All the best boutique hotels in Saint Lucia promise ultimate relaxation and views you’ll never forget
It's time to unwind.
If you’ve already enjoyed beach holidays in Thailand and Malta, maybe a new destination is on the cards? Famed for its dramatic mountains, exquisite waterfalls, and cocoa plantations, Saint Lucia is a must-visit for anyone heading to the Caribbean. And if you’re looking for a well-designed place to rest your head during your travels, take a look at the very best boutique hotels in Saint Lucia.
All the best boutique hotels in Saint Lucia
1. Fond Doux Eco Resort
Surrounded by lush jungle giving ultimate privacy and that feeling of a desert island escape, Fond Doux Eco Resort is popular for its gorgeous colonial cottages. The 19th Century hotel sits on a working plantation, so there are cocoa, palm, and banana trees all around, which are home to plenty of exotic birds that can be spotted from your window.
The 17 cottages scattered around the 135-acre property have a rustic-luxury feel, made mostly of wood, with amenities such as living areas, terraces and private pools. Activities are unsurprisingly endless, whether you take the free shuttle to Anse des Pitons beach, enjoy an in-depth tour of the cacao laboratory, or go bird watching.
On top of this, Mama La Terre Spa uses all-natural ingredients in their scrubs and massages, so be sure to book in for some pampering. The hotel also has two restaurants, Bamboo and The Creole Pot, both serving local St Lucian and Caribbean cuisine in romantic, open-air dining spaces.
Find out more about Fond Doux Eco Resort
2. Crystals
Crystals, located in Soufriere, has arguably one of the best views in St Lucia, if not the whole Caribbean, thanks to its secluded location on a remote hillside. Like many properties in the area, it has a classic wild island design; on the inside, it’s cosy and relaxing, while on the outside, the wooden balconies and dense jungle give the appearance of a luxury treehouse.
The nine villas are spacious, all with mountain views and furnishings largely sourced from both India and the Caribbean. They have stunning private pools and outdoor seating, and many have original wood four-poster beds. Although the resort isn’t sitting beachfront, there’s a tonne to keep you occupied. Tai Chi classes and live entertainment are regular events, while tours that can be arranged include horse riding, cocoa plantation trips, hiking, scuba diving, and sunset cruises. Like many of the interiors, the Treetop restaurant is also Indian-fusion, serving a delicious array of classic curries.
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3. Caille Blanc Villa & Hotel
Ultimate luxury has a name in St Lucia, and it’s called Caille Blanc. The expansive property has a spectacular 65-ft half-moon infinity pool–the hotel’s most famous feature; which overlooks the iconic Pitons. In fact, the building was formerly a private home, albeit an extremely large and expensive one, and this is reflected in the mere six suites available.
Some of the suites have private plunge pools, while all come with four-poster beds and ensuite bathrooms. While you’re there, take advantage of the hotel’s unique activities, such as weekly paint and sip, rum tasting, and chocolate-making classes.
For a light lunch or a candlelit dinner, The Pavilion restaurant is a honeymooner’s paradise, the menu was created by a Hollywood chef and serves an unmissable array of Caribbean dishes, such as lionfish in lemon butter sauce, coconut shrimp, and steak. The cocktail list is equally impressive – the Tamarind Twist and 24 carat gold Dore Caille are particular highlights.
Discover more about Caille Blanc Villa & Hotel
4. Tamarind House
Tamarind is St Lucia’s homestay-slash-Airbnb from heaven; a beautiful four-bedroom villa overlooking the Pitons and draped in wildflowers – you simply can’t get more postcard perfect. The main villa has three rooms, plus there’s a detached cottage, making it ideal for a family holiday or a couple’s getaway.
All of the rooms here are elegantly decorated, combining the stonework of the hotel and local antiques, such as the four poster beds, with private bathrooms and flatscreen TVs with Netflix, although with the view outside you may not need it. As it’s a villa, there’s no official restaurant to speak of, however you can use the fully stocked kitchen and outside BBQ area or for a very affordable price book dinner ahead of time, with grocery shopping taken care of by the friendly staff.
In your private hillside home, you can also take a swim in the impressive infinity pool, have an al fresco breakfast overlooking the mountains, or take to the onsite tennis court, and there’s plenty of opportunity to explore the island too.
Find out more about Tamarind House
5. Ti Kaye Resort & Spa
Ti Kaye, which means ‘little house’, doesn’t refer to the huge size of the property itself but rather the breezy, cosy cottages. The nature-inspired resort is perched in a perfect cliffside location overlooking the nearby beach and has been designed with an indoor-outdoor feel in mind.
The cottages themselves are exactly what you’d expect for a Caribbean island: billowing white curtains, four-poster beds and wooden furniture, plus terraces for taking in the ocean views from your very own hammock or rocking chair. Activities on offer at Ti Kaye are diverse, from the tranquil spa, the smart gym and the cliff top infinity pool, to the world-class water sports centre where you can kayak, dive, snorkel, or SUP at no extra cost.
