Villa Marlice: A Yacht-Inspired Perch Above Gustavia Harbor
Four bedrooms, an infinity pool, and your own stairway to the Caribbean.
Why Go
Imagine waking up in what feels like the owner's cabin of a moored superyacht — clean architectural lines, walls of glass, and the Caribbean lapping just below your terrace. Villa Marlice sits on the cliffs above Gustavia, close enough to walk down for a rosé lunch at the harbor, private enough that most guests never bother.
The Experience
Marlice reads more like a piece of contemporary sculpture than a rental villa. The four bedrooms are laid out across a single, yacht-like level of pale stone, honey woods, and full-height sliders, so the horizon is always the dominant feature in the room. The infinity pool spills toward the sea, and a set of private stairs cuts down the cliff to give you your own direct water access — a rare thing on this side of the island, where most villas top out at 'ocean view.' Days settle into a rhythm of long breakfasts on the terrace, dips off the rocks, an afternoon nap in the fitness/massage pavilion, and sunset cocktails watching the sailboats swing at anchor in Gustavia's harbor below.
What to Try
Spend at least one full day never leaving the property — order in from a private chef, let the villa's masseuse come to you, and swim laps in the infinity pool with the harbor as your backdrop. Then, on another day, do the opposite: walk down into Gustavia for shopping along Rue de la France, an early apéro at a harborside bar, and dinner within the town's compact ten-minute walking radius. Marlice is one of the very few villas that lets you toggle between total seclusion and being in the middle of the action, on foot, in the same afternoon.
Insider Tip
Book the villa with a captained day-boat charter and have the boat pick you up directly at the base of the private stairs rather than at the public dock — it turns a 30-minute logistics shuffle into a 30-second step-off. Also, request the eastern-facing bedroom if you're a morning person; sunrise over the harbor from that pillow is the shot you'll actually remember.
The Practical Stuff
Four bedrooms, sleeps eight, with staff quarters, gym, and dedicated massage room. Rates start around $65,000/week in high season with holiday minimums; low- and shoulder-season pricing is materially lower and worth asking about. Address is Gustavia 97133, a five-minute drive (or steep 15-minute walk) from the harbor and about 10 minutes from Rémy de Haenen Airport in St-Jean. Book through Isle Blue, Premier Properties, or St Barths Villas; a car rental is essential — reserve months ahead for peak weeks.
Pair It With
- 6e SENS Massage Wellness Beauty Saint Barth Guide — Book their therapists to come to the villa's massage pavilion — a Marlice ritual that turns the in-house wellness room from an amenity into a proper spa day.
- Absolute Hot Yoga Guide — Just down in Gustavia, an easy morning class before the heat sets in; perfect way to earn the afternoon lounger by the infinity pool.
- Abyss Restaurant Guide — A short drive for a dinner that matches the villa's design-forward energy — reserve a table timed to sunset.
- À fleur de peau — St Barth — The Saint-Jean boutique for beach-to-dinner outfits; stock up early in your stay so you're not shopping on your last afternoon.
