Yellow Beach
Ever dream you could find a tiny little island, with nothing but a few restaurants and some deck chairs to plop on and drink in the sun and some refreshing cocktails? Pinel Island is just that. Located on Orient Bay in St. Martin (SXM), it may be accessed via ferry. I usually go from St. Barts on a private boat (brag, brag, brag...), but last I checked, the ferry from SXM can be anywhere from $7-$10, and it leaves from Cul de Sac. As with any foreign country, I strongly recommend exchanging your money to the local currency. Since Pinel is on SXM's french side, the currency would be euros. 
The island holds 3 restaurants, although it's common to find at least one of them closed depending on the season. My recent experience was at Yellow Beach, the first restaurant you find right on the dock. As with anything Caribbean, the restaurant is an eclectic mix of fresh* seafood with a seafaring flair (read: grill) and the unavoidable French stamp (meaning: Asian cuisine & ratatouille). Its main charm lies at the tiki huts that offer a feeling of privacy in the midst of a tropical paradise, and like paradise it can be pricey, at an average of 24€ per dish. Yellow Beach also has an array of inviting deck chairs for rent complete with umbrella, at a not-so-modest 20$ for 2 chairs and 2 drinks. That's if you're lucky, though, because these prices have been known to change depending on the season, the weather, the waiter, if you speak french, and if you exchanged your currency (as I specifically suggested!).
Pinel Island is very beautiful, so in my humble opinion, do yourself a favor and skip the chairs and go kayaking , at around 10$ per person for the day. Or, if you're really on budget, go ahead and bring your snorkel gear and have a blast, take a hike, whatever! When it comes to lunch though, Yellow Beach can't be beat. There's nothing like sitting at a nice tiki hut... or, you know, just sitting at the bar getting lunch poured, if you get my meaning. Some of the appetizers include a sampler of calamari, mozarella sticks and fried fish puffs with cocktail, tartar, and caribbean spicy sauces. 
For the main course, we ordered the Grand Gueule Entiére (Whole Red Hind) barbecued with a side of delicious ratatouille for 24€, and the Palette Asiatique, an asian sashimi platter of tuna, yellowtail & baby octopus with conch salad, seaweed salad, and a fresh salad for 28€. I have to say it's hard to choose which was better. I really enjoy sashimi and the baby octopus was delicious, but I thoroughly enjoyed my BBQ fish and ratatouille. Although, one of Yellow Beach's other charms is the lobster. The cage is brought to you from the water to the beach shore for you to pick out and have sent to the pits of fire hell for your joyous consumption, and I have it on good authority that it is mighty delicious (as lobster tends to be!). All in all, Pinel is a beautiful island, and the whole trek, activities, and food involved makes it an unforgettable day in your trip. Whether you choose to visit Yellow Beach, Le Karabuini, or Up on the Key, please do me (and yourself) a favor and have yourself a Desperado (beer flavored with tequila)! You won't regret it.
To see more pictures, check out my album on facebook.
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Yellow Beach
06.90.33.88.33
yellowbeach@caribserve.net
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