Rendez-Vous at Ecolodge
A candlelit dinner in the cloud forest, reached only on foot.
Why Go
Perched at 1,800-plus feet at the base of Mt. Scenery, this off-grid restaurant inside Saba's rainforest ecolodge is the island's most atmospheric table — no cars, no electricity, just lamplight, tree frogs and a garden-to-plate menu that changes with what ripened that week.
The Experience
Getting here is part of the meal: from Windwardside village you walk about 15 minutes up the Crispeen Track through ferns, heliconia and elephant ear leaves, arriving at a clearing of twelve solar-powered cottages and an open-air dining pavilion with five candlelit tables. The Dutch owners run the whole show — greeting you at the bar, describing what came out of the vegetable beds and fruit trees that morning, then plating dishes built around bell peppers, sweet potatoes, coconut, mango and whatever the herb spiral gave up. As dusk falls the rainforest hums to life around you and the lamps take over from daylight; on a clear night the lights of Windwardside twinkle far below through the tree line. Weekend nights start with a happy-hour bar from 4pm, dinner service runs 5–9pm Thursday through Saturday, and a leisurely Sunday brunch (10:30am–2:30pm, reservations essential) is the locals' favourite ritual.
What to Try
Whatever the garden dictates that day — ask about the daily specials rather than the printed menu. The Sunday brunch spread is legendary among islanders (fresh juices, eggs, homemade breads, tropical fruit), and the happy-hour rum punch on the pavilion at sunset is the classic way to start a meal.
Insider Tip
Bring cash (US dollars — the restaurant does not take cards), a small flashlight or headlamp for the walk back down after dark, and closed-toe shoes with grip: the Crispeen Track can be slick with rainforest moisture even when Windwardside is dry. Reserve Sunday brunch a day or two ahead, and if you're planning to hike Mt. Scenery, do it in the morning and book dinner here the same evening — the trailhead is essentially next door.
The Practical Stuff
Location: end of Mountain Road / Crispeen Track, Windwardside, Saba (about a 15-minute uphill walk from the village centre; no vehicle access). Hours: Thursday–Saturday, bar from 4:00pm and dinner 5:00–9:00pm; Sunday brunch 10:30am–2:30pm by reservation only. Payment: cash only. Phone: +599 416 6237. Expect a moderate to mid-range spend for a multi-course dinner with drinks. Best conditions: dry evenings; the rainforest setting is magical but the trail is exposed to weather.
Pair It With
- Mt. Scenery Trail — The 1,064-step climb to Saba's cloud-forest summit starts essentially at the ecolodge's doorstep — hike it in the morning, then reward yourself with a candlelit dinner at Rendez-Vous the same evening.
- Brigadoon Guide — For a second night in Windwardside, Brigadoon offers a completely different vibe: lively in-village dining with a broader menu, a good foil to Rendez-Vous's remote, intimate rainforest setting.
