Strawberry Hill

Gorgeous clean rooms, spectacular views, friendly staff, tasty food & drink - what more could you ask for! Our stay at Strawberry Hill may have been just off-season, as we felt we almost had the place to ourselves. Book a couple of nights for a treat, you won't regret it.

Strawberry Hill has a spectacular setting and great charm that is ruined by the many, many daytrippers who crowd the restaurant and bar, monopolize the pool loungers, wander into private spaces of the cottages, and pose for Instagram everywhere. What should be a peaceful idyll feels like a social media circus. The hotel needs to decide if it still cares about overnight guests. Otherwise, it should be converted into a day club. Perhaps that’s what the new owners will do, since Chris Blackwell is selling the hotel.

Yes you do have to make a reservation via WhatsApp to even be let into the gate $20 per person will get you entry which can be traded for a drink. However if you eat a meal there, the $20 will go towards your meal as credit. Delish local options and ranging from $12-15 for a salad and $20 for main course: again, mostly for the views and ambiance I would suggest if you’re in the area and heading up to the coffee farms: go visit coffee first and then visit on your way down

Looking out from the hilltop onto Kingston, well above the extremely hot Caribbean Summer temperatures, this small hotel has all the features for a pleasant stay (restaurant, spa and pool etc), good quality accommodation and mild weather. However, everything is pricey, from the rates charged for accommodation to food and massage; there’s little flexibility to the rules, and if there is no rule they will create one (like a $100 surcharge for a late checkout).

We recently visited to have lunch. The process of getting a reservation is very difficult. They do not have a reservation system and so after messaging the hotel, I got a reply to call. Thankfully I do have family in jamaica that could call for me or this would have been a long distance call. After calling we received an email that requested a $20 per person deposit. NONE of this was discussed in the phone call. This is not an unusual request BUT they don't have a great way of getting this deposit. I was emailed a form that have to be filled out with all my personal info and Credit card number along with a signature. OR a direct bank transfer. NONE of this was easy or convenient. I never felt comfortable doing a form and I had no access to a bank transfer. My family was able to do a bank transfer. By this time we were on the fence about going but went anyway. We arrived and were seated immediately. There were a few open tables but not many. The menu is not very large and immediately there were several items that were not available. I had a steamed fish that really had no flavor. Someone else had curry/oxtail duo which tasted good. We had several items but none really wowed us. The coctails were really good and I would recommend those. $550US lunch for 6 felt very over priced for the quality of the food. I think the lunch menu needs to be expanded. I probably would not return.

Stunning views & agree with other latest reviews. Staff pleasant but not sufficiently trained or interested (possibly demotivated) … place needs a total refresh. Waited an hour & 45 mins for 2 plates of food. Nothing to do when you’re there unless you like serious hiking. We felt trapped (3 night stay) coz of bad weather (rain & humidity makes everything damp (not their fault) hence electric blanket on bed!) There was no mention of 90 steps up from room to restaurant & although we are not physically incapacitated in any way (we are late 60’s/70) it was a bit much. Food patchy - from quite good to average or cold! Paying for a second cup of coffee at breakfast was not on!