The best hotels in Barbados
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Barbados may have its own laid-back Caribbean island charm, where languorous afternoons stretch out along white-sand beaches that slope into surreal turquoise bays, but there’s more to this coral island than sand and sea. UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bridgetown thrums with independent stores, markets showing off Bajan fruit and art and buildings steeped in history (and invariably, rum) such as St Nicolas Abbey. Community roadside rum shacks are as prolific here as tropical gardens – the Andromeda Botanic Gardens near Bathsheba village are particularly lovely – and festivals such as The Food and Rum Festival and Crop Over Festival peer into the Bajan. For several weeks, performers take to the streets in flamboyant costumes, and the warming smell of spiced sweet potatoes, chicken curry, and fried flying fish hangs in the air.
Only 21 miles from tip to tip, Barbados offers up this blend of beach and culture to all locations – surfers tend to cling to the underrated east coast for its Atlantic waves, and the sun-worshippers stay west for the calm, bath-warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. Barbados’ shores play host to a clutch of stylish hotels, many that evoke a bygone era of pre-lunch gin and tonics over backgammon, a few channelling the island’s no-frills spirit with creative Creole menus and whitewashed rooms.
From family-owned pillared legends with country club rhythms and back garden patches of flawless beach to pared-down boutiques filled with Calypso music and plates of just-caught seafood, here are the best hotels in Barbados.
More recommendations for the best hotels in the Caribbean:
- The best all-inclusive resorts in Barbados
- The best all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean
- The best family-friendly hotels in the Caribbean
- The best hotels in St Lucia
- The best hotels in St Barth's
- The best hotels in Jamaica
- The best hotels in Antigua
- The best hotels in the Bahamas
How we choose the best hotels in Barbados
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve. For more information on how we review hotels and restaurants, please look at our About Us page.
Is Barbados good for families?
When little travellers are involved, the ease of a resort jam-packed with activities can take the strain off parents and let everyone enjoy the trip. For this reason, Barbados is the best island to go to in the Caribbean for families, and there’s everything from larger, more affordable resorts to smaller boutique offerings. For intergenerational holidays and trips with slightly older children, consider hiring out a villa – Oliver’s Travels allows customers to filter results by ‘great for kids’.
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Nick SmithCobblers Cove
What this family-owned boutique hotel lacks in beachfront, it more than makes up for with its impressive sun terrace, expertly positioned to catch the sun both rise and fall. Stepping into Cobblers Cove is like stepping into a veritable Eden; verdant, forgiving foliage gifting shade, whilst, all around, Magnolia leaves fold in like tissue, scenting the grounds. Come nightfall, they are relieved of duty by nocturnal flowers that lead the way, snaking down flagstone paths toward the hotel's kernel – the pastel-pink Great House. Perched among the greenery, it’s easy to think a French Fancy has gone rogue from a summer picnic (which, incidentally, the hotel can arrange for day trips out).
Inside, traditional afternoon tea is served in the respite of the shady, book-lined, art-hound drawing room, where flaky, white shutters are forever drawn in a nod to the island's rich, complicated colonial past. The rooms are in the traditional plantation style but with a chic, craftsy twist; the turreted Camelot and Colleton rooms are hotly contested for their picturesque views across the bay. There are tennis courts (if you’re able to Love in such intense heat), a salon, and a retro-vibed, tear-shaped terracotta pool that hints at old Hollywood. If lazy afternoons on classic, wrought iron sunbeds aren't for you, then watersports and boat rides run daily, with all guests getting a complimentary chug up the coast. The Camelot restaurant is one of the best on the island, with Bajan chef Jason Joseph delivering elegant, locally sourced dishes whilst you relax, waterfront, watching moon beams fizz over rippling tides. Jonnie Bayfield
Coral Reef Club
Step onto the grounds of Coral Reef Club and you'd be forgiven for feeling you’ve been transported back fifty years, to a bygone era of old school glamour. Built by the O'Haras in the 1950s (and still run by them), the family has captured the old world charm and culture that first won the hotel its loyal following. Updates include the luxury spa, tennis courts, two swimming pools and watersports facilities.
88 suites and cottages feature plunge pools or wraparound balconies, and they're set among 12 acres of lush gardens. Rooms merge classic Bajan style (think colourful art and cane furnishings) with English touches like pretty verandas with wooden balustrading and old-fashioned outdoor lampshades. Children under 5 are not allowed in the dining room after 7:30pm, where stone pillars and the most attentive waiters you may ever come across serve roti, steak and seafood against views of the crashing waves. Bell boys fit for the Ritz fuss over guests, and complimentary ice cream is served on the beach at 11am every day. Even the toilet roll has its own golden-rimmed hotel stamp. Jessica Rach
The Sandpiper
Nestled off an idyllic white beach on the calm west coast of the island, The Sandpiper is The Coral Reef Club’s more modern and compact sister hotel, just a stone’s throw away. Family-run since being built in the 1950s, renovations have not erased its charming traditional touches.
