Looking to read a detailed review of Fairmont Royal Pavilion before booking your next trip to Barbados? You’ve come to the right place!
The iconic pink palace sits perched over the white sands of Alleyne’s Bay on Barbados’ breathtaking west coast. The 5 star resort can be found nestled throughout 11 acres of historic tropical gardens.
I spent 3 nights in a luxurious suite at the resort. My review of Fairmont Barbados features info on the award-winning luxury hotels accommodation options, spa services, restaurants, and on-site amenities.
Book A Luxurious Holiday at Fairmont Royal Pavilion in Barbados
The Fairmont in Barbados is located on the islands scenic west coast overlooking Alleyne’s Bay.
The three-story beachfront resort spans 11 acres in the idyllic parish of St. James, conveniently located near vibrant shopping, dining, and cultural attractions, like the historic Mount Gay rum distillery.
Located a short 45 minute drive north west of Grantley Adams International Airport, Fairmont Royal Pavilion offers a quiet and peaceful retreat for those looking to rest and relax on a romantic Caribbean holiday.
Ranked as one of the best luxury hotels in Barbados, Fairmont Royal Pavilion was originally The Miramar Hotel, built in the 1940s and the first hotel to be constructed on the West Coast of Barbados. The original structure had only 12 rooms and now houses the Palm Terrace Restaurant.
Green thumbs on holiday rave for the resorts impressive gardens, designed by renowned South American landscape architect Fernando Tabora. He landscaped the property by blending natural tropical beauty with Mediterranean-style architecture. Much of the greenery and tropical florals offer shading, creating a feeling of privacy among the intimate courtyards and water features.
All of the estate’s flora is native to the region. Among the diverse greenery are more than 100 coconut trees; over 50 palm trees including Golden, McArthur and Sago; mango, breadfruit, cherry and banana trees and sweet-smelling Frangipani trees.
Checking In At Fairmont Barbados
Upon arrival guests are offered a welcome drink menu in the lobby, which includes refreshing options like champagne or rum punch. The welcoming reception and lobby spaces are coloured with shell pink and oyster, accented with white washed beams, contrasting the terracotta tiled flooring, which feature white and peach diamond inserts.
Beachfront Suite guests are escorted and oriented by their own private Butler, who offers assistance with unpacking, concierge services, complimentary pressing of 2 items per day, laundry and dry cleaning requests, shoe polishing, maintaining in-room refreshment centre, and personalized wake-up call with delivery of brewed coffee or steeped tea.
Fairmont Royal Pavilion’s friendly team have created one of the most intimate resorts on the island with the atmosphere of a Barbadian plantation home.
Once you’ve slid on your flip flops, skip out of your room to explore the resorts restaurants, spa, gym, swimming pool and umbrella adorned beach loungers.
Fairmont Royal Pavilion Review Highlights
Barbados offers a slice of Caribbean paradise similar to Hawaii, Bali and Phuket, offering an endless array of jaw-dropping accommodations. The island is a very popular destination for freshly married couples looking to book a romantic honeymoon package.
Before booking your trip, here are a list of highlights that make The Fairmont Royal Pavilion in Barbados stand out from the rest.
- The Fairmont Royal Pavilion is ranked as one of the most luxurious 5 star boutique resorts in Barbados. It’s the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion like a honeymoon, anniversary or birthday.
- Platinum Fast Track Service provides Fairmont guests with your very own concierge who not only assists you with customs but escorts you to complimentary luxury airport transportation.
- The boutique resort features a variety of luxury accommodations, from chic suites to jaw-dropping villas.
- The resort is located on an expansive half-mile stretch of white sandy beach. It’s proximity to upscale shopping, fine dining and golf courses makes it an ideal home away from home.
- The 11-acre estate features a sweet-smelling garden featuring hundreds of indigenous flowers, which sway in the ocean breeze around frothing fountains. Guests can join a botanical tour every Wednesday from 10-11:30 am hosted by one of the nursery supervisors.
- If you’re a fitness fan who likes to workout on holiday visit the hotels gym to workout with treadmills, bikes and free weights. You’ll be sweating in paradise while enjoying a beautiful ocean view!
