Anaïs Beauty Salon: A Little Pampering on the Unspoiled Queen
A tucked-away Windwardside salon where island residents, expats, and travelers get their pre-dive blowout, brow tidy, and a proper island catch-up.
Why Go
Saba isn't exactly overrun with beauty parlors — there are only about 2,000 people on the whole rock — so the handful of salons in Windwardside function as much as social hubs as they do grooming stops. Anaïs sits right on Pastor Street, in the thick of the cobbled village lanes and pastel gingerbread cottages, which makes it an easy walk-in between lunch and an afternoon hike up Mt. Scenery.
The Experience
Windwardside is Saba's charming middle-of-the-mountain village: red-roofed cottages, hedged gardens, and a walkable grid of narrow lanes that feel more like a Swiss alpine hamlet than a Caribbean beach town. Anaïs fits that pocket-sized rhythm — small, unhurried, and heavy on regulars. You'll likely be greeted by name (even if it isn't yours), offered a seat, and drawn into whatever conversation is happening about the weather, the last supply-boat delay, or who's flying in this week. Treatments are the classic island-salon lineup: hair cuts and colour, blow-dries, manicures and pedicures, waxing, brows, and the kind of quick refreshes that matter when humidity, salt air, and volcano hikes have had their way with you. Come in windblown from Mt. Scenery, leave feeling human again.
What to Try
A pedicure is the smart pick after a few days on Saba's stone-step trails — your feet will thank you. If you're on-island for a wedding, a special dinner at Brigadoon or Chez Bubba, or just want to look polished for the dive-boat photo op, book a wash-and-blow-dry; humidity here undoes hotel-bathroom attempts within minutes. Brow shaping and a quick waxing appointment are also easy add-ons that many travelers slot in before flying back out via the world's shortest commercial runway.
Insider Tip
Saba runs on island time and word-of-mouth — call or message ahead rather than assuming you can walk in, especially on Fridays and Saturdays when locals book up the chairs before weekend events. Bring small-denomination US dollars or a Dutch debit card; card machines on the island can be temperamental when the connection drops. And if you're between ferries or flights, tell them upfront so they can pace the appointment — no one wants to sprint down to Fort Bay with wet nails.
The Practical Stuff
Located on Pastor Street in the heart of Windwardside village (Plus Code JQH9+9GW), an easy walk from the main square, the tourist office, and most guesthouses. The village is very compact — if you're staying at Juliana's, Scout's Place, or the Cottage Club, you can walk in five to ten minutes. Taxis from Fort Bay harbor or Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport are the easiest way in if you're just arriving. Hours and current service menu aren't widely published online, so it's worth calling ahead or asking your guesthouse to confirm before you head over. Cash (USD, the island's currency) is always a safe bet.
Pair It With
- Bizzy B Bakery — A few steps away in Windwardside — grab a fresh pastry, quiche, or iced coffee before or after your appointment; it's the village's go-to morning stop.
- Angelina's Saba By OwAiChie — A relaxed local spot for food and drinks — perfect for extending your Windwardside afternoon into an easy island lunch or sundowner.
- Mt. Scenery hike — Do the 1,064-step climb to Saba's cloud-forest summit first, then reward your legs with a pedicure or blow-out at Anaïs — the classic island order of operations.
