Martinique has a hybrid cuisine consisting of elements from Africa, France, Carib Amerindian, and South Asia. Its Indian "Tamil" population (which makes up 5-10 percent of the residents), is the source of one of the most famous dishes called Colombo, a curry spiced with masala (a mix of Indian spices, garlic and ginger) that is flavored with tamarind (a tropical pod fruit originating from Africa), and cooked with wine, rum and coconut milk. Creole dishes feature a variety of seafood cooked with spices and local ingredients such as breadfruit, cassava and christophine (similar to a cucumber). French food is extremely popular, as well, and restaurants continually exceed expectations.
Bars and Pubbing in Martinique
The majority of bars and nightclubs in Martinique are located in the capital, Fort de France, which offers a variety of music including Zouk, Reggae, Salsa, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Techno. For a relaxing atmosphere to unwind over a cocktail, you can head to Bar ‘Oc (97 Route de Didier, Fort de France) before continuing your night out. Another good downtown bar is L’Appart (6 Rue Papian du Pont, Fort de France), which offers live music Tuesday through Saturday, 6:00 p.m. until midnight.
There are a few nightclub options in Martinique, such as Maximus (Point de Californie, Basse Gondeau), open Monday to Saturday between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m. Top nightclub (Zone du Bac, Trinite) or Zipp’s (Dumaine, Le Francios) are other venues with late night dancing. May Day Lounge Bar (Port de Plaisance Bâtiment D2, Le Marin) offers a happy medium between lounge and club, and is open from 10:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday, with salsa dancing and live music on Friday nights. No bars or clubs are open on Sundays.
There are a number of casinos in Martinique, and a night out gambling is a popular pastime. Casino Bateliere Plaza (Rue de Alizes, Schoelcher) has two roulette tables, four black jack tables, four poker tables, and 140 slot machines; open until 3:00 a.m. Casino de Trois-Ilets (Pointe du Bout, Les Trois Ilets) is another option, with two black jack tables, two poker tables, a craps table, and 70 slot machines; also open until 3:00 a.m.
Dining and Cuisine in Martinique
There are restaurants located all over the Martinique, many of which are in Fort de France or Trois-Illets, but there are certainly options elsewhere on the island. For Creole food, La Bredas (Saint Joseph, Fort de France) is open between 7:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Also offering French fare on the menu, you may see dishes like coiba (a local seafish) served with yam (a type of cassava) cooked in Maidera (a fortified wine) sauce.
In Trois-Ilets, head to Au Poisson s’Or (12 Rue des Bougainvilliers, Trois-Ilets), specializing in fish and seafood. It is open for lunch 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., and dinner 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended. Another place for Creole in Trois-Ilets is La Villa Creole (18 Rue des Anthuriums, Trois-Ilets), which offers typical cuisine such as boudin (sausage) and feroce (pate made from fresh avocados, codfish and manioc flour). They are open for lunch from noon until 2:00 p.m., and for dinner from 7:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. Reservations are also recommended.
A French Overseas Territory, it is no wonder that Martinique's cuisine is so rich and delicious. One of the most popular restaurants is Le Dome (Avenue de Arawaks, Fort de France), which provides modern décor and a magnificent view of the adjacent coastline. It is open daily between 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. In Trois-Ilets, Fleur de Sel (27 Avenue de l’Imperatrice Josephine, Les Trois-Ilets), also offers tasty French fare alongside Creole and international dishes. It is open Monday to Saturday between 7:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.