Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf St Barth

Saint Barthélemy has always been an exception in the Caribbean, an exclusive and upscale Gallic outpost surrounded by what in a pessimistic mood can seem like island after island full of tacky overdevelopment and overcrowded beaches. Frankly it’s hard not to think slightly elitist thoughts here — and few hotels really embody what’s unique about St. Barths quite like the Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf St Barth.

The Carl, as its friends know it, stands high on a hillside above the harbor town of Gustavia, and is one of the island’s classic grand dames, if that’s even the right phrase for a tiny 14-suite hotel, however celebrated and luxurious. The interiors, after a large-scale renovation, are a blend of contemporary luxury and old-world charm — the French influence is evident, and results in a look that’s a good deal more refined than what we’re used to seeing even in the Caribbean’s better hotels.

The key to the appeal, however, isn’t the style, but the sheer luxury of the place: private plunge pools, multi-jet showers, kitchenettes, and of course the jaw-dropping views. There’s the new Carita spa, the sort of thing you’d usually associate with a much larger hotel, as well as a fine French restaurant — it may be at the dinner table that St. Barths in general (and the Carl Gustaf in particular) really puts the rest of the Caribbean to shame.