Inn on the Blue Horizon

Description:

• Set on the island's southern coastal road, less than a mile (1.6km) west of Esperanza, this is the most charming hotel on Vieques, and it's the one that has repeatedly earned the highest accolades from the international press. In winter, it reigns as the most hip and stylish gathering place in Vieques for the low-key rendezvous of North America's fashion photographers and supermodels. Its centerpiece is an airy seafront house, built in a Mediterranean style in 1975, whose soaring living area opens onto a view of the blue horizon.

  In the mid-1990s, the site was transformed into an inn by hotel and restaurant entrepreneur James Weis, a refugee from the New York fashion world. It is now run by the same folks behind the successful At Wind Chimes Inn in San Juan. Three of the bedrooms are in the main house; a half-dozen others are in a trio of bungalows, each of which contains two spacious and comfortable units, each with a private balcony and sea view. Airy and clean, they're outfitted with early-19th-century North American antiques and eclectic art from a variety of artists. Two units contain tubs, and the rest are equipped with showers.

  Symmetrically positioned arbors are covered with cascades of bougainvillea, with a pool and lawns that slope gracefully down to cliffs at the edge of the sea. The sea adjacent to the hotel has a rocky coastline, but the staff will direct you to the dozens of fine local beaches. The inn's restaurant, Carambola, serves the best food on Vieques. There is a great bar with a gorgeous view that serves food throughout the day. The hotel also has a new cliff side with a bar and dining area, and the best views in town.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010