The Classicist: St. Regis Bahia Beach Brings True Luxury to Puerto Rico

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
Dec 13th 2010 at 9:02AM

Last spring we previewed the luxe private residences at the St. Regis' beautiful new Bahia Beach property in Puerto Rico. Now the accompanying exclusive resort, the prestigious brand's first Caribbean hotel, is officially open bringing world-class luxury to the island. The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico brings St. Regis' signature bespoke services to the stunning 483-acre beachfront enclave, located on a former coconut plantation nestled between the majestic El Yunque rainforest and the Espiritu Santo River. The property's ultra-luxe amenities include St. Regis' legendary Butler Service, Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurant Fern, a 10,000 square foot Remède Spa, and an ocean-front golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. as well as the Caribbean's first certified Gold Audubon Signature Sanctuary.

Designed by acclaimed architecture firm Hill Glazier in a graceful plantation style that harmoniously blends in with the glorious landscape of towering palms and tropical flowers, the resort boasts 139 luxuriously appointed guest rooms including 35 suites with private terraces offering spectacular ocean views, as well as 25 private St. Regis Estate Homes. The elegant, inviting interiors feature custom-designed furniture and spacious marble baths in addition to Pratesi linens and high-tech amenities such as high-speed wireless internet, 40-inch LCD televisions, additional TVs ingeniously integrated into the bathroom mirrors and an iPod docking station. The resort's signature Butler and Private Dining services ensure you'll never want for anything. The beachside swimming pool compound features Seagrapes, a casual bar and restaurant, private cabanas and more incredible ocean views.

Gallery: St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico

Jean-Georges' delectable Fern restaurant features Caribbean-influenced culinary delights prepared with the freshest indigenous ingredients. Exclusively developed by the celebrated chef, the menu showcases traditional Puerto Rican ingredients such as papaya, mango, and coconut. Menu specialties include black pepper octopus, wood oven roasted lobster, and chocolate cake with Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream. Located on the second floor of the resort's grand Plantation House, Fern offers intimate, candlelit indoor and outdoor dining with uninterrupted views of the beach. The Plantation House also houses an elegant bar as well as a curated library featuring artistic and literary selections from St. Regis friends and influencers including Vongerichten, fashion designer Jason Wu and St. Regis Connoisseur and famed polo player Nacho Figueras.

The resort's 10,000 square-foot Remède Spa features seven different treatment rooms with private outdoor terraces as well as relaxation areas, steam and sauna facilities, cold and hot plunge pools and a fully equipped fitness center designed to rejuvenate and restore. The golf course meanwhile marks Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s first design project in Puerto Rico and runs along two miles of beach and a native maritime forest with views of the rainforest from nearly every hole. A Clubhouse houses another restaurant and bar as well as a pro shop. The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort also features nearly 27,000 square feet of function space, including three outdoor lawn event spaces, the ocean-view Astor pavilion and an Astor Ballroom, providing the perfect setting for grand weddings and occasions in true St. Regis style.

Tags: Audubon, Bahia Beach, beach, Caribbean, golf, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, library, luxury hotels, Puerto Rico, resort, restaurants, Spa, St. Regis, St. Regis Bahia Beach, suites