A quiet, adults-only getaway with the option to explore Antigua’s beaches and historic attractions
How did it strike you upon arrival?
Situated on Antigua’s rugged Atlantic coast, the resort’s rocky, unpaved entrance belies the clean, contemporary resort behind the gates. Built on four compact beachfront acres, the tucked-away property also packs a few luxe surprises, like the tri-level pool deck and the culinary program led by a Michelin-trained chef. The lobby’s architecture borrows from the Caribbean’s traditional shotgun-style homes, which depend on open doors and windows to circulate cooler air. There’s no check-in desk (those details are handled in the villa), so I was escorted to the lobby bar to nurse a delicious rum punch while I waited for my room to be ready.
A lot has changed on Antigua in recent years: While the Eastern Caribbean island has always kept a low profile, its crystalline beaches have attracted some major new hotels; Hammock Cove is one of the latest additions.
What’s the crowd like?
The pace in Antigua is delightfully slow; a full day of activities involves reclining on a beach chair or cooling off in the water. Hammock Cove is a magnet for seasoned travelers whose phones mostly stay tucked away inside beach totes—guests are unbothered about capturing content for social media. Other hotel guests were honeymooners, content to hang poolside with a paperback or to flit between restaurants.
The backstory
Developed by Californian hotelier Rob Barrett, Hammock Cove is part of the Elite Island Resorts group, which includes five all-inclusive properties in Antigua. Hammock Cove opened in 2019, welcoming guests ages 21 and up, and is positioned as the hotel group’s most upscale property.
Barrett and Elite have been operating in Antigua since Barrett first bought Pineapple Beach Club Antigua in 1986. Elite’s portfolio in Antigua now includes four adults-only, all-inclusive resorts. The group also owns and operates a family-friendly all-inclusive located near Antigua’s famed English Harbour.
The rooms
Coral-hued, clapboard villas dot the property and look out over either the secluded cove or natural rock formations of Devil’s Bridge National Park. Each of the 41 villas, designed for honeymooners or couples, is a comfortable 1,080 square feet and has two room categories: waterfront and waterview. The bright, open villas have nearly identical open layouts, anchored by a king-sized bed overlooking a private lanai with a private plunge pool. Ten additional villas are currently under construction, with plans to open in January 2025.
I stayed in a waterfront suite and was most impressed by the bathroom, which ran the entire length of the room. The double sinks had an additional makeup vanity, and the massive shower with double rainforest shower heads was indulgent after a day at the beach. Teal throw pillows contrasted the dark wood floors and furniture, complementing the ocean-side setting without nautical cliches.
Food and drink
There are few details in the all-inclusive culinary program that haven’t been curated by Chef Marco Festini Cromer, an Italian transplant who operated Michelin-starred Italian kitchens before Caribbean appointments; St. Lucia’s Harbor Club hotel and Daphne’s Restaurant in Barbados. He’s a big personality at the resort, overseeing his kitchens, greeting guests, and hosting popular cooking demonstrations.
If you’re craving Caribbean pan-seared snapper or pillowy bao buns stuffed with braised duck, then fine-dining, reservation-only restaurant The Lighthouse offers international flavors in a sophisticated setting. The restaurant’s most anticipated meal is a seven-course dinner held on Wednesdays alongside wine pairings curated by the resort’s sommelier.
Irina’s Bistro, the open-air lobby restaurant, serves burgers, sandwiches, and salads, with dishes rotated daily. Most guests return to their villa after dinner, but if you need to socialize, the Nobody Knows rum bar serves cocktails until 9:30. Room service is 24/7, which is ambitious for the resort’s size. I ordered room service twice; service was prompt and both the strip steak and pumpkin soup were full-flavored.
The neighborhood/area
A big part of Antigua’s allure is the quiet setting. If you want nightlife, you’ll have to head into the capital of St. John; most travelers at this resort aren’t here for that. Instead, they want to take in a select few of the island’s 365 beaches or explore British colonial landmarks like Betty’s Hope Plantation and Nelson’s Dockyard—all of which is possible in a few days on an island only 14 miles wide and 12 miles long.
Hammock Cove is adjacent to Devil’s Bridge National Park, which means you’re guaranteed a quiet stay, but also that there’s little else in walking distance. The all-inclusive property is designed so that you don’t need to leave, but if you do decide to eat off-property, Antigua’s best restaurants are a 25-minute drive away. To explore Antigua during the day, the resort offers tours via Pink Panther Safari, a jeep-based island excursion led by local women. Catamaran sailings, fishing, and snorkeling excursions, and zip-lining can also be booked through the concierge.
The service
Intentionally absent here are the usual markers of an all-inclusive property; there’s no buffet-style meals or poolside entertainment. Instead, all restaurant meals are offered a la carte, and sandwiches and drinks can be ordered from the beach and poolside loungers. Another nice touch: the bar in each room is stocked daily with soft drinks as well as premium liquor.
Hotel staff are warm and attentive, but not overbearing. When I checked in, I was given a small Nokia phone for access to an “ambassador” (essentially a butler) who is available 24/7 for room service requests or restaurant reservations. Daily housekeeping is on point, and turn-down service is offered each evening.
Accessibility
The resort is situated on a cliffside cove, and stairs lead down to the beach and pools: Guests with mobility issues may not be able to fully access all of the resort’s services and amenities.
Anything left to mention
This is a quiet, boutique alternative to the island’s larger (and louder) resorts. Though it could be too quiet for some, Hammock Cove packages together everything you need to unwind on a sunny, romantic getaway—right at your fingertips.
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Reviewed By – Mariette Williams – Published on https://www.cntraveler.com/hotels/st-philip/hammock-cove-resort-and-spa