The house was very enjoyable, had amazing views, and wonderful sunsets. Bart was very responsive to requests and provided guidance to ensure we had the best experience possible. He recommended a great spot for our anniversary dinner and ensured we had dinner on the first night upon our late arrival.

Chef Andy was very accommodating and was able to adjust the cuisine for selective palates and dietary restrictions.

The house manager Aaron was a delight and aided in an enjoyable stay. He was knowledgeable about the best Jamaican tours and was there after hours for any additional needs. He introduced fruits and veggies grown on the property which was a great experience.

Overall, we had an amazing time and everyone was awesome! We cannot wait to visit again!

This is a magical, magical place. I am one of these people who never – I mean, never – leave reviews, but I feel so, so compelled to do so in this case. Apologies for the length of this review, but I figured that some would find the details useful.

THE HOUSE: The house is absolutely beautifully done. The stonework is impeccable, and the design masterful and elegant. It is perfect for a family or two small families, or a small group of friends. The first floor has an open living room and kitchen/dining area, encouraging interaction amongst the group. The kitchen is fully stocked with all you need, and there is an outdoor kitchen that the staff uses to prepare meals for you should you choose that option (more on that later). The second floor has two nearly symmetrical bedrooms that are designed for comfort and an easygoing luxury that is hard to find. Each faces the ocean and has a comfortable connecting terrace for sunbathing and reading. The third floor is a well-appointed attic with 4 beds for sleeping – perfect for slumber parties for kids or extra beds for adults. Importantly, every room in the house has a spectacular, world-class view of the ocean and the cove. It is absolutely breathtaking, and we did not tire of this view during our stay (and already miss it!). There are towels, sheets, toiletries, shampoo and bath gel – basically all you need to be comfortable. And this might sound weird to mention, but there are many, many power outlets – which is enormously helpful. This is sometimes rare to find in a house like this. And of course, there is fast Wifi. The air conditioners in each room work very well, but the ceiling fans (available in both bedrooms and in the living area) are also quite refreshing; we sometimes just had the fans on. Perhaps the highlight of the house is how it opens up onto the ocean with an elegant stone walkway that slowly descends over the reef to the ocean’s edge. There are beautiful plants and trees all over the property, and numerous places to sunbathe or just enjoy the place, with several lounge chairs at perfect spots. We explored the different plants, vegetables, and fruits that are grown on the property (including a coconut tree!), and our young daughter loved searching for hermit crabs (they are quite plentiful). There is an outdoor shower with some high-quality woodwork for privacy. The stone walkway to the ocean can be lit up at night, which makes for a dramatic feel. The walkway ends at a terrace that overlooks the ocean; we had dinner served out there multiple times so that we could enjoy the sunset and the lapping of the ocean waves with our delicious food. Nights were full of stars, which was a real treat for us, as we live in the city with too much light to enjoy stargazing.

THE STAFF AND HOSPITALITY: There are a few members of the staff, all of whom have grown up and live in Jamaica: Aaron (the house manager); Andy (the cook); Morris (the groundskeeper); and a housekeeper. They took wonderful, wonderful care of us. Aaron is a man of integrity and grace. He has a great combination of easygoing energy with a high level of organization and dependability – wherever he said he would be at whatever time, he was there every time, early. He always kept his word, and made sure we were taken care of at all times. He is a great conversationalist and is great with kids (he is a father of two himself). He puts safety and comfort first, and is always thinking a few steps ahead. Andy is a humble and skilled cook, but knows his craft well, as he spent a decade working all over the world on cruise ships. He put together several delicious meals for us – jerk chicken, his famous goat curry, coconut rice, plantains, curried shrimp, fried shrimp, avocado salads – and kept the refrigerator stocked with sliced tropical fruits like pineapple, mangoes, papaya, and watermelon, as well as some fresh young coconuts to drink directly out of. We felt absolutely spoiled by the food and service. Morris keeps the grounds beautiful – it is green, well-maintained, and interesting to walk around. We learned a lot by walking around with one of the staff members and hearing about each of the plants/trees. In summary, the staff is another of the highlights of the house. They are gracious, and are people of dignity and respect.

THE FOOD: I mentioned some of the food above, but the food prepared by Andy was great. On day one, we recommend that you stop by a supermarket on the way to the house; you can pick up any items you would like to make your stay comfortable. Then, you can go into the local towns to pick up more fresh fruit and other items during your stay as needed.

THE SNORKELING: I have been scuba diving and snorkeling in several places in the world, and I LOVED the snorkeling at Poetreef. The house itself sits on a part of the ocean where there is a shallow reef that is able to be seen through snorkeling alone; depending on the tides, the reef is between approximately 6-12 feet below the surface. Take a shallow dive and you will feel like you are in an aquarium, with so many different colored fish. You literally just need to jump in the water, look down, and swim around… and you will see so much. It was absolutely breathtaking, and the visibility was excellent (make sure you bring some de-fogging solution to enjoy the snorkeling). We did not see large fish, but we saw so many beautifully colored small fish, and we even saw a fairly large spotted ray on our last day of snorkeling. What made the experience so great was the convenience.

