Villa Il Faro

Like a silent lighthouse of its own, Villa Il Faro rises from the verdant hillside above Anse des Lézards.

It is positioned between the sea and the sky, encircled by sea grape and palm trees, and angled to capture the clear Atlantic light that permeates this area of St. Barths. The best restaurants and shops on the island can be found in Gustavia and St-Jean, which are just a short drive away. From here, you can gaze across the untamed, stunning coastline toward the surf that crashes into Anse des Cayes. The architecture, a modern, colonial-inspired structure that combines elegant materials and fine craftsmanship with simple, indoor-outdoor living, plays into the setting’s dual nature of being incredibly private yet exquisitely connected.

The house responds with scale and warmth as soon as you step inside. The main salon feels curated rather than decorated, with dark woods and cozy sofas and armchairs softening the space. While Milan parquet floors beneathfoot create a subtly opulent atmosphere that permeates the pavilions, a collection of globes, sculptures, and paintings adds a layer of history. Conversation moves toward the terrace and the sound of the sea as the doors fold away and the room transforms into a veranda as light filters in through wide openings and changes throughout the day.

Eating and cooking are taken equally seriously. The kitchen strikes a balance between the precision of a chef’s workstation, including a dedicated counter for preparing freshly caught fish, and old-world romance, such as a wood-fired oven fit for long roasts and blistered pizzas.

Mealtimes alternate between two interiors: a sophisticated dining room that is connected to the living area for private dinners, and a second, tropically themed, wood-trimmed room that can accommodate up to fourteen people for festive evenings. You can stay long after dessert as the bay changes from cobalt to indigo thanks to the terrace’s covered woven rattan lounges, which take over when you slide outside during golden hour.

Outside, Villa Il Faro feels like a private club that is in tune with the weather of the island. The expanse of the coastline and the rich vegetation frame the horizon, which is a constant companion. A four-person table is ideal for late-night espresso, board games, or cards. A heated lava-stone pool that is surrounded by sun loungers facing the view and a poolside cabana glows a deep mineral green along the side elevation.

It’s a daily routine that soon becomes second nature: an impromptu apéritif that flows into dinner, an hour in the shade reading a book, and a morning swim as the trade winds cool off. A well-equipped fitness center and a dedicated massage room bring wellness in-house so you never disrupt the tranquil rhythm of the villa when the day calls for movement or peaceful rest.

Six spacious suites with king beds and beautifully finished en suite bathrooms are among the seven bedrooms, which are arranged for privacy and parity. The atmosphere is kept serene and uncluttered by linen color schemes, tactile textures, and careful storage; views of the garden or the ocean serve as a wake-up call. Sunrise feels like a private showing from the main suite’s private terrace with a jacuzzi, which is its own indulgence. For a staff member, nanny, or teen, a seventh bedroom with a single bed offers clever flexibility, keeping everyone close without packing the main suites.

The way coherence manifests itself in the details is what sets Villa Il Faro apart. The craftsmanship is evident in the quiet precision of the joinery and hardware; the materials feel honest to the touch; the technology remains discrete; and the circulation is simple enough that large groups can move around with ease and small moments are not disrupted.

A wood-oven lunch turns into a swim, the art on the walls is as much a part of the house as the breeze on the terrace, and privacy is guaranteed even when every bedroom is occupied. The house is both aesthetically pleasing and incredibly livable. The property can be combined with its sister property, Lo Scoglio, which is nearby, to create the Il Faro Estate, which is a sophisticated way to increase capacity while maintaining a shared view and keeping everyone within a short walk.

The best of St. Barths seems close from this point of view: the unadulterated beauty of Anse des Lézards, the curve that surfers love, the cafés of St-Jean, and the harbor lights of Gustavia at night. Every time you return to Villa Il Faro, though, it’s a fresh start—the terrace catching a gentle breeze, the pool retaining the last of the sky’s color, the house settling into the kind of calm that makes a week seem longer than the calendar indicates.

Activities nearby that you can partake in from the villa:

• Before enjoying a beachside lunch, swim or surf at Anse des Cayes after hiking the coastal path above Anse des Lézards.
• Explore the shops in St-Jean and reserve a long, casual lunch with no shoes that looks out over the bay.
• Plan a sunset stroll through Gustavia’s harbor, complete with gallery visits and quayside dining as yachts slowly pull in for the evening.

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