they had great food and drink. Last year, we had a pizza there when we first arrived. The pizza was probably one of the worst pizzas either of us have ever eaten...and this was a huge disappointment since we used to love it. Then, one day for lunch, as we were hanging around the pool at LP, we went over to get a quick burger to go. Luckily, we ate back at our chairs at the pool, because if i was there i probably would've thrown it in their faces. It was HORRIBLE.....even smelled like the meat was turned before they even cooked it. Instead of going back to complain, we threw the burgers in the trash and vowed not to return. Well....this year, we didnt go there, but....friends of ours did, and had the same experience with the lousy pizza and whatever else they ordered!!!!!! Only positive i can say was the beer was ICED COLD!!!!!!!! Nowadays, with all the cruise ships bringing people to the area, the Driftwood remains in business because of all the new people daily, but i can safely say they lost most of the old regulars, and most of the timeshare loyals they had from the Royal Islanders.

Sounds like from your experience that things have been up and down. Our food has always been good. With that said, so has the food at SSBG. We have been going to both for years. They are beach bars. Not gourmet restaurants. Pizza, etc back here at home can be hit or miss as well. We go for the cheap meal, good drinks, beach/plane watching atmosphere. Are there better places? Perhaps. But we have had the same type of experience at Karakter- Lousy service/food while other times it has been very good. Give it a try, if it doesn't work out either don't go again or decide to give it another try. We are all on vacation so do what makes you content!!

We have never bothered to have food at Driftwood, but have had drinks there a few times. The main problem there is parking! It is mostly non existent and will not be getting better any time soon. Parking in the parking garage across the street is a possible solution, but not always convenient.

I have never been to Driftwood, but, it sounds like the drinks are great ice cold beer and rum punch. I am returning to the island in July, I will be going to try it out for drinks and atmosphere.

Hey Liz. We usually hit the Driftwood a couple times each visit. Have found convenient parking in the under-building lot, entrance on left immediately past the last building exiting Maho towards Mullet. Park as far back as possible and take stairs to street level. Paid parking but not much, car is in shade, and seems secure with the booth attendant. Short walk to Driftwood. Has always had plenty of open slots when we've gone.

Wouldn't the garage behind Maho Market be closer?

Yes, i have no issues paying my 2 bucks for secure parking!

That is what Chunky is talking about.

January.....didn't sound like it to me. If one is "exiting Maho TOWARDS Mullet"....then that sounds like the Maho hotel garage....Bamboo Bernies end.

Now, if one is exiting Maho TOWARDS the airport or Simpson Bay, then that would be the other garage.

Big difference.

Not really a big difference in distance, if you pArk under LaTerrese, you come up close to the Casino I think, if you park under Maho, you walk out across from the Casino, either way, unless you have a walking issue, works perfect, either spot about a 5 minute walk to Driftwood or under 10 to Sunset

Park under La Terrase but park as close to the driveway exit as you can get and walk up the driveway. Much closer.

That's exactly what I was thinking...come out the back entrance of the market, where the gate closes to the garage driveway. Much closer.

BeachKitten:
You are right, it would be the Maho garage. I stand corrected. By the way, I had my rental car stolen from there.

Yikes! Sorry that happened to you.

We have been to Driftwood many times as we stay at LP next door. I agree with Leslie that Melanne created an atmosphere that was enjoyable on most occasions. It will be a real loss if she is not there in Oct when we go back.

...Never had a bad pizza there.

unless it's a very busy time when you go....it would be easier to park at the alegria parking..and walk over. also no charge for parking

We enjoy the pizza at Driftwood and the drinks are certainly much less expensive than at Sunset. We usually arrive early and get a parking spot right in front and then rent chairs. Last time we were there, though, the server and the owner both tried to pull a fast one on us and overcharged for our meal. Said the menu was wrong. If you run a tab there, look closely at your receipt.

Also, they started adding a 10% service charge for food (probably a year ago or more) and the tab is usually "rounded up" to make it come out even.

Same at Big Wood in P'Burg this March. Maybe it was 15%, but is was a surprise. The escargot came out in a different setting/presentation, but still good.

To me, it's a very unfortunate circumstance that more and more places are adding a service fee. The times we've been to Driftwood, we have left some type of a tip, but the service has often not merited it.

I am A OK with places adding a tip or service fee as long as they clearly list it and do not spin sell it. Considering the tipping practice on the French side being different, I think it is reasonable for places to add it and just be up front about it. We in most cases would add to this amount again assuming they are honest and up front about it.

I would also state, as long as it is shared with the staff or the server specifically. If they do not, then that is not my problem but the staff's and their decision to work there.

Cheers,
Todd

Our first visit to SXM is coming up in 2 weeks. Is "Driftwood" from this thread the same place as Guy's Drfitwood Boat Bar? http://sxmboatbar.com/ Please let me know. Thanks!

Yes, it's the same place.

We always check our bill while on vacation but honestly have to check our bills here too. Depending on the size of the party a service charge is sometimes added in places here. Also catch bills being wrong here too.

Have yet to have a drink there. Our timeshare is right next to it - LaPlage - but we always end up at SBAG, or at Tortugas on the site of the timeshare. Gonna try that rum punch after reading about it here.

Well Melanie won her Court case against them. Good for her