It is a delicate business to take a legend from the past and bring it successfully into the present.
In the 90s, the Béret family dedicated itself to François Plantation, a boutique hotel in today’s terms. In reality, a large home with a dozen bungalows discretely scattered on a magnificent property in the hills of Colombier. Clients were received as if they were old friends, gathering in the evening, along with island residents, in the elegantly designed dining room that had a reputation for excellence.
One family’s story is now that of another, as in late 2016, François Plantation was replaced by Villa Marie Saint-Barth, named after the daughter of the new owners, Jean-Louis and Jocelyne Sibuet, French hoteliers who have properties in The Alps, Provence, and along the Mediterranean coast.
Villa Marie Saint-Barth is an exceptional property. A vibrant testimony to the success of maintaining its authenticity and a lovely blend of the timeless charm of Saint Barth’s past and the refined sophistication of the island today.
The setting is still every bit as gorgeous, in the heart of a tropical garden lush with bougainvilleas, traveler’s palms, and mango trees. The villas, now completely renovated, are naturally integrated into this private oasis. The terraces are designed as open-air living rooms, the views are beyond
The rooms are beautifully decorated with soft and bold colors—sky blue, vibrant turquoise, bougainvillea pink, and luminous yellow. Colors that are bright, yet harmonious, reflecting a bohemian, tropical sprit. Jocelyne Sibuet traveled the world seeking small things that work well together in the larger picture. Fabrics from India, Pakistan, and Peru, lamps from Indonesia and North Africa, or fabulous chests of drawers from Syria—the interior design adds elegant ethnic touches to the Provencal style and Colonial charm of the rooms. The large leather armchairs were carefully restored and the soul of François Plantation was respectfully honored.
The restaurant has kept its legendary name and its sophisticated cuisine. The chef, Emmanuel Motte, has used his talent to create an elegant, modern menu that marries French gastronomy with traditional West Indies cuisine: house-made foie gras, Miéral poultry, spicy red tuna, or lobster flambéed with aged rum.
This magnificent gourmet experience transforms the nostalgia for the past to the pleasure of the present, while promising a brilliant future for this incomparable five-star hotel.
