St.Barth

The hotel is part of the luxury French hotel group Barrière, known among others for Les Neiges in Courchevel, Le Normandy in Deauville and Le Royal in La Baule.

The property is arranged as a complex of private bungalows. It seems far from the city, private and secluded.

The hotel has a total of 21 rooms, including villas. With green spaces interspersed with palm trees and other tropical vegetation, each living space feels very private.

The interiors are moderately calm and chic: soothing cream tones, dark wood and stone details. The marble bathrooms are stocked with L’Officine Universelle Buly 1803 toiletries in beautifully decorated bottles.

All Le Carl buildings have been designed with the environment in mind, with optimal ventilation to reduce the need for air conditioning. There is also a rainwater tank below the bungalow, which is then used for washing and watering the plants.

The food at the hotel is so good that you will be tempted to refuse a table, which is difficult to book in the city.

Of particular note is the edible flavor program that has been included in the bar’s cocktail menu: the master mixologist comes with a leather scent case, lets you choose your favorite and can include that flavor in a bespoke cocktail (or pair it with a drink from the menu, all from which are amazing).

It has a delightful spa, named after the daughter of the founder of the Barrière group, which uses exceptional technology.

The location is wonderful. This is Gustavia, the epicenter of St. Barth’s, a fashionable enclave of boutiques and high-end shops, fine restaurants and nightlife of all kinds, from the bustling Bagatelle to the more upscale and exclusive aperitif venues.

A short walk down the hill from St. Barth’s is Shell Beach, one of the Caribbean’s most famous beaches, known for tiny shells that wash up to completely cover the sand.

The hotel is designed more for a romantic getaway than for families with children. There are many stairs that can be traumatic for younger guests.

The hotel adjoins the island’s most beautiful beach, Baie des Flamands, offering Jacques Grange interiors adorned with signature dusty rose amenities. The hotel features a Guerlain spa and two restaurants with menus courtesy of talented chef Jean Imbert.

From here you can easily reach the magnificent beach of Colombier, and the airport is only 6 minutes away.

Renowned French designer Jacques Grange has created all the interiors that feature elegant and sophisticated simplicity behind white plantation-style walls. The leafy gardens surrounding the hotel are the work of American landscape designer Madison Cox.

The amenities are amazing, from in-room yoga mats to a selection of pools. There is a Guerlian spa with four treatment rooms and a gym, as well as two hotel boutiques offering clothing and jewelry, as well as a temporary Dior store.

There are two restaurants; La Cabane and La Case, led by French chef Jean Imbert. La Cabane is a more laid-back restaurant nestled right in the sand that serves up dishes you can’t miss, like the mahi-mahi hot dog with guacamole or crocodile truffle. La Case serves local produce with a Caribbean twist.

Eden Rock began life in the 1950s as a guest house where French aviator Rémy de Henin hosted celebrities such as Howard Hughes and Greta Garbo.

The hotel offers a stunning selection of 11 room categories, ranging from the entry-level Eden Room with four-poster bed to the luxurious Rockstar Villa with six bedrooms. Some are named after distinguished guests and family members, and all are cheerfully decorated with personal touches, from large stone baths to duplex rooms with a sundeck and pool.

There are public beaches on both sides of the hotel, and a short walk to the east you will find St. Jean’s shops and restaurants, including the popular Nikki Beach Club.

Although the airport is close, the sight and noise of small planes taking off is not inconvenient – it’s just part of the glamorous scene of St. Barts. Inside there is a small calm lake, framed by a wooden deck, which can be bypassed in 15 minutes.

The cliff-facing buildings are the heart of the property and include the Sand Bar restaurant, a small library that also sells diamonds and watches, and the sprawling Eden Being boutique. The spa and fitness center are built inside the rocks. To the west is a second zone centered on a sunken beach bar surrounded by lawns, rooms and villas. Although there is no shared pool, more than half of the rooms have a private pool or hot tub.

Located on the coast of Sauvage in the east of St. Barts overlooking neighboring Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Kitts.

The white sandy beach here is more suitable for surfers than for swimmers, but there are two pools and the possibility of pleasant walks along the goat-dotted hills.

It’s also a good idea to rent a car (each suite in the villa has a parking space).

