R Hotel Kingston

concierges who also do special occasions like birthday setups, wonderful romantic getaways…” BVC: And the cuisine? Pike: “We did a relaunch of our restaurant in August of 2020; it was previously rented out and we took it over ourselves and branded it ‘District 5’. In Jamaica, the communities are called districts and have a very family-oriented feel, especially in the rural areas. People coming out of their houses and gathering in the street, playing games, going to the community bar, the local restaurant and it all has a very nice feel. So we decided to make a gathering place at R Hotel, where people could get together. District was chosen as the restaurant name and 5 is the floor it’s on. That’s the highest floor on the property and has a gorgeous panoramic view of the city. Like a Miami vibe but with a Jamaican element. “Our Executive Chef, Brian Lumley, is young and well known in Jamaica. He won Caribbean Chef of the Year in 2013 (Caribbean Hotel & Tourism) and 2012 Chef of the Year (Taste of Jamaica) and has designed a wonderful menu blending Caribbean flair with some very popular international dishes. People are just loving the energy we created in District 5. Jazz, reggae – we do live music on our stage and 70 percent of the visitors we have are walk-in right now. It allows people to meet and greet and get to know each other. And all is well managed during COVID because we have specific restaurant protocols we have to follow.” BVC: What else sets you apart? Pike: “It’s all in one building – we have a gym, an art gallery, the restaurant on the roof, the rooms, and a small but effective lobby. And because we have eight, two-bedroom, two-bathroom loft suites with a full-size kitchen, living room, dining area, nice balconies… we’re planning to launch Kingston’s very first butler service, in this hotel. It’s expected to be fully active by the end of