Puerto Plata, Dominican RepublicPlaya Dorada
Casa Colonial Beach and Spa, an SLH Hotel
Colonial seaside estate
Playa Dorada Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Opened
2004
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe WellnessOutside the door
The house
VH Hotels & ResortsColonial seaside estate
The estate sits directly on Playa Dorada as an intimate private manor, bordered by native mangroves and the Atlantic.
What it’s good at
Notable
Colonial estate architecture lined with Dominican coral stone and dark native hardwoods.
Notable
Oceanfront treatment gazebos set over a tropical pond, beside rooftop whirlpool tubs.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
This Spanish-style mansion, right on the beach at Playa Dorada, comprises some fifty oversized (and over-the-top) suites, each with all mod cons.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
A quiet stretch of Playa Dorada sand sits out front, with coastal mangrove wetlands and a golf course next door.
1 of 4
The rooms
Suites have polished marble floors and deep Roman soaking tubs, opening onto balconies above the orchid gardens.
The rooftop pool
Bring a swimsuit.
An infinity pool sits on the roof, flanked by wooden decking and four whirlpool tubs looking out to sea.
The spa
Outdoor therapy cabanas sit over a tropical pond with waterfalls. Treatments incorporate Dominican cacao and local sea salt.
Restaurant
Veranda
Breakfast and lunch are served on an open-air terrace looking out past sea grape trees to the Atlantic.
At the table
The lobby bar mixes pre-dinner cocktails, and Lucía serves French-Caribbean dinners facing the mangrove forest through floor-to-ceiling windows.
How it began
Architect Sarah García designed the property in 2004, creating an intimate boutique counterpoint to the region's large all-inclusive resorts.
The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.