Rabot Hotel from Hotel Chocolat is a boutique hotel on a working cacao estate in the hills above Soufriere, in the heart of the Pitons region on Saint Lucia's southwest coast. It is a 4.5-star property and guests rate it very highly, praising the friendly staff, the views of the Pitons, the pool, the cleanliness and the food. The hotel's theme is cacao: the restaurant cooks with it, the spa is built around it, and the estate offers chocolate-making activities nearby. It stands among mountain greenery rather than on the sea, so this is a stay for nature, views and quiet rather than for beach days, though the bay of Anse Chastanet is only about a 12-minute drive. Diamond Falls is an eight-minute walk, and Petit Piton and Gros Piton are 14 and 20 minutes by car. It suits couples, honeymooners and food lovers who want character and a sense of place.
The rooms
Two room types, both one-bedroom units for two with a king bed and a mountain view, make up the offer. The Simply Lodge is about 441 square feet and the Luxe is about 742 square feet. Rooms have premium bedding, a laptop-friendly workspace, a separate sitting area, bathrobes, rainfall showers, a refrigerator and free Wi-Fi.
Some rooms are open-air in concept, which adds to the jungle atmosphere, though guests who dislike insects should ask about screens and nets. A free cooked-to-order breakfast is part of the stay, and some rate plans are all-inclusive at a higher price.
Food, pool and spa
Rabot Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with cacao-infused cooking and al fresco tables, and a cacao bar and poolside bar add drinks. The outdoor pool has umbrellas and a terrace, and the Beaute de Cacao spa offers massages, body treatments, manicures and pedicures. Walking trails cross the estate, and guests can explore acres of cacao and tropical forest.
Free self-parking is available, and a roundtrip airport shuttle can be arranged for a fee. Nearby you can reach Diamond Falls and the Soufriere Estate Diamond Botanical Gardens, Toraille Waterfall, the French Wall and Aqua Dulce trails, and Jalousie Beach about 17 minutes by car.
What to know before you book
The hotel is inland and uphill, so a rental car or taxis are important for reaching beaches and restaurants, and some guests note limited dining on site, so plan a few meals in town. The airport transfer is long, roughly an hour and a half from Hewanorra, so factor that into arrival days. Check-in runs from 3 PM to 10 PM, check-out is at 11 AM, and only service animals are allowed.
Open-air rooms mean insects and rain can come with the territory, so bring repellent and a light rain jacket. The wet season, roughly June to November, brings heavier showers, and December to April is the driest and busiest. Compare the standard and all-inclusive rates against your own plans before you book.
Why stay here
- ✓Cacao-estate setting with Piton views
- ✓Rooms for two with mountain views
- ✓Free cooked-to-order breakfast
- ✓Rabot Restaurant with cacao-infused menus
- ✓Outdoor pool with terrace and poolside bar
- ✓Beaute de Cacao spa
- ✓Walking trails on the estate
- ✓Free self-parking
Good questions
Is it on the beach?+
No. It is in the hills above Soufriere. Anse Chastanet Beach is about a 12-minute drive, and Jalousie Beach is about 17 minutes by car.
Can I walk to attractions?+
Diamond Falls is about an eight-minute walk. For the Pitons, beaches and town you will want a taxi or rental car.
What is the cacao connection?+
The hotel sits on a cacao estate. The restaurant uses cacao in its cooking, the spa uses it in treatments, and chocolate-making activities are available nearby.
