Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Antigua and Barbuda / St. Mary Parish / Hermitage Bay
Hermitage Bay
St. Mary Parish, Antigua and Barbuda · Independent · Grand Luxury
Andy Thesen helped clear the land and opened this intimate Antigua cove resort on Christmas Day 2006 without hiring a formal architect for its open-air wooden suites. Spread across 140 acres of undeveloped hillside with roughly 27 villa suites, it became a Small Luxury Hotels member before financier Daniel Shamoon of Luxury Hotel Partners completed a multi-million-dollar renovation and reopened the resort on November 1, 2024.
- 30 rooms
- Opened 2006
- Neighborhood: Jennings
- Rooms from 1,055 sq ft (98 m²)
About Hermitage Bay
- Hermitage Bay opened on Christmas Day 2006 after Andy Thesen helped clear the land, built without a formal architect.
- The intimate all-inclusive resort threads roughly 27 wooden suites across 140 acres of undeveloped tropical hillside on Antigua's western shore.
- Daniel Shamoon of Luxury Hotel Partners (Nobu Marrakesh) bought the resort and reopened it after a major renovation on November 1, 2024.
- Entry-level rooms start at 1,055 sq ft (98 m²).
History
Hermitage Bay occupies a private cove on Antigua's western shore, fringed by white sand and backed by 140 acres of undeveloped tropical hillside. The resort's origin story begins with financier Andy Thesen, who first visited the untouched beach in the early 2000s intending to invest in a villa, then became a co-owner and physically helped clear the land. Construction began in 2005, and after roughly 18 grueling months building the lobby, restaurant, spa, pool and hillside villas, Hermitage Bay opened in time for Christmas 2006, remarkably without a formal architect for its open-air design.
The intimate all-inclusive resort, with around 25-30 wooden suites and villas threaded into the vegetation, became a Small Luxury Hotels of the World member and a repeat award-winner. In late 2024 it changed hands: Daniel Shamoon, London-based founder of Luxury Hotel Partners (whose portfolio includes Nobu Marrakesh and Marbella and Puente Romano influences), completed a multi-million-dollar renovation and reopened the resort renewed on November 1, 2024, retaining much of the original staff.
The setting
2 km from Jolly Harbour Golf Club. 10 km from Museum of Antigua.
Restaurants and bars
- New Beach Club — Poolside · Grill
- Tree Bar — Bar
Experiences
- Garden Spa signature rituals — Siddhartha Ritual, Dorissima Color Ritual and Goldmund Facial, with aphrodisiac-infused products, onsite or in villa suites.
- Beach club — A new convivial grill restaurant on the beach with seasonal local fare, craft cocktails and local entertainers.
- Pool Bar — Covered poolside bar with cocktails by mixologist Rodrigo Tartaglia and live musical artists each evening.
- Boat trips and water sports — Island boat trips, deep sea fishing, sunset cruises and snorkelling in hidden coves aboard speed boats and a stay sail schooner.
- Day trip to Barbuda — Short helicopter or boat ride to Barbuda for lunch at sister resort Nobu Barbuda and a walk along Princess Diana Beach.
- Guided farm tours and weekly cooking classes — Guided farm tours and weekly cooking classes added as new activities.
Amenities
- Spa
- Infinity pool
- Private pool
- Fitness center
- Beach
- Water sports
- Fine dining
- Adults-only
- All-inclusive
Awards
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
Open Hermitage Bay in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.