In the same opulent vein, Ani Villas (anivillas.com) accommodates up to 20 guests in grand style overlooking Little Bay where leatherback sea turtles paddle lazily about. Ira Bloom has created an exclusive private resort, accented with exquisite Balinese petrified wood objets, where celebratory groups are pampered by chef Sweets and his team in between yoga, snorkelling and, well, lazing about.

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Sublime beaches, fine dining, new
resorts, heavenly spas and a loose local
vibe – the Caribbean isle is a refined
sanctuary for those preferring dappled
sunlight to the limelight.
By PETER SWAIN
S
ybarites in the Caribbean need only follow a
simple adage: St Barth‘s to be seen, Anguilla
to get away. The latter has incontestably the
best beaches in the region, and this season sees
some particularly fine new hospitality offerings
headlined by several sumptuous private villas, making for
an idyllic – and private – getaway.
Nestling on the beatific Meads Bay near Anguilla’s
southwestern tip and already a favourite with Hollywood
A-listers seeking seclusion, the eight-suite Beach House
(rickettsluxury.com) has been revamped to glorious effect:
elegant home theatre, tennis court, infinity pool, gym and
games room plus sizable indoor and outdoor entertaining
spaces, all discreetly serviced by fulltime staff, make this
one of the best-appointed villas in the whole Caribbean.
BLACKBOOK ON LOCATION
ANGUILLAN
ESCAPE
Perfect perch
Ani Villas‘ clifftop location,
overlooking the azure
waters of Little Bay

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Inthesameopulentvein,AniVillas(anivillas.com)accommodates
up to 20 guests in grand style overlooking Little Bay where
leatherback sea turtles paddle lazily about. Ira Bloom has created
an exclusive private resort, accented with exquisite Balinese
petrified wood objets, where celebratory groups are pampered by
chef Sweets and his team in between yoga, snorkelling and, well,
lazing about.
Notable among the brand new hotels, the relatively compact 63-
key ZemiBeachHouse(zemibeach.com)features every contemporary
contrivance, but it’s the Thai House spa, accommodated in a series
of ancient wooden buildings – including a 300-year old rice barn
shipped over from the Far East – that really catches the eye. Zen
personified.
N
earby, The Manoah (the-manoah.com) on East Shoal Bay has
30 rooms and an aquamarine palette more Ibizan than
West Indian. The three-bedroom Presidential Penthouse
is the pick of the suites, but the chic beachfront rooms, bar and
restaurant also sit right along one of the island’s most divine white
sand sea shores.
With gold columns and acres of shiny marble, the new Reef
(thereefbycuisinart.com) at CuisinArt might best be described
as Tropical Trump. The St Martin-facing beachfront suites are
generously proportioned, but it’s the Greg Norman golf course
BLACKBOOK ON LOCATION
and Tokyo Bay restaurant, where chef Jo is creating flawless
Japanese fare with the help of the hotel’s own hydroponic garden,
that linger in the memory.
Four Seasons (fourseasons.com/Anguilla) has taken over and is
now refurbishing the one-time Viceroy. Consequently, this ultra-
high spec modern resort is acquiring a sophistication to go with its
myriad amenities that include several vast pools, a well-equipped
spa, gym, a variety of eateries and bars, and a particularly good
children’s club.
Meanwhile, under John Vasatka’s leadership, the legendary
Malliouhana (malliouhana.aubergeresorts.com), now part of Auberge
Resorts, has also rediscovered its mojo. Its location, on a bluff
overlooking Meads Bay and the virtually private Turtle Cove, was
always dreamy; add in a complete redesign with Belle Époque
flourishes, a new pool complex and spa, plus talented chef Marc
Alvarez, and this tranquil classic is once again five-star Anguilla
personified.
The restaurant making the largest culinary waves is Veya
(veya-axa.com), where Jerry and Carrie Bogar combine French
presentation, international seasoning and local ingredients with
great flair. Their grilled lobster served with a passion fruit mustard
sauce, gingered sweet potato and toasted garlic spinach captures
the essence of Caribbean fusion cuisine – a world away from the
expected, as indeed is the whole of this isolated, indulgent isle.
Thai surprise
The wooden buildings
house the spa at Zemi
Beach House
Back in vogue the glistening halls of the newly refurbished Malliouhana
Sun and sushi The Manoah‘s pool, which borders one of the islands‘s
33 beautiful beaches, and Japanese fare from Tokyo Bay at the Reef