Rock House, a relatively new Turks and Caicos resort located on Providenciales' north coast, isn't the first Caribbean property to draw inspiration from the Mediterranean. Nor is it the only one to ever serve up Italian-inspired cuisine.
But when it comes to the more challenging task of creating a true sense of la dolce vita, the property may be one of the few to hit the mark.
It certainly didn't take long for life to start feeling pretty sweet during my short mid-February stay at the resort, opened in 2022 by Grace Bay Resorts and currently a member of the Leading Hotels of the World network.
First off, there were the views. In contrast to busy Grace Bay Beach, Rock House is situated along a quieter and far more underdeveloped stretch of coast to the west, perched high on a rocky limestone cliff. Intended to evoke the iconic shorelines of the Amalfi Coast or the island of Capri, the property's elevation guarantees guests sweeping panoramas of Turks and Caicos' famously turquoise waters.
The most popular spot to take in this view was clearly the resort's infinity pool, where poolside lounge chairs proved hard to nab by midmorning. But luckily, there were plenty of other picturesque nooks and crannies to escape to, including the resort's small, private beach and a long jetty, which offers daybed seating at its far end.
Photo Credit: Christina Jelski
The resort's second phase, known as The Reserve Villas at Rock House, is close to completion, comprising 10 two- to five-bedroom accommodations.
On my first afternoon at the resort, however, I wandered the property's narrow stone pathways and chanced upon a promontory that looked out over the ocean and was furnished with a few empty lounge chairs. A pair of umbrellas offered shade.
It was here that I set up camp for a few hours, first sipping a glass of Whispering Angel rosé, then later a cocktail. After perusing the pool and beach menu -- which, in addition to Mediterranean fare like gazpacho and buffalo mozzarella included American staples like a burger and BLT -- I settled on a pizza topped with prosciutto and aged Parmesan.
With a deliciously salty slice in hand, the sun beaming down and the sound of waves below, it was hard to think things could get any better.
But Rock House still had a few surprises up its sleeve.
The living and kitchen area in a one-bedroom accommodation at the resort. Photo Credit: Christina Jelski
A posh perch
I headed to my room, located farther uphill from the resort's main restaurant, bar and infinity pool areas. As I traversed stone staircases and passed rows of all-white villas, I had to remind myself I hadn't mistakenly landed on some remote Greek isle.
Opening the door to my one-bedroom accommodation, its high vantage point made for a dramatic visual effect. My jaw dropped as soon as I saw the unobstructed ocean view from the space's open living and dining area, and, to my delight, one full wall of windows could be slid open, offering a seamless transition to the suite's patio and private plunge pool.
Indoor-outdoor living is always a plus, but a few of the space's more residential elements -- from the stylish and sleek fully equipped kitchen to the in-unit washer and dryer -- also ended up being highlights. (Once you've experienced returning from a trip with an entire suitcase of freshly laundered clothes, it's hard to go back.)
But let's get back to the food.
The resort has one all-day, open-air restaurant, Vita, which serves up a fairly traditional breakfast menu in the morning but ramps up the Mediterranean flair by lunchtime: pizzas, grilled seafood, pasta dishes and a few desserts, including a vanilla panna cotta with aged balsamic.
For dinner, the menu gets another shake-up, with choices like lemon spaghetti with lobster and chili crab linguine, dishes that are emblematic of the restaurant's Caribbean slant on Italian classics.
That sense of a culinary cultural exchange was on display during my media visit, which was hosted by Leading Hotels. On one night, our small group was treated to "A Taste of Amalfi Dinner Experience," specially crafted in a collaboration between Grace Bay Resorts, Rock House and the Hotel Santa Caterina, a 67-room boutique property and fellow Leading Hotels member in Amalfi, Italy.
The Hotel Santa Caterina's executive chef, Giuseppe Stanzione, was on-site that evening, overseeing a family-style meal that featured dishes like zucchini Parmigiana; tortelli with Genovese-style veal; and ravioli dressed with Italian tomatoes, ricotta and fresh marjoram.
Nikheel Advani
We were joined at the feast by Nikheel Advani, Grace Bay Resorts co-founder, COO and principal, and Crescenzo Gargano, the proprietor of the Hotel Santa Caterina. At the end of the meal, our bellies bursting, Gargano broke out a bottle of limoncello. This was no ordinary bottle of the lemon liqueur: It was homemade by Gargano, using his own Amalfi lemons.
He poured us each a shot, and as we downed them, the burst of sharp, tangy and slightly sweet liquid briefly transported us to an Italian lemon grove.
For many properties, creating a single sense of place is achievement enough. But for Rock House -- and for guests looking for a slightly different spin on the traditional Caribbean getaway -- two places can be better than one.