A Review of Coral Reef Club in Barbados | Hotels Above Par

"Think of a country-house hotel lost in Jack Sparrow’s tropics: 12 acres of gardens, cottages and palms framing a supremely private stretch of beach, and you’ve got the vibe at The Coral Reef Club. Made storied by celebrity guests from Agatha Christie to Robert De Niro and King Charles III, the O’Hara family have run the place since the 1950s and their personable, familial service—owners present from check-in to check-out—creates a welcoming, repeat-guest culture. The design is colonial Caribbean meets English country house, with fresh flowers, winding floral curtains, portraits on the walls and cottages set throughout the gardens; my first-floor sea-view cottage had three rooms, two big balconies, pops of art and trendy headboards, and a marble bathroom with a large tub and White Company amenities. The small, white-sand beach is flecked with towering casuarinas and backed by mahogany, frangipani, bougainvillea and ponds, and the terrace is perfect for sundowners; dining is beachside and ranges from à la carte crab dumplings, grilled lobster and prawns to thick steaks and rotisserie chicken, plus regular barbecue nights and a breakfast buffet heavy on tropical fruit, pancakes and Bajan staples—don’t skip the hot sauce. Activities include complimentary non-motorized watersports (snorkelling, paddleboarding, Hobie Cats), two pools, a spa with repeat massages, tennis and paddle courts and weekly garden tours; the overall vibe is flashy but not pretentious—English country house meets Bajan seaside paradise. Room count: 80; starting rates from about USD 1,090 per night." - Luke Abrahams