If you didn’t have your room booked in St. Barths before spring 2014, you likely won’t be partaking in the madness that is New Year’s Eve 2015. Luckily, there are better winter weekends to still be had that often come at half the price, and with half the crowds that flock to what many consider the chicest NYE on the planet.
With no new hotel additions on the island this year, several iconic properties have undergone a rebranding that now aligns them with some of the world’s premiere hospitality brands. Recently, Isle-de-France completed a full refurbishment that completes its conversion into owner Louis Vuitton’s Cheval Blanc brand. Now with sister-outposts in Courchevel and Maldives, its St Barth’s outpost features the only Guerlain spa in the Caribbean and upgraded dining and lounge offerings from longtime Case de I’Isle restaurant. On St Jean Bay, Eden Rock has aligned management with Oetker Collection that operates Hotel du Cap and Le Britsol Paris. This year, Jean-Georges Vongerichten continues his culinary collaboration at On the Rocks and Sand Bar - with its truffle pizzas, homemade burratina and open-air grill that now serves dinner as well.
A few dining changes arrive for the season including new Tamarin on Saline Beach that’s debuting a glossy new look and upgraded beach club menu that’s one of the best newcomers of the year. In town, La Provença replaces Wall House in Gustavia with a provincial seafood eatery by the same owners. New Year’s means exclusive invites and pricey parties across the island with tables at even Nikki Beach selling in the 60,000-Euro range. A bit more removed is new Modjo that mixes tapas and late-night DJs in a neighborly location in St Jean. And expect a Paris-imported DJ line-up at Le Yacht Club with spillover inside upstairs The First Lounge that’s now part of Carole Gruson’s nightlife empire.
