Heiko St Barth
Sunny poké bowls and açaí in the heart of Gustavia
Why Go
When the midday sun in Gustavia turns lunch into a chore, Heiko is the antidote: a bright, breezy little poké counter tucked in front of the post office where marinated salmon, mango and crunchy sesame come piled over rice in about the time it takes to walk from the harbor.
The Experience
The vibe is tropical-casual with Polynesian touches, closer to a Honolulu beach kitchen than a Gustavia bistro. Order at the counter or grab one of the terrace seats, choose a signature bowl or build your own through the 'Kompow' customization system, and watch it get assembled from ingredients prepped fresh that morning. It's air-conditioned inside, pet-friendly, and equally happy to hand you a bowl to take to Shell Beach as it is to seat you for a proper sit-down lunch. Between the poké, the chirashi, the baos and the açaí bowls, it flexes easily from a light midday break to an early dinner before heading out.
What to Try
The salmon-avocado poké is the calling card - marinated salmon, edamame, avocado, mango, carrots, crispy onions, sesame and the house Heiko sauce over rice. The chirashi bowl leans a little more Japanese for raw-fish purists, the chicken-and-cream-cheese bowl is the sleeper hit for anyone bringing kids, and the açaí bowls make a genuinely great breakfast if you're staying nearby. Vegan and veggie versions of nearly everything are on offer.
Insider Tip
Lunch service (11:30am-2:30pm) gets slammed with crew from the yachts in the harbor - order ahead via click & collect or Delifood delivery and skip the queue, then eat on the rocks at the Fort Karl overlook five minutes uphill for one of the best free views on the island. Sunday is dinner-only, so plan around it.
The Practical Stuff
2 rue Jeanne d'Arc, Gustavia, in front of the post office. Mon-Sat 11:30am-10:30pm, Sun 6:30pm-10:30pm (lunch service breaks around 2:30pm-6pm in low season). Around €22 for a bowl; cash, cards and meal vouchers accepted. Dine-in, takeaway, click & collect, and delivery via Delifood. Air conditioning, parking nearby, wheelchair accessible, pet-friendly. Reservations recommended in high season - call +590 590 29 37 07.
Pair It With
- Shell Beach Guide — Grab a bowl to go and it's a five-minute walk to Gustavia's in-town beach - perfect midday combo of swim, sunbathe and eat.
- Absolute Hot Yoga Guide — A short walk away in Gustavia; a poké bowl is the ideal post-class refuel after a sweaty morning session.
- Le Select Guide — For a nightcap after an early Heiko dinner, the legendary Gustavia bar is around the corner and about as opposite in energy as you can get.
