It’s hard to believe the first edition of our landmark Cool List was published 11 years ago. Today, the Caribbean Journal Cool List is still the annual authority on the Caribbean’s coolest, most creative, singular, buzzy places to stay.

That continues to be the case with our 11th edition, with the Cool List 2023 featuring a broad spectrum of cool hotels and resorts from The Bahamas to the north to Bonaire to the south, each property unique and fascinating in its own way, honing that elusive alchemy that turns great hotels into unique hospitality sanctuaries.

“Cool” is a word that escapes definition, that defies categorization. That means you’ll find a diverse, varied collection of hotels in this list: some large, some tiny, some resorts, some boutiques, some in the hills, some on the sand. They are all totally different, but they all share one unifying trait. They just have that “it” factor.

The Cove Atlantis, The Bahamas Atlantis’ signature resort does so many things well it’s almost easy to forget just how fantastic it is. But The Cove really is that good. It begins with one of the most beautiful lobbies in the Caribbean, extending to its unique beachfront casino, its nightclub-style poolscape, its spectacular beach (that’s without even mentioning the cabanas) its diverse culinary program led by Jose Andres’ marvelous Fish eatery. Even more remarkable is how the hotel manages to take 600 rooms and somehow make you feel like you’re staying in a boutique hotel. It’s not a surprise that this is where William and Kate stayed when they sojourned in Nassau, after all.