Ladera in Saint Lucia has reopened following an extensive, multi-year transformation that includes a new 25,000-sq.-ft. wellness center, redesigned suites and villas, four additional restaurants, updated landscaping, staff uniforms and electric Mini Mokes for guest transport. Ladera, it must be noted, is the only property located within the island’s UNESCO-listed Piton Mountain range.
Originally built more than four decades ago on the former Rabot Estate cocoa plantation, the property began as a restaurant and single villa created by architect John DiPol. Today, the resort’s main restaurant, the James Beard Foundation-award-winning Dasheene, led by Chef Nigel Mitchel for the past two decades, continues its focus on farm-to-table cuisine that emphasizes Saint Lucian flavors.
Ladera’s Transformation
The centerpiece of Ladera’s renewal is Leve Wellness & Spa, designed with ESPA. Overlooking the rainforest valley, Leve features a volcanic-mineral vitality pool, dry and infrared saunas, a steam room, and spaces for yoga and fitness classes. Your clients can choose from body and facial treatments using regional ingredients such as volcanic mud, bamboo and coconut oil. The spa also offers a line of locally made products featuring island ingredients, including spices and coconut. Jako Wellness Cafe, located in the center, serves nutritionally focused meals, cold-pressed juices and smoothies made with produce grown on the property.
Each of the 37 rooms has been refitted with new interior colors, fabrics and handcrafted furnishings created by local artisans, including the resort’s master carver Boniface Modeste. A new Immersion Art Studio program brings guests together with Saint Lucian artists for weekly sessions. The 18-acre site now includes new pathways and landscaped areas that connect the restaurants and wellness facilities.
Dining additions include the Hideaway Rum Bar, offering Caribbean rums and guided tastings by a resident “Rummelier”; and the Sunset Fish Fry, an open-air kitchen beside the infinity pool where Chef Mitchel and team prepare local seafood with live entertainment at dusk. In addition, Dasheene’s Wine Room introduces a new tasting menu and a list of more than 170 wines.
For more information, visit ladera.com.
