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.
Sunset Reef, St Kitts Buzzing St Kitts has a diverse array of hotels, from traditional beach resorts to eco-sanctuaries; but its newest is the most exciting edition in years: Sunset Reef, a tiny boutique with seven spacious suites in a villa-style setting on the waterfront outside of Basseterre. Its villa-style philosophy means you can choose from different “stocking” options before your stay, part of a creative hospitality vision that ranges from a pool heated by geothermal energy to a “catch and hook” day charter program that lets you catch your dinner.
The Fred, St Croix Few Caribbean hotels have had as big of an impact on their surrounding neighborhoods as this adults-only retreat, which has helped lead the renaissance of Frederiksted. A dazzling amalgam of history and innovation, the hotel marries avant-garde fun with a tropical, laid-back ambience. The addition of St Croix native Michael Matthews as its new top chef has taken the culinary program to new heights.
Le Barthelemy, St Barth The coolest place to stay in St Barth is a 44 rooms in a beautiful perch in Grand Cul de Sac. This resort is the ultimate St Barth experience: cool and playful, energetic but never outlandish, endlessly fun. And then there’s the world-class culinary program, led by the meticulous food at Amis.
Palm Island, The Grenadines Private island resorts in the Caribbean can sometimes err on the pretentious side. Not this one. Elite Island Resort’s jewel in the Grenadines is the ultimate manifestation of the Robinson Crusoe fantasy, a luxury private-island resort that channels its inner castaway. The beaches around the island are white-sand gems, the food is outstanding and the vibe is unrivaled.
Bamboo Bonaire The first thing that strikes you here is just how quiet it is, the way all you hear are the swaying palms in the courtyard. Then you see the eclectic, funky rooms (some with their own private magnesium pools, and you really get it. This adults-only boutique is Bonaire’s best-kept secret, with an almost impossibly serene vibe, terrific wellness options and Han ten Winkel and Mark Tromop’s innovative CHEFS, one of the top restaurants in the Caribbean.
Secret Bay, Dominica Gregor Nassief’s masterwork is this luxurious love letter to Dominica’s extravagant natural beauty. There are no hotel rooms like this anywhere else in the Caribbean, residential-style eco-villas with high-tech amenities, outdoor showers and the coolest plunge pools you’ll ever see.
Little Arches, Barbados This story of this 10-room jewel on Barbados’ Platinum Coast begins with Cafe Luna, one of the island’s best restaurants, and extends to owner Jacinta McBride’s marvelous hospitality philosophy, one that all but guarantees a quintessential, culture-filled take on Bajan hospitality, one that understands that luxury and community are inextricably connected.
Baoase Luxury Resort Curacao This Dutch Caribbean island is sizzling, but travelers in the know have long flocked to this Bali-style beach resort outside of Willemstad, where the service is impeccable, Chef Rene Klop’s food is Michelin-quality and the rooms are the kind you never, ever want to leave.
OLV Fifty Five, Puerto Rico Loisse Herger and Fernando Davila’s second Condado hotel is the sexiest hotel in Puerto Rico, a low-rise tower at the edge of the Lagoon with an always-bumping rooftop and some of the most creatively designed bathrooms you will ever lay eyes upon.
Montpelier Plantation and Beach, Nevis Nevis is famous for its historic inns, and this is the jewel in the crown: an exquisite, grand, elegant retreat in the foothills of Nevis Peak where you take a luxurious, indulgent trip back in time.
Graycliff, Nassau, The Bahamas There are few cooler experiences than walking into a former pirate-era dungeon that just so happens to have one of the world’s largest wine collections. But that’s just the beginning of the sublime culinary experience at Nassau’s legendary Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant, an endlessly cool boutique hotel that’s got everything from an award-winning cigar factory to the most beautiful pool in all of The Bahamas.
Golden Rock Resort, Statia This beautiful little resort has almost single-handedly turned charming, lovable Statia into an eco-hotspot. The first luxury resort on the island, Golden Rock is all about Dutch Caribbean cool: sleek rooms, a sweeping poolscape and a fabulous restaurant are all on offer.
The Bluff House, Abaco, The Bahamas This historic hotel has been completely rebuilt since the storms of 2019, giving a fresh, bright look to a hotel that was always one of the most beloved retreats in the Out Islands of The Bahamas. The rooms are grand and bright, the bar is a beach lover’s dream and the island, Green Turtle Cay, is, well, you pretty much instantly fall in love with a name like that.
