Another side of Jamaica at Round Hill Hotel and Villas

I’ve been to Jamaica a few times: my honeymoon in Negril, a girls’ trip to Montego Bay and a laid-back weekend in Ocho Rios. I thought I knew Jamaica, but my visit to Round Hill Hotel and Villas peeled back another layer of the lush Caribbean island.

After a quick flight from Miami and a drive down a long, tree-lined entry, I was ushered into Round Hill’s breezy, open-air lobby. I was met by vintage black-and-white-checked tiles, a check-in desk with handcarved pineapples and an activities board that’s a holdover from the 1950s.

Celebrity hideaway

Round Hill, a former pineapple plantation, officially opened in 1953 under John Pringle, a Jamaican-born entrepreneur, and when it debuted it attracted Hollywood royalty. The Cocktail Bar features a collection of photos of legendary entertainers and celebrities like Pierce Brosnan, Paul McCartney and Ralph Lauren, who owns a villa in Round Hill and designed the Pineapple House guestrooms and common areas.

Lauren’s touch is palpable. Navy cushions, crisp white furniture and dark wood furnishings complete each oceanfront room, and it feels like an all-American country club on Jamaican soil. People may come here for nostalgia or pop culture lore — the movie “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” was filmed in Villa 11 — but most stay for the exceptional service.

“We have many repeat guests, some whose parents used to vacation here,” said Round Hill resort manager Jeremy Zuber. “They come year after year because they fall in love with the property and the service. The history of the resort also makes the property special.”

The secluded beachfront resort is spread across 110 lush acres, and while there have been a few new elements, the resort has kept its original charm. Here’s what’s new at the iconic Round Hill Hotel and Villas.

Villa 14: The resort’s latest addition, Villa 14 is a five-bedroom, two-story, 4,800-square-foot residence created on the site of the original Round Hill Resort developed by Pringle.

The grounds of Villa 14 also include two other properties: a one-bedroom, 2,000-square-foot suite and a three-bedroom, three-story, 2,650-square-foot villa, which can be booked separately. The villa was a collaboration between the architectural firm Habjan Studio and the creative agency Buero New York, whose clients include Bulgari, Givenchy and Cartier.

“Our vision was to seamlessly integrate bohemian and campaign styles within a lush jungle backdrop, creating a harmonious and enchanting retreat,” said Alexander Wiederin, creative director at Buero New York.

The unit is ideal for families and large groups, and as with the other villas, Villa 14 guests will enjoy the dedicated services of a private kitchen staff, housekeeper and gardener as well as the amenities of the rest of the property.

Other resort accommodations are spread out across the property and range from one-bedroom guestrooms to six-bedroom villas.

Guests in these accommodations have access to the villa services team, which can be reached via text message. The team is available to book spa services, reserve sports courts, make restaurant reservations and transport guests around the property.

During my visit, I stayed in a king-bedroom guestroom with an ocean view, part of the Pineapple House guestrooms.

New sports court and additional services: Tennis has always been popular among Round Hill guests, who have access to Har-Tru clay courts as well as premium hard courts.

The resort now offers monthly tennis clinics led by professionals and coaches. The 30-minute sessions focus on a particular aspect of the game; past clinics have included Canadian tennis pro and former U.S. Open champ Bianca Andreescu and Canadian coach Geoff Bower.

The resort has added pickleball courts, which are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and are conveniently illuminated at night.

Unique food events: Round Hill offers two main restaurants: Seaside Terrace; and The Grille and Hanover. The oceanfront restaurants feature Jamaican staples like jerk chicken and curry goat as well as international favorites like lobster rolls, yellowfin tuna tacos and vegetarian pot stickers.

The resort has been leaning into its reputation for elevated dining with a new Michelin star series. I visited on Thanksgiving weekend, enjoying a three-night culinary event with Michelin-starred chef Marcelo Fukuya. Fukuya hails from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and helms the Japanese restaurant Kinoshita there.

The three-night spectacle included an elevated Thanksgiving buffet with a roasted pumpkin bisque, rum-glazed ham and a live cooking station with usuzukuri shiromi (delicately sliced white fish topped with ponzu, spring onion, turnip and chili pepper).

The following night, we were treated to a Jamaican and Asian dinner featuring dishes like tuna tartare with fresh pineapple, mango and cucumber. The Grand Finale was a five-course dinner under the stars, with the highlights being the lychee salad and Kagoshima wagyu. The dinner was a success, and Round Hill officials said the next Michelin-starred event is scheduled for Easter weekend (April 18 to 20).

An enduring legacy 

While the resort is located close to some of Jamaica’s most popular attractions, I was content to stay put, catching up on reading, mingling with fellow guests and walking the property.

With its stately villas and impeccable service, Round Hill leans into a quiet, classic luxury that has stood the test of time. And that can be a welcome oasis on an island that can be one of the busiest in the Caribbean.

Source: Travel Weekly