Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa

"A relatively new addition to St. Barts' luxury hotel scene, Le Barthélemy is a sophisticated winner that keeps with the island's low-rise sensibility. Set between a lagoon and Grand Cul-de-Sac beach along the island's northeastern shore, the hotel is an education in understated elegance. Rooms are spare and enormous, with lots of wood and one or two pops of bright color—some even have small, rectangular plunge pools for mini-laps. The food at  Amis St. Barth is unabashedly modern French, with attention paid to proper portions in the tropics: in other words, not too much. Water sports enthusiasts have an expanse of calm shallow waters for kayaking, kite-surfing, and snorkeling—a flotilla of a dozen sea turtles that survived the storms of 2017 remain in residence and are easily visible." - CNT Editors

"A relatively new addition to St. Barts' luxury hotel scene, Le Barthélemy is a sophisticated winner that keeps with the island's low-rise sensibility. Set between a lagoon and Grand Cul-de-Sac beach along the island's northeastern shore, the hotel is an education in understated elegance. Rooms are spare and enormous, with lots of wood and one or two pops of bright color—some even have small, rectangular plunge pools for mini-laps. The food at  Amis St. Barth is unabashedly modern French, with attention paid to proper portions in the tropics: in other words, not too much. Water sports enthusiasts have an expanse of calm shallow waters for kayaking, kite-surfing, and snorkeling—a flotilla of a dozen sea turtles that survived the storms of 2017 remain in residence and are easily visible." - CNT Editors

"Le Barthélemy is a beautiful hotel that's sophisticated yet unstuffy, with a staff that provides unmatched service — set on one of the best beaches on the entire island. The hotel's design is upscale yet comfortable, creating a welcoming environment. The hotel's Couture Hospitality truly makes any wish possible or any problem disappear. The hotel leads sustainability in the entire Caribbean. Each room includes a private patio or balcony with a privacy shield. Le Barthélemy has 44 rooms and two luxury suites, offering a wide selection of guest accommodations. Even entry-level options have ample space and upscale amenities. The rooms start at 538 square feet and provide private patios with views of the ocean or a private deck with a jacuzzi. A few rooms face the garden instead of the ocean, creating a more private, jungle-like oasis. The next level would be the junior suites with private balconies and an option for a private plunge pool. Then there are the Plage Suites, which provide guests with beachfront access. Connecting rooms are available for larger parties, and the La Suite Barthélemy has options for up to three bedrooms. Le Barthélemy also has private villas with three to six bedrooms for extra-large groups or those just wanting more privacy. The villas have unique amenities like daily seaside buffet breakfasts, a villa-exclusive pool, dedicated beach chairs, fully equipped kitchens, and a wine cellar. The hotel has one all-day restaurant, Amis, led by Michelin-pedigreed Jérémy Czaplicki, who focuses on having a zero-waste kitchen and using seasonal ingredients to keep the French and Mediterranean menu fresh. Daily breakfast is complimentary with every stay and includes an a la carte menu and a buffet of French pastries, fresh juices, and parfaits. Amis serves at beachfront tables for lunch, and by beachfront, I mean your toes will be in the sand. The lunch menu sticks to casual classics like burgers, tacos, pizzas, and more. Dinner is a more upscale experience with live music and experiences like cheese and Champagne trolleys. Le Barthélemy is a part of a hotel group called Champagne Hospitality. With that kind of moniker, you know the wine list will be impressive, and it is. Cocktails here are also inventive, served in fun glassware and garnished with fresh herbs. Le Turquoise pool bar is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the rooftop bar W.T.F. (Whiskey Foxtrot Tango) is open every Tuesday and Wednesday evening from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with themed parties and live music. Le Barthélemy is located on Anse de Grand Cul-de-Sac, considered one of the best beaches on St. Bart’s due to its calm, clear waters. Guests at Le Barthélemy have full access to a water sports center, with free usage of non-motorized equipment and motorized items available for a fee. One of my favorite activities available to guests is the coral adoption program, where Le Barthélemy partners with local activists to restore the coral reef in the lagoon. There is also a beautiful strip of beach with lounge chairs and umbrellas dedicated to Le Barthélemy guests, as well as one pool at the resort that overlooks the beach. The gym is sleek, modern, and open 24 hours a day, offering classes like yoga or private coaching sessions. The spa at Le Barthélemy is the epitome of luxury. As the only spa in the Caribbean that uses La Mer products, it includes multiple treatment rooms, a sauna, a hammam, and Nordic baths — one hot and two cold. Le Barthélemy takes sustainability incredibly seriously, "aspiring to create the most environmentally friendly and sustainable luxury hotel in the Caribbean, if not the world.” The list of green projects the resort has begun is lengthy and impressive, from the previously-mentioned coral restoration project and zero-waste kitchen to solar panels and electric vehicles. Le Barthélemy also desalinates and purifies ocean water for use around the resort, making it safe and sustainable. Le Barthélemy is located in Grand Cul-de-Sac, just 13 minutes from the airport. Airport transfers are available with the resort’s Mercedes electric vans, which have Wi-Fi, chargers, snacks, drinks, and chilled towels. The concierge is also at guests’ disposal, even before their stay, by helping plan flights and inter-island transfers." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"It doesn’t get any more idyllic than Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa’s crescent-shaped, talcum-powder beach. The intimate hotel has just 44 rooms and suites and is found on the shores of Grand Cul de Sac, on the north-east of the island. Impeccably designed interiors channel a high-end French aesthetic—sharp lines are softened with cream linen sofas, crafted tables and hand-crafted ceramics. In short, it’s impossibly elegant. Some suites have their own pools, others have delicious outdoor showers, and there’s always a glimpse of the turquoise ocean from every corner. There’s a cinematic infinity pool and a breezy al-fresco restaurant—Amis St Barts—overseen by Michelin-recognized chef Jéremy Czaplicki. Its ceiling sculpture of handblown glass fish in the colors of the ocean may distract you from the inventive menu of coconut-crusted eggplant, crab bisque with banana coulis, and yellowfin tuna served with marinated watermelon—but not for long. Meanwhile, at Le Spa at Le Barthélemy, it’s a match made in oceanic heaven with La Mer facials and body treatments. For sundowners, head to the rooftop bar, Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot (known as WTF), for chill-out tunes and a Flamingo cocktail. A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the hotel has one eye on sustainability and offers coral restoration and zero-waste cooking classes for guests."