The Hideout, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands For years, Jost Van Dyke was a green-hilled paradise with some of the world’s top beach bars — but without any truly notable places to stay. That’s no longer the case. Enter The Hideout, a tiny beachfront boutique resort where every villa comes with its own private plunge pool.
Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Exuma, The Bahamas You may have seen photos of the Exuma Cays, with their out-of-this-world electric blue water, their swimming pigs and their remote sandbars. But if you want to spend more than an afternoon there, this is the ultimate spot. A mix of bungalows and suites, this Mecca for boaters also has a world-famous bar and restaurant. Even better? All of the rooms come with fully-fueled 17-foot skiffs for exploring Exuma’s blue waters.
Delfins Beach Resort, Bonaire Bonaire’s most complete resort, this beach resort is hip without ever being pretentious, with a beautiful magnesium pool (with a swim-up bar), a magnificent beach bar and, as an added bonus, the number one restaurant in the Caribbean.
Hammock Cove, Antigua The hottest all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean in recent years is most famous for its infinity-pool cliffside cottages, all with sweeping entertainment decks with infinity plunge pools, outstanding Michelin-pedigree cuisine and a terrific rum bar, among other amenities.
Cobblers Cove, Barbados After a few years under the radar, this beloved 40-room Speightstown boutique is back and better than ever, famous for its charming Bajan classic design and its out-of-this-world waterside eatery.
Rockhouse, Jamaica Few hotels have better distilled the essence of their island like this Negril signature, where music, mystical cliffs, world-class Jamaican food and stunning rooms merge into a truly unique hotel experience.
Barbuda Belle, Barbuda Nobu Barbuda has helped to bring new jet-set attention to this beach-filled little sister island to Antigua, but Barbuda Belle has for some time been its quintessential place to stay, with six marvelous bungalows in a breathtaking toes-in-the-sand location.
French Coco, Martinique Martinique’s coolest boutique hotel has made its triumphant post-pandemic return, with the relaunch of this 17-suite retreat where 16 of the units have their own private pools. The setting in the charming fishing town of Tartane (also home to one of the island’s top rum companies) is a bonus.
Anse Chastenet, Saint Lucia While its sister resort, Jade Mountain, rightly gets a great deal of acclaim, don’t overlook this wonderfully authentic resort set on 600 acres in Soufriere. The diving and snorkeling offerings are world class but we’re most fond of the diverse menu of activities available here, from art classes to birdwatching to “jungle biking.”
Silversands, Grenada This Grand Anse Beach outpost has quietly become a luxury hotspots, with a simple formula: 43 rooms and suites, a collection of beachfront and hillside villas, a terrific rum and cigar lounge and what the property bills as the longest pool in all of the Caribbean.
The Cliff, Negril, Jamaica s you can see, Negril has no lack of ultra-cool small hotels, most of which are set either on the legendary Seven Mile Beach or on its mystical cliffs. This is the latter, home to 33 suites and villas and one of the best spas in all of Jamaica.
Les Ilets de la Plage, St Barth The Caribbean capital of glamour is not short on grand villas and luxury beach resorts; but there’s another way to experience the island: Les Ilets, the absolutely lovely little boutique beach resort on the other side of St Jean beach. This mix of beachfront bungalows and garden and hillside villas is the essence of St Barth’s French Caribbean cool in a breezy, laid-back, no-attitude package that has regulars coming back year after year.
Goldwynn Resort, Nassau, The Bahamas They call it the “Riviera Bahama,” and this high-design beach resort is a major injection of energy to the newly-invigorated Cable Beach. It’s the first residential resort of its kind in Nassau, and a very different kind of luxury retreat for the island.
Palm Heights, Grand Cayman Gabriella Khalil has performed her magic on the former Beach Suites on Seven Mile Beach, turning a solid condominium resort into a jet-set favored boutique hotel. There are 52 rooms here, all of which are suites, joined by four creative dining concepts led by the pan-Caribbean eatery, Tillies.
Strawberry Hill, Jamaica Drive a little less than an hour from Kingston into the Blue Mountains and you’ll find this breezy collection of hillside cottages designed by Jamaican architect Ann Hodges. The focus here is on wellness and sustainability, a place where you can enjoy an authentic Jamaican experience that takes you deep into the rich cultural fabric of the island in a stunning setting 3,100 feet above sea level.
Keyonna Beach Resort, Antigua We just love this boutique beach resort on the southern coast of Antigua, where most of the rooms have their own private plunge pools, the sand is filled with delicious Bali beds and the food is the essence of Antigua.