Why go?
For sun, endless Caribbean charm and long lazy days under those iconic pink scalloped sunbeds, with farm-to-table food and retro pink everything.
Honeymoon style
Cultured sorts will be in heaven, with Cobblers Cove striking the best balance of local influence with all the luxuries you’d wish for on a Caribbean honeymoon. It’s a hotel that lets you enjoy downtime under your own steam, whether that’s a fly and flop few days or keeping busy with endless activities, from watersports and swimming with turtles (depending on the time of year), to galloping horseback through the gentle waves. Honeymooners can take out the picture-perfect pink boat daily (book this at sunset for a truly romantic experience) and the hotel can arrange private dinners under a cabana or a picnic along the beach. Couples are guaranteed to fall in love with Barbados, while ensuring there’s plenty of ‘just us’ time amid the laid-back social buzz of this legendary hotel.
Set the scene
A pink turreted entrance opens onto a tropical garden paradise, throughout which pretty cottages with private verandas are scattered, and a beach beckons. The lobby has a very homely, laid back feel with a touch of old world spender. Attentive staff alternate between a pink and green dress code, adding a playful touch almost expected of this whimsical beachfront hotel. They are always smiling and going above and beyond. Everything appears to be centred around a heavenly pool, with the restaurant and terrace with the iconic pink scalloped sunbeds positioned to look over the glassy water. The pastel pink and green colour scheme continues throughout the hotel, particularly in the exquisite drawing room where soft rattans, games boards and a white grand piano paint an elegantly exotic picture.
Rooms
There’s a wide range of individually designed suites to choose from here. For honeymooners, we recommend an Ocean Suite with sweeping views over the beach or an Upper Circle Garden Suite for a luscious, tropical vista. Each suite features an absurdly comfortable king size bed, sitting room, idyllic veranda (cocktails at dusk here are a must), kitchenette and bathroom with pretty shell mirrors and a spacious rain shower. There’s a walk-in wardrobe with oh-so-soft cotton pin-striped robes: pink for her and blue for him. The attention to detail is remarkable, with the toiletries being provided by local brand St Lucy Botanist. A subtle artistic theme runs through the interiors, with patterned soft furnishings, cushions, bed linens and curtains consistent with the hand painted detailing of the crockery and artwork on the walls.
Food and drink
This renowned island restaurant is frequented by locals and discerning travellers time and time again thanks to its flawless menu and film set-worthy setting along the water. There’s a bygone charm to it all – tables are dressed in white tablecloths, green water glasses and hand-painted crockery. Menus are hand-illustrated and colourful artwork line the walls, feeding into the overriding artistic spirit this hotel offers. Waiters wear fuchsia trousers teamed with crisp white shirts and ladies wear floral printed dresses to match. A fresh breakfast is served here and the menu is updated for lunch and dinner daily, led by seasonal, local produce, with lamb and local fish featuring regularly. The cuisine is refined, using traditional flavours with innovative twists. Try the coconut tempura lobster and lemongrass coconut fish curry served with roti, tamarind sauce and pepper passion fruit or hot pepper jelly. Come evening, tables are lit by lanterns. For the most romantic setting, request a table at the edge of the terrace to soak up the sea views and feel completely enveloped by a starry night sky.
The story
The main house dates back to the 1940s, and is famed for its coral stone cladding. Having fallen for its mature gardens and beachside setting, the Godsal family bought the property in the 1960s, opening it as a family-run boutique hotel in the 1980s and quickly elevating it to cult status among a well-heeled set . Today, Cobblers Cove is best known for its outstanding restaurant, nothing-is-to-much service and tropical setting… oh, and those pink scalloped umbrellas.
Family-friendly
Children are made to feel so welcome and will be on first name terms with all the staff from the get go. In the room, all the baby amenities you need will be provided and little touches such as biscuits at turndown and milk adds to the magic. For older children, the full raft of watersports will keep them busy and there is an abundance of outdoorsy activities on offer to pull teens away from screens. When it comes to dining, children receive a warm welcome in the restaurant and will adore the superior kids menu featuring plates such as grilled chicken spiedini with peanut sauce or breaded fillet of fresh fish with corn on the cob.
Eco-friendly
The hotel’s main house was built in the 1940’s, clunked together with steel from the old island railway in an effort to re-use local materials. This ongoing dedication to championing island materials and supporting local workers makes for beautiful and authentic designs through the hotel by local artists, craftsmen, carpenters and more. When it comes to the food, the daily-changing menus incorporate high quality, local ingredients wherever possible. Cobblers Cove endeavours to make as many aspects of the hotel as sustainable as they possibly can, proudly making changes to abide by the principles of the International Ecotourism Society.
Location
Cobblers Cove is located on the calm, quietly glamorous west coast of Barbados, around a 40-minute drive from the airport. The nearest town is Speightstown, where you can immerse yourselves in local culture and tuck into the delectable classics at one of the renowned restaurants such as Locale or the Fish Pot (arguably one of the best on the island). It’s also a short taxi ride from Sandy Lane, Lonestar and The Cliff, all heritage spots and worth a visit.
For more information visit: www.cobblerscove.com/
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