Cosmopolitan buzz meets Gallic charm on St Barthélemy, more commonly known as St Barts or St Barths. A jewel in the French West Indies, it’s the destination of choice for the stars…
Stay:
For sun-drenched fun, Eden Rock-St Barths (owned by Pippa Middleton’s future in-laws) is just the ticket. Perched on a rocky headland jutting into St Jean Bay, it offers glamour and a guestbook bursting with notable names. On the private stretch of sand, suave "beach boys" zip between loungers, attending to your every whim; hidden in the lush gardens, meanwhile, the suites come with a mix of antiques and custom-made contemporary pieces. At sundown, make your way to the Rock Bar for cocktails with the style set.
Taste:
There’s no shortage of fine dining spots on St Barts and many of the restaurants have a distinctly French flavour. Tuck into candied pork belly with herbes de Provence at On the Rocks, or for mouth-watering Mediterranean dishes, it doesn’t get much better than La Guérite, an achingly chic little place on the tip of the port of Gustavia, the island’s capital.
Indulge:
Collectors of luxury labels will delight in the profusion of colourful boutiques across the island. For patterned blouses and tassel-hemmed minidresses, Poupette St Barth on Rue de la République is superb, while Kokon on pretty Rue Fahlberg has a carefully curated selection of designer pieces and arty jewellery. For flashier, splashier shops, Le Carré d’Or shopping centre is home to Hermès, Ralph Lauren et al.
Explore:
If you tire of the beach, take to the water in a wooden sailing boat for an afternoon of island hopping, or pull on your wetsuit and master the waves at Toiny Bay – a wild and wonderful cove with surfable crests aplenty and a dramatic backdrop of hills.
What to pack:
Light pink crochet bikini set, £250, Stella McCartney; visit stellamccartney.com
Carina woven canvas wedge espadrilles, £75, Castaner from net-a-porter.com
Roucou sunscreen lotion SPF 30, £44, Ligne St. Barth from heidiklein.com
Rooms at Eden Rock-St Barths start at €650 (£550) per night in low season, based on two adults sharing; visit edenrockhotel.com. There are no direct flights from the UK but Air France flies to St Barts via Paris and St Martin from £1,118 return.
