Set on Grand Cayman’s famed white-sand Seven Mile Beach (perennially named one of the world’s top beaches), earlier this year, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman became the first hotel in the Caribbean and one of only 15 worldwide to earn the triple crown of five-star ratings from Forbes Travel Guide.
The trifecta of top honors encompassed the resort, its Blue by Eric Ripert restaurant, and its signature spa.
Forbes is not alone in its praise.
Travel + Leisure calls the resort “the go-to spot for discerning travelers,” pointing to its Greg Norman-designed golf course, “world-famous food festival,” and “the largest suite in the Caribbean.”
A multiple-time selection to its Readers Choice Awards, Conde Nast Traveler writes, “Beige-to-cream facades duplicate the multi-hued Caymanian sands. The reception area with chandeliers and masses of flowers opens into the Silver Palm Lounge, where delicious munchies accompany evening drinks—with the promise of a glass Martini luge. The 365 classic rooms and 11 suites favor soft yellow walls, botanical prints, chaise longues, and humongous beds in maize, periwinkle, or coral.”
Back to Forbes Travel Guide, its inspectors report the resort “lays claim to one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful backyards.”
After all, Seven Mile Beach was ranked by MSN as the 12th-best beach in the world and has appeared on best beach lists from Conde Nast, Caribbean Travel + Life, and TripAdvisor.
Forbes adds, “The stunning island scenery informs the hotel’s elegant look that marries modern coastal chic with midcentury British Caribbean style from Champalimaud Design. You’ll see it everywhere from the deep-sea blue that washes over the guest room hallways to the palm-inspired touches that adorn the lobby lounge bar, some of the art and the accommodations.”
Plaudits aside, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, caters to a diverse range of guests, from families to romantic getaways. It is also a perfect base for divers and outdoor enthusiasts and a popular venue for family and company celebrations and meetings.
There are plenty of places to relax beyond the beach. The resort has two pools, the Oceanfront Pool and the Harbour Club Pool. It also offers a full range of activities beyond the noted golf and spa, from pickleball courts to its own waterpark.
There’s no shortage of dining options, and its suites have been recognized among the best in the world. The resort’s annual Cayman Cookout (pictured above), hosted every January, has become a signature culinary event.
Best of all, the resort is less than five miles from Owen Roberts International Airport, with plentiful scheduled airline flights if members of your party aren’t traveling privately.
Accommodations
New York-based Champalimaud Design (their credits include Raffles Singapore, The Beverly Hills Hotel, and Hotel Bel-Air) is the team behind the 369 rooms and suites at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Their work brings a modern-coastal meets mid-century Caribbean aesthetic to the interiors. In early 2022, the hotel emerged from an extensive renovation: the sea-inspired, cultural, and historical references seen in the bedrooms are reflected throughout the rest of the hotel, too, in shades reflecting those of the island; think green to match the verdant flora, and sand-like tones to match the beach.
The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge
Upgrade your suite experience with accommodations on the Club Level, which offers exclusive access to a dedicated concierge, culinary presentations—breakfast, light snacks, hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and sweets—and a relaxed atmosphere to connect or simply unwind overlooking The Great Lawn.
Seven South Penthouse
Seven South presents a one-of-a-kind experience featuring the largest luxury hotel suite configuration in the Caribbean. This nine-bedroom suite encompasses the 8,000-square-foot, three-bedroom Grand Cayman Penthouse, and four adjoining two-bedroom suites, offering nearly 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor living space alongside sleeping accommodations for 18.
Ideal for multi-generational travel, an intimate retreat with loved ones, or enjoying the highest level of luxury in the Cayman Islands, travelers will enter the suite into a luxuriously appointed space with sweeping ocean views. Spanning a vast area created for relaxation and gathering, the Grand Cayman Penthouse suite offers a full kitchen and regal dining room area, a private library, a cinema, and a large outdoor terrace. Signature luxury amenities include personal arrival and departure services and carefully curated guest experiences, including the suite’s private beachfront cabana. The suite also offers personal butler service.
The Ritz-Carlton Suite
Part of the redesign completed in early 2022, The Ritz-Carlton Suite overlooks Seven Mile Beach and is complete with luxury furnishings, local artwork, and luxurious amenities. The primary bedroom features a king-size bed and a spa-like en-suite bathroom with a deep soaking tub. The suite can be expanded to add one double queen bedroom by connecting to an adjoining room, making it ideal for extended stays, families, and even intimate gatherings or private receptions. A personal assistant is available to help curate your itinerary and grocery shopping.
Opal & Sapphire Suites
Offering beautiful views of Seven Mile Beach from a 1,346-square-foot expansive personal terrace, the Opal (pictured above) and Sapphire Suites are lavish residential retreats presenting 1,858 square feet of interior space. Each suite has two bedrooms, including a King bed, two Queen beds, and a Double sofa bed. The suites also have walk-in closets, separate living and dining spaces, chef’s kitchens with granite countertops, and exquisite baths. A personal assistant is available to help curate your itinerary and grocery shopping.
Residential Suites
The Residential Suites feature a private terrace and expansive living area offering ample relaxation and entertainment space. The primary bedroom provides a plush king-size bed and an en-suite bathroom. Ranging from 1,200 to 2,160 square feet, Residential Suites are available in 1,2, and 3-bedroom configurations to accommodate multi-generational traveling families. Enjoy the fully equipped kitchen, allowing you to gather and entertain the whole family. A personal assistant is available to help curate your itinerary and grocery shopping.
Harbour Suite
Harbour Suites overlook the resort’s winding waterways, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, or lagoon. The 960-square-foot suites feature expansive windows to maximize views, a full parlor, a king-size bedroom separated by double doors, a Queen sofa sleeper in the living room, one-and-a-half full marble bathrooms, and two personal terraces, each with a breakfast table and chairs.
