In the mood for love? The Sugar Mill Resort is the perfect backdrop for a laid-back romantic get-away that will leave you love-struck for more. A charming boutique hotel, The Sugar Mill is housed within a 375-year-old sugar mill surrounded by tropical gardens and floral-lined paths, overlooking a private beach. Upon entering our room we were greeted with two fuchsia flowers, a welcome note and a bottle of rum. A splendid start!
Time slows down at The Sugar Mill. While away the day at the pool, sip a glass of wine on your private deck, or cuddle on a hammock as you take a selfie or two to send to your envious friends and family. We loved walking along the beach listening to the sounds of waves softly crashing into the shore as we watched pelicans perform acrobatic stunts diving for their daily meals – they are a wily bunch! These cunning creatures will amuse you as they sit perched in trees or a nearby rooftop patiently waiting for their catch. One swift flight upwards and a roll and tuck and swish…dinner is served!
The freshwater pool was a luxurious retreat after a day of leisurely exploring the island, followed by a stimulating outdoor shower just before going to dinner at the renowned romantic (and award winning) Sugar Mill restaurant – which is one of the reasons that drew us to the resort.
The restaurant sits within the weathered remnants of a 17-century sugar mill. Try to request one of the tables in front of the waterfall, which is fashioned from the mill’s original copper cauldron. Here you and your loved one will bask in the glow of candlelight as you choose from enticing starters such as Lobster Bisque with Basil Croutons or Warm Oyster Gratin with Smoked Bacon & Guinness Hollandaise. Next tempting main courses might include Salmon wrapped in Leek with Petit Pois Emulsion & Shaved Fennel Salad, Poached Lobster Salad a la Nicoise, or Pan Roasted Duck Breast served with Asian Cole Slaw & Soba Noodles – the menu changes daily.
The Sugar Mill also has an outdoor beach-front restaurant across the street from the resort that serves lunch – after which you can grab a couple of lounge chairs to bask in the sun, go snorkeling or take a seaside swim. Or you can just tune in once again to those cunning pelicans.
The hotel will make arrangements for a number of activities including hiking, sailing, fishing, bird watching and cycling. If you do rent a bikes watch out for some aggressive driving there. We were walking on the road from the hotel towards a local restaurant and I was practically pushed out of the street as a driver was passing by way too close to us. The taxi drivers seem to enjoy talking to passengers and turning around to do so, only to quickly swerve back on the road to attend to the task they should be focusing on. We had to point (wide-eyed) to the road a couple of times to refocus our driver’s efforts as he pointed to sights on the left and right on one of our journeys. Thankfully we had NYC taxi training in our blood but it was still a bit nerve wracking!
Accommodations at the Sugar Mill range from twelve deluxe studios, a cottage (a favorite for honeymooners), two Deluxe Villas or their hill-side two-bedroom Plantation Suites all elegantly designed and decorated – some with spectacular views of the sea.
The resort is owned by Jinx and Jeff Morgan. Check out our exclusive interview with Jinx Morgan, author, proprietor, artist and foodie at heart.
Sugar Mill Hotel and Restaurant
Apple Bay / Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Tel: 800 462 8834 (toll-free)
Tel: 284 495 4355
PS: On the way to town, and right down the road from the Sugar Mill, be sure to stop by Bombas, an oddly constructed shack filled with graffiti and photos sure to amuse. By day its a surfer’s haven – by night its a pretty wild scene; and for the adventurous you have the infamous Bomba Full Moon Parties where anything goes (and I mean anything!). Stay tuned for a future post for more.
