villa marie saint-barth

The mostly alpine hotels of Jocelyne Sibuet have a cult following in her native France, where she’s known as the Gallic Martha Stewart. Now Sibuet is bringing her breed of casual elegance to her 13th hotel (her second on a beach and first outside continental France). The St. Barth hotel, on a hillside above Colombier Beach and Flamands Bay, is stylish, more relaxed than many of the island’s resorts and undeniably cheerful, with lots of goldenrod yellow, pineapple patterns and a playful parrot motif (and two live ones, by the pool). The 21 colonial-style villas and bungalows are individually decorated in a way that doesn’t shy away from bright color, exuberant patterns or contrasting textures. There is a two-room spa that uses Sibuet’s signature products, an extensive rum bar and an excellent restaurant continuing the legacy of Francois Plantation, an island institution in this location for 25 years.