The Ani Villas Dominican Republic, a 14-suite private resort on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, officially opened this week. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the four-acre estate offers beachfront views of the Caribbean, locally-inspired cuisine, wellness options, and active excursions.
Suites
Designed by local architects at Estudio Sarah Garcia, the estate is split between two villas – one with eight suites, the other with six – that can either host a single group across both villas, or two parties, each in their own private space.
The ten 1,200-square-foot master suites include pitched ceilings, backlit onyx screens with unique art installations, South American hardwood floors, and local travertine tiles. Deep soaking tubs anchor interior bathing spaces, and enclosed outdoor gardens are included in the suites as well.
Each villa is centered around a 6,000-square-foot open-walled living and dining area. Billiard and shuffleboard tables are open to guests, and a staffed and fully stocked bar is available close by. The spaces flow onto tanning decks and infinity pools, each with shallow soaking areas, and a third pool rectangles out from a waterslide fit for a theme park.
Dining
Dining at the resort does not require a trip to a restaurant. A team that includes internationally trained chefs of local origin customizes menus based on guests’ preferences and dietary requirements. The menus draw from a range of culinary traditions from Italy, France, Greece, Thailand, Japan, Mexico and the United States.
Beyond each villa’s principal indoor and outdoor dining areas, the resort’s two kitchens serve meals to dining spots on the beaches and in the bars or to a large event pavilion, which can accommodate 40 at a sit-down dinner and 100 for a wedding celebration.
Wellness
The resort’s spa has an entrance lobby, changing room, steam showers, two treatment rooms and fitness center stand as a lure to wellness. Three spa therapists are on hand with a range of complimentary treatments from deep tissue massage to hot stone therapy. Cybex fitness equipment includes everything from upper and lower body presses to treadmills, bikes and arc trainers.
A resident professional tennis coach maintains the resort’s tennis and sports court, and coordinates a wide range of activities including mountain biking, cycling, paddle boarding, kayaking and snorkeling. Additional off-site experiences can be arranged, including deep-sea fishing, surfing, kite-boarding and a selection of sightseeing and action excursions.
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