The Caves Hotel
Negril, Jamaica
West End
Vibe
Perched on porous volcanic cliffs, this secluded hideaway merges open-air thatched living with subterranean grottos lit entirely by candles.
“Subterranean cliffside lair”
Handcrafted timber cottages with thatched roofs and vaulted ceilings, perched above grotto bars carved directly into limestone cliffs.
All-inclusive hospitality offering private candlelit dining inside subterranean sea caves, attentive service, and bespoke cliffside cottages.
Rooted in Jamaican rhythm with cliff-jumping rituals, open shutters catching reggae, and authentic jerk chicken sizzling on drum grills.
On Negril's West End limestone cliffs, overlooking the sea near the historic lighthouse.
“The cottages themselves, designed by Greer-Ann and Bertram Saulter, are after the style of a tropical hut, with thatched roofs, natural ventilation.”
Rooms
Thatched timber cottages feature vaulted ceilings, vibrant batik fabrics, and wooden louvered shutters that swing wide to catch the Caribbean breeze.
“Rooms are breezy but refined, with vaulted ceilings, handcrafted wood furnishings, and cherry red and royal blue batik prints that signal a slower island pace.”
Wellness
Leap from jagged limestone ledges straight into the sea, or unwind in the cliffside hot tub, oceanfront sauna, and open-air spa gazebos.
“While the 12 cottages and one villa sit atop honeycombed cliffs, the Blackwell Rum Bar... and the massage table of the hotel’s Aveda Concept Spa are actually in underground grottos open to the sea.”
Backstory
Founded by music icon Chris Blackwell, the retreat was hand-carved into the porous honeycombed bluffs by Jamaican artists Greer-Ann and Bertram Saulter.
Eat & drink
Cross a wooden footbridge to sip rum in a subterranean sea cave, or savor jerk chicken on clifftop terrace drum grills.
The neighborhood
Set along West End's rugged coast near the historic lighthouse, the property offers quiet limestone bluffs away from busy resort strips.
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The app
This is one hotel. The app has every one we rate, in your pocket, for the whole trip.
Our shorthand
What makes a hotel special, how well they pull it off, and what it feels like outside the door.
How well they pull it off
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
They did this well. You’ll notice.
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Architecture and interiors lead. There’s a creative vision at work.
The guest is conspicuously well cared for. Requests met before they’re made.
Rooted in place. Local character runs through the whole stay.
Energy and scene. Where the city goes out, whether or not it’s sleeping here.
A building with history. The story of the place is part of the stay.
Built around feeling better. Rest, sweat, soak, spa.
A hotel the city grew up with. Same rituals, same regulars.
A world of its own. No reason to leave the property.
Scene — what’s outside the door
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
A place apart: the property is the destination.