Fifty rooms in two-storey pavilion-style houses (some with plunge pools) and four contemporary suites with direct beach access and ocean views sit amid tropical gardens and offer modern comforts such as a complimentary starter bar, mini robes and slippers for children. Adults can enjoy tranquil reading nooks. Each is filled with books and chess and framed by pavilion-style ceilings, while children can feed the fish in waterlily-filled ponds.
Casual meals, cocktails and smoothies are served up at Harold’s, while dinner at The Sandpiper Restaurant is a more formal affair, and there's a long trousers dress code for gentlemen – an enchanting leftover from a bygone era. It's located just 45 minutes from Grantley Adams International Airport, 20 minutes from Bridgetown and a few minutes from local Holetown, so once guests have had their fill of the hotel’s free watersports, they can venture to the capital for a day of culture. Jessica Rach
Address: 59Q6+CWP, Holetown, Barbados
Kirk WatkinsLittle Good Harbour
Here is a cool, carefree alternative on the quiet northwest coast, well away from the jet set and dress code barbecue buffets. Divided between the inland side of the Coastal Road and the beachside, Little Good Harbour’s white-washed rooms are pared down, with gentle Bajan accents via the local art and occasional pops of colour. Private kitchens and large marble bathrooms suggest more private cottages than hotel rooms. Some feature mahogany four-poster beds draped, quite romantically, in mosquito nets while others have large balconies where sunsets are best viewed from smart sofas and armchairs. The common thread seems to be laid back and lovely.
The main coral stone building blinks onto a charming and slightly dishevelled beach through green louvred shutters. The Fish Pot enjoys the same view from its lime-green veranda – the restaurant has worked hard to win the hearts (and stomachs) of locals and epicureans with a splendidly simple menu of fresh fish, pasta and curries. It’s now considered one of Barbados’ best restaurants and without frills and steep prices. The poolside scene is refreshingly unpretentious here – guests sink into green cushioned loungers under the shade of giant palms, nodding off to the trickle of water from a Balinese sculpture, or (in the second, smaller pool) amid every shade of tropical green. A pocket-sized spa punches above its weight with all sorts of massages and scrubs. And, though cabin fever here is unlikely, buzzing Speightstown’s independent boutiques, bars and cafes are a five-minute drive away. Rosalyn Wikeley
Address: Shermans, St Lucy, Barbados
Price: Doubles from £250
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Leslie St.JohnSandy Lane Beach
One of Barbados’ most glamorous hotels, Sandy Lane’s polished marble floors, old-fashioned sofas framed by pot plants and heart-tugging sea views framed by stone arches and pillars set an opulent tone. It backs onto a pretty stretch of blonde beach on the west coast, not far from colourful Holetown. Despite the impeccable service, the Neo-palladian stone bedrooms and the multitude of diamonds flickering under candlelight at supper, the atmosphere here is seriously easygoing.
In British or American country club style, guests zip off in golf buggies after a lazy buffet breakfast to one of Sandy Lane’s three golf courses, or commit to a full day in the palatial spa – easily done with its sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pool assault course, along with an impressive raft of delicious treatments, from Bajan sugar cane scrubs to Cryotherapy energy facials. A gelato bar, watersports and a truly superb Treehouse Club for smalls play to the country club idyll, buying deserving parents some time on the beach. Along with the romanesque pillared L’Acajou restaurant and the more relaxed Bajan Blue, an enormous layered pool with its own waterfall serves as a focal point in the hotel, where sunbathers can observe the comings and goings of tennis whites, or kaftans floating back from the bar with fresh Piña Coladas. Rosalyn Wikeley
Address: Sandy Lane Hotel Sandy Lane St. James, BB24024, Barbados
Price: Doubles from £737
Iana IanakievaThe Sandpiper
A little smaller than its sister hotel, The Coral Reef Club (tucked just North along the west coast), The Sandpiper shares its easy-going elegance despite its position on the lively outskirts of tourist-heavy Holetown. The patch of golden sand and turquoise sea it backs onto is rarely empty, which makes for first-rate people watching and charting the progress of sailing boats and water skiers. While compact, the hotel is ensconced in tropical gardens, with bougainvillaea, palms and ferns springing from every angle. Rooms oscillate between a traditional, wicker-and-mahogany aesthetic and a more contemporary one, though all spring to life with bright colours and prints.
