In Search of SXM’s Hottest Dessert
Fellow dessert-lovers, unite! Calling everyone with a sweet tooth to the second edition of our island-wide hunt for St. Maarten’s best dessert!
For our next stop on this dessert quest, Out ‘n About stopped in at Porto Cupecoy for the well-known pastries and desserts at Rendez Vous Lounge. Open since 2010, the restaurant has become a fast favourite among tourists and locals alike for good food and delicious drinks, while enjoying the intimate ambiance on the main plaza in Porto Cupecoy.
Rendez Vous Lounge boasts the best cappuccino and waffles on the island. According to owner Nathalie Schoenher, “Although we have many different pastries and sweets, this is a restaurant, not patisserie. So we make sure that the presentation is perfect so that it a restaurant-worthy dessert.” Rendez Vous Lounge serves all their desserts with homemade whipped cream, which they make fresh daily. No old ice cream of half-thawed cheesecake here!
The classic Liege Waffle is their most popular sweet treat. They are served all day long, so you can have a sweet treat anytime – breakfast, lunch or dinner – no one is judging! There are two waffle regions in Belgium: Liege and Brussels. Brussels waffles are square and made from crepe dough so they are crispy and light and not very sweet, whereas Liege waffles are sweeter, softer and round.
There is no one traditional way to serve Belgian waffles. According to Nathalie, who has been to Belgium herself, there are so many inventive versions. At Rendez Vous Lounge, they have kept this creative tradition going: you can get your waffle with sugar, maple syrup, Nutella, Nutella and banana, Nutella with strawberries, or strawberries and whipped cream. Additionally, you can design your own dessert by adding various toppings such as sprinkles and Italian gelato.
Of course, Out ‘n About sampled the famous Liege waffle and opted for fresh strawberries and strawberry sorbet; and their frothy and subtly sweet cappuccino with cacao could not be missed. I will tell you it was definitely not disappointing!
First of all, with its beautiful colours and different textures, the plating is certainly as restaurant-worthy as promised. The doughy and soft waffle was perfectly balanced by the creamy whipped cream and fresh strawberries, while the cold sorbet contrasted the warm waffle. Some bites may surprise you with a little, sweet crunch of sugar, as the dough is made with brown sugar since white sugar would melt. Last, but surely not least, the sweet but fresh taste is absolutely “Sugar and Spice” proof.
Rendez Vous Lounge is open seven days a week: 8:00am to 12 noon for breakfast; 12 noon to 5:00pm for lunch; 5:00 to 10:00pm for dinner, with happy hour from 5:00 to 7:00pm daily. Rendez Vous Lounge is the first restaurant on the right going to the Plaza in Porto Cupecoy. For more information and reservations, call +1 (721) 545-3070 or check out www.rdvlounge.com
Does your restaurant’s dessert deserve a spot in our search for sweet treats? Send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let us know.
