(Photo: Courtesy of Hotel St. Barth Isle de France)

Like any exclusive destination, St. Barts is kinder to its regulars—especially when it comes to restaurant reservations. Coveted tables at Hotel St. Barth Isle de France (pictured) and Nikki Beach (for lunch) or Maya’s and Le Ti St. Barth (for dinner) are generally reserved for those who have greased the maître d’s for years. Isle de France GM Charlie Walker and Stéphane Carou, head concierge at Guanahani, may be able to help—if you’re a guest, and you enlist them at least a month in advance. For a last-minute table, try befriending Stéphane Lanson and Bernard Blanceaux, owners of the boutique Stéphane & Bernard in Gustavia (585 Rue de la République; 590-590-27-65-69). The pair are an incredibly well-connected St. Barts institution. If you play your cards right—and you’re ready to drop a load of cash on Thierry Mugler or Hervé Leger—you’ll walk away with the corner table next to the water at Maya’s.

Related:

• Archive: “The Everything Guide”
• Table of Contents: Nov 7, 2005 issue of New York | Subscribe!