Rest Haven Beach Cottages

Fitz, the owner, is a genuinely warm host, full of useful tips and great conversation. We spent a week at Rest haven, and it made a brilliant base for seeing Barbados. The accommodation is simple but clean and comfortable. Right across from it, the coastline is stunning and rugged, good for exploring and walking local trails, though not really for swimming. We did see some world-class surfers while we were there. Plenty of regular swimming beaches are a short drive away, and there are a few nearby bars with delicious food and drink. We liked cooking at home in the evenings, then sitting on the terrace with a cold beer and a rum, listening to the waves and looking at the stars. If you want to get away from tourist traps, generic hotels, and $40 linguini, this is the place. Mick Jagger used to escape here and shack up with Jerry Hall, after all!

I went to Barbados Race Weekend in Bathsheba in December 2022 and picked Rest Haven at random because it was within five miles of the race site by car. I couldn’t have been happier with the spot. The view is magnificent, the weather was gorgeous, people were friendly, and there are a few great restaurants nearby. You’re right across the street from Bathsheba Beach. Mr. Fitz, the owner, is delightful and one of the nicest men you could meet. I’m still keeping in touch with him. The cottages are rustic, so they’re for people who are fine with a less luxurious, semi-unplugged stay. There’s no TV or central air or heat. We had free wifi, and everything in our cottage worked. We bought groceries so we didn’t have to eat out every time, though we did try the places on the street a few times. It was priceless waking up, crossing the street into that visual paradise, smelling the ocean breeze, hearing the ocean at night, and feeling like a local. A fresh coconut fell from a tree on the property, too. The price was affordable, much less than a resort or hotel. We stayed a week, and I’ll book there again when we return. Renting a car is best, though the city bus passes by. My photos aren’t on my phone anymore, but I’ll come back and add some.

Fitz is a very cordial owner, and a glass of rum with him in the evening tastes especially good. There are two bars just steps from Rest Haven Beach, Dina's Bar and Sea Side Bar, where you can get local food. This is also a handy base for exploring inland. I used a rental car for the first few days, then switched to local transport. The blue buses go to Bridgetown and Speightstown. The place is quiet and faces the ocean. The wooden houses show the effects of time and salty air, so the first impression may not be great. The kitchen is poorly equipped, the bathroom needs renovation, and some walls are crooked. But those drawbacks faded for me when I could watch the sunrise while swimming in the ocean or walking the coral reef.

For anyone wanting to get away from the hectic cities of the UK, this place is simple, basic, and perfect. Fitz, the owner, goes above and beyond to help his guests, and meeting him was a pleasure. Honestly, Rest Haven Beach Cottages is the best place I’ve stayed in Barbados, and the best I’ve visited anywhere on the island, 100%.