This Barefoot Hideaway in Tobago Has Two Pools, an Uncrowded Beach, and a Cuban Cocktail Bar

The path down begins softly — a narrow run of steps winding between palms and sea grapes. The air thickens as you descend, the heat meeting the scent of the ocean in a hush that makes everything else fade. Just before you reach the sand, you catch a flash of turquoise through the foliage, and then the bay appears — a natural cove framed by thick greenery and quiet water lapping against pale sand. It feels unspoiled. Just like the island.

There are no umbrellas, no speakers, no crowds. Just the sound of the tide, a few almond trees overhead and the slow rhythm of Tobago.

This is the Bacolet Beach Club, and it’s one of my favorite hotels in Tobago.

The hotel sits above it all on the hillside, almost like a watchpoint. From the balconies, the bay opens wide beneath you, a sweep of sea with nothing but horizon in the distance. It’s the kind of place where days lengthen without effort — a swim before breakfast, barefoot walks down to the beach, a slow climb back up the path with salt on your skin and the breeze tugging at your shirt. Nothing here feels hurried.

This is a Caribbean that doesn’t always exist anymore. It’s barefoot, it’s rugged, it’s real.

What sets Bacolet apart isn’t polish; it’s texture. The place has edges, history, the softness of something lived in. The open-air corridors are washed in light. Wooden decks stretch around the pool, shaded corners invite conversation, and the night sky spreads overhead like a ceiling without walls. It’s Tobago at its most immediate and unfiltered — a hotel that doesn’t put on a show because it doesn’t have to.

The property is home to sixty rooms, each angled toward the sea. Four-poster beds, marble-tiled floors and breezy balconies give the spaces a lived-in charm. Some are tucked into the West Wing, others perch in the Tower with views that reach across the bay. Even the largest suites keep the same spirit: personal, simple, wide open to the elements. There’s no sense of sameness here. Every room faces the water as if that’s the only direction that matters.

The beach itself is a short stroll down the hill. It’s small, curved, sheltered by palms, the kind of cove where you can leave your towel in the sand and know it will still be there hours later. It’s quiet during the day and softly lit at night, adding just enough presence without changing the feel of the shore.

Up on the hill, the hotel’s heart beats through its decks and dining spaces. There are two pools. Smooth wooden planks lead to sunbathing corners where conversations unfold slowly over smoothies and snacks brought straight from the kitchen. The pool deck feels like a communal porch — not a stage, but a gathering place. It’s easy to linger here long after the sun has begun to fade. If you want a spa treatment, you can get one at the resort next door.

Just beyond the pool, a small wooden bridge crosses to Café Havana. It’s a warm, unpretentious restaurant where the menu carries layers of influence: Cuban spice, Creole soul, Asian touches, and the unmistakable note of Tobago itself. Churrasco steak and local callaloo soup share the table with ceviche, plantains, grilled fish and daily specials. The drinks list leans into the Caribbean — good rum on the rocks, mojitos, martinis, and wines chosen to match the mood. It’s not just a dining space; it’s part of the hotel’s pulse, a place where evening light pools under wooden beams and conversations stretch late into the night.

Across the road, the lounge bar Some Like It Hot takes over the after-hours. There’s music, a warm breeze, and the feeling that you’re among people who aren’t trying too hard. The hotel also hides a few surprises — a small conference space for intimate gatherings, D’Rum Shop for private events, quiet corners made for groups that want something away from the usual crowds. But it never loses its barefoot feel.

What We Like

Bacolet doesn’t trade in gloss or grandeur. Its magic is quieter — a view that unfolds every time you step onto your balcony, food that reflects both the island and faraway places. The three pools create pockets of calm, the bridge to Café Havana feels like a secret pathway, and the beach bar adds just enough energy without crowding the cove. Everything here has its own pace. It’s old-school Tobago, honest and unforced.

How to Get There

Fly into Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson International Airport in Tobago. From there, it’s a short, easy drive to Bacolet Bay on the island’s southeast coast. The hotel sits on the hillside above the water. The beach is just a short walk down a shaded path, and the property’s layout makes moving between the pools, rooms and shoreline effortless.

The best part? Prices at Bacolet start at around $145 right now on Google Hotels.