Many day-trippers come over to Marigot from the Dutch side of the island just to visit the French-inspired boutiques and shopping arcades. Because St. Martin is also a duty-free port, you'll find some of the best shopping in the Caribbean here as well. There's a wide selection of European merchandise, much of it luxury items such as crystal, fashions, fine liqueurs, and cigars, sometimes at 25% to 50% less than in the United States and Canada. Whether you're seeking jewelry, perfume, or St. Tropez bikinis, you'll find it in one of the boutiques along rue de la République and rue de la Liberté in Marigot. Look especially for French luxury items, such as Lalique crystal, Vuitton bags, and Chanel perfume.
Prices are often quoted in U.S. dollars, and salespeople frequently speak English. Credit cards and traveler's checks are generally accepted. When cruise ships are in port on Sundays and holidays, some of the larger shops stay open.
At harborside in Marigot, there's a lively morning market with vendors selling spices, fruit, shells, and handcrafts. Shops here tend to be rather upscale, catering to passengers of the small but choice cruise ships that dock offshore.
At bustling Port La Royale, mornings are even more active: Schooners unload produce from the neighboring islands, boats board guests for picnics on deserted beaches, a brigantine sets out on a sightseeing sail, and a dozen different little restaurants are readying for the lunch crowd. The largest shopping arcade on St. Martin, it has lots of boutiques.
Havane Boutique, 50 Marina Port La Royale (tel. 590/87-70-39), is a hyper-stylish menswear store, more couture than ready-to-wear. Serge Blanco "15" Boutique, Marina Port La Royale (tel. 590/29-65-49), is a relatively unknown name in North America, but in France Blanco is revered as one of the most successful rugby players of all time. His menswear is sporty, fun, and elegant. Clothes include polo shirts, shorts, shoes, and truly wonderful latex jackets.
Gingerbread & Mahogany Gallery, 4-14 Marina Royale (tel. 590/87-73-21), is among the finest galleries on the island. Owner Simone Seitre is one of the most knowledgeable purveyors of Haitian art in the Caribbean. Even if you're not in the market for an expensive piece, you'll find dozens of charming and inexpensive handcrafts. The little gallery is a bit hard to find (on a narrow alleyway at the marina), but it's worth the search.
Another complex, the Galerie Périgourdine, facing the post office, also has a cluster of boutiques. Here you might pick up designer wear for both men and women, including items from the collection of Ted Lapidus.
Act III, 3 rue du Général-de-Gaulle (tel. 590/29-28-43), is perhaps the most glamorous women's boutique in St. Martin. It prides itself on its evening gowns and chic cocktail dresses. If you've been invited to a reception aboard a private yacht, this is the place to find the right outfit. Designers include Alaïa, Thierry Mugler, Gianni Versace, Christian Lacroix, Cerruti, Lanvin, and Gaultier. The bilingual staff is accommodating, tactful, and charming.
J'Aime Ca by Bettina, Passage Louisiane (tel. 590/87-29-76), sells lace garments, the kind that are demure when worn with undergarments and more than a bit naughty when worn without them. Lace, lace, and more lace -- in colors that include white, ecru, and black -- is fashioned into skirts, tops, jumpsuits, shirts and blouses, and even "summer coats" that have lots of style but virtually no warmth, thanks to the peek-a-boo holes artfully crafted into each square yard.
La Romana, 12 rue de la République (tel. 590/87-88-16), specializes in chic women's clothing that's a bit less pretentious and more fun and lighthearted than the selection at Act III. Italian rather than French designers are emphasized, including lines such as Anna Club, plus La Perla swimwear, handbags, and perfumes. A small collection of menswear is also available.
The popular chain Little Switzerland has a branch here on rue de la République (tel. 590/87-50-03). This outlet is different from the one on the Dutch side, with a concentration on French products. The widest array of duty-free luxury items in French St. Martin is available here, including French perfume and leather goods.
Maneks, 24 rue de la République (tel. 590/87-54-91), has a little bit of everything: video cameras, electronics, household appliances, liquors, gifts, souvenirs, beach accessories, film, watches, T-shirts, and sunglasses. The staff even sells Cuban cigars.
Roland Richardson Paintings and Prints, 6 rue de la République (tel. 590/87-84-08), has a beautiful gallery. A native of St. Martin, Mr. Richardson is one of the Caribbean's premier artists, working in oil, watercolors, pastels, and charcoal. Called a "modern-day Gauguin," he is known for his landscapes, portraits, and colorful still-lifes. His work has been exhibited in more than 70 one-man and group exhibitions in museums and galleries around the world.
A charming roadside Creole cottage is home to Gloria Lynn Studio, 83 bd. de Grand-Case (tel. 590/87-77-24), which offers some of the most interesting paintings in Grand-Case. Inside, you'll find artworks by four members of the Lynn family (Gloria, Marty, Peter, and Robert). Their shared theme is island life and island sociology.
