7 Hotels in Barbados With Historical Roots
Barbados has a long, rich, rarely tumultuous history reaching back to the first British settlement in 1627. As an important exporter of sugar and its byproduct, rum, much of the island’s rich history was in support (or defense) of that industry: forts, warehouses, plantation houses, and inns. These are the most historic hotels in Barbados.
Little Good Harbour
Why it made the list
The main section of this enclave isn’t necessarily historic, but two oceanfront suites and the hotel’s restaurant, The Fish Pot, are housed across the street in what was once Fort Rupert. The 17th-century British fort was named for the nephew of King Charles I, who was deposed by Oliver Cromwell. Barbados sided with the royalists, and the fort was used to resist Cromwell’s army. Today, the suites are magnificent—and The Fish Pot is one of the island’s best restaurants.
Sweetfield Manor
Why it made the list
Back in the early 1900s, a Danish Virgin Islander who owned a sugar-shipping business built this manor house. It later became home to the Dutch ambassador and then to a local judge. Current owners have maintained the historic nature of this lovely estate by filling the main-floor public rooms and 7 guestrooms (including one in the original carriage house) with period antiques. The surrounding gardens are lovely, as well.
Round House Inn
Why it made the list
Built in 1832—on a hillside overlooking the smashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean—this was a family home for 150 years. Current owners restored much of the original architecture—the narrow staircases, deep-set windows, original skylights, and, of course, the iconic “round house” dome that sits atop four guestrooms—and opened it as a decidedly unique inn and restaurant.
The Atlantis Hotel
Why it made the list
The Atlantis first opened in the 1800s—when a new railway line was built to transport folks (and goods) across the island to the picturesque east coast—and has catered to travelers ever since. The most recent owners completely refurbished the property, but the view (and perhaps the Bajan buffet) remains the same as the earliest guests enjoyed more than a century ago.
Island Inn Hotel
Why it made the list
Located within the Garrison Historic District, the inn has been designated a “National Treasure” of Barbados. Part of the building was originally constructed in 1804 as a rum storage facility for the British Regiment. Some guestrooms in that section have exposed brick walls that date back to those early days.
Savannah Beach Hotel
Why it made the list
The Savannah, located on the outskirts of the Garrison Historic District, claims to be the island’s oldest hotel. Originally known as the Sheriff’s House, it opened in 1887 as the Seaview Hotel and continued to operate as the Seaview until the 1970s. It reopened in 2000 as Savannah Beach Hotel. “Plantation guestrooms” in the historic section of the hotel have antique furniture, traditional wooden floors, and wrought-iron balconies reminiscent of the early days.
The Crane
Why it made the list
You might not guess that The Crane is a historic hotel, given the acres of high-rise residences, restaurants, and pools that have sprouted there in recent years—but it is, in fact, the oldest hotel in continuous operation in the Caribbean. Crane Beach Hotel opened in 1887, high on a cliff overlooking what was then a small commercial port (with a crane used to hoist goods from ships). Today’s guests can opt for one of the 18 rooms in the hotel’s historic section.
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