Scattered along the adjacent hillside and framed by colorful gardens with bougainvilleas and cacti, the 22 Villa Suites are accessible on foot or by golf cart. A short drive down a bumpy road in a custom eight-seater Land Rover is a beach club. The sign here reads: “If you are not barefoot and not wearing flip-flops, then you are too dressed.”

There are 2 swimming pools, a gym and a cozy Case Sérénité SPA, surrounded by herbs and palm trees, offering treatments upon request. Staff in white, service is fast and attentive.

Delivered to your terrace every morning at a pre-arranged time, the à la carte breakfast is a real treat with tropical juices, pastries and French cheeses. Lunch is served at the Beach Club with excellent options such as lobster salad and tuna tartare with coconut rice. Dinner at Le Toiny, created by chef Jarad McCarroll, is beautifully presented with stimulating pairings like beef ravioli with marinated pear and hazelnuts.

The hotel overlooks a peninsula that boasts many native cacti and shrubs that are part of a natural marine reserve.

The airport is about 13 minutes away by car.

Down the hill, past tropical plants and impressive pink bougainvilleas, is the beach, where you’ll find a chic bar that stretches out to the restaurant (think slowly spinning ceiling fans, wooden floorboards, leafy plants and wicker chairs). A long, smooth pool runs parallel to the sea, creating a carpet of varying blue tones.

Overall the hotel has a small village feel with lots of privacy and space.

The service is excellent, with a young, ready and friendly staff who go out of their way to make sure you are satisfied.

There is a yoga platform in the ocean and a spa with a well-equipped 24-hour gym and adults-only pool. The treatments use the British brand Haeckels, which combines marine plants and natural herbs, as well as results-oriented Evidens de Beauté products. Signature treatments include an immersive journey into nature, starting with a hike or outdoor meditation, followed by a massage using local ingredients such as Indian wood, lemon verbena, pepper leaves and soursop fruit.

Non-motorized water sports are available on the beach, from paddle boards and kayaks to turtle watching snorkels.

The interiors are clean and fresh. The four-poster beds sit on dark wood floors, are carpeted in bold geometric colors, and the ceilings are clad in white wood clapboard.

Led by Italian chef Riccardo Schievano, the cuisine is on the one hand refined, yet simple and straightforward. Bringing humble ingredients to the fore with dishes like three kinds of cauliflower, chickpea biscuit or sardines with caramelized onions, Riccardo also serves up authentic dishes from his homeland like parmigiana eggplant and the obligatory local white fish ceviche with cucumber, ginger and onion. -shallot.

The breakfast buffet includes homemade breads and pastries, fresh fruits, yoghurts and cheeses, and eggs on request.

At the Beach House bar, bartenders are trained to make 200 classic cocktails. Try Naked and Famous, courtesy of Bob Louison, an unforgettable drink made from yellow chartreuse, lime juice, mezcal and aperol. Tasty enough!

Located in the northeast of the island and 15 minutes drive from the airport. The protected marine reserve, home to stingrays, turtles, brightly colored fish and corals, is the main reason to stay here.

Le Sereno is a curve of low-rise buildings overlooking the beach, set in landscaped grounds with gardens so varied and colorful you’ll have to stop to take a picture. Everything has been thought of, from the palm trees, deliberately chosen for their lack of linearity, to the lagoon-colored pool tiles. The result is a harmonious combination of modern architecture, vibrant nature and a carefree holiday atmosphere. The influence of Italy is evident through the sister property Il Sereno on Lake Como.

The beach is the highlight here. Guests have free use of surfboards, kayaks and snorkeling gear to explore the waist-deep lagoon. The large heated pool offers double sun loungers and daybeds, supervised by courteous and caring staff. A small outpost of upmarket Milanese boutique Larusmiani offers designer menswear, dresses and accessories, while SPA Le Sereno has three treatment rooms, including a waterfront pavilion.

The open-plan restaurant Le Sereno Al Mare serves a rich à la carte breakfast including eggs, Italian jams and delicious pastries. And the nearby beachfront Plage Restaurant has colorful furnishings and serves salads, burgers and light meals. Dinner continues the Mediterranean theme with a menu including burrata, lobster linguini and tiramisu.