The Weekly Edit: Caribbean Magic at Calabash

6 days ago

4 min read

YOUR NEXT CARIBBEAN LOVE AFFAIR

Some winter escapes are worth putting on your radar now and Calabash in Grenada is one of them.

Think white sandy beaches, long lunches that drift into the afternoon and a family-run hotel where good food is a very good reason to stay. For this week’s edit, we’re taking a closer look at a Caribbean favourite with plenty of personality, and why it deserves a place on your winter-sun shortlist.

WHY WE LOVE CALABASH, AND YOU WILL TOO

SMALL HOTEL, BIG PERSONALITY

Owned and operated by the Garbutt family, Calabash has the kind of warmth that makes a stay feel personal. Adele welcomes guests, while her sister Beth oversees the food and drink. Just 36 suites are set across eight acres of tropical gardens, keeping things intimate while leaving plenty of room to settle into island life. It’s exactly the sort of hotel we adore, where the team cares about every little detail and makes you feel at home from the moment you arrive.

LONG LUNCHES, LOVELY DINNERS

Food is a proper reason to book here, and we’d happily plan our days around it. There’s Rhodes for elegant dinners beneath a vine-covered canopy, The Beach Club for leisurely lunches by the sand, and Nori for Japanese-inspired dishes showcasing local seafood. We’re picturing a morning swim, a very good lunch and a second glass of wine, before deciding what’s for dinner. With three restaurants to work your way through, leaving room for the next meal might be the only planning required.

AS BUSY...OR AS HORIZONTAL AS YOU LIKE

There’s plenty to do here, although a morning between the white sandy beaches and the infinity pool is a perfectly good place to start. Add a spa treatment and a long lunch, and we’d call that a day well spent. For those who prefer to earn their afternoon cocktail, there’s a 24-hour gym, two floodlit tennis courts and weekly yoga, plus complimentary non-motorised watersports. Take a paddleboard out, explore by kayak or try your hand at sailing. There’s also a dive centre right on the beach for anyone curious about what lies beneath the surface. Our advice? Leave a little room for doing absolutely nothing, too.

A SUITE WORTH STAYING IN FOR

Four brand new Superior Deluxe Suites are a stunning addition to Calabash, bringing fresh interiors and generous living space to the tropical gardens. There’s plenty of room to unpack, settle in and make yourself very much at home. And for something particularly special, the new Hillside Penthouse Suites, launching this October, have us dreaming of a longer stay. Overlooking Prickly Bay, they include private infinity pools, expansive terraces and a bath with a view. Think a dip before breakfast, afternoons on your own terrace and very little inclination to leave.

BEYOND THE BEACH

Grenada may be one of the smaller Caribbean islands, but there’s more than enough to keep you busy between beach days. Head inland for rainforest walks, crater lakes and waterfall swims, or discover why it’s known as the Spice Island with visits to nutmeg plantations, chocolate makers and rum distilleries. There’s plenty for curious travellers, food lovers and anyone who likes a little adventure with their sunshine. We’d happily spend a morning exploring, with a few tastings along the way, before heading back to Calabash for a late lunch. The only difficulty is fitting it all in—especially when you’ll want plenty of time for that lounger, too.

EASIER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK

Getting here is refreshingly straightforward too. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly direct from London, with a short stop along the way, and there are plenty of flight options from the US, making Grenada a breeze to get to. Once you land, Calabash is just a ten-minute drive from the airport, so there’s very little between you and that first holiday cocktail. We can arrange VIP airport arrival assistance for an extra-smooth start. All that’s left for you to do is settle into island life.

MORE REASONS TO BE OBSESSED WITH CALABASH

DINNER WITH THE CALABASH TEAM

As if you couldn't tell already, we're huge fans of this wonderful property!

This week, we had the pleasure of having dinner with the Calabash team at the Perowne Townhouse, an evening that reminded us exactly why we adore this hotel. The beautiful setting, seriously good food and thoughtful little details are all part of the appeal. But it’s the people behind it who make a stay feel so personal, and keep guests coming back year after year.

We came away with even more insider knowledge, exciting updates and reasons to love the property - and we're more excited than ever to send you there!

EXCELLENT PERKS