Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France

After more than two decades on Flamands, one of the island’s most beautiful beaches, Cheval Blanc St-Barth has mastered what it calls l’Art de Recevoir (the art of welcoming). In 2019, the hotel grew to 61 rooms and suites. Now, nestled above blue waters or tucked away into lush gardens, the inviting suites and bungalows designed by Jacques Granges have whitewashed walls, vibrant patterns and rattan furniture; the tropical garden has been reimagined by Madison Cox. Couples might find their rooms filled with freshly picked flowers or scented by handcrafted candles; families will discover kid-sized flip-flops and children’s menus in theirs, all thanks to the property’s ambassadeurs, who are dedicated to creating personalized experiences for guests. For families, villas are the best options (some have their own pools). The extraordinary hospitality continues at La Case, where Jean Imbert showcases fish and vegetables sourced locally, and at La Cabane, where guests can kick back and relax with their toes in the sand and take in the scene.

The Standout: The stunning Flamands Beach location, with easy access to Gustavia dining and shopping Don’t Miss: The classic poolside fashion show featuring the latest from the hotel boutique’s men’s and women’s collections

• The new five-bedroom Villa de France, with views of Flamands Bay, direct beach access and its own private treatment room
• La Case restaurant, steps from Flamands Beach
• The only spa with Guerlain treatments in all of the Caribbean
• A guided early-morning hike

Also known as the Isle de France, the property’s main white building has a plantation-style design with wide verandas and an oft-photographed breezeway that frames a view of the Caribbean. Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France is set on ten acres, with beautiful Flamands beach on one side and a grove of palm trees on the other. Many fashion photographers shoot on this stretch of beach, thanks to its picturesque backdrop. The iconic LVMH-owned property has a brand-new look—the beachfront rooms have been re-designed by Jacques Grange, and the garden rooms maintain the classic soft pink aesthetic, though the landscape has been re-envisioned by landscape wizard Madison Cox.

The guest rooms feel less like hotel accommodations than the bedrooms of an elegant Provençal family. White dominates—on the walls and floors and in the sumptuous bed linens—but is warmed by the soft pinks and taupes that are featured throughout the hotel. Colorful lampshades and exquisite quilts from France add indulgent touches. In the main house, book one of the six rooms on the top floor. All have balconies overlooking the main deck and views of the sea. The downstairs junior suites also have terraces, but they are on the first floor and open directly onto the pool deck, so they provide less privacy. For families, a villa is the way to go. A few of the garden villas have their own pools, but the ultimate splurge is one of the three-bedroom Flamands villas. There are two—one upstairs and one downstairs—and each features three bedrooms, a media room, a large living/dining area, plus full kitchen, a small gym and a private pool.

Hotel and restaurant guests are treated to a weekly fashion show featuring resort wear from the closet-sized yet fabulous boutique. Stocked with everything from straw hats and necklaces to caftans, vibrant Pucci bikinis and comfortable wedges, the shop is the ultimate place to add something chic to your beach outfit. Disco music plays as local beauties strut their finery, with even young hotel guests participating.

The Isle de France may be a small resort, but it's not without amenities. The resort has the only Guerlain spa in the Caribbean, with a number of treatments, including the St.-Barth Solar Escape, designed to soothe the skin after sun exposure. While the subterranean location of the fitness center doesn’t make for inspirational workouts, it’s likely the best on the island (and the people-watching on the beach loungers offer the best sport anyhow).

The main restaurant, La Case de L’Isle, has a whole new look and menu, both of which are the perfect mix of Caribbean and European. La Cabane, on the beach, is a more casual lunch option, so you can feel the sand in your toes. 

Travelers looking for a discreet, glamorous St. Barth’s scene.