This Caribbean Island Has a New Adults-Only Hotel With a Swim-Up Bar — and a Different Kind of Energy 

The newest arrival in the U.S. Virgin Islands is reshaping the energy of Cruz Bay, bringing an adults-only hideaway with a modern edge to one of the Caribbean’s most beloved islands. The Saint Hotel has opened just a short walk from the ferry dock, a rare blend of boutique intimacy and destination-worthy dining in a place long defined by national park scenery and barefoot beach days. St. John has never really had a contemporary, adults-focused resort experience in the heart of town — until now — and the result is an entirely new way to stay on the island.

The design is crisp and coastal, but the soul of the property is its atmosphere: a mix of poolside quiet during the day and island-style energy when the sun goes down. Everything revolves around the water, from the swim-up bar to the wide sunset views over Cruz Bay. For a destination built around hiking trails, hidden beaches, and open-air beach bars, this is a new counterpoint — a place built for relaxation, lingering meals, and evenings that stretch into night.

St. John has always offered a certain kind of escape. The Saint adds another dimension to it. This is where you can stay steps from town but still find a private, adults-only retreat; where the spa and the restaurant are open to everyone; and where the island’s growing culinary and music scene now has a bold new stage.

What to Expect at The Saint Hotel

Aerial, the resort’s signature restaurant, has quickly become one of the island’s most talked-about tables, drawing both travelers and locals for its focus on fresh ingredients, polished service, and elevated island cooking. Its terrace looks straight out to the water, giving dinner a natural finale as the sun falls over Cruz Bay. The kitchen’s early reputation — driven by consistency and creativity — has already made it a destination in its own right.

The entertainment program brings an entirely different layer, with regular live musicians, fire dancers lighting up the pool deck, and moko jumbies adding a touch of cultural spectacle. It’s the kind of programming St. John rarely sees in a hotel setting, and it has quickly turned the property into an evening hangout for visitors and residents alike, and one of a growing number of exciting places to stay in the USVI right now.

The swim-up pool bar is the daytime anchor, a spot built for long hours in the water, cold cocktails, and the easy rhythm of a slow island afternoon. Daypasses are available, which means you don’t have to be a guest to settle in for the day — a major draw on an island with limited resort-style amenities. The spa is open to the public, too, bringing a curated treatment menu and a quiet, coastal-inspired interior just steps from the center of Cruz Bay.

Why It Matters for St. John

The Saint arrives at a moment when St. John’s hospitality scene is evolving. Small villas and national-park beaches have always defined the island’s identity. The Saint brings something new without changing that essence — an adults-only resort walking distance from Cruz Bay, a serious restaurant, and a built-in music and entertainment scene. It gives travelers another way to experience St. John while staying close to the island’s daily pulse.

Prices at The Saint

You can find rooms as low as $365 per night in January, according to the hotel’s website. That varies with the room category and the season.