26 December 2025
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The Caribbean islands number in the thousands, and the boutique hotel and resort scene across these beloved, storied waters rivals that of any of the world's tropical destinations. The Maldives, the Seychelles and Fiji boast their own top-notch island hotels, but the Caribbean overwhelms with sheer quantity: in the latest announcement of MICHELIN Keys, Inspectors distinguished 50 hotels across 21 islands with at least One Key.
As the cold months descend and travelers grow eager for warm weather escapes, we consider it prudent to narrow this robust Caribbean Key selection to the very top tier.
Below, our guide to the very best hotels in the Caribbean, those awarded Two MICHELIN Keys or more. Largely clustered on four islands, they range from all-inclusive resorts — many with special considerations for families and children — to sophisticated, art-laden boutiques. Each is among the world's greatest expressions of tropical hospitality.
Browse by location:
Anguilla
Three hotels in the spectacular landscape and laid-back lifestyle of what is often referred to as the Caribbean culinary capital.
Malliouhana Resort Anguilla: Overlooking Anguilla’s famed Meads Bay and cascading toward the quieter Turtle Cove, this is a low‑key, glamorous resort in robin’s-egg blues and sunny yellows with a distinct sense of place. Beyond traditional comforts, it leans into its multi-beach lifestyle with outdoor adventures and guided buggy tours, plus a rich roster of experiences. A guest favorite is the catch-and-cook outing: catch your own fish by day and let the resort chef prepare it by night.
Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel: By itself, Maundays Bay is one of the region's most spectacular beaches. At the Cap Juluca site, 113 accommodations wrap it in ocean views and private terraces, and families are particularly welcome, with interactive workshops like kite making and driftwood art. Last holiday season, the resort transformed into a celebration of Anguillan culture, featuring a Calypsonian-led music workshop and local crafts markets.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla: Clearly positioned to embrace every rocky outcrop between Barnes and Meads Bay, this medium-size resort features interiors by Kelly Wearstler, a designer whose trademark is her eclectic, ecstatically colorful spaces. Long a fixture in the United States, her work features dramatically in the spaces between two bays, integrated into a thoughtful layout with an adults-only cliff-edge pool, family-friendly bluff-top areas, and shallow pools beachside. The signature glass restaurant provides the surreal feeling of floating directly over the reef.
Saint Barthélemy
On the French Riviera of the Caribbean, the only Three-Key in all the islands — plus two more standouts.
Cheval Blanc St. Barth Isle De France: The only Three-Key hotel on a Caribbean island is also the sole spot in the region to earn a Palace classification from the French Ministry of Tourism — a distinction that reflects specific government requirements, like the presence of a multilingual staff and a spa. Other high points the French ministry might appreciate: rooms scattered across St. Barth’s picturesque Flamands Beach, bespoke experiences and complimentary utility vehicles for island exploration, yoga and in-villa spa treatments, and locally sourced meals by the seaside.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth: Situated on a private peninsula, this is a village-like sanctuary with access to two distinct beaches — one facing the open ocean, the other a reef-protected lagoon. Sixty-six vibrantly hued cottages nestle within verdant gardens, and public spaces cater seamlessly to both families and the adults-only crowd. The resort's "do everything from one base" philosophy includes water excursions, art exhibits, and hiking, while Bar Mélangé's dessert omakase is a refined finale to a day in the sun.
Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa: Refined Parisian elegance meets relaxed Caribbean charm in 44 light-filled suites and two luxury villas unfolding along the white-sand coast of this protected natural reserve. Dining includes a zero-waste restaurant and cooking classes, while Seven Stars Bar’s personalized astrological cocktails showcase an artistic streak. The mantra is one of welcome: “There are no guests, this is your home.”
Dominican Republic
Two versions of high luxury on one of the Caribbean's largest islands.
Eden Roc Cap Cana: With 68 accommodations, it may feel more like a community than a resort, albeit one where every guest has access to a golf cart and a private swimming pool. The Jack Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada Golf Course and the private marina are among the signature draws, while chef-driven restaurants and wine tastings make for an elevated culinary experience to boot. Activities abound, and the kids club offers an extensive menu of childish delights.
