Raices Cafe Gourmet: Colombian-Mexican Comfort in Cole Bay
A cozy Latin American coffee-and-market stop tucked into the Laguna View building on the Dutch side.
Why Go
Most visitors racing between Simpson Bay and Philipsburg blow right past this Welfare Road spot — which is exactly why locals and long-stay expats keep it in rotation for a real Colombian coffee and a plate that tastes like someone's tia made it.
The Experience
Raices reads like a hybrid: part gourmet café, part small Latin market, part casual sit-down. You order at the counter, grab a seat in the compact, brightly styled dining room, and settle in with the smell of fresh-brewed Colombian coffee. The vibe is unhurried and neighborhood-y — expect Spanish and English floating between tables, a mix of local office workers on lunch break, and the occasional in-the-know traveler who found the place through a recommendation rather than a billboard. Because it sits inside the Laguna View building on Welfare Road, it's an easy pit stop between marina errands, Cole Bay shopping runs, or a lazy morning before heading to Maho or Simpson Bay.
What to Try
Start with a proper Colombian coffee — this is one of the few places on the Dutch side where the beans and the brew method are the point, not an afterthought. From the kitchen, lean into the Colombian-Mexican crossover: arepas and empanadas for a quick bite, or heartier Mexican plates when you want a full sit-down lunch. Browse the small market shelves on your way in or out; imported Latin American pantry goods make good villa-rental souvenirs if you're self-catering nearby in Simpson Bay or Terres Basses.
Insider Tip
They close Sundays and shut the kitchen by 6 PM most weekdays (4 PM on Saturday), so this is a breakfast-through-late-lunch play, not a dinner spot. If you're staying in a villa on the Dutch side and want a real coffee to start the day, come right at 9 AM opening — parking in the Laguna View lot is easiest before the Welfare Road traffic thickens, and the pastries are freshest.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Welfare Road 16, inside the Laguna View building, Cole Bay (Dutch side), about 5 minutes' drive from Simpson Bay Bridge and 10 from Maho. Hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–6 PM, Sat 10 AM–4 PM, closed Sunday. Price: $$ — casual café pricing, USD accepted (as everywhere on the Dutch side). Best reached by car or taxi; there's parking at the building. Casual dress, walk-in friendly, good for solo diners and small groups.
Pair It With
- Aqua Mania Adventures Guide — Grab a Colombian coffee and a quick arepa at Raices before heading down to Simpson Bay for a morning snorkel or catamaran trip — both are on the Dutch side and easy to combine in one outing.
- Beautylicious — Both are Cole Bay neighborhood spots — pair a lunch at Raices with an errand run at this nearby retail stop for a low-key, off-the-tourist-trail Dutch-side afternoon.
- 3quency Salon, Spa and Barber Shop — Ideal Cole Bay combo: a self-care appointment followed by coffee and a light Latin lunch a short walk away, no need to drive back into Philipsburg or Maho.
- ACE Mega Center Guide — If you're stocking a villa rental, hit ACE for hardware and household basics, then swing by Raices for pantry staples from its Latin American market shelves plus a proper espresso for the road.