Restaurants and Bars
Blue by Eric Ripert
Forbes Travel Guide accompanies its 5-star rating by writing, “With an acclaimed chef at the helm and the bounty of the Caribbean as inspiration, Blue by Eric Ripert hits all the culinary high notes expected of a fine-dining establishment located in The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. But in the land of laid-back luxury, Blue operates on a different level, offering friendly yet polished service and mouthwatering seafood served almost straight from the sea, resulting in a sophisticated air tempered by island breezes. It’s one of the most coveted reservations in Grand Cayman.”
Blue by Eric Ripert is undergoing a complete refresh, slated to reopen in mid-November with a grand gala attended by Chef Eric Ripert himself. Contact the resort for more information on how to get a ticket to the exclusive unveiling.
Silver Palm
By day, indulge in casual bites and traditional afternoon tea. By night, feel the heart of the Caribbean at the bar, which features one of the most exclusive Rum selections, hand-picked cigars, Caribbean cacao, and live entertainment. The highlight of a guest’s experience in Silver Palm Lounge is the Rum Ritual. Each evening from behind the bar, a spirits cart with a collection of exclusive rums is revealed. Following a set path, two Rum Aficionados lead their way toward a beautiful, handcrafted Armoire, igniting curiosity throughout the room. The Rum Aficionados gracefully take out each rum from its elegant covering and place it with care on the shelves on the Armoire. The pair bring the spirits cart back behind the bar while energetic music signals the end of the ritual. The night officially begins.
Seven
Here, you will find a casual restaurant with Ritz-Carlton elegance and Caribbean flair. Enjoy stunning Caribbean Sea views, a menu of Niman Ranch beef, and an extensive wine list.
Taikun
Fusing the finest grade of sushi with authentic ingredients and sophisticated presentation, this Japanese restaurant on Seven Mile Beach delivers an experience worthy of its name, roughly translating as great lord.
Andiamo
Andiamo is where Italian cuisine meets the casual Caribbean. It is currently undergoing a refresh and is slated to open in late November. Andiamo’s new design is inspired by a classic Italian Sporting Club. With a focus on Italian traditions of group dining, the menu emphasizes shareable items, creating an ideal setting for family gatherings.
Saint June
This oceanfront restaurant features an elegant South American-inspired menu and offers relaxed luxury paired with coastal elegance. Book a table at the hotel’s beachside restaurant, Saint June, for an elegant evening feasting on dishes such as the freshly caught local snapper with a coconut sauce, jerk chicken with mango pureé, or Ecuadorian shrimp ceviche served with a citrus tomato sauce and plantain chips.
Cayman Cookout
As the epitome of exclusive culinary festivals, Cayman Cookout is one of the world’s most cherished celebrations of gastronomy and wine. It grants guests an extraordinary weekend dedicated to indulging their senses. This exceptional experience can only be found on the captivating shores of Grand Cayman, returning from January 15-20, 2025.
Spa & Wellness
The Forbes 5-star spa is set along the shore of Seven Mile Beach, offering treatments from the experts at ESPA and 111SKIN. Facials blend luxurious ingredients with technology designed to bring visible results and select body therapies to harness the healing power of marine plants and other natural elements. May we suggest the Celestial Black Diamond Non-Surgical Face Lift or perhaps a relaxing Island Dream Massage? The spa features separate relaxation sanctuaries for men and women to enhance the guest experience.
Fitness
The Fitness Center is undergoing a total transformation and will reopen in early November, just in time for the festive season. The state-of-the-art gym will feature indoor and outdoor workout spaces, complete with yoga and Pilates studios, professionally led fitness classes, elliptical machines, exercise bikes, rowing machines, stair climbers, treadmills, weight machines, and free weights.
Golf
With views of the North Sound and Caribbean breezes, Golf Property describes the 9-hole, par-36 course as “carved along a natural saltwater lagoon with views of the North Sound and concluding with a dramatic finish over water to a challenging island green. At 3,516 yards, this tight and testing nine-hole design requires careful control as water comes into play on all but the 8th, while the routing’s short-cut grass only adds to the danger.”
Activities
Sailing, kayaking through the mangrove forests, private excursions to the famed Stingray Cay, snorkeling, Starfish Cay Waterpark and Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program, the Wave Game Room, and basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts all mean that you and your guests will find no shortages of activities. And for retail therapy, Governor’s Square features some of the island’s most popular shopping.
Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment
Developed by the legendary Jean-Michel Cousteau, Ambassadors of the Environment uses family-friendly activities to introduce guests to the natural wonders and cultural traditions of the Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman becomes a living classroom where adults and kids learn about responsible living and respect for nature. Adventures begin in the Heritage House, a traditional island cottage with cultural exhibits.
Tennis & Pickleball
There are five pickleball courts and four tennis courts, including two hard courts and two with the innovative TitanTrax surface, which offers enhanced comfort and performance. Professional instruction for all ability levels is available, as is the island’s only tennis apparel and equipment shop.
Water Sports
Head out on a beach kayak safari into the Caribbean sunset. Learn sailing basics from a pro or try your hand at sailing on one of our 13′ Hobie Waves on your own. Embark on a private sail snorkel cruise. Regardless of your choice, the resort’s water sports professionals offer complimentary snorkeling lessons to ensure you are comfortable in the water and ready to explore on your own.
The resort provides guests with complimentary use of snorkel gear, water trikes, kayaks, floating rafts, and water hammocks. For a memorable day, you can also charter a 27-foot Boston Whaler or cruise down to Stingray City and Starfish Point on Sapphire, a 36-foot power catamaran.
VIP Contact
Contact the Director of Leisure Sales, Inessa Tsavaris, Inessa.Tsavaris@ritzcarlton.com, or visit the website.