Amanera: Twenty-five modernist casitas perched on 18- to 60-foot cliffs above a mile-long, virtually empty beach make for something of a high-design private sanctuary. Some rooms come with private pools, but all boast floor-to-ceiling windows that blur the boundaries between indoor and out. Guests take Taíno medicine walks to explore native flora and traditional remedies, while the dramatic clifftop location makes for the occasional shoreside glimpse of a humpback whale.
Antigua and Barbuda
Two unforgettable hotels with exceptional conservation programs.
Hermitage Bay: Built around the South African philosophy of Ubuntu — "I am because you are" — this ultra-secluded, 25-cottage retreat makes a real effort to practice kindness and humanity. Freestanding wooden suites scattered along the beachfront and up lush hillsides overlook a single, protected white-sand cove. Many of the staff boast over a decade of service, giving the feel of a cozy — but refined — family vacation, where evenings get no wilder than a pleasant evening of low-key live music. The on-site organic garden uses composted kitchen waste, an unusually sustainable approach for an all-inclusive property.
Jumby Bay Island: A 10-minute private yacht journey from Antigua lands you on a 300-acre, car-free island sanctuary where a "no signatures, no keys" motto defines a seamless all-inclusive experience. Three powdery beaches ringed by coral reefs complement the island's role as a wildlife sanctuary — this is a major nesting site for endangered hawksbill sea turtles. The resort’s 40 rooms, suites, and mansions balance high-end luxury with a laid-back island vibe; Saturday night beach barbecues and roaming Blackhead Persian sheep create an atmosphere both polished and delightfully surreal.
more islands
Seven islands feature a single Two-Key hotel. Together, they represent the best of the Caribbean — from cliffsides to rainforest.
Secret Bay, Dominica: The Nature Island’s self-described six-star resort is dominated by rainforest-to-ocean views, reached via a 293-foot hillside funicular. Up top, 22 locally sourced Guyanese hardwood and red cedar villas have been built into cliffs, using no heavy machinery to better preserve the landscape. Waterfall canyoning, whale encounters and rainforest hikes are just a few of the activities to indulge in by day; dedicated hosts replace traditional reception service, delivering organic breakfast baskets with farm-fresh ingredients daily.
Calabash Hotel, Grenada: Staff know each guest by name at this long-running, healing-focused, family-run boutique. Thirty tastefully designed suites are outfitted with balconies and sea views, while a roster of complimentary activities keeps guests as busy as they want to be outside the plentiful hours on the silky sand. Expect lively evenings at the piano lounge, where a smart dress code adds a touch of old-world refinement.
The Caves, Jamaica: Twelve cliffside cottages, each with distinctive bohemian style, sit atop natural sea caves hovering above the dramatic coastline minutes from Jamaica’s famous Seven Mile Beach. The colorful property is undeniably romantic, and experiences like private cave dining — where a candlelit multi-course dinner takes place inside a sea cave overlooking the ocean — are optimal honeymoon fare. The Blackwell Rum Bar, literally carved into the cliffs and lit by candles in the rock, feels less like a bar and more like a hidden speakeasy under the sea.
Jade Mountain, St. Lucia: Twenty-four infinity pool sanctuaries and five whirlpool suites, accessed via individual bridges, come with private terraces and unobstructed views of the iconic Pitons mountains and Caribbean Sea — arguably the best vistas on the island. A missing wall in each room fuses St. Lucia’s colorful dreamscape with elegantly designed interiors. You’ll find no TVs or radios, and phones are heavily discouraged in public spaces. Access to sister resort Anse Chastanet provides miles of hiking and mountain biking trails for those seeking adventure.
Lovango Resort and Beach Club, USVI: Ocean-view treehouses, luxury glamping tents and freestanding villas converge to form a stylish private-island escape on a reef-ringed cay. Daily ferry service connects Lovango with national parks on St. John and St. Thomas. To complement the unhurried island lifestyle is a full-service beach club, infinity pool, tropical wooden gym, boutique shops and fire pits. For such a stylish property, it’s surprisingly kid-friendly.
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