There are private islands—and then there’s Little Jumby. Floating just off the northern coast of Antigua, this tiny slice of Caribbean heaven houses one of the region’s newest and most exclusive hideaways: The Hut. It’s not just a beach club—it’s a destination in itself. Accessible only by boat, framed by swathes of turquoise sea, and infused with the rare air of refined hospitality, The Hut invites guests into a barefoot-luxury fantasy few will ever experience.

From the moment you board the ferry—departing Jumby Bay Island every thirty minutes—you know you’re entering somewhere different. Somewhere sacred. The outside world dissolves with each nautical mile. The breeze thickens with salt and possibility. The low hum of conversation is replaced by the soft slap of waves. You’re not just travelling to The Hut. You’re being initiated.

An Island Within an Island

Little Jumby is part of the exclusive Jumby Bay Island estate—300 private acres of ultra-luxury of the Oetker Collection (the minds behind Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc and The Lanesborough). While Jumby Bay is no stranger to discretion and high-profile guests—Oprah and McCartney among them—The Hut offers something even more elusive: a day-only fantasy that combines seclusion, sun-drenched elegance, and the sensory appeal of a private island beach club, all without the permanence of a villa stay.

The Hut at Little Jumby, from the moment you board the ferry you know youre entering somewhere different

The Hut at Little Jumby

The contrast is intentional. Where Jumby Bay is polished, The Hut is playful. Think: oversized straw hats, signature cocktails kissed with nutmeg, and beach huts dressed in white linen and barefoot ease. The kind of place where you lose track of time between an iced rum punch and a sea breeze nap. No pressures, no paparazzi. Just salt air, curated menus, and an impossibly blue sea.

The experience begins with the journey—a sleek ferry skimming across crystalline waters or a private yacht slicing its way from Antigua’s coast. Upon arrival, The Hut unfolds in layers: minimalist cabanas overlooking South Beach for couples or friends; larger beach huts on North Beach, equipped with sunbeds, sofas, private bars, and wide verandas that open straight into the sea.

Every detail is designed for indulgence. Bookings are staggered and limited. Staff appear and disappear with the rhythm of a gentle tide. The clientele—discerning, discreet, and often familiar—expect a mix of world-class service and unfussy charm.

The Hut’s Live Beach Kitchen delivers more than just a meal—it delivers mood. Start with Oscietra caviar over provision chips with sour cream. Slide into smoky BBQ octopus drizzled with Aji Panca miso or sample Bang Bang Conch sautéed in peanut dressing and served with shiitake and asparagus. For a decadent midday feast, order the Fruits de Mer—a tower of chilled lobster, maki rolls, oysters, potted crab, and Hamachi tartare.

The Hut’s Live Beach Kitchen delivers more than just a meal

Prefer something warmer? The grilled turbot with Little Jumby sea purslane and buttery caper sauce is an homage to the island’s surrounding abundance. And for dessert? Banoffee pie laced with white chocolate chantilly and caramelised banana—a reminder that indulgence here is not optional, but ritual.

Cocktails with Caribbean Swagger

If The Hut had a soundtrack, it would be a symphony of clinking ice and sunset laughter. The drinks menu is a journey all its own. There’s the Thai Lemonade spiked with spiced rum and coriander. A Cucumber Sake Martini that refreshes like a plunge in the sea. The Jalapeño & Apple Margarita ignites just enough heat, while the Pomello Spritz brings effervescent citrus notes to life with Exton Park Brut.

The Hut at Little Jumby the drinks menu is a journey all its own

Signature creations like The Hut Painkiller and the Caramel Espresso Martini punctuate the experience—every sip Instagrammable, every glass an ode to island living with serious flair.

True to its name, The Hut knows how to throw a beach party that doesn’t feel like one. Live DJ sets curated under the moniker 1761 Degrees, roaming brass bands, carnival dancers, steel drums by Martia Porter—they appear just when the mood demands a lift. And just as easily, they dissolve into the horizon, leaving the sunset to take over.

Fire dancers at dusk add a primal, cinematic touch. This is not a club scene—it’s more like an open-air cabaret for the ultra-refined. One moment, you’re sipping a rum Old Fashioned in a cabana; the next, you’re swaying under the stars to a steel band that seems summoned by the moon.

The Hut at Little Jumby larger beach huts on North Beach, equipped with sunbeds, sofas, private bars, and wide verandas that open straight into the sea

What truly elevates The Hut is its paradox: it’s the most talked-about secret in the Caribbean. A sanctuary known only to those who’ve stayed on Jumby Bay Island—or those with the connections and good taste to arrive by sea. There are no queues. No rush. No digital check-ins. Just a beach, a bar, and a sense of arrival that feels more like destiny than planning.

Read More: Mandarin Oriental Canouan Introduces Private Jet Transfers to Caribbean Paradise

For the billionaires, royalty, and global elites who frequent Jumby Bay, The Hut offers a new kind of retreat—one that doesn’t require commitment or ownership. Just presence. And perhaps a frozen mango daiquiri in hand. ◼

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© This article was first published online in June 2025 – World Travel Magazine.