Quintessence Hotel stands directly above the white sand of Long Bay Beach on Anguilla, the island five miles from St Maarten and 18 miles from St Barths. It is styled as a tropical grand mansion: architects and designers spent ten years on the property to give it the quality of a museum with the ease of a private estate, and the Q Art Gallery shows works throughout the house. There are 12 suites, among them garden suites named Sea Grape, Meads Bay and Long Bay, luxury suites named Bresil, Prosper, Bonhomme and Blain, the Joseph Penthouse and the Bresil Polo Grand Suite, as well as the Villa Retreat and a newer set of rooms called The Quinn. Julian's is the restaurant, led by Chef Dominique Thevenet, who was born in Lyon to a family of bakers, chefs and grocers and has cooked around the world for 40 years. The wine and champagne cellar holds more than 550 vintages, nearly 75 of them champagnes. The house also has a spa and wellness programme. Guests usually fly to St Maarten and take the 18-minute ferry across, or fly into Anguilla directly.
- Nearest airport
- Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, Anguilla; Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), St Maarten, with an 18-minute ferry
- Rooms
- 12 suites, plus the Villa Retreat and The Quinn
Insider tip Ask for a tasting from the cellar of more than 550 vintages at Julian's; nearly 75 of them are champagnes.
Why I choose it A small mansion hotel of 12 suites above Long Bay, with Julian's and a cellar of more than 550 wines.