The Morningstar Buoy Haus Beach Resort is concerning the closest you will get to a non-public island ambiance with out ever having to depart St. Thomas.
Partly that’s a operate of geography: situated on the foot of a large cliff guarding Charlotte Amalie Harbor, the resort feels notably remoted regardless of its shut proximity to each the capital metropolis of the U.S. Virgin Islands and its sister resort, the Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef, which sits atop the cliff.
However fashion additionally performs a job: the resort foyer, with its open partitions and flowing curtains, establishes a way of laid-back class that extends alongside the shoreline to the resort’s equally chill (and open-air) restaurant, a pool space that provides off a seashore membership vibe, and 94 visitor rooms arrayed in a village-like gathering of contemporary, low-rise buildings.
Stress-free on a lounge chair by the small (however right-sized for the resort) infinity-edge pool is an apparent transfer, however company may even discover the foyer space a surprisingly serene spot with its marine themed board video games and comfy couches that appear excellent for curling up, e book in a single hand and a scratch-made cocktail within the different. As night settles in, so do {couples} drawn to outside fireplace pits surrounded by extra snug seating.
Newly opened, the resort’s Isla Blue restaurant attracts company from each on and off property; each the a la carte menu and an eight-course chef’s tasting menu may be loved within the breezy eating room or, for particular events, a seashore cabana. The Isla Blue menu skews towards fine-dining choices like grilled Caribbean lobster and imported tomahawk steaks, and sure you can begin your meal with caviar right here; Spanish tapas and small plates supply a lighter and extra inexpensive possibility on the adjoining Sandbar bar/eatery.
Situated by the pool, the Salt Shack is a vivid and cheerful house underneath a bamboo roof that serves three meals day by day; island influences discover their approach into dishes like the bottom provisions risotto made with native pumpkin, greens, mushrooms and coconut milk, rooster roti that hits the spot as a fast lunch seize on the seashore, and an area tackle eggs Benedict that’s constructed round johnnycakes and salt fish.
The Buoy Haus has kayaks and Hobie sailboats reserved for visitor use, in addition to a properly outfitted health middle that’s blessedly air conditioned. If a little bit of restlessness units in, the advantages of staying at this Marriott Autograph Assortment resort consists of full entry to the facilities on the Westin, accessible through a stroll down the seashore and an elevator (or a shuttle bus) that takes company to the highest of the cliff. Aside from the eating places, nonetheless, all Buoy Haus facilities are reserved solely for company of the beachfront boutique resort.
Friends who need to get up to a view of the Caribbean Sea can achieve this, however even the garden-view villas on the Buoy Haus aren’t any various steps to the sand and shore. There are two, two-bedroom suites, however the majority of lodging are 335-square-foot, one-bedroom suites with a most occupancy of three company.
All rooms have personal balconies, flat-screen TVs, air con, and high-speed web entry.
Just like the Buoy Haus as a complete, the visitor rooms are designed for max consolation and minimal stress in a quintessential St Thomas setting — one which makes if really feel like you’ve gotten a whole little island to your self.