The Old Gin House

The restaurant was a highlight. We had the Christmas dinner, and the seafood chowder, Christmas ham, and rose pasta with shrimp were all top notch. The gyoza between courses were a nice touch, and the restaurant staff were friendly and gave amazing service. Breakfast was included, with a smaller selection than the regular menu and paid add-ons available. Our garden view king room was spacious and well equipped, with hardwood furniture, a big wardrobe, lockable nightstands with jewelry drawers, and a mini fridge with a small freezer. The bathroom was large, the oversized shower had both a fixed head and hose, and the water pressure was excellent compared with other island stays. The mini split AC kept the room cool, and the WiFi was strong. The ocean view is great, and the water is right there. Waves can splash onto the terrace below the restaurant. Parking along either side of the property was easy, even with us often coming and going in our rental car. We were puzzled by the lack of visible management. The office wasn’t staffed when we arrived, despite a sign saying someone should be there into the early afternoon. We rang the bell, and a restaurant staffer came over to help us settle in. We never saw management during our stay, and some of the email communication was disjointed. If you put restaurant charges on your room, settle the tab before you leave, since it won’t be charged automatically to the card on file. We stayed from Christmas Eve through Boxing Day, and would definitely come back.

The food took a long time to arrive, and the staff didn’t seem knowledgeable. My rib eye was tough, and they were out of apple pie for dessert. They didn’t tell us their computer was down, which seemed to be why the wait staff took so long to bring the check. I had to ask for it.

A great spot on Statia, with lovely scenery and old architecture alongside modern comforts. It’s the best place to stay, and breakfast has plenty of good options.

The location was really convenient. We could walk everywhere, including to the dive shop, and even with the property needing work, it was the handiest place to stay on the island. I’d stay again if I dive in Statia, and hope the owners see how much more the place could offer with a bit more investment in time and supervision. The rooms need renovation, and we never saw anyone in the office or reception. The bartender checked us in, and a waitress closed our account, both times while we were at the restaurant. On the plus side, the AC, fan, and hot water all worked well, and the bed was comfortable and clean. As in other island hotels, toilet paper can’t be flushed. After the first day our room wasn’t serviced, which got kind of gross, so we asked the waitress to arrange it. It was cleaned the next day, but the maid left the door open to the shared porch, and we came back to a room full of mosquitos. The restaurant was great, and we loved the servers and bartender. They were wonderful people.