Hotel Spotlight: Ocean View Club on Harbour Island, Bahamas

   

We're just back from a few days at the barefoot chic Ocean View Club on beloved Harbour Island in the Bahamas.  Harbour Island is one of our "soul sister spots," a place where we feel inspired and relaxed all at once.  Ocean View has been cool for decades and is special to us as Ben Simmons, who has taken the property over from his hip mom, Pip, organized and hosted Mary's Night Before Her Wedding...  eight years ago!!  Ben and his wife, Charlie have done an outstanding job breathing just the right amount of design flair and sophistication into this authentically casual and Bahamian idyll.  We think Tree Trunk Cottage, where we stayed, as well as the other cottages are about the best spot to stay on the island these days.  Below, find an excerpt on Ocean View from our write up for Feather + Flip on where and how to stay as a family on Harbour Island.

Basics

*Boutique property that is the epitome of boho chic with a relaxed atmosphere that feels as if you’re staying at your hip friend’s house.

*Nothing could be easier than walking barefoot from your room to the beach (and back again).

*Next door to Sip Sip (the best spot on the island for lunch), an easy beach walk to other hotels on the beach, and a two minute golf cart ride to town.

Bedtime

*Room number 9 has a king size bed and connects with twin bedded room number 10 through a shared bathroom.

*Sublime beachfront Pip’s Cottage has French doors that close off a smaller room with a daybed for kids or a crib which they have on property.

*There are plans this summer to connect some of the Oceanfront rooms that are the smallest, most economical, yet also the least private, rooms on property.

 Bests

*You absolutely can’t beat Ocean View’s beachfront location and relaxed vibe of coming and going as you please, being able to wander into the kitchen, chat with the chef about dinner that night and fetch a bottle of milk.

*The bar is an Honor Bar—take what you like, when you like and scribble it down in the journal.

*The cottages are design perfection  that incorporate their Bahamian setting with delightful  and quirky touches everywhere you look  - like the palm trees growing through the roof of Tree Trunk cottage.

But

*There are no phones or TVs in the rooms, but plenty of books and games.

*It’s very relaxed at Ocean View, if you’re used to five star luxury services like room service and turn down service this is not the place for you.

*There are several animals who live on property – three or four dogs and two cats, if you are not an animal lover, this might be something to consider.