Being a boutique hotel isn’t just about size. Sure, the hotels on this list, all of which have 40 rooms or less, are not big.
But boutique is about more than that. It’s about character, about personality; about identity.
It should be fashionable and stylish, cool and unique.
The first “boutique” hotels originated in urban, metropolitan areas. Obviously in the Caribbean, “boutique” manifests itself differently: low-rise properties, often with collections of rooms rather than single buildings.
What’s universal, though, is the need for a boutique hotel to connect with its local community and its local environment, achieving oneness with person and place.
The bar is even higher for the luxury boutique hotel, one that must take the boutique recipe and add that extra layer of design, service and gastronomy.
Thankfully, the Caribbean is filled with them.
Here are our favorite luxury boutique hotels in the Caribbean right now.
Secret Bay, Dominica The Caribbean’s premier luxury boutique hotel is a collection of state-of-the-art villas perched above a magnificent cliffside beach, a hotel that has redefined the art of Caribbean luxury, skillfully marrying the eco-conscious and the indulgent and oozing Dominican authenticity.
Baoase Luxury Resort Curacao Curacao’s leading luxury resort is a work of art, from the Bali-style rooms to Chef Rene Klop’s culinary mastery. The service is outstanding, the design inspired and the feel almost impossible to beat.
Graycliff, Nassau This is about the essence of luxury, about true gastronomy, about the art of the bon vivant. From its on-site cigar factory to the third largest wine cellar in the world to the marvelous service, Graycliff is a luxury sanctuary hidden in the hills above Old Nassau.
Round Hill, Jamaica A throwback to the jet-set age, this Jamaican legend (with rooms designed by part-owner Ralph Lauren) is timeless and magical, a portal to another era, when travel was defined by romance.
Pine Cay, Turks and Caicos It’s probably all you need to hear: a boutique hotel on a private island in Turks and Caicos. And did we mention it’s a Relais & Chateaux? Set on the secluded, breathtaking Pine Cay, it’s a barefoot-chic beach retreat with the personality of a sophisticated urban hotel.
Island House, Nassau This 30-room gem in Nassau’s Lyford Cay was ahead of its time when it opened its doors back in 2015, helping to usher in the new Nassau, one defined by new, artful energy. It remains one of the island’s capitals of cool, with thoughtful touches, outstanding food and even an on-site cinema.
Montpelier Plantation and Beach, Nevis This family-owned, 19-room historic inn is set on a centuries-old sugar plantation (and once hosted Princess Diana). It’s the only one of Nevis’ historic inns with its own beach club, joined by warm service, beautiful design and Mill Privee, the stunning eatery set inside an 18th century sugar mill.
OLV 55 The second hotel by Puerto Rico’s hottest hoteliers, Loisse Herger and Fernando Davila, is a dramatic transformation of a Condado apartment that’s one of the sexiest hotels in the hemisphere, with the creative details of a Mediterranean boutique and the impressive food that defines the new San Juan. But the star is the jaw-dropping rooftop club overlooking the Condado Lagoon.
Point Grace, Turks and Caicos While most know the world-famous Grace Bay Beach for its blindingly white sand and its outstanding residential resorts, it’s also home to this: a 28-room boutique hotel that’s arguably the beach’s best-kept secret. It’s home to a pair of eateries, a mix of suites and penthouses and the overarching feeling that you’ve stumbled upon someplace truly special.
Pearl Beach, St Barth One of the only true “boutique” hotels on tiny St Barth, where even a 30-room property can be a full-fledged resort. This lovable, playful property is set right on the sand in spectacular, buzzy St Jean, with 14 rooms in four categories with a rustic-chic aesthetic.
Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia It’s hard to call Jade Mountain a boutique hotel — it’s almost in a category by itself beyond classification — that’s what happens when you pull off some of the most mind-blowingly cool design in the Caribbean. But at its core, this hotel, long defined by its infinity pool sanctuaries overlooking the pitons, is a boutique, with a focus on delivering an authentic, personal and intimate Saint Lucian experience.
Tropical St Barth The newest addition to St Barth is actually a remaining of one of the island’s oldest hotels: the “new” Tropical is a wonderful amalgam of South Beach and the French West Indies, with a colorful, playful aesthetic, a lush eatery that’s the hotel’s de facto town square and one of the island’s most beautiful (and delicious) bars.
Rock House, Harbour Island Now under new ownership, this Harbour Island signature is better than ever. It’s always been centered around its world-class restaurant, but the story here extends to both the magical pool and the beach club on Pink Sand Beach, with beach attendants ready for your every need. There are just 10 rooms and suites, colorful and vibrant. It’s hard to choose from Harbour Island’s impressive collection of boutiques, but Rock House just has that extra degree of energy.
The House, Barbados The torch-lit drawbridge, the daily champagne breakfast, the stunning beachside bar. It’s the soul of Bajan luxury, in an endlessly intimate 34-room package. And the best part? It’s actually part of Marriott’s all-inclusive portfolio.
Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel, Grenada There are 30 suites at this elegant boutique on the lovely L’Anse Aux Epines beach in Grenada. The Relais & Chateaux retreat, home to the only Caribbean restaurant by the late culinary superstar Gary Rhodes, is a family-owned jewel, with exquisite rooms (including some with their own private plunge pools) and a commitment to delivering the genteel luxury that defines the best of Grenadian hospitality.