Nyama
French-Vietnamese soul food in a bohemian Corossol hideaway
Why Go
Tucked into the sleepy fishing village of Corossol, Nyama trades Gustavia's see-and-be-seen glamour for a candlelit, lantern-strung living room where the chef greets you at the table and the food tastes like it was made by someone's mom — which, given that 'Nyama' means 'Mom's House' in Vietnamese, is exactly the point.
The Experience
Owners Clément, Tûti, and Juju took over the historic Au Regal space and transformed it into a 30-seat sanctuary of mismatched plates, hanging greenery, and hundreds of colored Asian lanterns. It feels less like a St Barth restaurant and more like being invited into a well-traveled friend's home. The menu is a genuine Franco-Vietnamese conversation — French technique doing the heavy lifting, Vietnamese herbs and spice work adding the pulse. Service is unhurried, unpretentious, and warmly attentive, and Chef Clément still makes the rounds to check on every table. It's a rare pocket of 'Old St Barth' authenticity: quiet, personal, and completely uninterested in impressing anyone.
What to Try
The Chilean sea bass in Clément's elevated sweet-and-sour sauce is the sleeper hit — buttery, bright, and balanced. The tuna and foie gras 'land and sea' plate shows off the kitchen's fusion range, and the Vietnamese pancake salad is the perfect herb-forward starter. For a group, book the Grill for Two: an interactive tableside grill with marinated meats, vegetables, and DIY spring rolls. Save room for the pain perdu with pistachios and lemon mousse, and absolutely finish with the house passion fruit rum — it won a Silver Medal at the 2025 Concours Général Agricole in Paris.
Insider Tip
Corossol is a tiny, winding fishing village and parking is genuinely scarce — arrive a few minutes early and be ready to walk. Reservations are essential (call +590 690 38 34 09 or email Nyamastbarth.booking@gmail.com); the 30-seat room fills up fast in high season. Ask to sit in the back garden area if the weather is calm — it's the most magical spot in the house. And don't leave without buying a bottle of the passion fruit rum to take home.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Corossol, St Barthélemy (W45W+C98) — about a 10-minute drive from Gustavia. Hours: Wednesday–Saturday, breakfast & lunch 8:30 AM–2:30 PM, dinner 7:00 PM–10:00 PM (closed Sunday–Tuesday; confirm seasonally). Reservations strongly recommended. Contact: +590 690 38 34 09 / Nyamastbarth.booking@gmail.com / @nyamasbh on Instagram & Facebook. Price range: mid-to-upper for St Barth (expect a proper island dinner spend, but well below Gustavia's flashiest rooms).
Pair It With
- Absolute Hot Yoga Guide — Burn off a leisurely Nyama dinner with a morning class in Gustavia — a five-minute drive away and the perfect counterweight to the pain perdu.
- 6e SENS Massage Wellness Beauty — Book a post-dinner massage the next day; the slow, restorative pace pairs beautifully with Nyama's unhurried Old-St-Barth energy.
- A fleur de peau - St Barth Guide — Combine an afternoon of low-key shopping in Saint-Jean with an early Nyama dinner reservation for a full off-the-tourist-track island day.
- ACCESS Stbarth — Book a boat day or island excursion through ACCESS, then wind down with Nyama's lantern-lit dinner service — the ideal 'active-day, soulful-night' pairing.
