Built last century by cabaret owner and singer, Jean-Marie Riviere, to entertain his family and friends, this remarkable place has been lovingly brought back to life by Jean-Marc Israel. The genuine mid-century furniture, canary yellow walls, geometric fabrics and crushed crimson upholstery mixed with the traditional wooden architecture create an exotic other-worldliness.  It’s like you have stepped into a set from Mad Men: the sort of place Don and Megan Draper would have honeymooned.

La Banane is unique in that it does not simply recreate a retro vibe, but its owner prides himself on authenticity and thus is furnished with highly collectible pieces including some by Pierre Jenneret, commissioned by the master of modernism himself (and Jenneret’s cousin) Le Corbusier, for the Indian city of Chandigarh.

The 8-guest rooms are individual bungalows nestled in a lush tropical garden and each has an open-air bathroom and merges three essential qualities which elude most hotels: unique, stylish and cosy.

It is my kind of place: intimate, private and located near the undiscovered Lorient beach away from the typical St Barts scene. It certainly makes me reconsider my anti-St Barts bias.

Images via aldeto, pippa james on interiors, design hotels