Flamands boasts the island’s longest and widest beach, stretching for nearly a half mile along the shore. It’s the Platonic ideal of a beach, with very fine white sand, palm trees that provide shade (a rarity on St. Barth), and warm, swimmable, turquoise blue waters. It’s no wonder that this is many beach lovers’ favorite destination. Flamands is only three miles north of Gustavia, but with fewer (and more laid-back) beach goers than the crowds in St. Jean. Flamands is also home to Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France, one of St. Barth’s luxury hotels, which is a touch quieter than Eden Roc. Isle de France is still a celebrity haunt, popular with the likes of Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Flamands also has some of St. Barth’s best places to eat, including a couple of Creole seafood restaurants with live lobster tanks and a French bakery.