A large sun deck, suspended above the sand, makes the most of ethereal beach views, particularly as the sun burns the horizon a deep crimson at sunset. Rum cocktails in hand and deck shoes flicked off, guests relish the Sandpiper’s informal spirit. Even the refined open-air restaurant, ring-fenced by torch-lit tropical gardens and koi ponds, demands little more than a linen shirt for tasty plates of Bajan flying fish, Caribbean shrimp and lobster salads. And while afternoons are easily whiled away alongside the large pool or magazine-ready lap pool lined with inviting creamy parasols, the Coral Club’s palatial spa is but a concierge call away. Rosalyn Wikeley
Address: 59Q6+CWP, Holetown, Barbados
Price: Doubles from £395
Kristopher StreekColony Club by Elegant Hotels
From its swim-up pool rooms to the Rum Vault, where you’ll find 150 varieties of rum and private dining experiences, the offering at Colony Club is all about top-notch sophistication. Originally a private member’s club dating back to the 1930s, it has since shrugged off its outdated colonial associations and replaced them with a cool approach to hospitality.
There are a ton of activities on offer – from paddle-boarding clinics to the ‘Corks and Canvas’ workshop, where you can unleash your inner creative soul while sipping on a rum punch. Feeling jet lagged? Then head to the petite but perfectly formed spa, which offers an exacting list of treatments. The Sun Salutation Ritual harnesses a cocktail of tropical goodies – think papaya and sea salt in a scrub and a body wrap made from cooling aloe – guaranteed to put the zing back in your step.
The 96 bedrooms are chic with contemporary four-poster beds, whitewashed walls and bronze accessories. Adding further charm is a series of lagoon pools, with waterfalls and tropical plants, that meander through the property. Dining brings a touch of pizzazz – with lobster and jazz nights and beach BBQs with steel pan bands. The hotel is also a 10-minute walk from Holetown if you want to dip into the local nightlife. Angelina Villa-Clarke
Address: Colony Club by Elegant Hotels, Porters Road, St. James, BB24033, Barbados
Price: Doubles from £376
Alejandro Ariel RodríguezThe House by Elegant Hotels
Bringing a different dimension to Barbados’ West Coast – more typically the location of larger and swankier hotels – The House is a petite and intimate hotel catering to adults only. With just 34 bedrooms, the vibe here is hands-on and personal. Check-in and kick off your shoes, for you may as well be staying at a friend’s chic beach house. Attentive hotel staff – who are called ‘ambassadors’ – are on hand to deliver home-made ice pops on the beach or to offer a complimentary tour of Hunt’s Gardens, a botanical oasis created in the 1950s, located in the centre of the island.
Bedrooms are pared-back and elegant – from the cool terracotta floors to the oversized padded headboards. Bathrooms continue the refined aesthetic with creamy marble vanities, rainfall showers and full-sized, natural Elemental Herbology products.
Feeling deliciously under the radar, it’s the little thoughtful touches that are The House’s strong point. There is a complimentary jet lag massage, for instance, and a daily choice of wellness activities, including Pilates and meditation sessions. When it comes to dining, the hotel is all-inclusive, but forget unimaginative buffets; the offering is more fine-dining than ‘fill-your-boots’ fare. Champagne breakfasts, Caribbean afternoon tea, and a crowd-pleasing coastal Italian menu at Positano are seriously grown-up, while nightcaps at the 1703 Mount Gay Rum Bar are a fun-fuelled way to end the day Bajan-style. The morning after, you can soothe any sore heads by floating in the tranquil waters of Paynes Bay Beach – known as the best place on the island to bathe. Angelina Villa-Clarke
Address: The House by Elegant Hotels, Paynes Bay, St. James, BB24023, Barbados
Price: Doubles from £807
Fairmont Royal Pavilion
Arriving via the grand palm-tree-lined avenue sets the tone for what is one of the most historic properties in Barbados. The Fairmont Royal Pavilion was formerly The Miramar Hotel, built in the 1940s and the first hotel to be constructed on the West Coast of Barbados. These days, its 12 rooms have since been expanded to 75 showstoppers – all with unspoilt ocean views and featuring handcrafted woodwork, local artworks and smart navy-blue accents.
Stay in one of the ground-floor rooms, and you can pad across the sand every morning for a dip in the sea. Meanwhile, upper-level rooms have their own advantages – breezy terraces with curvy rattan daybeds and endless views over the arc of Alleyne’s Bay. The hotel has heritage sewn into its shell-pink walls, so you can expect traditional afternoon teas and refined Bajan cuisine conjured up by chef Tim Palmer (the crab cake with coconut curry emulsion is the star of the show).