You’ll have the choice of two restaurants and bars, Kai Manje is an open-air poolside space where you can enjoy breakfast and light meals, while Ti Manje is perfect for all-day beach dining. The real highlight are the bars, which include Kai Manje Bar and Ti Kave, the latter of which is hidden beneath the hotel and has over 500 different wines from all around the world – ask the sommelier for the best bottle to pair with dinner.
Learn more about Ti Kaye Resort & Spa
6. Green Fig Resort
One of Soufriere’s most charming hotels, Green Fig Resort sits on a hillside overlooking the town itself, and its unique location means not only can you enjoy views of the Pitons, but easy access to the town and beach, which are just five minutes away.
The simple design from stone and wood allows the property to remain cool in the Caribbean heat, and four out of the 25 rooms are actually open-air. All of them have large comfy beds and ensuite bathrooms, along with your own private view of the mountains.
Saltfish is Green Fig’s onsite restaurant, and its name gives a hint as to its offerings: delicious Caribbean cuisine made from local produce, much of which is grown on the property. However, you can also opt for Western favourites like avocado toast or pancakes. To fill your days, head out diving to one of the nearby wrecks, on a hike or you can splash out on a helicopter tour, and afterwards The Green Fig Spa will have a deep tissue massage with your name on it.
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7. Paradise Hotel
Many of St Lucia’s hotels are situated in the hills or on a cliffside, but Paradise Hotel has settled itself in a perfect little beachfront spot instead, just a stone’s throw from Piton Falls in Soufriere and the stunning Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens.
The spacious villas you can choose from have St Lucia-inspired names like Jewel and Pomegranate, and all of them feature two storeys of living and sleeping space, plus endless views of the ocean. The beachfront location means swimming and sunbathing are ideal daytime activities here, but they also offer a plethora of water sports such as sea biking, paddleboarding, and tubing.
Harmony Beach Restaurant is their idyllic setting for enjoying breakfast set against the sound of crashing waves or dinner as the sun goes down.
Learn more about Paradise Hotel
8. Rabot Hotel by Hotel Chocolat
The world may know it as a fine chocolate brand, but when you combine Hotel Chocolat’s knowledge of cocoa with great hospitality and an island that produces some of the world’s best chocolate, you’re onto a winner. Rabot Hotel sits on a historic cocoa plantation and the entire hotel has subtle nods to both the bean and the bar.
The stylish rooms are minimalist but comfortable, pairing white walls and bedding with deep mahogany four-posters and floorboards, plus private bathrooms and Piton views. Naturally, you’ll also get complimentary chocolate on your pillow.
Perhaps the restaurant is one of the hotel’s most unusual features, offering local cooking made with cocoa, such as salad with a chocolate dressing and of course, incredible desserts. The open-air spa also uses chocolate in its scrubs and wraps.
To learn more about the history of both the brand and the food, you can do a tour where you even get to make your own chocolate bar. To while away some time, pull up a lounger by the huge infinity pool and grab a drink and light snack at the self-service bar.
Find out more about Rabot Hotel by Hotel Chocolat
9. Têt Rouge
If you’re searching for all the luxuries of a five-star hotel, but with a private retreat feel then Têt Rouge is the perfect escape. The simple but beautiful property has just six studios surrounded by local fruit trees such as passionfruit and papaya, which incidentally can be eaten for breakfast.
All of the studios have high ceilings, four-poster beds, terraces with sea views, and tropical outdoor showers. There aren’t the onsite activities of a high-end hotel, but tours are easy to book such as hiking, boat trips or sightseeing on the island, plus the hotel is more than relaxing – the 40-ft infinity pool has its own swim-up bar or you can watch the waves crash from the terrace.
The restaurant serves local, healthy cooking using freshly sourced fruit, vegetables and seafood – think plantain salad, fresh fruit juice and grilled fish, which at dinner is barbecued to perfection, and during the day they serve a surprisingly strong selection of both cocktails and wines.
Learn more about Têt Rouge
10. Sugar Beach
Sugar Beach, a Viceroy hotel, quickly brings to mind the phrase ‘barefoot luxury’ with its huge beachfront property that spans rainforest, beach, and ocean, while also managing to be surrounded by the UNESCO-listed Pitons. Set inside an 18th Century plantation, the 100-acre resort has 96 suites, cottages, and villas for guests, which are decked out in all-white wood and come with plunge pools, iPads, coffee machines, and fully stocked minibars.
On the grounds, the massive swimming pool is set just back from the beach, or for ultimate relaxation, the eight-room spa is located in the treetops. If you’re more into sports, the diving and snorkelling are second to none at the hotel’s dive centre, or you can make use of Sugar Beach’s onsite tennis and volleyball courts.
Four restaurants which have menus ranging from healthy snacks to all-day dining and exquisite international and Creole dishes mean you won’t go hungry. The Cane Bar is ideal for a pre-dinner aperitif, or Bonté sits right on the beach, so you can enjoy a drink in the sunshine with your feet in the sand.
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