T

hough the original Georgian house on Strawberry Hill was destroyed in the hurricane of 1988, the new building maintains a traditional feel. The bungalows are built to meticulous nineteenth-century specifications. You sleep in mahogany four-poster beds shrouded in muslin, and gaze out at the stunning mountain landscape while swinging in your hammock. It epitomizes bygone colonial living at its finest, the perfect place to have a rum punch and wear white linen.

Strawberry Hill’s original owner was the fourth Earl of Orford, Horace Walpole, and his spirit still lingers. Walpole preferred the artistic life to the political — known for inventing the gothic novel, defending Richard III, and his wry correspondences, he had his own poetry press, an extensive and eclectic art collection, and liked nothing more than to hang out with his bohemian chums. Strawberry Hill, the resort, was created by Chris Blackwell as a salon for friends like Bob Marley and the Rolling Stones, so, continuing in the tradition, guests are encouraged to mingle, debate, and jam. You can, however, also retire to a Body Elixir massage at the Aveda spa, or take a dip in the pool through the bottom of which you can see the whole of Kingston. At night, curl into your heated bed — the Blue Mountains stay cool at night, even when Kingston is scorching — and snack on the rum cakes in your mini bar.

And Strawberry Hill continues to attract some of the world’s most serious creative talent. Lauryn Hill loves it, as does Naomi Campbell. Kingston’s most charismatic residents venture up the long, winding road to Strawberry Hill in the evenings, and musicians swap stories with scholars over dinner. So if you enjoy a provocative atmosphere, but like quality aromatherapy facials too, grab a cocktail, some chat, and watch the sun slide into the mountains on the verandah at Strawberry Hill.

How to get there: Strawberry Hill is a one-hour drive from Kingston International Airport and transfers are $90 for four people, each way.