Malliouhana, An Auberge Resort
Anguilla's grand dame of clifftop luxury, still setting the tone on Meads Bay.
Why Go
Opened in 1984 and widely credited with putting Anguilla on the luxury map, Malliouhana perches on a breezy limestone bluff between Meads Bay and Turtle Cove — two very different beaches, one legendary address. After Auberge's revival, it kept the colonial-Caribbean bones and layered in a Riviera-style infinity pool, three destination restaurants, and a spa hidden in the sea-grape trees.
The Experience
You arrive up a long drive lined with tropical planting and step into an airy, whitewashed lobby that opens straight onto the Caribbean. Days drift between the mile-long stretch of Meads Bay (talcum-soft sand, calm swimming) and the quieter, snorkel-friendly cove on the other side of the promontory. The centerpiece infinity pool feels like a Cap-Ferrat terrace transplanted to the tropics; loungers, cabanas, and a poolside bar make it easy to stay put all afternoon. The 63 rooms, suites, and villas are dressed in bright Haitian-inspired art, four-poster beds, and louvered doors that swing open to sea-view balconies. Service is warm and genuinely Anguillian — many staff have been here for decades — and the property's 25 acres mean you can disappear into a hammock and hear nothing but surf.
What to Try
Book a table at Celeste for chef Kerth Gumbs' modern Caribbean tasting (the Anguillan crayfish is a highlight), then swap to Leon's at Meads Bay for a barefoot lunch of grilled snapper with feet in the sand. Sunset belongs to Bar Soleil — order the rum flight and time it for the green flash. Beyond the food, do a dawn walk the full length of Meads Bay before the loungers go out, take the stairs down to Turtle Cove for a snorkel over the reef, book a court hour on the two hard courts (or try the pickleball court, still a rarity on-island), and carve out at least one afternoon for the spa's aloe-and-coconut ritual.
Insider Tip
Ask for a room in the western wing over Turtle Cove rather than the classic Meads Bay side — you trade the postcard beach view for total privacy, a soundtrack of surf on the rocks, and the best sunset light on the island. Also worth knowing: non-guests can book Celeste and Bar Soleil, so if you're staying elsewhere on Anguilla, come for sundowners and dinner and you'll still get the Malliouhana experience.
The Practical Stuff
Location: clifftop above Meads Bay, West End, about 15 minutes from Clayton J. Lloyd airport and 25 minutes from the Blowing Point ferry from St. Martin. The resort is open year-round; peak season runs mid-December through April, with the best value in May–June and November. Dress is resort-elegant at Celeste (long trousers/collared shirts for men at dinner), relaxed everywhere else. Kids are welcome and there's a dedicated kids' club, though the vibe skews adult-romantic. Rates are on the high end of Anguilla, which is itself one of the Caribbean's pricier islands — budget accordingly.
Pair It With
- Meads Bay Beach Guide — The mile-long white-sand beach right below the resort — walk its full length at sunrise or sunset for the best of Anguilla's most photographed shore.
- Blanchards Beach Shack — A casual, cash-only lunch spot a five-minute walk down Meads Bay for lobster rolls and rum punch on the sand — the perfect counterpoint to Malliouhana's polish.
- Sandy Island — A tiny offshore sandbar reached by a short boat ride from Sandy Ground; grilled crayfish, rosé, and snorkeling make it a classic Anguilla day trip.
- Shoal Bay East — Often ranked among the world's best beaches — 15 minutes east of the resort and worth a full beach day with lunch at Gwen's Reggae Grill.
