Oh look, sexy on the beach is a thing, and this Soho House proves it. Set on an island synonymous with billionaires and bootleg royals (Harry and Megs), this SH wonder serves a dose of chill down-to-earth vibes that won’t cost you selling your spleen on Craigslist. Jetsetting creatives have been hitting up Nick Jones’ clubs since they were born in London back in 1995. Rewind to today and 27 properties later, and his global empire has stretched everywhere from Italy to New York and now this three-square-mile little island in the Caribbean.
Canouan has been a hush-hush secret for years: a blessing, and a slight curse for the locals who thrive on peak season for their dollars. The elite, who often shimmy in on their private jets (I did, minus the bank balance) or moor up on their superyachts at the Sandy Lane Yacht Club, were once the only ones who knew anything about the place. It’s still much the same, and the perk is that in the place of overtourism, you have an island that can genuinely be dubbed “off the radar.” Thankfully, that doesn’t mean the place is a Robinson Crusoe right off fash types in search of a little respite.
The Soho Beach House Canouan serves up paradise on a plate, minus all the snobbery. Unlike all the city houses, the vibe is cool and relaxed, and the plus is that it is open to non-members. Think shorts and hideous palm shirts, and staff who genuinely give a damn, and with a smile, too. The setup is palm tree galore with a golden sand beach and rum punch on repeat. It all sits on Grand Bay, with 40 rooms overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The club began life as the Tamarind Beach Hotel, but as with anything Soho House-related, the group’s design team gave it an entirely fresh new look courtesy of lashings of natural grasses, reclaimed timber, and vintage cane.
Inside, the look is all rattan texture and calypso soul. My medium plus room was a fine schooling in muted tones, colour pops, and lazy, hazy summer spray spreads that beautifully catch the hues of golden hour come sundowners. It is all very stylish, yet wildly demure and unpretentious–in the kind of swapping city slacks for skimpy boardwalk shorts. A huge terrace spies the glorious sunset and is an ideal spot to catch up on sleep or vacation reading–booze and cookies from the minibar included. Aside from the radio and well-to-do Wifi, there are zero electronics here, so it is the ideal place for a digi-detox if you are brave enough to pop your cell phone on airplane mode. Simplicity reigns supreme here, and that’s the perk of the design ethos, as well as the house mantra. Request a top-floor room for views and extra privacy, or a bottom-floor room for direct beach access.
When it comes to food and drink, you are well covered. The house menu is served all about the main restaurant – burgers and steaks included–and jetty sharing tables are a lesson in good barbecue shared with mates and fellow guests. Think grilled lobster, spicy jerk chicken, tasty prawns, and mountains of salads (book well in advance during peak season). Breakfast is also a marathon off the à la carte menu. Gorge on fluffy pancakes, plates of seasonal fruits, eggs served anyway, and deliciously delicious banana fritters. Wash it all down with fresh juices of the day or spicy shots.
As for having fun, a rite of passage on the island is a hike up to Mount Royal. It’s led by Floyd Cupid, the house’s hunky Beach House’s trail guide. It starts early, around 7 am, to avoid the heat and to catch a glimmer of the early morning light that streaks across the island. While it only takes 40 minutes or so to ascend, it’s tough as the mountain is mercilessly giving the definition of steep. Tip: take a break to get a glimpse of all the cute tortoises up the trail. Once up top, the view is as expected, phenomenal. The island stretches out below on all sides, surrounded by the nearby islands of celeb hotspot Mustique, Grenada, Trinidad, and Tobago.
If hiking is not your thing, catamarans head out to the Tobago Keys for close encounters with sting and manta rays, as well as sea turtles who happily swim among the corals. There’s also a Cowshed spa with expert massages on hand, and word on the beach is that it's due for an upgrade featuring new tech and studios. Until it pops up, all guests can utilise the nearby Mandarin Oriental thanks to a partnership with the Canouan Estate, including the swimming pools, spa, golf course, and its stretch of the Atlantic, home to the largest reef in the Caribbean.
Fast Facts
Location: Canouan, The Grenadines
Address: Grand Bay, VC, Canouan Island VC0450, St Vincent & the Grenadines
The Vibe: Soho House classics, plus a smidge of rattan chic. It’s all very relaxed and unpretentious, and if you can stomach it, a good place to go offline come the off-season.
Room Count: 40
Starting Rate: From about 815 USD per night.
Dining: The international usual suspects and a load of Caribbean spice and flavour. You can dress up nice, but the vibe is casual and easy dining all day round.
Amenities: Bar, restaurant, spa, gym.
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