You asked: My wife and I are taking the kids to Barbados for a week. We’re staying at Royal Westmoreland, but would love some advice on where to eat and what to do. —A.C., New York
Here’s the latest scoop on what’s going on in Barbados from a friend, who owns a house there and loves good food, so you can trust her recommendations. Don’t miss the store that she suggests, Simon Peter. I’ve shopped there; it has a very simple exterior, but the guy is a wizard.
Restaurant news: “We have a great new restaurant called Scarlet (246-432-3663; Paynes Bay, St. James) on the ocean road just past Daphne’s from London and the Blue Monkey (246-432-7528; Paynes Bay, St. James) on Paynes Bay Beach. Also new is Pravda Lounge (246-420-7617; no. 1 St. Lawrence Gap, Christ Church; www.pravdalounge.com) with light eats and very loungy atmosphere; Aqua Restaurant and Lounge is very pretty and has great food. Champers, too, serves delicious food and is right on the water. As you know, we have Lonestar (246-419-0599; Mount Standfast, St. James; www.thelonestar.com), which is fun for lunch or dinner with kids as they can play on the beach and the more formal The Cliff, which has opened a clubby lounge upstairs. La Mer (246-419-2000; inside Port St. Charles Condo and Marina Complex, Speightstown, St. Peter), The Tides Restaurant and the Fish Pot are beachside and serve wonderful fresh fish.”
Shopping: “For one-of-a-kind clothing, cocktail dresses to beach cover-ups, you must visit Simon Peter in Paynes Bay (246-236-3294). Your hotel or villa person should be able to direct you. Designers Simon Foster and Peter Bowen moved down here years ago and they have fashionable clients from around the world, who come to their little shack for one-of-a-kind fashions.”
Activities: “We have a great new movie theater and a VIP section, which is like a private screening room and, of course, we still have the drive in. We get every new movie the same day it opens in New York. ”
Hotel/Villa news: “Four Seasons is about to build on Barbados. The country-house hotel Villa Nova has been sold and is changing hands (probably going to be a new spa), so I will let you know when I check it out. If people want to rent on Barbados, I can give you a list of good houses with nice staff. Sometimes it is cheaper than a hotel. Rental agents would be Jenny Alleyne (246-432-2221) or Realtors (246-432-6930).”
Editors’ Note: The villa rental company Wimco also has some great properties. I rented one through, Glenn Ormiston, in their office and she knew each house inside and out. She found us one that was on Sandy Lane Estates, so that we had access to the resort facilities, including golf and spa, as well as a cabana at the property owner’s part of the beach. Our house came with a pool, tennis court and fantastic staff and was only a few minutes from Hole Town. I have since referred a number of friends to her—and for all of them, she has found fabulous houses that were just for them. In the U.S.: 866-850-6140; in the U.K.: 0870-850-1144. www.wimco.com. —M.B.B.
Read an in-depth destination report on Barbados.
