St Lucia’s north-west coastal strip had been known for its all-inclusive complexes, shared ownership homes and duty-free shops. Cap Maison reverses the trend. Set in lush tropical gardens within Cap Estate, a former 1,500 acre sugar plantation perched on a cliff 5km outside Rodney Bay, this chic boutique hotel marks a return to the romantic Caribbean landmark hotels of bygone decades, but with a fresh feel, exclusive beach and fantastic food across its two restaurants.
There's a sociable, house-party vibe (you’ll be invited to meet other guests over drinks), and it's brilliant for families too, yet it also caters well to romantic seclusion, popular with honeymooners and those looking to propose in style. It’s a dress-up-for-dinner place, a beachside and watersports place, a welcoming-glass-of-champagne kind of a place. Built by the Gobat family to resemble a Castilian village, small blocks of white-walled 2- and 3-storey villas are separated by cool passages with barrelled ceilings and Ali Baba urns, lawns, flowering beds and courtyards. The rooms and suites within range from the smart and simple to the elegantly decadent; these come in huge, gargantuan and 'where did I last see my other half?' sizes. Top suites have seductive twists: soaker tubs, private pools and double loungers on the rooftop on which we spent a night under the stars, trying to name the constellations. The concierge can easily book tours and boat trips, rounds of golf and scuba diving; of course you may prefer to float in one of the pools, sip cocktails, and spot frigatebirds and Martinique in the distance.
Highs
- The cliff-top setting with 180º views, and private beach below with complimentary non-motorised watersports
- Outstanding friendly staff balance respect with camaraderie, an attitude that comes from the top down
- A choice of restaurants (on the cliff and on Smuggler's Cove beach) to sample esteemed Welsh chef Craig Jones' Creole specialities and fusion cuisine
- Lovely spa offering luxurious treatments; i-escape guests receive a complimentary 30-minute welcome massage!
- All guests staying in 2- and 3-bed Ocean View Villas become members of the Cap Maison Villa Club which means 10% discount on in-room treatments and bars and restaurants
Lows
- It's definitely pricey, but you'll not get better service anywhere else, along with all this space and unrivalled facilities
- A few suites are less private than others; choose one of the more secluded rooms – or keep the shutters closed!
- There are 92 steps down to the beach to consider for those less able, not unusual for a steep-sided volcanic island (neither is the changing colour of the sand, from gold to tawny, year-round)
- Renovations are planned for 2027-early 2028 to add new pool suites, an expanded spa, and tennis/padel options; we are assured any disruption will be at a minimum, and we can't wait to see the improvements!
Best time to go
Our top tips
- We loved the contrast between the north and south of St Lucia. An ideal luxury-on-tap holiday would be a week at Cap Maison followed by a week in Soufriere
- Cap Maison is close to Gros Islet, where the famous Friday Night Street Party happens every week, an easy taxi ride away
- Boutique Resort
- 49 rooms
- Restaurants and bars (+ self-catering)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- On the beach
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
- Bicycles Available
Rooms
The 3-storey white-washed villas encompass a variety of rooms and suites, which jigsaw together; book individually, or better still combine into Moorish-styled 2- and 3-bed villas. All are airy variations on the theme of creamy walls, cool floors and louvred shutters, and newly renovated bathrooms with walk-in showers and twin vanities, with toiletries by Neem Avenue (inspired by the Caribbean).
On the ground floors, entry level Garden Rooms come with kingsize or twin beds, pretty balconies (with garden views) and hand-painted tiled bathrooms. Junior Suites are slightly bigger, with a daybed and larger balcony; some have outdoor showers, too.
Above, are the split-level Ocean View Villa Suites. These have traditional West Indian four-poster beds, and gorgeous generous sea view terraces and balconies with Japanese soaker tubs. Up another notch, the Villa Suites with Pool each have their own pool in the garden or on a private riad-style roof terrace. Living accommodation includes a sitting room with a formal dining area, a full kitchen and (at least) 2 verandas.
These enormous 1-bedroomed suites can be linked, making them ideal for families or up to 3 couples travelling together. All have big living/dining areas, kitchens, and powder rooms. Choose between a 2- or 3-Bedroom Ocean View Villa Suite, a 2- or 3-Bedroom Ocean View Villa Suite with Pool or a 2- or 3-Bedroom Ocean View Villa Suite with Pool and Roof terrace – the ultimate of the suites, where we stayed on our most recent visit, the perfect family retreat. These have their own rooftop verandas which cry out for sociable sundowners, their own wet bars (so you don’t have to go downstairs for ice), plus double loungers and shady seating areas.
For ultimate privacy, Saman Villa, formerly the owner's residence, has four bedrooms, a full kitchen and its own pool, and is set in private landscaped grounds on a clifftop with fantastic sea views.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- In-room treatments available
- Iron
- Minibar
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
We loved the food at The Cliff at Cap restaurant, created by head chef Craig Jones. Its splendid clifftop setting also adds flavour, with views from Pigeon Island over the mesmerising Caribbean Sea round to Martinique. For breakfast choose from the a la carte menu – during our stay we enjoyed cajun spiced mushrooms, fluffy pancakes, chorizo and plantain burrito – plus accompaniments including yoghurt parfait, mixed berry compote and granola, island spice oatmeal, and pastries.
Ingredients are top-notch, mostly local and treated with respect. Lunches focus on breezy international classics: wagyu, tostadas, linguine, rotis, sliders. Dinners are more refined, with seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes elevated by parfaits, bisques, truffle, confits and textures. Our stay coincided with manager's cocktails (yummy canapes!) and Creole night, where we enjoyed caramelised seafood, spider crab, green banana salad, and kingfish ceviche, followed by banana tarte tatin.