"What's the deal here? An incredibly sophisticated new build on the eastern end of Grand Cul-de-Sac, one of St. Bart's most scenic beaches with shallow water perfect for kayaking, snorkeling, and windsurfing (or just watching), the resort opened in the Fall of 2016. Damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017 shut the property for just over a year, but it has made a spectacular return and is now quite possibly the top place to stay on the island. So what makes the hotel so special? It's location alone, between beach and lagoon, makes this a winner. Clean, simple architecture, extra-large rooms, a convivial staff, and superb dining earns it all-around acclaim. How are the rooms? Vast. Furnished simply, but with impeccable taste. Oversized beach-related color photographs in wooden frames and nary a hint of Caribbean kitsch. Sofas are deep, soft, and inviting. Open-air showers in some, soaking tubs in others. Lots and lots of attractive wood. Nothing garish. Are there any good food options on site? Amis St. Barth, the main restaurant, is open to the elements under a stunning ceiling sculpture of dozens of blue and green handblown glass fish. The food is refined and remarkably varied—I had veal sweetbreads, meunieres style, my companion tried crispy blood sausage, neither a predictable choice in the islands, and both superb. Breakfast is a healthy buffet, self-served adjacent to a counter for takeaway coffee. For lunch at Aux Amis Plage, don't miss the mahi-mahi ceviche with lime and coconut milk. How's the service? Oh so very French, and oh so very chic. Most of the staff is young and amiable; all spoke impeccable English. Bartenders at the open-air rooftop bar were eager to suggest their own creations as well as a kick-ass Espresso Martini. Who are you likely to find booking the neighboring room Curious first-timers looking to check out a new hotel on the island, well-mannered families from France, romantic couples, and water sport enthusiasts. What's the surrounding area like? The approach is through a small warren of buildings—you'd never know it was there. Beyond, the village of St. Jean and the airport are only a ten minute drive, the capital, Gustavia, another ten. If you have a car, don't miss turning left on the main road and exploring Le Côte Sauvage (the Wild Coast) along the island's southeastern flank. The hotel can give pinpoint directions for some thrilling hikes to watering holes backed by scenery more reminiscent of Northern California than the Caribbean. Is there anything else we should be sure to check out while staying here? Outdoor sunset yoga overlooking the beach. The instructor is gentle, but you'll be challenged in ways not previously encountered. It's an especially refreshing experience under a passing rain shower. Another unusual perk is that Le Barthélemy has the island's only underground parking garage—a minor miracle of construction which means there's hardly a vehicle in sight after you check-in. Okay, it all sounds great, but is there anything you wish would get an upgrade? Only one, and it's small: There should be water glasses in rooms and baths. There are Champagne glasses galore, but nothing from which to gargle from. So for whom would you recommend this hotel (and, by extension, a vacation on St. Barts)? Two new, six-bedroom villas, Bleu and Aqua, were added during renovations. To say they are large is a gross understatement—each has four refrigerators in the kitchens. Completely private and yet directly on the beach, they could easily accommodate a family or group of friends looking for a rental with all of the amenities of a top-notch resort." - David Jefferys