Author: Lian Brooks / Glamour
Site: https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk
Somewhere between a tropical lost city and a jungle space station more fantastical than anything you could ever dream up, even when you’re physically there in person, Jade Mountain feels like the pinnacle of pipe dreams, seemingly too perfect to be true.
A bucket list destination unlike any other, the achingly romantic resort sits perched on the southwestern mountainside of Saint Lucia, beside the island’s colourful fishing village Soufrière.
Sharp yet satisfying concrete angles work in harmony with the dramatic hilltop setting that enrobes it, while lush vegetation adorns every corner you cast your eye upon, so much so that you feel as though it must have been there since the beginning of time.
In fact, Jade Mountain first opened to guests 18 years ago, in 2006. Since then, the resort has garnered international acclaim for its one-of-a-kind offering, earning features in the likes of BBC’s Amazing Hotels. Little wonder why.
Tiles and hand crafted glass designs in every colour of the rainbow glimmer in the sunshine, birdsong envelopes you from the moment you wake up, and that’s before we’ve even gotten to the view for which the hotel is famous. Offering unrivalled panoramic vistas of the Pitons (the volcanic spires for which Saint Lucia is best known), truly, there’s no such thing as a bad angle from this tropical concrete jungle. But beyond simply being a hotel with an unrivalled backdrop, there’s so much more to this idyllic setting. Allow me to explain…
There’s a reason that the 24 suites at Jade Mountain are called ‘sanctuaries’. Every space is built with just three walls, leaving you open to the elements in the ultimate open air room setting, and vitally, perfectly framing the incredibly beautiful view each room has of the Pitons. A good view is something you never really tire of, and even at night it felt genuinely grounding to gaze out to the two dark shadows of Saint Lucia’s most famous mountains.
Rest assured, the resort itself looks just as good from the outside. Even from the middle of the ocean aboard a boat you can tell that Jade Mountain is something special, so much so that I personally felt compelled to visit it years after I had first come across it when speeding past it during a trip around the island.
So when we did finally get to our sanctuary in Jade Mountain, it felt as though I had manifested it. Despite the hours of anticipation ahead of our arrival, nothing can really prepare you for your first look at your room. An ice cold cocktail in hand and jaws to the floor as we revelled in the views, it’s immediately apparent the thought and care the late mastermind architect Nick Troubetzkoy took when crafting the resort, with every fine detail accounted for and beyond.
Private, tiled infinity pools are effortlessly woven into the organic flow of each space, reaching out impossibly to the stunning views and seemingly merging with the Caribbean ocean, perfectly reflecting the mountains that sit above.
Air con is replaced by a Caribbean breeze, while screens are swapped for awe-inspiring sceneries you can’t help but snap 1,000 photos of, all serving as a much needed reminder that this is in fact a real life location. On earth. Your friendly major-domo delivers a daily bento box of snacks and is on hand to tend to any and every desire you might have, from scheduling sundowners to running a bubble bath for you.
As for how you get to your sanctuary? By bridge, of course. Each individual room has its own bridge leading up to it, with the novelty of this truly never wearing off during our stay. It’s hard to think of anything more wonderful than seemingly gliding through the sky through to your suite in this exotic yet almost galactic, Brutalist-esque setting.
Though it’s all too easy to fully embrace the bubble you can curate for yourself during a stay at Jade Mountain simply by existing in your sanctuary, for the moments when you do manage to pull yourself away from your personal infinity pool, there’s no shortage of delights on offer in and around the resort.
Our half day on the Suzy Q sail boat proved one of our favourites, allowing us to appreciate the beauty of Saint Lucia’s rugged coastline and with us even finding a turtle to trail behind during our snorkel stop of the trip – a sincerely whimsical memory that we’ll hold on to for many years to come.
For those without sea legs, back on shore there’s no shortage of activities to keep you busy, from complimentary tennis clinics to mixology classes, guided walks and hikes and even chocolate making at Jade Mountain’s very own chocolate laboratory where we personally crafted our own creations, making for the ultimate souvenir to take home.
When it’s time to unwind to your maximum potential, spa treatments can be enjoyed from the privacy of your own sanctuary or at Jade Mountain’s boutique Kai En Ciel spa where guests are able to choose between everything from hot stone massages to facials and foot massages. Equally, for those feeling like stretching their legs or after a change of scene, sister resort Anse Chastanet’s Kai Belté spa sits at beach level, making for the perfect midday stop off in between sunning sessions. Yoga takes place on the Celestial Terrace atop Jade Mountain each morning, while you’d be hard pushed to find a gym with a more stunning view than the one within the resort.
When it comes to food, Jade Mountain Club is your go-to for delectable dining. Reserved exclusively for resort guests and with a menu that changes by the day, varied tastes are well accounted for here, though our perfectly prepared beetroot infused mahi mahi with caviar and truffle aioli certainly stands out as a culinary highlight. So too does the wonderfully tender lamb and juicy prawn Caesar salad we indulged in. Sunset cocktails are best enjoyed from the awe-inspiring views of the Celestial Terrace which sits just above Jade Mountain Club, making for the perfect place to soak up golden hour in the resort.
Beyond Jade, however, sister resort Anse Chastanet also has several dining options on offer to guests which are a short walk or resort shuttle away. Anse Chastanet’s Treehouse restaurant makes for a stunning breakfast setting to fully soak in canopy views and buzzing birdlife, while at beach level Trou au Diable serves up a wide range of lunch options including Creole dishes, with its dinner offering bringing the best of Saint Lucia-East Indian fusion cuisine along with a faultless grill menu.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Jungle Bar and Grill as a must try for lunch one day. Before you’ve even had a chance to step so much as a toe on the beach you’ll no doubt have been told of the juiciest burgers on the island. Served up at Anse Mamin Beach, it’s essential during your stay that you walk the extra five minutes on to the next cove to enjoy a classic done well…
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Post: https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/jade-mountain-saint-lucia-resort-review