- On a hot day enjoy a plunge in the Fairmont Royal Pavilion’s chlorinated swimming pool. A choir of sun loungers shaded with white umbrellas are available to rest and relax on the pool deck.
- If you’re looking to pamper yourself on holiday book a soothing massage, conducted by talented therapists in the comfort of your room.
- Enjoy weekly wellness classes plus a full range of motorized water sports like Hobie Cat sailing, kayaks and paddle boards.
- The resort features 3 restaurant concepts, from casual al fresco sips and nibbles at the Beach Club to romantic Bajan flavours at upscale Palm Terrace.
- The friendly Bajan hospitality is top drawer, from pool attendants to attentive spa therapists, and restaurant menus that are best described as exquisite!
Accommodation
The most important question you have to ask yourself when reading a Fairmont Royal Pavilion review is, “what type of accommodation would I like to book for my holiday.”
The luxury boutique resort in Barbados offers 72 well-appointed suites and villas, all of which enjoy direct water views and face west, guaranteeing incredible sunset views.
The world-renowned design firm, Wilson & Associates, whose previous credits include the Four Seasons Hotel in Hawaii, the Royal Mirage Resort in Dubai and Le Touesserok Hotel in Mauritius, undertook the design of the 72 ocean view guests rooms blending the rich colonial architecture of Barbados, portrayed by a contrast of the dark mahogany headboards and cane furniture with the light ceramic floor tiles and rattan panels, which grace the built-in armoire doors.
The Beachfront Suites are decorated in a tropical style, including a pillow top king-size bed, lounge with queen-sized sofa bed and chic bathroom with shower and separate tub. Sweet smelling bath amenities are provided by Le Labo Rose 31. A Nespresso machine is accompanied by premium tea bags are by Lot 35. In room mini bar is stocked with wine, beer, soft drinks and price list.
Turn Down Service is available daily with complimentary water. Amenities can also be offered by the housekeeping team for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Anniversaries.
We stayed in a suite on the 3rd floor, which we recommend as the spacious balcony offers the perfect perch to people watch up and down the beach. Large circular day beds on the balcony are the ideal spot to cuddle with your darling at sunrise or sunset.
Fairmont Royal Pavilion Restaurants & Bars
No review of Fairmont Barbados is complete until you’ve had an opportunity to wag your finger down each of the hotel’s marvellous menus.
The luxury boutique hotel offers guests 3 unique restaurant concepts, from casual outdoor Beach Club to the celebration of refined Bajan flavours at Palm Terrace.
The resort’s signature culinary experience is an elegant English-style Afternoon Tea, which is served daily at Taboras Restaurant as a nod to the island’s British history, between 4-5pm.
Palm Terrace Restaurant
The hotel’s signature Palm Terrace Restaurant enjoys an idyllic tropical setting, surrounded by plants and palm trees and featuring internal planters, reiterating the resorts Barbadian theme. Bajan mahogany is prevalent throughout, upholstered in tones of natural stone. A rosso portugale marble floor catches our eye while hotel ushers us to our table.
Guests wake up to the world at Palm Terrace, which offers a delectable selection of breakfast favourites paired with jaw-dropping oceanfront views. Guests can skip along a sumptuous breakfast buffet, featuring an a la minute egg station, tropical fruits and yogurt, oatmeal, pastries, and hot dishes like bacon, sausages, eggs benedict and hash browns.
If you’re keen to order an Instagram-worthy brunch you can order dishes off an a la carte breakfast menu, which includes a Classic English Breakfast, Caramelized Banana Pancakes and Cinnamon Roll French Toast.
As the sun sets, the romantic restaurant takes on the vibe of a refined dining experience. Indulge in live-fired meats and local fish, expertly prepared in a Josper charcoal oven. Chef Timothy Palmer’s menu pays homage to indigenous, seasonal and sustainably sourced ingredients.
Highlights from the Palm Terrace dinner menu include Pineapple Coconut Crusted Pork Belly, Charcoal Grilled Prawns with a Jicama & Mango Salad, Mussels Capellini and slow-cooked Beef Short Rib with Buttermilk Pomme Puree. You’ll also find a catch of the day and selection of premium steaks.