The glorious gardens, originally designed by renowned South American landscape architect, Fernando Tabora, are a joy. Atriums and shady paths are lined with mango, breadfruit, cherry and banana trees; frangipani cascades over courtyards and ponds are pretty with red and white lilies which bloom at night. Book a botanical tour every Wednesday morning to find out more about some of the rare plants and discover that there’s more to this coastline than just the beach. Angelina Villa-Clarke
Address: Fairmont Royal Pavilion, Highway 1, Holetown BB24051, Barbados
Tamarind
Tamarind is the most family-friendly hotel in Elegant Hotels’ Barbados portfolio and is perfect for toddlers and teens alike. Set on Paynes Bay, swimming is safe for tiny tots in the crystal waters, while kayaking, sailing, and snorkelling will keep older kids amused for hours. Children can also join a dedicated island experience, during which they learn local phrases, cook typical dishes and take home a Bajan ‘passport’.
Styling is bright and breezy with pops of colour from modern artwork, rugs and printed textiles across the 101 bedrooms. For dining, search out the Bajan specialities, such as flying fish, roti and macaroni pie, or take advantage of the ‘Dine Around’ program at the other Elegant Resorts properties for a change of scenery.
Days at Tamarind start at the Sugar Cane Room, where you can enjoy fresh papaya juice, traditional ‘bakes’ and the fluffiest herb omelettes. Head to the beach for snorkelling – you may spot sea turtles and manta rays – or to one of the three pools, where fruit kebabs and ice lollies are served to cool you down. Angelina Villa-Clarke
Address: Tamarind by Elegant Hotels, Paynes Bay, BB24023, Barbados
Price: Doubles from £520
Steven GraffhamO2 Beach Club & Spa
If anybody is ‘beach-ready’ this season it’s O2 Beach Club & Spa. The hotel equivalent of hitting the pool in some high-end swimwear and a pair of salt-battered Birks, this place is all out ‘Bougie Bajan’, to coin a phrase. It doesn’t so much as snuggle up to the beach as bear hug it. It’s a famous beginner surf spot, Dover Beach, boasting a slim, cosy cove of tangerine parasols – the perfect hide from which to catch a glimpse of elusive nesting turtles. Everything about this all-inclusive resort has been designed to be easy – the short 10-minute taxi ride from the airport, the airy, open spaces, and the sound of trickling water from a bounty of fountains. There’s a kid’s pool with excellent vantage and a tucked away adult one, complete with a pool bar, backed by the sound of binaural beats that drift out over the whole hotel. Perfect for young couples or solo travellers looking for luxe lounging and the occasional wild night, it also has a neat spa, complete with Turkish Hamam – great for those rum-punched wake-up calls. Located in the chic St Lawrence Gap, on the under-appreciated South coast (think Shoreditch in the sun), you’d be forgiven for finding yourself flopping back onto 02’s magenta, marshmallow-like sunbeds, all of which spool out around its unpretentious Elements restaurant. Failing that, there are five different dining options, spearheaded by Oro Fine Dining, situated on the top floor, with views out across the entire stretch of oft’ ignored, rugged coastline. Jonnie Bayfield
Address: Dover Rd, Christ Church BB15020 Barbados
Apes Hill
Hidden high among the St James hills a 10-minute drive from the heat and bustle of the west coast’s towns and beaches, Apes Hill is a modern haven ideal for golf lovers as well as families hoping for a multi-generational escape. At 1000ft above sea level, the breeze ensures the climate is ideal. Villas set among 475 acres of pristine (and award-winning environmentally friendly) golf courses and land-before-time style vegetation inhabited by the property’s namesake monkeys look to both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Properties range from more traditional shingle roof, colourful two-story villas, to modern three-bedroom hilltop residences which wouldn’t be out of place in Beverly Hills. Swimming pools, barbecues and kitchens with Smeg and Miele appliances and seaweed-infused skincare range Voya amenities come as standard.
If you’re not in the mood for self-catering, visit the casual 20th Hole for a full farm-to-fork English Breakfast or enjoy a fine dining menu of flying fish and breadfruit fries at the open-air Noisy Cricket restaurant. Almost half of the chic clientele is Canadian and British, with a friendly and neighbourly vibe among residents and visitors in this gated community. Beauty therapists are brought in for in-villa treatments, while golf and paddle lessons are offered aplenty. Ideal for those looking for a contemporary ‘home away from home’ experience, visitors will still find themselves close enough to the sea, beach shacks and towns that make Barbados. Jessica Rach
Address: Apes Hill, Saint James, Barbados, BB24018