Le Papillon Ivre

We had a memorable evening at Le Papillon Ivre in St. Barth! Their vegetarian tapas lineup wowed us from the very first bite: the rich French onion soup, grilled cauliflower with pomegranate bathed in creamy sauce, and gooey broccoli-and-cheese noodles were each little masterpieces. Perfectly paired wines kept the good vibes flowing, and the decadent dessert was the cherry on top. Every dish felt fresh, creative, and downright delicious—no wonder this spot gets such glowing reviews. I’d happily return (and urge you to go) for another flavor-packed night in paradise!

Absolutely delicious. Superb service. Simple space with complex dishes that take your taste buds on a journey. Julie and Joris were excellent hosts. I will be back again. Attention was paid to the little details that make dining a pleasure.

One of the best meals I've ever had on the island. The concept is small plates meant for sharing, perfect for a small group. Recommend 2 plates per person. The cuisine is eclectic, and the flavors are amazing. Every dish we ordered was a parade for our taste buds. And the wine? Excellent selection of fine French wines for every palate. Highly recommend! Oh, save some room for dessert, too.

2025 update: We went back yesterday and it was quite possibly more special than I remembered. So many wonderful dishes to share. We started with a jamon from Spain along with their incredible butter service and fresh toasted French bread. The butter is from a French dairy farm and is served at some of the finest restaurants in France. We then shared sardines, beef tartare, house made fois gras, onion soup, escargot, duck confit with potato, and the parmesan pasta. Every bite was better than the next. For dessert we had the creme brulee, tarte tartin, and an indugent coffee mousse dessert. Chef's Kiss to everything. The service is impeccable. They truly care about your experience. It was a wonderful evening. I feel so lucky to have been twice and can't wait to come back next year. 2024: Magnificent! We had a wonderful evening at Le Papillon Ivre. I will start by saying the service is top-notch. Beyond taking great care of you throughout the meal, they are lovely, thoughtful people. The service started by bringing cold towels for us to freshen up. On such a warm, humid evening, this was a lovely touch. Our server explained the menu and how all the plates are tapas style. This is absolutely my favorite way to dine. Every server in the restaurant takes care of you all evening. As for the food, I will say that everything we ordered was incredible, but for me, the standouts were the carpaccio, ravioli, sardines, and the pavlova. I wish I had taken pics of the food, but we were too busy enjoying ourselves. Julie, the owner, stopped by our table to make sure we were taken care of. Such a special place.

You will find one of the best restaurants on the island tucked away in St Jean. Papillion Ivre needs to be on your list when booking dinner reservations. Exquisite food of highest quality and presentation paired with the finest of wines makes for a perfect evening. Trust me!

The atmosphere is lacking. Tables and chairs pulled out in the sidewalk in front of other stores that have closed for the day. The wait staff and owner, Julie are all very nice and helpful. I think I tasted 5 different wines before I found the one I loved. So it’s an excellent place to learn about new wines. I unfortunately the food is nothing to brag about. The Brie with truffle was nice but overpriced, the escargot are in the shell so difficult to eat and not as good as others I have had. The artichoke was beautifully presented but nothing special in taste. The best tapas we had was the mini ravioli. Those were delicious! Be warned it’s not a place to eat dinner and feel satisfied. Better a place to experience a wine and maybe one tapas appetizer then dinner elsewhere.

Everything was absolutely delicious. Loved the concept of small pieces to share and try many great plates. The wine selection was really good and loved how they bring the check!

I have been going to Le Papillon Ivre for years. Without a doubt Julie and her staff give you the best service, wine and food on the island. I always leave with a fully belly, good time and a smile. Julie has staples on her menu and always have specials and everything on her menu is yummy. Julie makes you feel at home right away. Her staff is attentive, kind, respectful and inviting. Le Papillon Ivre is a gem of a spot and I would eat there every night if I could. It is my favorite restaurant on the island for atmosphere, food, wine selections, and service.