CAPITAL OF CASUAL: New hotel a cool option in Negril

26 APR 2019: Negril’s newest hotel has a funky retro vibe that’s a perfect fit for the Jamaican town dubbed the “capital of casual.” The Skylark Negril Beach Resort is a sibling property to the renowned Rockhouse just down the road on the island’s western end and is the second lovechild of amiable Rockhouse chairman Paul Salmon, an Aussie from Melbourne who “chased a girl to Jamaica and fell in love with the country.”

The girl didn’t work out, but Salmon stayed anyways and co-founded Rockhouse, which has become legendary on the island for its unique and ultra-cool design utilizing its natural surroundings, cliff-top pool, and a guest list that has included, over the years, the likes of Bob Marley, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan.

A quarter century later, the time was right for Skylark, which soft-opened at Christmas. Salmon explains, “We always sent people from the Rockhouse to different parts of the beach, so we thought, ‘Why not do a beach hotel?’”

Located midway along Negril’s famed Seven Mile Beach, just at the point where the small independent properties give way to all-inclusives like Couples, Sandals, Swept Away and RIU, the Skylark has 28 rooms with 17 more to be added later in the year. With design and décor reminiscent of the 1960s and ‘70s, including a unique “old poster wrap,” a small spa and Miss Lily’s restaurant, the hotel caters on an EP basis to a 25-40 and couples demographic, though Salmon says all are welcome.

Miss Lily’s it might be noted is the fourth franchise of a chain of eateries also owned by Salmon that first opened in New York and now has two locations there, as well as in Dubai. The newest entry of the Caribbean-style restaurant in Negril is a chance for it to “come home,” says Salmon.

Another key element of the Skylark is a devotion to sustainability and community involvement through the Rockhouse Foundation, which engages in local initiatives, including having invested in seven area schools. Hotel guests can also take part with direction from hotel staff and can start by viewing a “pack with a purpose” list on the hotel website that suggests donatable items guests can bring from home.

With such opportunities, Salmon says, “We’re great at connecting people to a real Jamaican experience.”

Still, most visitors to Negril – about a 90-minute drive from the airport in Montego Bay – come for the famous beach, a myriad of entertainment/dining options, and for a taste of Jamaica beyond the Mo’ Bay-Ocho Rios tourist corridor.

“There’s a tremendous vibrancy of culture and food here,” says Salmon, adding, “Negril has this thing: it’s the capital of casual. It’s more chill here [than other parts of Jamaica].”

Salmon suggests that visitors to other parts of the islands are encouraged to stay in their resorts and can feel “fenced in.” Negril, by contrast, allows visitors to more easily “dine in a restaurant, go to a rum bar, and have much more integrated experience,” he says, adding, “It’s much cooler to get out and meet local Jamaicans.”

Rates at Skylark start at US$90/night in summer and $140 in winter. All rooms have king beds and guests can use the facilities at Rockhouse (including the pool – one will be added later in the year at Skylark), which is accessible by free shuttle. The hotel will be closed for renovations from September to mid-November. (skylarknegril.com)