For a more relaxed vibe, head down to Smuggler's Cove for The Naked Fisherman. Hang out at the buzzy bar and explore the extensive drinks menu, or partake of lunch and dinner, which majors on fruits of the sea, satay and salads, Kobe burgers and short ribs. The roast seafood mac n'cheese, saltfish beignets and day boat catch with curried pumpkin were particular highlights; you can order a beach picnic too.
For romantic trysts, even marriage proposals, book a private candle-lit dinner on Rock Maison, the wooden platform in the sea below. Drinks (and the engagement ring itself) can be 'zip-lined' down for that special occasion. Behind reception is the walk-in wine cellar, which boasts 2000 bottles – the sommelier can guide you through tastings and pairings; rum tastings happen too.
The villas are all kitted out for self-catering, with generous well-equipped kitchens and dining areas. Staying in the villas gets you automatic Cap Maison Villa Club membership, this means a welcome fridge pack awaits on arrival including soft drinks, milk, butter, salt, pepper, bread, cheese and eggs. The hotel offers a shopping service for groceries.
For a change of scene, head into Rodney Bay, a 5-10-minute cab journey. Staff can recommend restaurants.
Features include:
- Bar
- Organic produce
- Restaurant
- Shopping service
- Vegan options
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Lie by the two pools and dream, or wander down the 42 steps to sandy Smugglers's Cove beach for a swim
- Non-motorised watersports (Hobi cats, kayaks, snorkelling gear and windsurfers) are free of charge at the beach club
- Recuperate at Spa Maison with a marine salt scrub, a mineral mud mask, then a massage using citrus essential oils; products are by Sothys; adjacent to the spa is the fitness studio
- Explore Pigeon Island, home to an 18th-century fort, and from where snuba (a mix of scuba and snorkelling) trips set forth
- Book a boat trip for a lunchtime trip over to Martinique, or for an afternoon's cruising past the Pitons and rainforest
- The lovely lush gardens are home to birdlife including hummingbirds, doves, grackles and mockingbirds; gaze out to sea for magnificent frigatebirds, boobies and terns
- Play golf at the nearby St Lucia Golf & Country Club
- See the rainforest from above by zip-lining above the canopy or immerse yourself in the trees with a nature guide
- Rent a bike, or join a guided walk and trail runs with the Cap Maison Running and Hiking Club along cliff tops and Atlantic beaches
- Ask the concierge about boat trips including to the Pitons, sunset cruises, deep-sea fishing trips, scuba diving, whale and dolphin-watching and waterfalls
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Boat trips
- Cooking classes
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Golf
- Gym
- Hiking
- Horse riding
- Kayaking
- Kitesurfing
- Pilates
- Sailing
- Scuba diving
- Scuba diving courses
- Shopping / markets
- Snorkelling
- Spa treatments
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Well being
- Windsurfing
- Wine tasting
- Yoga
Kids
Cap Maison is perfect for those families who want to spend quality time together, making memories in a very special place. There are lawns to romp around, birds to spot and swimming pools to splash in. Older children will love the (non-motorised) water sports at Smuggler's Cove, teens will like the whole set-up and there's a big range of activities on offer.
Although younger kids are also very welcome (and there's lots of baby and toddler equipment available), we don’t think Cap Maison’s the best place for toddlers. There are steps and unguarded pools, so we think the over-3s will best enjoy themselves here.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
Various rooms and suites can connect creating the 2 Bedroom Villa Suites, 2 Bedroom Villa Suites with Pool and 2 Bedroom Villa Suites with Pool and Roof Terrace, and 3 Bedroom Villas 3 connecting rooms. All villas have a washer and dryer, which is useful for families. In addition 4-bed Saman Villa comes with its own pool, a full kitchen and private grounds.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Baby equipment:
- Baby cots and bedding
- High chairs
- Plastic crockery and cutlery
- Baby bath
- Changing mat
- Black out blinds
- Potty
- Kitchen can assist with pureeing food and bottle warming
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Kids Activities on site:
- Choice of swimming pools
- Secluded safe beach
- Non-motorised watersports
Kids Activities nearby:
- Zip-lining
- Rainforest nature walks and birding
- Pigeon Island National Park
- Learning to snuba
- Horse riding
- Rodney Bay
- Tennis
Families Should Know:
It is advised that children under 12 should not stay in the Villa Suites with Pool or the Villa Suites with Pool and Roof Terrace for safety reasons; this is at the discretion of the parents.
Distances:
- Airport: 90 minutes
- Hospital: 6 minutes
- Shops: 6 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Cap Maison is situated on a headland above Smuggler's Cove Beach in the north of St Lucia, 5km from Rodney Bay and 15km from Castries.
By Air:
Most will arrive in to Hewanorra International Airport, if coming from another Caribbean island you may fly in to George F. L. Charles Airport (Vigie).
From the Airport
The hotel can arrange a transfer from both (about 90 minutes from Hewanorra and 20 minutes from Vigie). Or you can take a water ferry from Hewanorra to Rodney Bay along the west coast of the island (80 minutes) and is a lovely introduction to St Lucia. You can also helicopter between both airports (15 minutes).
By Car:
We don't recommend hiring a car as the roads are mountainous and twisty without verges, journey times are always longer than you expect. If you do decide to hire a car then see our car rental recommendations. You have to buy a St Lucia driver’s permit from the Immigration Office upon arrival at the airport or at the car-rental kiosks when you pick up your car. In addition you have to be over 25 years old and show a valid driver’s licence from home.
Airports:
- George FL Charles 14.0 km SLU
- Hewanorra International 43.0 km UVF
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 6.0 km
- Restaurant 2.0 km
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Our guests' ratings...
Based on 2 independent reviews from i-escape guests