Set on 86 stunning oceanfront acres in the Dominican Republic, Relais & Châteaux features ultra-luxury private villas.
Enthusiasts of the good life often cite as inspiration A Place in the Sun, famous photographer Slim Aarons’ classic book of photographs of “fascinating people doing fascinating things in fascinating places.” Armchair travel is nice, but if you really want to immerse yourself in that world, a stay at Eden Roc Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic is more like a walk-on into the world of Aarons than we’ve seen lately.
This luxurious 86-acre beachfront property has been open for less than 15 years, but it speaks to an early era of elegance and luxurious leisure that the Aarons would have favored. Not only has this five-star resort achieved two coveted Michelin Keys, but it is also a member of Relais & Châteaux, a collection of properties around the world renowned for exceptional hospitality, gastronomy and sustainability.
The Michelin Key, on the other hand, is awarded by the iconic Michelin Guide to carefully selected hotels that “stand out for their unique hospitality concept, individuality, warm welcome and very high level of service”. Impeccable in every detail, Eden Roc Cap Cana is one of only two hotels in the entire Dominican Republic to win, and the only Relais & Châteaux property in the country.
Being in an award-winning hotel with a butler-style concierge can feel more like Old World Europe than the laissez-faire Caribbean. It feels even stronger when you hear the restaurant staff speaking Italian and the management’s accent is French. Natura Bisse Spa originates from Barcelona. Acqua di Parma toiletries are also made in Italy. Of course, Relais and Michelin are both French. This is not to say that there are things that are formal and formal.
If chic Europeans or wealthy travelers from all walks of life want to come to the Caribbean without fear of being served poor quality food and wine, or receiving sub-5 star accommodation and service, the Relais & Châteaux and Michelin brands guarantee the perfect experience. Although both the name and setting recall the iconic Hotel du Cap, Eden Roc and St Barth’s incomparable Eden Roc, there is no formal connection.
And Riva Bar at Eden Roc Cap Cana pays homage to the legendary Italian yacht builder who is synonymous with mid-century charm and Mediterranean luxury. The bar’s design references the craftsmanship and materials found in classic Riva speedboats: the mahogany hulls, chrome hardware, and leather upholstery that made these vessels supreme status symbols along the noble coasts of Italy and France.
Eden Roc Cap Cana was designed to “fuse the aesthetics of the French and Italian Riviera with the natural beauty of the Caribbean coastline.” The architecture draws on Spanish colonial traditions while maintaining the sophisticated sensibilities of Mediterranean resort design, creating accommodations that feel at once familiar and unique within the Dominican Republic’s landscape of luxurious hospitality.
Located within the famous gated Cap Cana development, this resort is strategically located along the eastern edge of the Dominican Republic. Cap Cana is a 30,000-acre enclave surrounding beaches, dramatic cliffs, tropical forests, a full-service marina, and Punta Espada, Jack Nicklaus’ signature golf course, often ranked as the number one course in the Caribbean.
We are just 20 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport, which features a private aviation terminal. Eden Roc Cap Cana offers just 65 all-suite accommodations, including 34 inland suites and villas, 26 beachfront suites, and 5 oceanfront bungalows. Additionally, there are several multi-million dollar private villas on-site that are available for rent from time to time.
These feature luxurious amenities such as multiple en-suite bedrooms, private pools, and butlers and private chefs. They range from the 3-bedroom Royal Villa to the 4-bedroom Imperial Villa, the 5-bedroom Ocean and Golf Villa, the classic 5-bedroom Villa Partenope, the 6-bedroom Villa Azlie with its own private cenote, to the Founder’s 11-bedroom Villa.
If you want to go full Sim Aaron, getting a key to one of these is an epic event. But we found that even some of what Eden Roc Cap Cana considers suites have the feel of an Aarons-inspired bungalow. All accommodations prioritize privacy and space, with interiors that balance a soothing, neutral palette of cream and eggshell tones with vibrant accent colors such as golden yellow, azure, plum and lime green.
A combination of coral stone and hand-painted tiles are featured throughout the flooring, adding textural interest and local flair to the European-influenced design scheme. The property’s beach club features an infinity pool worthy of Aaron’s and the Japanese-themed Blue Grill & Bar, which serves a truly international and flavorful menu with an emphasis on fresh seafood. This private beach has achieved Blue Flag certification, an international honor that “recognizes environmental management, water quality, safety and service.”
Mediterraneo Restaurant anchors the resort’s fine dining program under the direction of Executive Chef Gianluca Le Fraschini. The menu focuses on Mediterranean cuisine and ingredients, prepared with the precision you would expect from a Relais & Châteaux property. But our favorite restaurant is La Palapa, located on the oceanfront and offering international cuisine with traditional Dominican influences and a Riviera atmosphere.
Menu highlights include a locally sourced raw bar selection, a great shareable seafood paella, seafood risotto, spiny lobster served as a spaghetti plate, or simply salted and grilled whole sea bass and red snapper, Eden Roc’s signature steak frites, or a giant USDA 50-ounce tomahawk with mushroom sauce. For dessert, the banana cake is infused with rum and served with stracciatella gelato.
The resort also hosts a year-round celebrity chef visit series, inviting notable chefs from the global culinary world to create exclusive menus, including from other award-winning Relais & Châteaux properties such as Twin Farms in Vermont. This rotating program “ensures diversity for returning guests and positions Eden Roc as one of the most diverse gastronomic destinations in the Caribbean.”
In addition to dining, this resort also offers great spa and fitness facilities. The spa features Natura Bissé products and treatments, a Barcelona-based skin care line known for its European luxury hospitality scene. Treatment rooms, hydrotherapy areas, and relaxation spaces allow you to structure your day around healthy habits according to your wishes. Our fitness center offers equipment and programs to help you maintain your exercise routine while traveling.
Distinguished by its impeccable accommodations and style, Eden Roc Cap Cana presents a compelling interpretation of Caribbean luxury, emphasizing a boutique atmosphere for guests who prioritize exclusivity, gastronomy and sophisticated service, while also offering the option of staying in private villas, the type usually reserved for rock stars, A-list actors and CEOs.
