Les Bananiers
A banana-grove hideaway where French classics meet Creole warmth in quiet Colombier.
Why Go
Tucked into a lush garden of banana trees on the sleepy northwest tip of St Barth, Les Bananiers is the kind of unshowy neighborhood favorite that regulars quietly guard — a place where the fish came in that morning, the pizza oven fires at dusk, and nobody's rushing you back to a yacht.
The Experience
Follow the winding road up to Colombier and you'll spot the banana fronds before the sign. Inside, the room is bright, colorful and modern with just enough rustic edge — local artwork on the walls, low ambient lighting after sunset, and tables spilling into the garden. It draws a mixed crowd of villa renters, off-duty locals and in-the-know travelers who've traded Gustavia's harbor buzz for something calmer. Lunches are unhurried and Creole-tinged; evenings shift into a slightly more sophisticated register, with a well-curated French and international wine list and cocktails leaning into tropical fruit. Service is warm and attentive without being fussy, and the whole thing feels less like a restaurant on a jet-set island and more like an old friend's garden.
What to Try
Start with the grouper ceviche brightened by mango and coconut milk, or the escargots in garlic butter if you're feeling classically French. For mains, the lobster ravioli in buttery sauce is the standout special-occasion pick, while the monkfish with garlic cream and the papillotes de mahi show off the daily catch. Duck fans go straight for the Parmentier de canard or the grilled duck breast. In the evening, don't skip the thin-crust pizzas — they've quietly built a cult following and are also available to take away. Wash it down with the house Bananiers' Mojito.
Insider Tip
Book ahead for dinner (it's small and locals fill it fast), and time a lunch visit around a morning at nearby Colombier Beach — you'll need a rental car or a scooter to get here, and the drive up from Gustavia is half the charm. If you can't get a table, order a couple of pizzas to take back to your villa.
The Practical Stuff
Colombier, Gustavia 97133, St Barthélemy. Phone +590 590 27 93 48. Open Tue–Fri for lunch (12–2pm) and dinner (6:30–10pm), Sat dinner only, closed Sun–Mon. Reservations strongly recommended. Mid-range to upper-mid pricing. Rental car essential — the restaurant sits above the village with no easy taxi access.
Pair It With
- 1493 Lodges St Barth Guide — The most natural pairing — stay a two-minute drive away in Colombier and walk (or short-drive) to dinner without navigating St Barth's dark hillside roads.
- 6e SENS MASSAGE Wellness Beauty Saint Barth Guide — Line up a late-afternoon massage before dinner for a full slow-down day away from the Gustavia scene.
- Absolute Hot Yoga Guide — Burn off the lobster ravioli with a morning class in Gustavia before heading back up to Colombier for a leisurely lunch.
