At This Anguilla Resort, Luxury Hospitality Is Rooted in Community

These tenets of community and care started at reception, from the moment I was greeted by front desk attendants Kaneisha, Venesha, and Raquel, who pronounced my difficult surname perfectly. It continued as a staff member named Jederell escorted me to my room, sharing stories about his childhood in Anguilla, and continued throughout my stay, like when another staffer named Hector reserved my favorite lounge chair by the sea before I’d even set foot on the sand. The entire staff seemed genuinely invested in my experience.

By the time I left, I realized that what Zemi Beach House does so well is model self-care in the way its people care for one another. And that translates seamlessly to a five-star stay.

Photo: Zemi Beach House

The 77 guestrooms at Zemi Beach House are spread across six buildings that fan out like palm fronds, while the resort’s communal spaces form a figurative tree trunk, cascading straight to where sand meets sea. My accommodation — Room 410 — was situated in the midzone facing east. The 700-square-foot room had a king bed and an ocean view, and it was larger than my apartment in Brooklyn. It recalibrated my sense of space entirely.

The interior’s muted natural tones were accented by rich woods, slate flooring, and stone-carved artwork. The open-floor concept included a dedicated workspace and reading nook, yet it still flowed seamlessly to the private balcony, framing the seascape. The bathroom became my sanctuary with its deep soaking tub, golden limestone surfaces, and natural textures. Each night, I fell asleep listening to the wind and the ocean; each morning, I woke to natural light, relaxed and refreshed, drinking coffee on the balcony while the island stirred.

Beyond the resort’s standard garden- and oceanview rooms (600 to 700 square feet), the property distinguishes itself with its upper-tier offerings: the King Celebration Ocean View and Plunge Pool suite, featuring a private rooftop pool deck with 90-degree ocean views; two- and three-bedroom penthouse suites; and beachfront residences that function as private homes within the resort. The penthouses (up to 2,056 square feet) occupy the highest floors with rooftop terraces and pools, while the beachfront residences (up to 2,744 square feet) sit directly on the sand with pools overlooking the sea. Both include fully equipped kitchens and space for extended stays or family gatherings. During high season (December through April), rates range from $975 for garden-view rooms to $8,000 nightly for the residences.

Standard amenities across all categories include Malin + Goetz bath products, Frette premium linens, complimentary calls to the US and Canada, and dual climate controls — both AC and ceiling fans that allowed me to choose between the open-air Caribbean breeze and controlled comfort.

Photo: Allen Tsai / Zemi Beach House

Sitting on six acres of historically rich land in Shoal Bay East, the resort honors its connection to the ancestral Taíno-Arawak people. The name Zemi was inspired by the sacred stones that the Taíno-Arawak revered as conduits between the natural and spirit worlds, and Zemi Beach House supports these same elemental connections through every aspect of the guest experience, starting with its proximity to the sea and natural coastline. Shoal Bay Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean, offers a walkable two miles of powdery white sand and turquoise waters.

I’m a sand-and-surf girl myself, and the resort’s direct beach access doesn’t disappoint with its tumbling waves and coral reefs. When planning a three-day weekend getaway, my biggest challenge is usually packing sunscreen, but Zemi Beach House eliminates that concern with complimentary SunBum SPF 30 and After Sun on tap at concierge stations. Attentive beach staff also anticipate the sun’s intensity, repositioning umbrellas throughout the day to create shade. These small details go a long way.

The resort also has three pools, including a 60-foot lap pool and an adults-only option for those seeking quieter luxury. A rare bonus: poolside cabanas are free on a first-come, first-served basis rather than commanding the usual premium. The layout invites social engagement but also offers privacy for those seeking time alone. And if you can’t stand to be disconnected, complimentary WiFi is available throughout the property (strong enough that I could FaceTime from the beach). For active guests, there’s a well-equipped gym and tennis court, as well as complimentary water sports gear, including paddle boards, kayaks, and snorkeling masks.

Anguilla’s climate also functions as an amenity of sorts. Even in warmer months, temperatures hover in the low to mid-80s (dipping to the upper 70s December through March), so you can enjoy outdoor amenities without worrying about heatstroke.

Photos: Andrea Preziotti

At the heart of the resort is the award-winning Zemi Thai House Spa, a 308-year-old, architecturally transplanted Thai house that brings centuries of healing tradition to Caribbean shores. The structure is home to the island’s first co-ed hammam, with a heated göbek taşı (central bathing platform), outdoor rain showers, and a body-temperature vitality pool.

I indulged in a Therapeutic Wellbeing treatment. Indri, a Balinese practitioner, first performed a foot-water-bathing ritual and then led me through breathwork exercises, using essential oils tied to the wood and water elements. Next, she performed sound bowl therapy, something I first experienced in Ubud. The vibrational meditation resets the nervous system, followed by hands-on massage techniques designed to bring body, mind, and spirit back into balance. After an herbal tea in the tranquil Buddha garden, I slipped into the hammam for a relaxing sound bowl meditation.

