Living in Cayman regularly allows me to drive by the idyllic white buildings that make up Botanica Luxury Cottages. Scrolling through their social media pages over the past few months has given me a glimpse into what life would be like vacationing / staycationing here. Luckily, this summer I was able to spend a weekend in this locally owned brand by Stephen & Josephine Hislop and see what all the hype was about. As soon as I toured the property that first day, I knew there was nowhere else like it on island.

To give a little bit of background, they currently have 14 cottages available with a few styles to fit your needs. If you’re a couple with or without two young kids, then you want to consider the Queen or King Cottage. The Queen Cottage is 600 sq ft and features a queen bed, whereas the King Cottage is 650 sq ft and has a king bed and they both offer a sleeper sofa in the living room. At the back of King and Queen Cottages you’ll find a private garden oasis that is perfect for reading, sunning or enjoying an outdoor meal. If you’re looking for a bigger indoor space then the Family Cottage is what you need; 1000 sq ft with 2 bedrooms, one with a queen bed and the other with a bunk bed set, plus a living room-based sleeper sofa too. Every cottage has a clean, light aesthetic and is curated to fit all of your needs during your stay including free wifi, luxurious bamboo bedding, a full kitchen and a washer-dryer setup. Lastly, there’s an intimate pool area with lounge chairs, shaded tables, a hot tub, swimming pool and an instagrammable outdoor shower for all Botanica guests to use. Make sure you pop into the office to make use of their complimentary amenities including beach chairs, bicycles and even snorkel gear.

Inside The Queen Cottage

The Queen Cottage is split vertically down the middle into an ‘a’ and ‘b’ side creating an elongated space. As a fan of the tiny home movement I was excited to see how the owners would use storage to its maximum potential - and I can confidently say they did! The high ceilings, white walls, large windows and concealed spaces added so much to this home.

The living room consisted of a reclined chair, comfortable couch, coffee table and a large flat screen TV. The kitchen area was spacious and outfitted with everything you could need to roast a chicken, bake a cake or just make a cup of coffee. This move-in ready space also features a miniature dishwasher, acrylic glassware for the pool/beach, a Brita jug to filter your water and a host of cleaning supplies. The fridge & freezer are concealed to match the cabinetry, and adjacent to this is a stackable washer and dryer, first aid kit and cooler. I wasn’t kidding when I said that they thought of everything!

To ensure privacy a door separates the bedroom and bathroom from the rest of the home. Upon entering the bedroom, you’ll find a barn-yard door closet with robes and extra linens, a cozy windowsill nook and a comfortable Queen bed with side tables on either side. The owners’ continue to impress with their creative ways of incorporating storage, including drawers placed under the nook and a hollowed out bedframe that can hold entire suitcases with ease. Slide open the pocket door to enter your bathroom. The high ceilings carried on into this luxurious space and features a waterfall shower, organic plant-based toiletries from the Grown Alchemist and, of course, more storage under a quartz sink.

Overall, the décor inside features neutral tones paired with natural materials, such as thatch, wood and stone. The calming energy of this cozy cottage is further enhanced by the vibrant flowers and broad-leafed plants gazing at you from every window.

Supporting Local

Both owners are generational Caymanians and I was proud to see that they included touches that pushed the #supportlocal ideology. On arrival you’re greeted with a welcome basket of goodies showcasing a handful of respected local companies on island, including Paradise Coffee, Cayman Sea Salt and Tortuga Rum Cake Company. My cottage also included a coffee table book about the history of the Cayman Islands to give visitors (and even us locals) some insight of how it all began and how much we’ve grown. Lastly, Botanica has established a great relationship with talented local chef Timisha Edwards of TIA’s Table and Honey Grazed. For an additional fee, Chef Edwards will deliver curated picnic boxes for morning, afternoon and evening if you are a guest at Botanica. As a fan of Chef Edwards work I know that she makes a lot of things from scratch, which means she can cater to those with food allergies and even provide vegan options.

Botanica Luxury Cottage umbrella, mat & picnic basket setup at Cemetary Beach

Exploring The Neighbourhood

Being near the Seven Mile Strip means that you have ample restaurants and activities in the area, so here are a few I’d suggest when staying at Botanica.

Drive over to the peaceful Cemetery Beach and set up Botanica’s signature beach mat and umbrella for sun and snorkelling or visit expansive Governor’s Beach down the road and make use of their adorable picnic basket and cooler.

A five minute drive will allow you to visit some of the best restaurants and bars on island such as Bacaro, Morgan’s and Door No. 4 or keep it casual with bites from Seven Mile Burger or Arepa345. Since the Kimpton Seafire Resort is across the road you can visit their spa facilities or dine at their beachside restaurant Coccoloba for Mexican fare or Ave for a busy brunch or Mediterranean-inspired dinner. You can also visit my Seven Mile Beach District Guide for more information on restaurants, bars and activities that I’d recommend in the area.

Willing to drive a bit further? If so you can explore the nearby district of West Bay which is home to activities like kitesurfing, horseback riding or an ATV ride at Barkers National Park. Some tasty West Bay restaurants include BAYSIDE for an globally-inspired menu and one-of-a-kind sourdough pizza, The Diner for local cuisine and Macabuca for lunch after a snorkel or dive. Botanica’s location makes it easy to do it all.

Book your stay at Botanica Luxury Cottages by visiting their website www.botanica-cayman.com.

Weekend at Botanica Luxury Cottages in Grand Cayman

Inside The Queen Cottage

Supporting Local

Exploring The Neighbourhood