Soraya Swimwear Saint-Barthélemy
A French swimwear atelier tucked beside Saint-Jean's Pélican Beach
Why Go
On an island where the beach is the dress code, Soraya has been quietly outfitting well-heeled bathers since 2014 — a Parisian-born house (est. 1994) that treats a bikini like couture, cut for real women who intend to walk from turquoise water to a Saint-Jean lunch table without changing.
The Experience
Step off the sand at Plage Pélican and the mood shifts instantly: cool tile floors, soft lighting, and rack after rack of prints that look like they were painted for the Caribbean sun. The boutique is intimate — the kind of shop where Haby, the longtime manageress, will size you up in a glance and pull three suits she knows will fit before you've finished browsing. Alongside the swim there are silky SbyS cover-ups, breezy Bohème kaftans, terry-lined beach bags, wide-brim hats and towels that make you look like you belong on a yacht at Colombier. It's high-end without being stuffy, and the fitting room advice is genuinely useful — Soraya's cuts are known for flattering a range of morphologies, which is why the brand has dressed Miss France candidates for years.
What to Try
Ask specifically for the 'Soraya St Barth' capsule — a small annual collection of swim and beachwear designed only for this boutique, with island-inspired prints you won't find in the Paris flagship or online. The Bohème kaftans double as a beach-to-lunch dress, and the SbyS silk pieces are the easy pick for a sundowner at Nikki Beach next door. If you're on a budget, the Last Chance rail runs up to 50% off past-season pieces.
Insider Tip
Come in the morning right at opening (10am, or 11:30am on Sunday, closed Monday) — Haby has time to properly style you before the post-beach crowd arrives, and she'll happily hold pieces while you go swim and think it over. Bring a photo of the dress or resort you're pairing it with; the staff take styling seriously and will mix cups, bottoms and cover-ups across collections rather than sell you a pre-set look.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Plage Pélican, Saint-Jean, 97133 Saint-Barthélemy. Hours: Tue–Sat 10am–7pm, Sun 11:30am–7pm, closed Monday. Phone: +590 590 27 64 00. Steps from the sand at Saint-Jean beach, a five-minute drive from Gustavia and directly across from Rémy de Haenen Airport — easy to combine with a beach afternoon. Cards accepted; euros are the local currency but USD is often taken. Parking along the Saint-Jean beach road is tight in high season — arrive before 11am or after 3pm.
Pair It With
- Absolute Hot Yoga Guide — A Gustavia studio ten minutes away — book a morning class, then shop and lunch in Saint-Jean before hitting the beach in your new suit.
- 6e SENS Massage Wellness Beauty Saint Barth Guide — Follow a fitting session with a beachside massage; both live in the same Saint-Jean orbit and make an easy self-care afternoon.
- Abyss Restaurant Guide — Slip your new Bohème kaftan straight over damp swimwear and walk to lunch — the boutique is designed exactly for that beach-to-table transition.
- 1493 Lodges St Barth Guide — Guests staying up in Colombier can pair a Soraya stop in Saint-Jean with a sunset at Colombier Beach on the way back — Soraya's wide-brim hats and towels are packed for exactly that.
