Villa Opale

Villa Opale puts everything a big group could want on site. A professional chef's kitchen, a cinema room and a gym with a bay view are all part of the plan. The estate spreads across several terraced levels high on a steep hillside above a bay. Below lie a long beach, a reef with breaking surf and a village of red and green roofs. To the north, the open sea runs to low islets on the horizon. With that much to look at, this villa in Saint-Jean, St Barts has a space for every part of the day.

White and gray pavilions sit under standing seam metal hip roofs, with dark stone walls and timber slat screens. Walkways and glass railed staircases link the levels. One roof is planted with turf as a sun terrace. Inside, pale stone floors and gray oak boards meet warm gray walls and linen curtains. White vaulted ceilings show exposed rafters. The open living pavilion has white sofas and marble tables, with modern art throughout. The stainless steel kitchen has a glass hood, and a bar clad in ribbed black timber has leather stools.

The long infinity pool has dark tiles and runs to the edge of the slope. A wide teak deck carries a long row of white loungers. The covered dining pavilion holds a sea green glass table for about 12, along with a bar and a foosball table. An outdoor kitchen with sinks and a plancha stands by the pool, and a glass railed terrace offers a lounge facing the bay. Stone walled tropical walkways connect it all.

There are seven bedrooms for up to 14 guests, five with king beds and two with queens. Most open through big windows or sliders to private terraces with bay or sea views. Several sit under vaulted rafter ceilings, while one smaller room looks onto the hill. Bathrooms in stone and dark wood have walk in rain showers and double basins, and some enjoy views.

The estate belongs to Saint-Jean, the busy heart of the island's north coast. Its beach clubs and restaurants are close by when you want a night out. For guests who want a long courtyard lap pool lined with lawn on the list, Villa Tourmaline is nearby with 5 bedrooms for up to 10 guests.

A group of 14 could happily stay put all week. Start with a workout overlooking the reef, and end with dinner off the plancha at this villa in Saint-Jean, St Barts.