Gingerbread Cafe — Little Bay Beach Bar at Belair Beach Hotel
All-day beach dining, Monday all-you-can-eat BBQ, and cruise ship views at Little Bay Beach.
Why Go
Gingerbread Cafe at the Belair Beach Hotel delivers a beach bar experience that most tourists on St. Maarten never discover, because Little Bay Beach sits just far enough from the main Philipsburg Boardwalk to filter out the casual strollers. What remains is a genuine waterfront restaurant with Caribbean Sea views, passing cruise ships as entertainment, and a kitchen that anchors the week with Monday all-you-can-eat BBQ specials featuring ribs and seafood. Open from 8 AM to 10 PM daily, it covers breakfast through dinner with the kind of relaxed, sand-adjacent dining that defines the Caribbean ideal.
The Experience
Little Bay Beach has a character distinct from the busier Great Bay Beach on the Boardwalk. The setting is quieter, the water is excellent for swimming, and the Belair Beach Hotel provides the infrastructure — beach chairs, maintained sand, and Gingerbread Cafe as the food anchor. The all-day menu runs from breakfast through dinner, with fresh salads like Southwest Chicken and Cobb sitting alongside burgers and more substantial plates. The Monday BBQ all-you-can-eat special has built a following: ribs and seafood grilled fresh, served until you cannot eat anymore, with the beach and sunset as your backdrop. Cold beers and tropical drinks flow throughout the day, and the open-air setting means you are always connected to the sea breeze and the view.
What to Try
The Monday all-you-can-eat BBQ is the signature event — ribs and seafood grilled to order in an unlimited format. On other days, the Southwest Chicken Salad and Cobb Salad are standouts. Burgers and casual plates cover the lunch crowd. Breakfast at 8 AM on the beach is an underrated way to start the day. Cold local beers and tropical cocktails are the drink program's backbone.
Insider Tip
Little Bay Beach is walking distance from Philipsburg but rarely crowded because most tourists stay on the Boardwalk at Great Bay. The Gingerbread Cafe gives you a reason to make the walk or short drive. Monday BBQ night is the best value dinner on a Philipsburg beach — arrive by 6 PM for the best selection and a good seat with cruise ship views as the backdrop.
The Practical Stuff
Located at the Belair Beach Hotel, Little Bay Beach, Philipsburg. Open daily 8 AM to 10 PM. Moderate pricing at $$. Monday all-you-can-eat BBQ specials. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Beach bar with ocean views and cruise ship sightings. Near SXM Padel Club and Mix at Oceans. Parking available at the hotel.
Pair It With
- Belair Beach Hotel Guide — Stay at the hotel for direct beach and restaurant access
- SXM Padel Club Guide — Nearby padel courts for active visitors looking for sport near the beach