Trinidad and Tobago

Architect Arne Hasselqvist constructed these fourteen villas from a medley of well-sourced materials: greenheart hardwoods from Guyana, oil-ribbed bronze hardware from Peru, granite and marble countertops from Brazil. The finished product is a seamlessly integrated design that channels the old-fashioned glamour of a Caribbean manor house. The villas—which range in size from a one-bedroom with a king-size bed to a four-bedroom that can accommodate seven adults—each come with an infinity pool, private gardens, and panoramic sea views. Breakfast can be cooked in your private kitchen upon request, and the Pavilion Restaurant is always a solid bet, serving Caribbean and American fare in a lush garden setting.

A pond of clear water and shimmering coral are draws of Nylon Pool, which Princess Margaret visited on her honeymoon—but these are hardly the only reasons to visit. What makes these shallow bodies of water within the ocean magical is their location in the middle of the Caribbean Sea (the pools are all enclosed by coral, hence the name “pool”). Book one of the glass-bottom boats docked at Pigeon Point and gaze down at local marine life during the fifteen-minute journey over. It’s a little surreal to find mini swimming pools enclosed by dark seawater, but it’s great fun to float and snorkel here. Locals swear that a swim in the aquamarine waters is the secret to eternal youth.

The go-to for a luxurious stay in Trinidad, the Hyatt Regency shines with a seaside location in the heart of Port of Spain. Rooms are sleek, with white oak floors and plush but firm bedding. Waterfront and city views are salves to the eyes but easily avoided during early mornings with blackout curtains and noise-blocking walls. Downstairs, the Waterfront bar and restaurant offers a complimentary breakfast service, a sushi bar, and café. Take a seat on the outdoor patio for undulating sea waves over plantain chips and coffee. Upstairs, the hotel pool offers a stunning view of the city, and the nearby spa can take care of any bodily woes with a menu of mani-pedis, facials, and deep-tissue massages.

Local foodies scour the calendars for Fanatic’s monthly chef’s table dinners, where local chefs create a sampling menu by theme. The result is an improvisational tasting menu focused on local flavors. For example: a Jamaican and Trinidadian culinary tour that produced coconut jelly ceviche, crab and conch risotto, red bean cake with pulled stewed chicken, and black-eyed pea hummus. The chef of the evening is usually on hand to guide diners through each course in exquisite detail.

The menu at Chaud is a tribute to the cross-cultural influences of local cuisine, a mix of East Indian, African, and Middle Eastern flavors. The result is one-of-a-kind dishes like tandoori-spiced charred octopus and pork chops rubbed in pepper jelly. The cocktail menu follows a similar theme with a refreshing Tamarind Sour. The old-fashioned setting inside a residential, colonial-style building is transporting, and the staff is kind and accommodating.

Led by Italian chef Cristian Grini, Buzo’s focus is honest, authentic cuisine. That means fresh, handmade pasta classics like four-cheese ravioli in truffle honey and a killer lasagna. Innovation shines through in subtle tweaks, like an appetizer of mushroom tempura and the selection of crowd-pleasing thin-crust pizzas topped with Manchego and arugula or roasted eggplant and prosciutto. Snag a seat in front of the glass-walled kitchen to watch the team flex its muscles. The stone-and-granite interior is lit in soft neon that creates a fun, moody spirit—the perfect place to start the night.

You could walk right past the staircase entry to this small but memorable restaurant if you’re not careful. On the upper level of a neighborhood strip mall, chef John Aboud mixes a range of culinary influences—French, Mediterranean, Italian, Basque—into deceptively simple, exquisite dishes. Highlights include wild mushroom soup, roasted lamb chops, and an unforgettable basil panna cotta. Downstairs at Aioli Marketplace (a gourmet deli), Aboud branches out with a lunch selection of fresh salads, pastries, and sandwiches.