Cap Maison

Character and identity

Set on a clifftop at St. Lucia's northern tip, on land that was once a sugar plantation, Cap Maison reads like a tidy white village above the sea. The 49 rooms occupy three-storey buildings in Spanish-Caribbean colonial style, with Moorish flourishes, painted tiles, and dark wood, dressed inside with local art, louvered shutters, ceiling fans, and ceramic sinks. Some suites have private plunge pools; otherwise there's a cliff-edge cascading pool and a larger one for sunbathing. A long staircase drops to a protected swimming and snorkelling cove, and a resort motor yacht runs sunset cruises and day-trips to Martinique. Service is warm and accommodating.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining draw here is the clifftop setting and the cooking, anchored by a water-view restaurant that handles local fish with real skill. Book a plunge-pool suite if the budget allows, particularly for a honeymoon, and build in at least one day on the resort yacht. Pack shoes you don't mind on the beach stairs.