Relaxed Sophistication in the Grand Manner
This cloud-crowned volcanic island so enchanted Christopher Columbus that he named it after himself—it was only later that locals unofficially shortened the name from St. Christopher’s to St. Kitts. With its less lively sister island, Nevis, it was once part of the British Commonwealth, but today it’s the smallest country in the United Nations and is proclaimed by local tourism officials as “the Secret Caribbean.” Word is out, however, about the Golden Lemon, a handsome 17th- century great house that sits beneath the spectacular, 3,800-foot volcanic peak of Mount Liamuiga at the island’s northern end.
Famed for its eclectic and highly original interiors, the hotel is the domain of an American design-magazine editor and connoisseur who used the historic island property as his blank canvas, combining local crafts, European antiques, crystal chandeliers, white rattan furniture, and stunning fabrics in a spirited but impeccably tasteful mix. Understandably, it’s a design-conscious international clientele that fills the beautifully appointed villas (all of which have private plunge pools) and guest rooms, and shows up for the poolside Sunday buffet brunch, which is served in the shade of a breadfruit tree.
