The place I am about to unveil goes down as one of the most beautiful, secluded, and peaceful spots in the Caribbean. It is Golden Rock Inn, set amid a three hundred year old sugar plantation halfway up Nevis Peak in a lush tropical forest! It is truly a golden gem!
We made lunch reservations at Golden Rock, for a party of six, without any awareness of what we were about to see. We caught a taxi in Charlestown to take us to Golden Rock, at a reasonable rate of $4 per person, and an offer to pick us up after lunch and take us back to town. From the moment the driver wound his way up the hill, we felt like we were in paradise. The grounds are a gardener’s dream, with blooming flowers, foliage of all shades of green, canopying trees, fish ponds, singing birds, and green monkeys swinging in the trees. What a brilliant Creator we have!
This place begged us to explore. We walked along stone paths looking up and down, and all around, marveling at the surroundings. Not only were the grounds lush, colorful, and rich, but the hotel, pools, restaurants, and sitting areas were an artistic visual treasure. The two story 19th century Sugar Mill is quite a sight as well, towering in the midst of the trees. Everywhere we looked revealed a display of poetic expression, from the colors, angles, and lighting, to the materials, textures, and finishes.
The waitress seated us in our own private gazebo overlooking a thicket of flourishing plants and trees, and surrounded by four fish ponds with lilipads and blooming water lilies. The ambiance was delightful!
The service at The Rocks restaurant was great, and the Caribbean inspired food, using fresh local produce, was expertly prepared. I ordered the Niçoise salad with seared tuna, baby potatoes, cherry tomatoes, green beans, olives, eggs and oregano dressing, and I added goat cheese to top it off. It was phenomenal! I’m still taking about it! Others raved about the lobster sandwich and the grilled mahi with West Indian Creole sauce. There are specials everyday, and the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus offer distinct items, so look at the menu online ahead of time and decide which meantime you’d prefer to partake. Each time of the day will offer something special at Golden Rock; be it by sunlight or string light, you can’t go wrong whenever you go!
We didn’t stay at the hotel, but it’s my understanding that they offer 11 private guest rooms, each set among jungle like surroundings. Several bungalows overlook beaches and the Caribbean Sea, and several are hidden among the gardens. For good reason, the bungalows are off limits to transitory guests, so we weren’t able to see those, but the pictures online look so tranquil. I don’t think you could go wrong staying here, provided you can afford the $400-$550 per night rate.
All in all, Golden Rock Inn is a fantastic place to visit while in Nevis, even if you don’t stay overnight. I highly recommend going on a sunny day when the colors vividly pop and everything shines brighter; but even on a cloudy day, Golden Rock Inn is a breathtaking tropical wonderland to explore!