In brief
First impression Eco-sensitive luxury.
Staff Amiable and bearing rum.
Food & drinks Locally sourced and delicious.
Bed & bath White-washed walls, pops of colour.
The crowd Island regulars curious to see a new face.
In a nutshellSophisticated beach hut with environmental smarts
Set the scene
Tucked away in the heart of one of St Barth’s few true neighbourhoods, Anse de Cayes – once a Portuguese stronghold – this hotel feels homespun and personable. There are wooden decks for dune- and wave-watching, a sky-reflecting oval pool and pretty rooms hidden like garden dens amid tumbles of greenery and peacock-bright flowers, palms and avocado trees.
What's the story?
Owner Anne Jousse – proprietor of several hotels in France, including the groundbreaking Bel Ami and Domaine de La Bretesche in the Loire-Atlantique region – has brought to the Caribbean a perfect one-off: an eco-responsible hotel with good bones. Manapany was one of the island's first to welcome guests and a hot spot in the 1970s – and closed its door well before the hurricanes hit the island in 2017. There’s a clear commitment to the environment, with solar panels providing much of the power, a lack of chemicals, natural-fibre towels and only electric cars allowed through its gates.
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What can we expect in our room?
Breezy, easy white-washed rooms, many of which open directly to the sand; others are worth the climb for sweeping ocean views from enormous terraces. Ours even had an extra room with a twin bed, perfect for a small family. And look at those startling pops of colour – walls in peppery red, turmeric yellow, mint green or ultramarine blue, and Mexican rugs and cushions. Buy and bring home one (or several) of the bamboo-fibre beach towels.
How about the food and drink?
Kick off your shoes. This is barefoot dining at its best – and locally sourced to boot, much of it from the vegetable garden or orchard, some of it reeled in by the island’s fishing boats. The over-water restaurant has a menu wrapping up flavours from both Brittany and the Caribbean.
Anything to say about the service?
Genuinely amiable.
Who comes here?
Those in the know, who know that Manapany is hidden only five minutes’ drive from the airport and St Jean.
How does it fit into the region?
This is set on a rocky, walkable beach with surf sounds to lull you to sleep. The island’s other hotels have been brought back from the brink, with names such as Villa Marie Saint-Barth, Eden Roc and Cheval Blanc St-Barth reopening. Manapany has been conceived from a similar DNA, though feels sharper and more focused on its eco-credentials.
Anything else we missed?
The fact they encourage you to rent an electric car. Just plug it in in the parking space, or adjacent to your room, and you'll won’t have to worry about a fill-up en route to departure.
Is there anything you'd change?
Add a funicular to our favourite hillside rooms.
Is it worth it – why?
Yes, to see the island returning to normal with a recalibrated sense of direction.
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Address: Hotel Manapany, Anse des Cayes Saint Barthelemy, St Barthélemy
Telephone: +590 590 276 655
Wi-Fi: Yes
Price: Doubles from about £275
This hotel is one of our favourite new hotels in the world, and included in our Hot List 2019. Discover more of the best new hotels in the world 2019 now.