Of all of the air bnbs I’ve stayed at Barts was by far one of my favorite. The photos do not do the property justice. The views are breathtaking. The attention to detail in the home are incredible. The staff is extremely helpful, and most importantly the food was outstanding. I can’t say enough good things about this place.

Bart and the staff were also extremely helpful with suggestions of things to see and places to explore.

Definitely our new home away from home 🙂 will be back.

I can’t say enough about how lovely Poet Reef is. Beautiful house and grounds. Multiple locations in to enjoy the ocean and stare at the beautiful sunset each night. The best part of Poet Reef Aaron and Andy – the most kind and friendly people and hosts around to make your stay special. Aaron took great care of us and did multiple runs to the store for us during our 5-day stay. Andy is an incredible cook and cooked us (6 adults total) delicious Jamaican dishes like curried conch, aki and swordfish, kalalu, mouth-watering fish and chicken, and a western breakfast (confident I spelled those wrong). The location is also very quiet – a welcome change from the commercial hotels in Negril. You can see beautiful shore birds, snorkel and ogle fish and corals, and enjoy a peaceful and quiet escape. The owner Bart was also very friendly and helpful and answered all of my questions and set us up nicely for our stay. Wonderful spot!

Poet Reef is a magical place.
We got so fortunate to find that Bart’s place was available for a very last minute trip. We fell in love with the photos online… but, those pictures truly does no justice! From the moment you drive through the gate you will be saying WOW. The house is immaculate, the compound is stunning, the stone and woodwork are truly incredible, and the snorkeling is breathtaking.
The only thing more amazing than the house is the staff! From the moment we arrived, till our departure, Aaron and chef Andy made us feel like we were at home. They were so attentive and very kind. Andy makes such delicious Jamaican food that we really didn’t want to eat anywhere else. I highly recommend susnset dinners at the seafront and breakfast right beside the house where you might be lucky to see the resident hummingbirds flittter by as they enjoy nectar from the trees.
Finally, Bart was a wonderful host. He called us right after we booked to tell us about the house and all available amenities, offered to arrange transport and car hire, and arrange our arrival dinner. He checked on us all through our travels and our entire stay. I can’t say enough good things about the tremendous service we received from him and his entire team.
If you are lucky to see this listing available- book it! You will not regret it.

We had a great time while staying at Poetreef Villa! Everything exceeded our expectations. The house was great for our family. The location was perfect for day trips to the 7 mile beach area. We snorkeled several places throughout the West side of Jamaica and the snorkeling off the pier at Poetreef was our favorite. The chef and house manager are wonderful and definitely add value to the experience. We would definitely return!

Our stay at port reef was beyond amazing, Aaron and Andy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable. Food was great and amenities were fantastic and clean.

Access to the water was beautiful but be warned if you are not comfortable swimming off rocks !

Definitely would stay again. Thanks again Bart, Aaron and Andy!

Absolutely gorgeous home! You can snorkel right at the pier! Chef is included and the area is very safe and quiet, not too far from town, you can check out Negril or Montego Bay for a fun night! Book right now! You will love it!

Poetreef was a game changer. I’d been to Jamaica a few times going with the all-inclusive resort route, but this completely changed how I see the country. Bart was extremely helpful and available from the time we booked until after we left. The check-in process was seamless and we arrived and departed without issue. Andy and Aaron are WONDERFUL. Nobody’s jerk sauce was touching Andy’s and we opted to have most meals at the villa because it was THAT delicious. If you love Jamaican food, you won’t be disappointed. Aaron was so attentive to every need and was easy to communicate with to situate everything prior to arrival. They are both really kind and we had some fun chats- really enjoyed getting to know them.

The property was beautiful. It was true paradise waking up to that view every morning and catching the sunsets from the pier. The water was STUNNING – never have a been able to open my eyes under water and see everything WITHOUT SNORKLE GOGGLES anddd my eyes didn’t burn at all from the salt! I was shook. The decor throughout the villa was really nice, it was clean, and the beds were comfortable. The best part was the modern but not common design – it definitely had more of an artsy vibe. The single suggestion I have for improvement is placing a mirror, preferably full length, somewhere outside of the bathroom.

11/10 recommend this whole experience and wouldn’t hesitate to revisit. For details on ur experience, check out @ sociaflite on Instagram.

I visited Poet Reef with my daughters and sister-in-law. We found the place immaculate and well designed. The villa’s staff is courteous and kind. Every detail starting with the transportation from the airport to well stocked fridge was taken care of seamlessly. The chef is excellent -cooking us healthy meals including island cuisine or more elevated healthier fair. All the fruits and vegetables are locally grown and seasonal. Absolutely delicious. I traveled with three teenagers and they absolutely loved the privacy of the top floor offering sweeping views of the Caribbean. The first morning at Poet Reef we spotted a large pod of dolphins playing right near our house. It was magical and got the teenagers out of bed before 8 am. During the day we explored the beautiful property with its two private swimming docs. The neighbors are friendly and we would greet them on our daily walks/runs around the neighborhood. The evenings are spent on movies (great TV and internet) or game nights. You are also very close to the nightlife in Negril.

