Hermitage Bay Hotel

Antigua

In an island alive with melody and song, the first thing that strikes you at Hermitage Bay is the sound of silence: I don’t count the rustle of palm trees, murmur of a turquoise sea, whisper of cooling trade winds or even the clink of punch glasses. Set in a curving bay edged with forested hills, guests stay in secluded individual villas either on the ivory beach or on terraced hillsides. The restrained plantation-style interiors are stylish, airy and thoughtfully equipped with private decks and verandas; some have plunge pools and outside showers. Low-rise, open-plan main buildings continue the dark wood and wicker theme, linking the split-level restaurant, spacious reception area, super-comfortable poolside bar and the beach.

The tranquillity is enhanced by the fact they only offer non-motorised watersports and, frankly, by the absence of children under the age of 14. It’s all perfectly blissful, from the award-winning spa and optional morning meditation to the organic garden that feeds the kitchen. Freshness and lightness are the keynote for some of the best cooking not just on the island but in the West Indies – a daily-changing menu marries Antiguan traditions and contemporary ideas with intelligence, sensitivity and skill.

We were even lucky enough to have a hummingbird visit our terrace each day. It’s just part of the magic of this luxurious resort – a sanctuary from the concerns of daily life. Doubles from £831. hermitagebay.com

Words by Clarissa Hyman

This review was taken from the May 2020 issue of Food and Travel.

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