A decade ago the Spanish Court Hotel radically shook up the Kingston, Jamaica, hotel scene by opening the city’s first truly cosmopolitan, design-driven, ultra-chic boutique hotel. Now they’ve done the same for Montego Bay, and it couldn’t come soon enough: the popular resort city has been crying for an urban property that’s not a colossal all-inclusive or a hotel that feels, well, passé. Here’s why the S Hotel Jamaica, perfectly consistent with its Kingston counterpart, is my new MoBay go-to spot.
DESIGN It’s impossible to forget you’re in Jamaica here—because why would you want to? The hotel’s design is a stunning mélange of Miami modishness and Jamaican irieness. A spacious wood-floored lobby is decked out in gorgeous 20-foot screens made with rattan cane panels and cut stone, typically used in traditional Jamaican buildings. On display throughout are works by local artists Tamara Harding, who used wood recycled from trees removed from the property during construction, and Michael Thompson, whose funky hand-painted murals and prints make each floor come alive. Best touch: straw hats accented in red, gold, and green adorn not just staff but counters and tabletops.
SWIM There’s a grand wet deck outfitted in sleek wood, red umbrellas and cushy loungers, and direct access to divine Doctor’s Cave, the most popular beach in MoBay. When the cruise ship hordes arrive, rise above the fray—literally—at the hotel’s Sky Pool, with it’s gorgeous glass-enclosed pool. It’s the perfect place to settle into a swing or a plush cabana, order an Appleton rum and savor the sunset.
SLEEP Sleek all-white décor lets the most vital element in your room come alive: that majestic cerulean sea view. Spa Suites feature wicker-wrapped bathtubs and spa amenities, while the Sky Suite and Presidential Suite up the luxury ante, the latter boasting three bedrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows. Again, it’s all in the local details: Each room features a wooden domino kit and a faux turntable spinning a Bob Marley album.
EAT When in Jamaica, eat Jamaican. The hotel’s Market restaurant and Ska Cafe duly adhere to this hard-and-fast rule, serving up local fish dishes, jerked meats and a perfect callalloo stir-fry in the included breakfast buffet. I asked the chef to prepare me a special ital (vegetarian) stew, and he happily concocted a coconut-curry delight. At the Sky Pool I snacked on delicious ackee and saltfish spring rolls and coconut shrimp—the perfect Appleton accompaniment.
SPA S Hotel Jamaica’s three lovely “Irie Baths” are subterranean plunge pools designed for kinetic energy therapy. Start your spa day there, and follow it up with a Swedish massage and body scrub using local cold-pressed coconut oil and essential oils. Spanishcourthotel.com
