Strawberry Hill perches at 3,100 feet in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains, a 26-acre estate of twelve Georgian-style cottages that pair mountain serenity with sweeping views of Kingston. This article draws on the official resort site, independent travel reviews, and music-history archives to give you a grounded look at its rooms, grounds, dining, spa, and the practical trade-offs of staying so far above the city.
Last checked: 2026-10-03
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Address: 453 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills NSW 2010 · Established: 1870 · Type: Pub / Hotel · Notable feature: Live music venue
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-10-03.
Sources reviewed: Official hotel website, Michelin Guide, Oyster review, The Standard travel feature, i-escape property profile, Tripadvisor listing, Priceline listing, Michelin Key Hotels profile, and the hotel’s general information page.
No on-site visit, no staff interview, and no independent price verification. Historical claims rely on published travel accounts and the hotel’s own materials.
Strawberry Hill at a glance
- Situated ~3,100 feet above Kingston, with 40‑mile panoramas (i‑escape)
- 12 Georgian-style cottages and villas, each with a private veranda (The Standard)
- Acquired by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell in 1972; became an Island Outpost hotel in 1994 (The Standard)
What needs verifying
According to a Tripadvisor property description, the cottages and resort underwent extensive refurbishment in October 2011. This claim has not been independently verified by official sources.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Irish Town, Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica (Blue Mountains) |
| Elevation | 3,100 ft above Kingston |
| Total area | Approximately 26 acres |
| Room count | 12 cottages / villas |
| Architectural style | Georgian / post‑plantation |
| Key amenities | Infinity pool, spa (Aveda / Living Spa), restaurant, bar, hiking, croquet |
| Notable owner | Chris Blackwell (Island Records) – acquired 1972 |
| Hotel group | Island Outpost (since 1994) |
| Airport transfer | ~1‑hour drive from Norman Manley International; reported ~US$90 for four each way (Michelin Guide) |
| Water safety | Tap water safe for all use; bottled available (official site) |
Where is Strawberry Hill located?
Strawberry Hill sits in the Blue Mountains near the small settlement of Irish Town, roughly a one‑hour drive from Norman Manley International Airport (Michelin Guide). The property overlooks Kingston and the Kingston Harbour, a drop of about 3,100 feet that gives every cottage a north‑south view across the city and out to the sea.
The access road is a winding ascent through lush coffee country. The trade‑off: this isolation is precisely what delivers the quiet and panoramic outlook, but it also makes the resort less convenient than a downtown Kingston hotel for anyone needing quick access to the capital.
Who owns Strawberry Hill?
Current ownership rests with Island Outpost, the collection of boutique Jamaican properties founded by Chris Blackwell. Blackwell, the man who built Island Records and brought reggae to the world, bought the 26‑acre estate in 1972 (The Standard). The original Georgian great house was destroyed by a hurricane in 1988; the replacement cottages, completed when the hotel opened in 1994, retained the same colonial proportions and white‑shuttered aesthetic (Michelin Guide). No separate individual owner has been disclosed in recent sources; the property operates as part of the Island Outpost portfolio.
What type of accommodation does Strawberry Hill offer?
The resort describes itself as a “magical mountain village” (Strawberry Hill Hotel). The twelve cottages and villas are designed in a Georgian or post‑plantation style, set among tropical gardens. Each cottage includes a private balcony or veranda intended to capture the mountain and vista views. Room features reported across multiple reviews include four‑poster or canopy beds, hardwood floors, jalousie shutters, minibars, and Wi‑Fi (Oyster). The limited inventory creates an intimate atmosphere — you are never lost among hundreds of rooms — but also means that popular periods book out early, and room choices are finite.
On‑site dining centres on a restaurant serving modern Jamaican cuisine and a bar that takes advantage of the same panoramic outlook. Sunday brunch is listed as an occasional option (Priceline). The infinity pool is regularly cited by reviewers as the property’s visual anchor, with Condé Nast Traveler calling it a “40‑mile view” pool.
What is the historical significance of Strawberry Hill?
Beyond the Blue Mountains views, Strawberry Hill carries a music‑industry pedigree. The same Chris Blackwell who launched Bob Marley and the Wailers used the property as a retreat for artists. The Standard reports that Bob Marley recuperated here after being shot in 1976, and that Mick Jagger and Prince Charles are among past visitors (The Standard). These associations are repeated across several travel outlets but have not been verified by independent primary documents beyond the travel stories themselves.
The original great house predates the 1972 acquisition; the property’s land history reaches back to the 18th century. The 1988 hurricane reset the physical plant, and the current cottages — built in the early 1990s — are deliberately styled to echo the lost Georgian original.
What is the elevation and how does it affect the stay?
At 3,100 feet, Strawberry Hill is noticeably cooler than Kingston — expect mornings and evenings that require a light jacket even in summer. The lower humidity and mountain breezes make the outdoor spaces comfortable year‑round, but the altitude also means cloud can roll in quickly, occasionally obscuring the famously wide view.
The resort’s site sits on about 26 acres, so there is room to walk the gardens, hike the grounds, and use the croquet lawn. Oyster reports that the spa offers hydrotherapy, a sauna, plunge pool, beauty treatments, massage, and a yoga pavilion. The pattern: nearly every published review names the views, pool, and distinctive architecture as the resort’s strongest differentiators, while the winding access road and limited room stock are the most frequently cited trade‑offs.
Alternatives to consider
If Strawberry Hill’s small inventory or price point doesn’t suit, two other historic Jamaican properties offer a similar blend of mountain or coastal setting. The Macedon Ranges Hotel & Spa provides a mountain‑spa experience with a different regional flavour, though it is located in a completely different country. Within Jamaica, the Hotel La Pérouse Nice is a cliffside boutique property with a rooftop jacuzzi and scenic views, sharing the same DNA of a design‑led, view‑oriented luxury stay. Neither is a direct replacement, but both appeal to the same traveller who values atmosphere over sheer room count.
Our pick
For travellers who prioritise quiet, elevation, and a music‑history backdrop, Strawberry Hill remains a strong choice. The intimate size, the infinity pool, and the Georgian cottages deliver a genuinely distinct experience that a larger resort cannot replicate. The main caveat is the access: the winding road and one‑hour transfer from Kingston mean this is not a spontaneous stopover. But for a dedicated mountain retreat — especially if you value the Island Outpost heritage — it earns its reputation.
Related reading: Macedon Ranges Hotel & Spa Review · Hotel La Pérouse Nice Review
cntraveler.com, strawberryhills.ru, standard.co.uk, strawberryhillhotel.com
Frequently asked questions
Is Strawberry Hill the same as The Strawberry?
No. “The Strawberry” is a pub in Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia (453 Elizabeth St). Strawberry Hill is a resort in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains. The names overlap but the properties are entirely separate.
When was Strawberry Hill established as a hotel?
The property became an Island Outpost hotel in 1994. The original great house was destroyed in a 1988 hurricane, and the current cottages were built after that. Chris Blackwell acquired the land in 1972.
What is the elevation of Strawberry Hill?
Strawberry Hill sits at 3,100 feet above Kingston.
What historical events are associated with Strawberry Hill?
Bob Marley recuperated at Strawberry Hill after being shot in 1976.
How do I get to Strawberry Hill from the airport?
The drive from Norman Manley International Airport takes one hour.