In keeping with the self-care practices that the resort’s wellness program promotes, Zemi Beach House also takes its stewardship of Shoal Bay seriously. Guests are encouraged to support the resort’s sustainability efforts by opting in to reuse towels and linens, and by conserving energy by raising the thermostat and switching off lights. The resort is part of the Shoal Bay Marine Park Conservation Project and adds a small environmental tax to aid in the restoration of the Shoal Bay Coral Reef and local marine life. For travelers mindful of the ecological impact, Zemi Beach House recently launched a five-acre off-grid solar farm, one of the largest installations of its kind in the Caribbean. The project supplies clean energy to the resort, reducing its footprint without interrupting the guest experience.

Photos: Andrea Preziotti

Zemi Beach House has four on-site dining options, each offering a distinct experience, from barefoot beach dining to an elegant evening service.

20 Knots, the casual toes-in-the-sand restaurant, does all-day dining starting with a breakfast buffet. Options range from sunrise ginger shots and mango-spinach smoothies to Caribbean favorites like johnnycakes and made-to-order omelets. Those with a sweeter palate can indulge in Portuguese pastry chef Nuno De Oliveira’s creations, including a muffin of the day, banana and lemon cakes, and the flakiest croissants. Lunch — also available poolside or seaside when ordered through the Shoal Beach Club Bar — and dinner menus feature a variety of fresh salads and flavorful entrées. I recommend the seafood crown pizza, the refreshing watermelon salad, the avocado apple salad, and the grilled salmon. It goes without saying that you should order dessert — my 20 Knots favorite was the Key Lime Pie.

Dinner at Stone — the resort’s fine-dining, sea-to-table restaurant — showcases Anguillan flavors. Dishes are masterfully crafted by Executive Chef Sabatini Emanuele and accompanied by wine recommendations from the house sommelier. I started with the crab and avocado salad and finished with the New Zealand lamb chops encrusted with pistachio and mustard. Our table enjoyed a live demonstration of the crêpe Suzette dessert experience, narrated by Cammy, our server. The resort also facilitates private dinners, with Chef Emanuele available to curate a personalized menu.

Not to be missed is a visit to the Rhum Room for cocktails inspired by the Zemi gods and goddesses or a small-batch, single-estate rum flight led by Master Rommelier Stacey Penn. During my tasting, we sampled rums from Jamaica, Barbados, Venezuela, Mauritius, and Martinique. I was most intrigued by the flavor profile of the Barbadian blend, Bumbu. For more discerning tastes, the Rhum Room has over 100 small-batch rums, including a coveted limited-edition varietal available for $650 per shot (you can see it in the jewel-box wall display behind the bar).

The Bohio Bar & Sushi Lounge features live music and dancing for guests seeking a place to linger over cocktails and light bites under the sky.

Photo: Andrea Preziotti

Anguilla is a petite island — 16 miles long by three miles wide — although it packs an impressive 33 beaches into its small size. You can get around the island by water or on land, as well as on self-guided excursions in a car or Moke, an open-air, low-slung recreation vehicle. If self-guiding, be aware that Anguillans drive on the left.

During my stay at Zemi Beach House, I booked a birdwatching tour with Quest Experiences and also joined a sea-based tour offered by the property. The Quest experience started early as Clemvio Hodge, owner and guide, shuttled me around to Anguilla’s beaches and wetland areas to sight nesting seabirds, among them a white-collared swift; a smattering of ducks, pigeons, and plovers; and one elusive flamingo. Hodge mentioned that the pink bird has been roosting in the Road Salt Pond for several years, occasionally with a mate.

After exploring Anguilla’s wetlands by land, I took to the sea for a different perspective. The Funtime Charters boat excursion launched from Sandy Grounds, a small village. We stopped by swimming holes, went snorkeling and boulder jumping at Annika Cove, visited the Anguilla Arch, and ended with a visit to the untouched Prickly Pear island for an open-air barbecue lunch and free swim. Throughout both journeys, it was clear that Anguilla’s tourism slogan, “Lose the Crowd, Find Yourself,” was spot on, as most beaches and attractions were nearly empty despite the arrival of high season.

Photo: Andrea Preziotti

My journey to Anguilla was a pleasant island-hopping ritual from the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) in Sint Maarten, with direct flights from central East Coast and Southern hubs in under four hours (via American, JetBlue, United, Delta, and others), followed by a 20-minute ferry to Anguilla. The sea transfer to Blowing Point Terminal, which included a welcome rum punch cocktail, helped the transition to island time.

Once you clear customs, a 20-minute drive to Zemi Beach House passes through local villages and the island’s capital, The Valley, home to some of the best barbecue. For those who prefer a more direct route, American and JetBlue offer flights from select cities (Miami and New York City) straight to Anguilla’s Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA).

If you find yourself island-hopping this winter, St. Barts and St. Martin offer day trips to Anguilla as another way to visit the island. Note that most vacation properties are closed from September to October during hurricane season.

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