Where to stay in Barbados
Coral Reef Club
The family-run Coral Reef Club reaches out to you with open arms: come in, find a seat, have a chat. The rooms and penthouses are sumptuous yet homelike – a very luxurious home, mind, with a strong colonial feel. Once you step out, there’s a catamaran “experience” that you should definitely try and a spa with private patios and waterfalls running through it. Perfect.
Porters, St James. +1 246 422 2372. coralreefbarbados.com
The Sandpiper
Where Coral Reef Club has an old-world bustle, sister hotel The Sandpiper is maze-like and tropical. Everything seems amplified in richness and colour. At first, walking through the gardens, you can’t see any buildings, but keep following the manicured paths and streams and an opening will appear. The rooms are divided into little white houses, kept cleverly private; the pool is hidden among a sprinkle of palm trees; the dining space is a platform of serenity, where you can be as involved or isolated as you like. GQ stayed in the penthouse, a wonderful balance of traditional and modern interior design. What’s more, it’s only steps away from the hotel’s private beach, where smiling, helpful, discreet staff will appear out of nowhere to offer a cold towel and another rum punch.
Holetown, St James. +1 246 422 2251. sandpiperbarbados.com
Where to eat in Barbados
Lunch at The Lone Star
Serving its trendy clientele with crowd-pleasing classics, from salads and sandwiches to fresh fish and Caribbean curry, lunch at The Lone Star oozes Bajan beachside glamour. Its whitewashed wood makes the sea look all the more azure, while the waiters’ white boilersuits and the artworks featuring cars nod to the garage that once stood on this spot.
Mount Standfast, St James. +1 246 629 0599. thelonestar.com
Dinner at The Cliff
The most talked-about restaurant on the island lives up to its reputation, with its stunning location, fusion menu and informal yet theatrical vibe. A favourite with celebrities from Simon Cowell to Rihanna, the interior design alone makes this a place to remember. It's very eco-chic: think lots of wood, brown leather armchairs and an interesting array of old movie posters (including James Bond: View to a Kill). Try the lobster linguine or fat, juicy shrimp in Thai curry sauce, then retire to the cigar-and-rum room post-dessert. Arrive before sundown, when the sky turns from pink to inky black and the staff feed the seven-foot tarpon fish in the underlit shallows. The Cliff's little sister, The Cliff Beach Club, is just next door, and boasts the same gorgeous views (we spied several turtles floating by over the course of one deliciously lazy lunch) but is considerably more casual. Great for families, couples and big groups of friends, you can bank on a visit to the Beach Club being an all-day, rosé-fuelled affair.
Derricks, St James. +1 246 432 1922. thecliffbarbados.com
Oistins fish fry
Friday nights in Barbados are all about Oistins. Every week, the fishing village plays host to a cookout of epic proportions, with scores of makeshift restaurants offering up fresh seafood and classic Caribbean sides. It’s a destination for tourists and locals alike, with music, dancing and a carnival-style atmosphere that’s genuinely infectious.
Oistins Bay Gardens, Christ Church.
Things to do in Barbados
Discover Bim Island Tours
Nothing beats a private boat trip, especially when the itinerary includes swimming with turtles, snorkelling around a shipwreck and sipping Bajan rum cocktails on deck. Set sail early to avoid the crowds – captains Perry and Derek advise a pickup time of 9am – and go on the long three-hour excursion. You’ll have plenty of time to peek at the west coast’s many hotels, then snap underwater photos with the turtles.
Fitts Village, St James. +1 246 234 2696.
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