Where to eat in St. Lucia?
Rabot Restaurant
The Rabot Restaurant offers up a dramatic view of St. Lucia’s iconic Petit Piton, one of two jagged, mountainous volcanic spires on the island. Its menu is rife with items highlighting the cacao grown onsite, making this an experience that shouldn’t be missed.
Their savoury dishes infused with cacao are inventive and delicious. From home-made cacao pasta to white chocolate mash (the menu cheekily says that “it shouldn’t work but it does”) to locally-caught yellowfin tuna seared with a roasted cacao nib crust. Of course, there’s no shortage of chocolate-forward desserts. That includes a towering meringue surrounded by chocolate sauce; an homage to the shape of the Piton.
Address: Hotel Chocolat Estates Ltd., Soufriere, Saint Lucia
Where to stay in St. Lucia
Stonefield Villa Resort
Tucked in the rainforest and directly facing Petit Piton, the Stonefield Villa Resort has the perfect balance of privacy and fun. Once a working cacao plantation, the property was purchased in the 1970’s by the current owner, Anista Brown, and her late husband. The property was turned into a resort in the late 1990’s, and is now run by Brown and her five children.
Tropical plants and flowers line pathways leading to 17 villa hideaways, each with their own personality— and many with a private pool— but all with views to the Piton. Take an outdoor yoga class, visit the spa or hang out in a hammock. A nature trail that guests can take to visit the garden also leads to ancient rock carvings, or petroglyphs, found by the Brown family and now a historical landmark.
The Mango Tree restaurant is known across the island for its seasonal farm-to-table menu rooted in traditional St. Lucian recipes, including some from Brown’s own family repetoire. An on-property vegetable garden produces many of the recipe ingredients, including herbs, bananas, pineapples and more.
Address: Stonefield Estate, Saint Lucia
Caille Blanc Villa and Hotel
A narrow winding road through lush St. Lucian landscape lead up to the Caille Blanc Villa and Hotel, a luxurious cliffside boutique resort with staggering views of Gros Piton and Petit Piton. Minutes after arriving, you’ll be on a first-name basis with the staff. That includes hotel manager Ernie Beaubrun, who recently won a prestigious tourism award for his services. The family-owned resort has six luxury suites, each distinctly and thoughtfully-designed using reclaimed architectural elements from around the world.
A dip in the infinity pool perched over the Caribbean Sea makes you feel like you’re part of the scenery. A waterfall from the pool cascades into the private plunge pool of the Grotto Suite, 18 feet below. Between sunset rum tastings and a menu crafted by Los Angeles-based executive chef Jeffrey Stella, there’s little reason to ever want to leave. But when I did, chef Marilyn Antoine snuck a piece of homemade banana bread into my bag.
Address: Anse Chastnet Road, Saint Lucia
Where to go in St. Lucia
Project Chocolat
A visit to Rabot Estate’s six-acre certified organic cacao is the ultimate agri-tourism experience. The importance of biodiversity for a healthy crop is clear as you walk through the heritage cacao grove. Mango, citrus, and coconut trees grow amongst the cacao trees, which encourages pollinators. After the hike, learn about every step of a cacao bean’s journey from seedling to chocolate.
You won’t be able to leave Project Chocolat before hand-making your own chocolate bar with roasted cacao beans. It’s a surprisingly challenging physical task using a mortar and pestle. Alternatively, head to the bar and order a cup of their velvety-smooth hot chocolate, made in their own “Velvetiser” at-home hot chocolate machine, that quietly heats and whips ingredients into chocolate perfection.
