Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa

The idea that French people are always perfectly put-together may be nothing more than a careless stereotype. Nevertheless, it accurately describes where Saint Barthélemy stands vis-à-vis the rest of the Caribbean. This French island is always a bit more stylish, a bit more upscale than its neighbors. And the first newly-built hotel on St. Barth in twenty years turns out to have been worth the wait, thanks to a pair of Parisians on holiday: designer Sybille de Margerie and Michelin-starred chef Jéremy Czaplicki combine to make Le Barthélemy one of the Caribbean’s hottest tickets.

It takes quite a bit of self-assurance to name your hotel after the destination, but Le Barthélemy has much to be self-assured about. The setting, on a crescent-shaped beach, is exquisite, and as a part of the Nature Reserve of St. Barths it’s a particularly lush corner of the island. It’s in the interiors, though, that you truly begin to get a sense of how impressive this place is. The most basic rooms have views of the gardens or the lake, while an upgrade earns you direct views of those impossible turquoise waters, and the rooms’ impeccable visual style underlines luxe touches like walk-in rainfall showers and Dyptique bath products.

And the cuisine, a weak link on some Caribbean islands, is at Le Barthélemy a particular point of pride. Jéremy Czaplicki’s restaurant by day, Le Barth, keeps it light and simple, with a menu that’s well suited to a day by the pool or at the spa. By night it turns into Amis St. Barth, replacing French-accented island fare with island-flavored French cuisine. It’s almost maddening how easy they make it look....