This place was absolutely perfect !!! The view is AMAZING the chef & the host is soooo accommodating .. the food was impeccably mouth watering good !! We will definitely be back !! Book this house you won’t be upset.

We had such a wonderful time!! Look no further, this airbnb is truly a gem of a place to stay in Jamaica. Our family of 7 found this to be the perfect spot for our vacation. We had yummy home cooked jamaican food, snorkeled in the coral reef right in front of the house (including with a baby manta ray!), stargazed, played games and lounged on the beautiful deck. Bart was so helpful and communicative as we were navigating all the Covid/ travel logistics (Jamaica is relatively Covid safe in general). Aaron the house manager was our amazing guide, helped us find the best food and navigate town and generally just great vibes to be around. We loved the meals that Chef andy cooked and will be trying to replicate his recipes at home :)). The house itself is beautiful, artfully decorated and clean. We enjoyed the sunset views over the water. It is in a very secluded and quiet area that is about 45 minutes from negril, and we felt safe the entire time. Thanks so much for the wonderful memories !

Poet reef is a hidden getaway, a gem of Jamaica. My husband and I have been going there for years staying at various places and this place is the winner. Bart is a gracious host, super reachable , flexible and easy to work with. He knows the area well and is a great resource for information .

The property is located in a great neighborhood and I always feel safe traveling there. The staff is kind and attentive and give you lots of privacy. We had some of the best dinners right on the beautiful peer and would go for a swim right after 🙂

The new house is stunning. Well designed, luxurious and yet understated. The amenities are new and it has that new House feel that I love. Stunning views and complete privacy.

You will have direct access to a magical reef with snorkeling right off the peer. The host provided some gear and you could consider bringing your own. The best snorkeling ever! There is also sand beach right on the property.

A magical place! I cannot imagine a better place in Jamaica ( or anyplace else) to watch the sunrise or the sunset. Large double doors open onto a balcony overlooking a stone walkway that leads straight to the water. The villa is breathtaking! It has amazing woodwork on all three levels. The skill and workmanship of the stonemasons is hard to imagine. I guarantee, there is no other place like it anywhere in Jamaica. The furniture is breathtaking, the kitchen is furnished with everything one could need, and there are air conditioner units in all bedrooms as well as in the main first floor living area ( 4 ac units!).
One is more than adequate. It is safe here also. Morris and Aaron are available and helpful if needed.
If you don’t care to miss the tourists and the hustlers on 7 mile beach and prefer the real Jamaica in a quiet neighborhood, this is it. No better snorkeling could be found anywhere. A safe and convenient ladder allows your exit from the water onto a large patio at the end of the stone walkway. And best of all, nobody shares your private swimming spot. But if you want, Negril is just a 20 minute drive. A short walk down the street will take you to an authentic Jamaican restaurant. And it is very affordable. A short walk the other direction will take you to the heart of Cousins Cove where the local fishermen are happy to supply lobster, crab, and a variety of fresh fish.
It just doesn’t get any better than this villa. Stop looking!

Words can’t describe what an awesome experience we had at Bart’s truly remarkable property! You and your family will have all you could ever dream of to experience Jamaican living at its finest. Our family savored waking up to coffee on the porch overlooking expansive views of crystal clear waters, passing tropical birds, dolphins, and peaceful breezes. The expansive porch descends onto a one-of-a-kind swimming dock that looks as if it came from the pages of Architectural Digest. The dock is complete with a platform for the kids to jump into the beautiful Jamaican water and a ladder to emerge effortlessly from the emerald waters. There are expansive and endless coral reefs to explore in the water that make for truly unbelievable snorkeling where we saw a huge variety of all of the beautiful tropical fish, rays, and sea creatures one dreams of on a tropical vacation. We regularly cooked on the barbecue pit and enjoyed lunches and dinners on the dock overlooking the beautiful waters and soaking up the sun. The house is uniquely beautiful inside and out. The open concept is filled with rich Jamaican woods contrasting with bright colors and the first floor is complete with a luxury kitchen and large island. The dining room boasts an amazing live edge dining table with plenty of seats and the living room is very comfortable with plenty of seating to enjoy a book or magazine while taking in the views. The second floor boasts two truly amazing rooms complete with comfortable beds and floor-to-ceiling windows that step on to the deck with expansive views of the beautiful Jamaican water. Finally the third floor loft has room for additional guests. Bart’s place truly has all of the luxury amenities you could ever ask for and never feel as though you needed to venture out. Should you want to venture out to explore, the property is conveniently located about 30 minutes from Negril with several convenience stores nearby and about an hour from Montego Bay. Very responsive communication from property owners anxious to help answer any questions we had. Our family could not have been more thrilled with our time there and we made such great family memories. We can’t wait to go back!!