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Several of the resort’s rooms have beachfront facing lanais, or open verandas. |
When it comes to hotel restaurants, Casa Havana at Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa was probably my favorite when I dined there last year. So naturally I was disappointed when I heard the Caribbean-style restaurant with a Cajun twist was being rebranded.
We were relieved when Travel Agent and a few hungry friends enjoyed an outstanding three-course meal at the newly launched Beach House restaurant, which was even better than Casa Havana.
But the new and improved restaurant, which kept most of the same team from the previous restaurant, was just one of many improvements the resort has made since Travel Agent first graced the hotel a year ago.
And we are here to tell you all about them for the next time you have clients looking to relax at a resort located on one of the best beaches in the Caribbean.
RELATED: Relaunch of Signature Restaurant Marks Completion of Westin Grand Cayman Renovations
The Rooms
Guest rooms and suites have been revamped to include new furniture, granite vanities, flat-screen plasma televisions, artwork, carpeting, Westin Heavenly Bed linens and duvets, plush towels and Heavenly bath amenities. Guest bathrooms now feature polished marble flooring, freshly painted walls and striking snapshots by local photographer Patty Hinz.
During our recent stay, Travel Agent stayed in an Ocean Pool View with Double Beds. Although this isn’t the best room at the resort, it still offers everything a client needs—from a small balcony with both ocean and pool views to a flat screen television and free Wi-Fi.
The best rooms however are either the Deluxe Ocean Front rooms or the Governor’s Suite.
Deluxe Ocean Front rooms are located right on the beach with a semi-private lanai area and unobstructed view of Seven Mile Beach. Located on the third floor of the hotel with a direct view of Seven Mile Beach, the Governor’s Suite has a 1,500-square-foot veranda with patio furniture and lounge chairs, which offers complete privacy. The parlor area/living room is furnished complete with a sofa bed, breakfast bar, medium-sized refrigerator and a dining table.
The Restaurant
Travel Agent was lucky enough to be treated to an epic dinner at the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa’s recently relaunched Beach House restaurant.
The new restaurant, which was formerly Casa Havana, draws clients with an appealing laid-back luxury aesthetic, additional outdoor seating for 70 people, and a new menu highlighting coastal cuisine. Thankfully the resort retained Executive Chef Michael Farrell to helm the Beach House. Farrell also led the team for the previous Casa Havana, which was equally as impressive. The restaurant retained the AAA Four-Diamond rating it received under the previous name.
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| Upcoming renovations will include new beach cabanas. |
Farrell is firing up a celebration of flavors served amid an atmosphere of serene resort dining on stunning Seven Mile Beach. Farrell’s mainstay is fresh daily seafood accompanied by a satisfying selection of beef, poultry and pork.
There are two menus to choose from, with main dining room offerings as well as a Beach House Bar menu featuring small plates served on an outdoor terrace.
Situated on the shoreline, The Beach House Bar seats 25 and features a comfortable combination of casual furniture and Adirondack chairs for small groups to enjoy “toes in the sand” dining. Whether indoors or out under the stars, everything is served on sparkling place and table settings, with Riedel glassware perfect for palate-pleasing wine pairings from a full selection of wines brought into Grand Cayman from around the world.
Some smaller dishes we highly recommend are the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, which was also Travel Agent’s favorite dish when the Beach House was Casa Havana; the Seafood Gumbo (Farrell has an incredible knack for combining Caribbean and Cajun cuisine); and the Spiny Lobster Bisque. For some larger dishes, the Lobster Mac & Cheese is a must, and the Braised Pork Belly.
Other recommendations include Corn-Fried P&J Oysters, and Conch Fritters with onion rings and Caribbean sauce; soups and salads such as Seafood Bouillabaisse and Baby Cabbage Salad; and large plates of Seared Red Snapper and Duck Two Ways with fig compote, foie gras and butter-poached potatoes.
Other Upgrades
The launch of Beach House represents the third and final phase of a resort-wide renovation that has seen myriad upgrades across the property over the past year, including revamped guest rooms, suites, public spaces, meeting spaces, the fitness center and the pool and beach experience.
As part of the renovation, the new Beach Ambassadors program was added to pamper guests from the moment they set foot on property—from placing lounge chairs at sun worshippers’ desired spots, to serving up creative frozen drink and beach grill orders.
The resort’s freshwater swimming pool has also been upgraded with new surface and lighting, as well as an addition of poolside cabanas to round out the New Pool & Beach Experience, which incorporates activities such as Paddleboard Yoga, Water Aerobics and Children’s Fitness programs.
The final phase also includes decor upgrades at the hotel’s Caribbean cuisine restaurant, Ferdinand’s, as well as eight additional beach cabanas and one spa cabana for seaside treatments. Meeting and event space renovations have also been finalized, including the restored Governor’s Ballroom and refreshed boardrooms.
Contact
Agents should contact Jessica Kozaily, director of reservations, at [email protected] or 345-945-3800.