Bitter End Yacht Club

This property is currently closed for hurricane-related repairs.

After a week of migrating from gorgeous beach to gorgeous beach on Virgin Gorda, my traveling companions and I were ready for a change of pace. That is, heading to a gorgeous beach only accessible by water, via a 15-minute, complimentary ferry. I am, of course, talking about the lovely little strip of sand at the Bitter End Yacht Club on the northeast part of the island. Let’s be honest here: They had me at “free ferry.” To step onto the shore at the BEYC is to enter a kinder, simpler era. The classic architecture of the place wraps around you like a hug, and the staff and yacht clubbers alike are relaxed and incredibly friendly. (It’s not a stretch of the imagination, considering this place is a living “Destinations” feature from the Robb Report, 1965.) We were content to relax the day away, angling our faces toward the sun and watching kite boarders flying into the air off North Sound. The Crawl Pub turned out to be a great spot for a casual lunch, offering the “best pizza in the Caribbean.” And there was no shortage of amusements, from the collection of life-size, wooden carved figures in the Clubhouse, to the multitude of yachts and sailing craft floating by. If this is what the Bitter End is like, sign me up.

Visitors return each year to the Bitter End Yacht Club to get their fix on staples like Mrs. Bain’s pumpkin soup or Winston Butler’s famous Key lime pie from the shops at the club. But don’t miss the chance to experience those flavors during an intimate dinner on the beach catered by the chef and manager. Tasting menus and wine pairings available.

The Bitter End Yacht Club’s PADI “Discover Scuba Diving Experience” is a great way to get scuba certified in just one afternoon. After the one hour training, the group heads out to dive at a maximum depth of 40 feet. After that, all that’s required is to follow up at a later date with the PADI Open Water Course to be able to dive anywhere in the world and be certified for life.