The Old Gin House Restaurant & Ocean Lounge
Sunset dinners in an 18th-century gin distillery on Oranje Bay
Why Go
Statia's most storied address turns an old cotton-gin warehouse into a barefoot-fine oceanfront table where the grill smoke drifts out over the Caribbean and every seat catches the sunset.
The Experience
Set into the historic Lower Town at #1 Oranjebaai, the Old Gin House restaurant occupies a lovingly restored 18th-century colonial building of hand-cut yellow brick and dark tropical timber. The dining room spills onto a breezy waterfront terrace and Ocean Lounge that sits just a few steps from the seawall, so waves and trade winds are part of the soundtrack. It's the polished-but-relaxed anchor of Statia's tiny hospitality scene (the restaurant consistently ranks #1 on the island's Tripadvisor list), doubling as breakfast spot for hotel guests, lunch stop for divers coming off the Aquarium and other Lower Town dive sites, and the go-to sunset dinner table for locals celebrating anything worth celebrating. Service is unhurried island-time, the cocktail list leans rum-forward, and the whole place has an old-world charm that reminds you Oranjestad was once one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean.
What to Try
Start with a cocktail on the Ocean Lounge terrace timed to sundown, then order from the BBQ grill – ribs with the house barbecue sauce, a properly charred prime steak, or the Caribbean-style lobster when it's on. There's always a fresh catch and a rotating soup or salad worth asking about, and the espresso and dessert board are a genuinely good way to close out the night rather than an afterthought.
Insider Tip
Reserve a terrace table (not inside) for dinner and ask for the westernmost seats along the seawall – that's where the sunset lines up cleanly over the bay and the anchored yachts. Divers coming up from the Aquarium site next door can walk over in flip-flops for lunch; nobody minds, and it beats driving back up the cliff to Upper Town to eat.
The Practical Stuff
Address: #1 Oranjebaai, Oranjestad (Lower Town), St. Eustatius. Open daily 7:00 AM–9:00 PM for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Phone +599 318 2319, info@theoldginhouse.com. Mid-to-upper price range for Statia; cards accepted. Casual-smart dress – no need for a jacket, but this is the island's dressier option. Reservations strongly recommended for dinner, especially on weekends and when cruise or dive groups are in town. Steep cobblestone Slave Path connects Upper Town to the restaurant; easier to drive or taxi down and walk back up.
Pair It With
- Aquarium Dive Site — Statia's signature shore dive is literally next door – surface, rinse off, and walk straight to the Ocean Lounge for a rum punch and late lunch.
- Alvin V. Courtar Park — A short stroll along the Lower Town waterfront makes an easy pre-dinner walk to work up an appetite and watch the fishing boats come in.
- A Quiet Getaway – One-Bedroom Apartment — Nearby self-catering base for travellers who want the Old Gin House as their sunset dinner spot without booking into the hotel itself.
- Antillean Horde Car Rental Guide — Handy for getting down the cliff to Lower Town and back after dinner – Oranjestad's steep Slave Path isn't fun in the dark.
