I have been wanting to write this post for the longest time. After the hurricane in September 2017, Oil Nut Bay was one of the first resorts to get back on it’s feet, working hard to re-open at least some of their facilities, in just 3 short months. Best of all, since Oil Nut Bay reopened their restaurant, beach club and marina in December they have thrown open the doors and are now accepting reservations at the Beach Club Restaurant for outside guests, so it really is the perfect time to visit.
I have been lucky enough to have enjoyed a good few girls days over there in the past few months; some birthday lunches, some friends visiting – basically any excuse for an Oil Nut Bay day is okay by me. To tell the truth, the staff are probably quite sick of me by now, but they are far too polite to mention it!
Located on the Eastern most tip of Virgin Gorda in the beautiful British Virgin Islands and accessible only by boat or helicopter, Oil Nut Bay is a private piece of paradise tucked away. This little jewel is just hard enough to get to, to make it all the sweeter when you do make the effort. Oil Nut Bay really defines luxury island travel and must be one of the most beautiful beach resorts in the Caribbean.
So, if you want to come over and experience it for yourselves, how do you go about it? The first step is to email the lovely people at ONB in order to make your reservation. Contact them at info@oilnutbay.com. Book your table and discuss with them the suitable boat times. Lunch is served from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. Usually I like to get the the 10:30 am boat over and the 4:15 pm boat back, so that I have the whole day to enjoy the pool, the beach and the water sports equipment. (I sound really active don’t I? Really I’m just talking about the kayaks. Although there are Hobie cats if you’re feeling a little more adventurous!) Then you need to get yourselves over to Virgin Gorda, or more specifically to Gun Creek (in the North Sound), which is where their boat departs from. Once you’re on the boat their friendly and helpful staff will take care of everything else.
From the moment you arrive the service is second-to-none, you’re met at the dock and whisked by golf buggy over to the restaurant and pool area. Once you get there it’s time to claim your lounger or your cabana and almost certainly time for a cocktail! The cocktail list is pretty fab, I’m partial to their nicely spicy Bloody Mary’s, or their Pineapple Pimms Cup which contains rum soaked pieces of pineapple that really pack a punch! The Cucumberade is also fantastic if you want a non-alcoholic cocktail, really refreshing (and if you ask nicely you can add vodka…)
The tiered pool set-up is really beautiful, with three swimming pools surrounded by palm trees and pristine gardens, and that’s usually where you’ll find me. Stretched out like a lizard in the sunshine, it’s such a lovely place to relax and let go of the weekly stresses! A quick dip in the pool to cool off and it’s nearly time for lunch.
The lunch menu at Oil Nut Bay features casual classics done well, with a real emphasis on big flavours. You’ll find burgers, pizzas, salads and other standard fare but they have managed to elevate them and make them really special. Like the ‘Off the Cliff Burger’ made of Wagyu Beef, topped with truffle cheese on their brioche bun. Or the decadent lobster burger, which marries together local lobster with tiger shrimp in a delicious burger patty, also served on their black sesame brioche bun. Personally I always seem to go for the ceviche (so fresh and delicious) and their lobster salad, with some skinny fries for the table (obviously). Or sometimes I’ll split a pizza (the Oil Nut Bay pizza is my fave with caramelized onion, wild mushrooms and sausage) and a salad with a friend, for the perfect balance of naughty and nice!
After lunch it is most definitely time for a trip to the swim up bar or maybe a walk on the beach? The long stretch of white sandy beach is just perfect for a stroll to walk off those lunch calories. Your day at Oil Nut Bay can be as action-packed or as relaxed as you want to make it (I’ll leave it to you to guess which one I usually go for…) The whole resort is the perfect private island paradise playground.
If you’re lucky enough to be able to spend longer than just a day at Oil Nut Bay you’ll be pleased to hear that many of their suites and villas re-opened at the beginning of March. You can find out more about their beautiful accommodations here. Contact them to book your stay, you’ll be glad that you did! I’m always so sad when it is time to leave…
Oil Nut Bay Beach Club is now reserved for villa and hotel guests. If you are not a villa/hotel guest you will be required to pay a resort fee to use the Beach Club facilities. The new Marina and Nova Restaurant are open to outside guests free of charge.
You Might Also Enjoy Reading: What’s New on Virgin Gorda: Nova, Oil Nut Bay
PS. Read more about my recommendations for where to dine when visiting the British Virgin Islands here, it features some of our most delicious locations to eat and drink.
Looks INCREDIBLE! I NEED to plan a vacation like right now after seeing these photos.
Author
YES! It’s just the perfect place to holiday! 🙂
Hi, Kimberly here from Multhulls magazine. Can I use your content for our BVI section for Multihulls Magazine. Here is the back door for the mag. I am currently working on charter content for next issue and would like to show this article and any other video and content you have in sailing it forward in BVI
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/f52ac978#/f52ac978/4
Author
Hi Kimberly, how best to contact you and discuss further?
OMGoodness…this looks absolutely amazing. So beautiful! Makes me think abut all the many beautiful places in this world I have yet to see. And this teacher mom needs a vacation badly. 😉
Author
You definitely deserve a vacation! Put the BVI on your list… 🙂
What gorgeous photos ! I’m glad they were able to rebuild. I hope they get some much needed tourism there!
Author
It’s getting there – the tourists are starting to come back and it is badly needed. Thank you for commenting!
Now that looks like a lot if fun. Wish I could go out on a vacation like this but my friends are too clingy.
What an amazing location! This seems like a dream vacation that I would love to take!
Author
It certainly is dreamy!!
Wow, I could just laze here all day and do nothing! I loved all the pictures too! Amazing shots!
Author
It’s the perfect lazy day – thank you for your comments!
Gorgeous photos! Looks like an amazing place.
Author
Thank you – the gorgeous scenery makes taking photos easy!!
Ok it looks stunning there! Now I want to go!
Author
Come on over Josie!!! 😀
Hi Charlie great post thanks. Is it possible to take your own yacht to ONB and are there mooring balls?
Author
Hi Karen, I believe that there are slips in the marina but no balls – but please reach out to ONB on their info@oilnutbay.com email address for complete details. Hope you get to go up there – it’s fantastic! 🙂
STUNNING. I went to Provo in 2015 and fell in love with BVI. This is amazing!!!!
Everything is just so gorgeous! Definitely adding this to my bucket list! 😊
These photos are absolutely stunning! The food looks so good too!!!
Oh wow… this looks AMAZING. I’m so so jealous. I could defiantly slip into a pool like that right now!
Much love, Caitylis x x
Oooh, this definitely just made my travel list! And your photos are GORGEOUS
Holy crap, *adds to the travel bucket list* I NEED to visit there one day! It looks absolutely amazing!
This is gorgeous; have to add it to my list! And I love the yes way, rose cup 😀
How blue is that water?!? For real girl you’re giving me serious holiday-envy. That rose looks pretty inviting, too…
Katja xxx
http://www.katnapped.com
What an ideal vacation location! I would park myself on that chaise lounge and never want to leave. 🙂
It is beautiful there however if we had known that the boaters can use the beautiful supposedly exclusive pool & beach I don’t know that we would have spent so much to stay here. On our first day here we came out to the pool to find every lounge chair taken by boaters! I was so disappointed and we felt so undervalued as paying guests. We booked this getaway looking for relaxation. The boaters took over like they owned the place! We were told by the staff something would be done but it didn’t happen.
Author
Hi Nancy, I’m sorry to hear that you had this experience. The Beach Club is now exclusive to villa guests again. Boaters can only use the Marina Village facilities.