Joe and I just returned from a magical week in Anguilla, the most stunning island in the Caribbean.

Zemi Beach House

We first experienced the wonder that is Anguilla in 2021 on our honeymoon. Our original wedding date was in 2020 and we had a whole honeymoon planned in Hawaii. Then Covid hit, we moved our wedding back an entire year and planned an entirely new honeymoon to somewhere easier to get to, which is how we found Anguilla. It ended up being the best decision, because it was the start of our Anguillan love affair.

For this trip, we decided to replicate what we did on our honeymoon. We stayed at Zemi Beach House for the second time, a stunning five-star resort that I highly recommend. Zemi is an LXR Resort under the Hilton brand, so if you’re a Hilton Honors member, then this is a fabulous spot to use those points.

Zemi is located on Shoal Bay Beach, which I can confidently say is the most beautiful beach I’ve ever laid eyes on. I’ve had a lifelong obsession with crystal clear water, and Shoal Bay fulfills every turquoise-watered dream I’ve ever had. The sand is fluffy and white, and pairs perfectly with the vibrant green palm trees. There’s a stretch of water along Zemi’s beach with swaths of coral reefs. The resort provides free snorkel gear to explore the reefs, but if that’s not your thing, there are also wide-open areas perfect for swimming.

Our room had an outdoor shower that I took full advantage of. I now need to figure out how to make this possible in a New York City apartment.

This slice of luxury in a tropical paradise is made even better by the wonderful staff at Zemi Beach House. Every single person greets you with a hello and a smile. This friendliness isn’t just reserved for the hotel grounds. Every single person we’ve interacted with during our trips to Anguilla has been incredibly kind. The people of Anguilla make this magical place even more special.

Wednesday nights at Zemi Beach House are a treat! They have a festive Caribbean barbeque and it’s a fun celebration. We got to experience it on our honeymoon and it was just as fun as we remembered on this trip. This is one of the few nights I get more “dressed up”, and by dressed up I mean a matching green linen set and some fun jewelry. It was the perfect vacation look in that it’s colorful and comfortable.

My Outfit: COS linen shirt | COS linen pants | Loren Hope earrings | Milly clutch (similar 1, 2, 3 | Puffy Heart bracelet (similar 1, 2)

Joe’s Outfit: Perte D’ego “Le Martini” Shirt (love this brand!)

I’m the furthest thing from a morning person, but I actually get up early on our trips to Anguilla. The early sunrise and free breakfast are easy motivators. There’s something about eating a big breakfast with your feet in the sand. It makes waking up a lot easier.

I’m not even a big coffee drinker, but I rotated between regular and iced lattes every day. Vacation inspires me to become quite the risk-taker, I suppose.

Zemi is home to the renowned Thai House Spa. When we stayed here for our honeymoon, we got massages in their 300-year-old Thai house. It was incredible. They have a beautiful Hammam that we sat in before our massages. If you’re vacationing in Anguilla, I cannot recommend Zemi’s spa enough!

Shoal Bay Beach Bars and Restaurants

Another reason we love staying on Shoal Bay is the proximity to some great beach bars and restaurants. Just steps from Zemi is the famous Gwen’s Reggae Bar and Grill. Sunday is a big day at Gwen’s for live music from The Scratch Band and a fun party vibe. As we were getting settled into our room when we arrived Sunday, we stepped on the balcony and heard the live music coming from Gwen’s. We knew that was our bird call to make the short walk over for rum punches and festive tunes.

In addition to their famous rum punch, Gwen’s has great food. We had lunch there one day and decided to spend the day swimming at their beach. On our honeymoon, I realized that Gwen’s feels like you’re in a Corona commercial. You’re having a drink, waiting for your food to be ready while standing in the calm, clear waters holding said drink. And the best part? There are no people around! It feels like you’re on a deserted island and just stumbled upon this wonderful beach bar.

That’s one of the best parts of Anguilla. Don’t get me wrong, I love being around people. On vacation, though, I cherish an experience where I’m not crowded around hordes of fellow humans. There are times when you’ll be lucky to see five other people within your radius at the beach. I thought it was maybe just a unique Covid-era experience on our first trip, but this is the norm, and I love it!

Further down from Gwen’s is Olas Tacos, another casual spot directly on the sand. It’s a great spot to kick off your sandals and feel the sand under your feet while you eat Mexican food and wash it down with a frozen drink. There’s a great selection of laid back beach bar/restaurants along this stretch of Shoal Bay that I hope we get to experience on future Anguilla visits. These include Elodia’s, Madeariman, Tropical Sunset, and Uncle Ernie’s.

Although I love to dress up, I appreciate the uber casual atmosphere at these beach restaurants. You can show up makeup-free, hair damp from the ocean and nobody cares. It feels like the ultimate unplugged experience and true relaxation.

Meads Bay

Just like on our honeymoon, we spent one day venturing to the other side of the island. We even visited the same exact beach: Meads Bay. I highly recommend anyone visiting Anguilla to check out Meads Bay. It’s a breathtaking beach that I’m not still fully convinced is a real place. I think I gasped when we got there on our honeymoon and our recent trip. The waters are clear blue as far as the eye can see, and it’s as calm as bath water. Meads Bay has a lot of hotels and restaurants, and the beach is anchored by the Four Seasons at one end, and the famous Malliouhana at the other. Malliouhana sits on a cliff overlooking the ocean, and it’s a stunning view looking up at it from the water.

A must-visit restaurant on Meads Bay is Blanchard’s. There are two dining options at Blanchard’s: the more formal sit-down restaurant and the colorful, casual Beach Shack. We have yet to eat at their fancier outpost, but the Beach Shack is some of the best food I’ve had in Anguilla. They have a massive menu of food and drinks and it’s the perfect meal to fill up during a day in the sun. You can also rent their beach chairs for the day for only $5!

Also, if you’re looking for a fun beach read, the couple who opened Blanchard’s wrote a book about their experience moving from Vermont to Anguilla and the challenges of opening a restaurant. Joe bought a copy to read on our trip. I’m excited to read it when he’s finished!

We wanted to soak up our full day at Meads Bay, so we opted for dinner at the trusty Blanchard’s Beach Shack. Then we ventured down the beach in search of dessert and a drink. The Straw Hat is where we ended up, and we got to catch this gorgeous sunset while Joe drank a coffee-themed cocktail and I went to town on a crème brûlée.

Straw Hat is located at Frangipani, a stylish resort on Meads Bay which is pink-themed!

It was hard to leave Anguilla, but I know we’ll be back. When you’re there, you’re already planning your next trip before the current one has even ended. It’s just that special of a place. See you soon, Anguilla!