Babacool Beach Club: Simpson Bay's Boho Daytime Escape
Michelin-touched beach club with a pool over the sand
Why Go
A driftwood-and-rattan beach club where a Michelin-starred chef's menu meets a private pool that looks straight out to the Caribbean — one of the newest and most photogenic daytime hangs on the Dutch side.
The Experience
Babacool feels less like a Simpson Bay lunch stop and more like a slow, sun-drunk afternoon in a magazine spread. Bamboo screens, fringed umbrellas, and pink-and-white striped daybeds fan out across a wide wooden deck, with cabanas tucked under shade sails and a DJ softly threading house and Afrobeat through the palms. The signature move is the pool — Babacool is currently the only beach club on the island with a private pool that opens straight onto the sea, so you can slip between saltwater, freshwater, and a rum punch without ever putting your sandals back on. Because Simpson Bay beach runs right up to the Princess Juliana Airport runway, low-flying jets punctuate the day, giving the whole boho scene a very SXM soundtrack.
What to Try
The kitchen is overseen by Michelin-starred chef Jérôme Ferrer, and it shows in the raw bar — dorado ceviche and tuna tartare are the standouts, bright with citrus and clean tropical heat. From the plancha, order the fish of the day (usually mahi or snapper) served whole-ish with grilled vegetables, or split a couple of sharing plates and a Caribbean salad if you're posted up on a daybed. Cocktails lean handcrafted and rum-forward; the frozen options travel especially well between pool and lounger.
Insider Tip
Daybeds and cabanas book up fast on cruise-in days and weekends — reserve ahead through their Instagram (@babacoolsxm) and ask specifically for a poolside bed rather than a beachfront one if you want shade plus swim access. Aim to arrive by 11:30am so you can settle in before the lunch rush and still catch the best plane-spotting window as afternoon arrivals bank in over the lagoon.
The Practical Stuff
Open daily 9:30am–5:30pm (daytime only — this is not a dinner spot). Simpson Bay, Dutch side, right on the beach a short walk from most Simpson Bay hotels and about 5 minutes by car from Maho. Price range $$ — expect to spend more if you commit to a daybed with food-and-drink minimum. USD accepted; credit cards standard. Casual beach-chic dress; bring a swimsuit, most guests move between table, pool, and sea all afternoon.
Pair It With
- Maho Beach Guide — A 5-minute drive up the coast puts you at the world-famous runway beach — a natural late-afternoon add-on once Babacool winds down at 5:30pm.
- 3Angle Bar — Walkable within Simpson Bay for a low-key, locals-leaning drink to bridge the gap between beach club close and dinner.
- Princess Juliana Airport (Maho) — If jet-watching from your daybed piqued your interest, the runway fence at Maho is the full immersive version of the same show.