Taboras Restaurant
Fairmont Royal Pavilion’s casual seaside restaurant and bar embraces the flavours and vibe of Barbados and the Caribbean.
Taboras offers an open kitchen concept and an expansive bar. Conveniently located by the pool, Taboras is the ideal rendezvous spot for a romantic lunch or to meet with friends and enjoy finger-licking-good Caribbean cuisine and live nightly music performances. Featuring authentically local architecture with detailed arches that create a welcome canopy, Taboras is the perfect perch to enjoy a sip and nibble while staring out into the dreamy Azure sea.
Taboras Bar is designed to create an open and relaxed feel with the theme of pineapples being prevalent throughout. This is noticeably displayed in a pineapple motif panel set in glistening copper tones within the Bajan mahogany of the bar. The motifs are repeated once again in the mirror that acts as a welcoming backdrop.
Wag your finger down the Taboras menu and you’ll find a strong focus on locally sourced produce and seafood. Highlights include Belizean Shrimp Tagliatelle, Local Flying Fish Goujons, selection of fresh salads, thin-crust pizzas, burgers and tacos.
We suggest visiting at Happy Hour to enjoy a cool glass or rose or rum-muddled cocktail as you listen to the waves crash on the shore before dancing the night away with daily live music performances. Be sure not to miss “sunset lime,” with a DJ spinning every other Saturday night.
The hotel’s signature culinary experience is it’s dainty high tea, which is served from 4-5pm on the Taboras Restaurant patio. We ordered a piping hot pot of English Breakfast tea, which was served alongside 2 buttery scones, slathered in thick cream and strawberry jam. Savouries included a sandwich duo featuring ham and cream cheese & smoked salmon. Sweet treats included chocolate cream filled choux and almond & raspberry cake slices.
Beach Club
If you’re visiting Barbados to rest and relax you may just find yourself spending your days on a comfy lounger under an umbrella just a stones throw from the crashing waves.
We suggest spending your days lounging at the Beach Club, a casual al fresco seaside restaurant offering lunch and Caribbean vacation-style drinks.
In between dips in the ocean enjoy afternoon snacks featuring classic American fare such as nachos, chicken wings, tacos, Cobb salad, burgers, and quesadilla.
The Beach Club at Fairmont Royal Pavilion serves up our favourite drinks menu, tropical cocktails like creamy Coladas, sweet Daiquiri and unique Bajan Sorrel Sour.
Fun Things To Do In Barbados
It’s important to take a break from sunbathing on the beach to explore all that Barbados has to offer! Book a fun tour or authentic Bajan experience to make your visit to Fairmont Royal Pavilion unforgettable!
- Oistins Fish Fry: this charming fishing community on the island’s south end hosts a fun Friday night party, which are legendary. Plan to celebrate TGIF by hanging out with with locals who come here to feast on freshly grilled seafood.
- Harrison’s Cave: located in the central uplands of the island, this impressive crystallized, limestone cave is characterized by flowing streams, deep pools of crystal clear water and a parade of stalactites. Guests can access the subterranean environment on a tramway with a guide. This family-friendly attraction also features an otherworldly zip-lining course and onsite restaurant.
- St. Nicholas Abby: visit a historic plantation house, museum and rum distillery on a fun train adventure.
- Mount Gay Distillery: Mount Gay Rum has been produced on the island since 1703, making it one of the most iconic and historically significant rum distilleries in the world. Book a 2 hour tour with a friendly guide and you’ll learn about the history of the brand and rum making process, with plenty of opportunities to snap pictures. The tour ends in a chic tasting room where guests can sip rum punch and enjoy a tasting of 3 of the brands expressions.
- East Coast Highlights: during a road trip of the island’s more rugged east coast be sure to visit the unique rock formations in Bathsheba, historic Codrington College, St. John’s Parish Church, and the panoramic views of Cherry Tree Hill.
Fairmont Royal Pavilion Contact
Highway 1 Holetown, 1-246-422-5555
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