Changes are in the Air
- Bacardi Café Reopens as Le Tantra Like many shops and restaurants, the Bacardi Café in Villa Creole in St Jean was closed during September for renovations. This spot has reopened as a new bar, lounge and restaurant called Le Tantra. It is open seven days a week from 10:00 am to midnight Monday through Friday and from 5:00 pm to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. Happy hour is 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm, with all cocktails priced at 5 €.
Cocoloba and La Gloriette
We already knew that La Gloriette wouldn't be reopening. Now, it also seems that the Cocoloba will be under new ownership (rumor is that it's been leased to a "familiar island celebrity" - not Boubou. Although I'm hardly familiar with the island celebrities, my guess is that it could be Papagayo.). Current plans are that it will be a bar that offers "finger food" at Happy Hour and live music.
This restaurant in Lurin, high above beautiful Gouverneur Beach, has been leased to Manu, the sommelier from the elegant restaurant La Sapotilier. He has been busy remodeling, using some furniture from the hotel Manapany in Anse des Cayes and tables, flatware and other items from La Gloriette. He has also put a large lobster/langouste tank in the middle of the floor.
It's been heard that La Vela has closed and that the original manager of Nikki Beach will be opening a French bistro in that location. This is all hearsay, so time will tell.
Le ToinyA group of Texans led by Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France, have bought Le Toiny hotel in Grand Fond. Rooms are being renovated, and a spa and beach restaurant are being added. Executive chef Maxime Deschamps has left and is now the chef at Le Tamarin in Saline.
This bar and restaurant on the harbor in Gustavia has been closed since the end of May. However, the music starts again on October 16 with Nicole Nelson and Dwight Ritcher just until November 4. Nicole Nelson delivers blues, R&B, rock and classic soul. She has been compared to Eva Cassidy, Donny Hathaway, Gladys Knight and Jill Scott. In 2001 she entered and won the Boston Blues Challenge and went on to place third in the International Blues Competition. Nelson has recently teamed up with acclaimed singer/songwriter Dwight Ritcher to form the powerful duo group Dwight & Nicole. They have been playing at some of the nation's top venues, sharing the stage with Dr. John, Melvin Sparks and Maceo Parker. This duo will be followed by the Darian Cunning Trio: Nuevo Blues Rock from November 6 to December 9. Check it out!
