Villa Frangipanier

A path of steps climbs through palms and frangipani to reach Villa Frangipanier, a small white cottage on a hillside near the north coast. Through the trees you catch a glimpse of a surf beach and a turquoise bay below. The garden does most of the talking here. For anyone looking for a quiet villa in Anse des Cayes, St Barts, it offers privacy and green shade over grand scale.

The cottage is a single story under gray metal hip roofs. Its louvered windows close behind white shutters. Inside, white walls rise to a painted vaulted timber ceiling, where a wood ceiling fan turns slowly. Pale wood look floors run through the living room. A gray sectional sofa faces the room, and a rattan sunburst mirror hangs on the wall. The U shaped kitchen has light wood cabinets with dark counters and a gas hob. A bar with white stools makes a natural spot for morning coffee.

Outside, the heated plunge pool sits raised on a dark stone wall, and water spills over its edge. After dark it glows blue. Two loungers wait on the teak deck, angled toward the garden. The covered terrace sits under a white sail shade. There you will find an outdoor lounge and a round wicker daybed beside a dining table for 6. When evening comes, soft lighting picks out the palms and frangipani, and the BBQ is ready for a simple dinner outdoors.

The two bedrooms each hold a queen bed dressed in white linens. Both have big windows and a wall TV. One bathroom serves the house, so the layout works best for a couple or close family.

Anse des Cayes is a small cove on the north coast, just west of Saint-Jean, with its own surf beach. Flamands and Saint-Jean are both close by, which makes it easy to vary your beach days. The neighborhood keeps a relaxed pace, and the cottage feels set back from all of it. For a different layout in Anse des Cayes, Villa Frégate offers 4 bedrooms for up to 8 guests plus a large lounge deck with built-in seating.

Couples, or a small family of up to 4, will feel at home in this garden cottage. If you would rather wake up to birdsong and a private pool than a busy beach, this villa in Anse des Cayes, St Barts makes the case quietly.