Elbow Beach, Bermuda

A long driveway leads to a yellow, British-colonial-style building where flags flap in the wind and porters are eager to greet guests upon arrival. The hilltop building overlooks the hotel’s grounds, and the bright blue ocean in the distance. Inside, the lobby makes a grand first impression with its marble floors, thick patterned rugs, and massive chandeliers. Yellow walls with white-paneled moldings soften the room, along with pillow-topped cream-colored couches and tables full of fresh flowers. After check-in, guests are whisked away by golf cart to their rooms, which are located down the hill from the lobby, close to the beach.  Elbow Beach is a luxury property that attracts a well-heeled clientele. Families flock to the hotel during the summer months, golfers visit in the springtime when temperatures are pleasant and crowds are few, and couples honeymoon here year round. 

Elbow Beach is located in Paget Parish, on Bermuda’s south shore. Paget Parish is centrally located on the island, and is ideally situated for travelers interested in exploring different parts of Bermuda. The hotel is about a 25-minute drive from L.F. Wade International Airport, and about a 12-minute drive from downtown Hamilton. Foreigners are not allowed to rent cars in Bermuda, but can rent mopeds. Other transportation options include taxis and the public bus. Despite being expensive, taxis are the most reliable form of transportation. The public bus doesn’t always run as scheduled, and renting a moped can be dangerous for travelers who aren’t accustomed to left-side driving laws or Bermuda’s insanely winding roads.The beach in front of the hotel, Elbow Beach (surprise, surprise), is technically public, but the half-mile stretch directly in front of the property is considered private and is reserved exclusively for guests. Elbow Beach is one of Bermuda’s most beautiful, with soft pink sand and calm waters. 

Elbow Beach’s rooms are some of the most modern and luxuriously appointed on the entire island. Soft wood tones, simple streamlined furniture, and crisp white Ploh bedding give rooms an understated Asian-inspired feel. White wood paneling, woven accents, bright blue pillows, and framed seashell artwork bring about a subtle nautical theme. In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines, iHomes, and mini-fridges stocked with free water and sodas. Bathrooms are spa-like, with polished marble countertops, deep soaking tubs, and walk-in showers.There are multiple room and suite types, ranging from entry-level Lanai Rooms without ocean views, to beachfront cottages with separate living rooms and large bathrooms. In addition to the hotel’s standard in-room amenities (mentioned above) all suites have ocean views, free fully stocked minibars, a free tray of snacks, free Dark n’ Stormy ingredients, and Aqua di Parma or Bulgari toiletries. It should be noted that all 98 of the hotel’s rooms are located at the bottom of the hilly property near the beach and the hotel’s restaurants. Amenities such as the pool, fitness center, and spa are not within walking distance of the rooms, and guests have to rely on golf carts to shuttle them around the property.  

Elbow Beach has a large, freeform pool with beautiful hilltop ocean vistas. During the summer months, families spend their days lounging poolside, but during the cooler months, the area remains mostly empty. The pool is surrounded by navy lounge chairs and umbrellas, but guests looking to splurge can also rent private cabanas. There’s a small pool bar, and a casual poolside restaurant that serves sandwiches, salads, and pizzas during the summertime. The pool’s only drawback is its hilltop location — though it offers stunning views, it’s far from guest rooms, and nearly impossible to access without getting a lift from a golf cart. For guests who’d rather not hike to the pool, the hotel’s beautiful, private beach is within walking distance from most of the rooms. Thanks to its calm blue waters and quintessential pink sand, Elbow Beach is consistently ranked as one of Bermuda’s best beaches. Guests of the hotel have their own private section to themselves. They can rent water sports equipment like kayaks and snorkel gear, and the hotel provides free sand toys for the little ones.  For guests looking to stay active during their trip, the hotel also has a small fitness center and five tennis courts. The fitness center is located next to the spa, and features LifeFitness cardio equipment, weight machines, dumbbells, and yoga balls. The five plexi-paved tennis courts are free for guests to use, and three have bright flood lights for nighttime play.  Wi-Fi is free for all guests, and works well throughout the entire property.  

Elbow Beach has four on-site dining options, ranging from casual to elegant. Unfortunately, only two of the restaurants, Lido and Sea Breeze, are open throughout the year. Lido, is the hotel’s signature restaurant, and serves breakfast and dinner in an elegant beachfront setting. The a la carte breakfast menu features items eggs Benedict and brioche french toast, and the Bermuda banana cake is not to be missed. Lido’s dinner menu has a Mediterranean flair and features lots of local seafood options. Lido isn’t as memorable a culinary experience as The Fairmont’s Waterlot Inn or the Rosewood’s The Point, but it’s a decent on-site option.   Adjacent to Lido is an open-air terrace and glass-enclosed atrium known as Sea Breeze. During the summer and early autumn months, Sea Breeze serves light bites, like tapas-style small plates and sushi. It’s an ideal spot for a simple dinner or appetizers and drinks. The terrace is seasonal, but the atrium is open year round (though it has a limited menu in the winter)  Mickey’s Bar & Bistro is the hotel’s open-air restaurant located directly on the beach. Mickey’s serves lunch and dinner in a casual, laid-back setting, but unfortunately isn’t open year round. The lunch menu features sandwiches, burgers, salads, and wraps as well as a few entree courses like the fresh local catch and a grilled sirloin. The dinner menu consists of pastas, steaks, and a few vegetarian options. Blue Point is the casual poolside restaurant that serves sandwiches, salads, and pizzas. When Blue Point is closed during the winter season, guests can order food to the pool via room service. In addition to Elbow Beach’s four restaurants, there is also a cozy bar located next to the lobby. The lobby library lounge has rich decor and lots of dark wood accents, including an ornate billiards table at the far end of the room. 

The Spa at Elbow Beach has a romantic, Asian-inspired feel. With only six treatment rooms, it’s not the largest on the island, but does offer a fantastic array of treatments. Body wraps and scrubs, custom massages, facials, and manicures and pedicures are all available here, but perhaps the most interesting treatment is the Rum Swizzle Ritual -- a full-body spa service inspired by Bermuda’s signature drink (the citrusy rum-based beverage is served at the end of the three-hour experience).