Rockhouse Hotel

I visit the restaurant every year when I travel to Negril because of the food and the views. They have a large bar and a large patio with tables set up for viewing the bay, which also features Joseph's Cave, a popular swimming and cliff jumping site. The movie Papillon was partially filmed here. I always enjoy the delicious food, but I have a warning from my last trip here.....I purchased a T-shirt and some Blue Mountain coffee from the gift shop using my Visa card---I have bought here in years past with no problem, but upon my return to the States, Visa had called saying that my card had been used to buy a used car, among other goodies immediately after my having purchased at Rock House. My guess is that either the young lady who took my order, or someone else at the resort, got my card number from the reciept and went on a shopping spree. Obviously I was not liable for the charges, but the weird thing was, I emailed Rockhouse with the information asking them to check up on the gift shop, and got no reply at all. I have never had this happen when charging at the restaurant, and will probably continue to eat there, but a little more carefully!
updated April 2011
Still a great place to come whether for a meal or for a stay---Lovely cabins right over the ocean
and check out the website for occasional deals-----nice pool at the ocean's edge

Unique Quality: Beautiful ocean views, great food and drinks, loads O' fun!

Directions: halfway from roundabout to Ricks Cafe

The Rockhouse Hotel offers upscale service from the bathroom amenities to the quality of the service from everyone at the hotel. The staff is very friendly and helpful in accommodating your needs. Rooms offer a rustic experience with shutter-style doors that allow the Jamaican air to flow in and out, but there are also air conditioning units to help keep you comfortable and cool at night. The Rockhouse property functions more like a resort because of its seclusion, on-site spa, restaurant, and pool, and dedicated taxi service if you feel like exploring more of what the island has to offer.

The water is safe and tasty straight from the tap in your room or elsewhere. The pool and restaurant are the social centers of the hotel- connected by winding stone paths flanked with local and exotic plant life. Lunch is best poolside where each meal comes with a fresh salad. Breakfast and dinner are best enjoyed in the restaurant where you can watch the sunset over the ocean cliffs. Free Wi-Fi is offered at both the front desk and in the restaurant. There's a large screen TV and Projector in the restaurant, which were rarely used, but TVs were available for rent if you wanted one in your room. Rooms generally have showers rather than bathtubs, but with the warm Carribbean Ocean nearby, you can easily soak in the ocean instead.

Unique Quality: The Rockhouse Hotel is dedicated to environmentally sustainable practices and to supporting the local community. They use local ingredients in their spa treatments and restaurant dishes, and they conserve energy by using a system that turns off air conditioners once doors are opened, as well as not replacing your bathroom amenities until they need replacing, rather than automatically renewing them each day. The ocean cliffs offer opportunities to either jump into the ocean, or ladders allow you to make a slow and safe approach and return. Since the hotel is an adult only property, you'll never have to complete with little children running around the pool for enjoyable poolside experience. If you feel like exploring the ocean bottom, snorkeling equipment is available for rent from the pool. There's one particular bridge near the restaurant where you can attempt a 20ft jump into the ocean. Because of the rustic and natural design of the hotel, mosquito nets cover each bed. The fusion of natural elements makes this hotel a unique and earthly experience.

Tip: for the best fruity drinks - head to the poolside bar where the frozen drinks often exceed the size of the cup!

Directions: West End Cliffs

Rockhouse is a great place to stay -- it's up the road from the strip of all-inclusive hotels, etc -- so if you want lots of company maybe you should consider one of those larger properties. You can walk (longish) to the other hotels or cab it if you need a change of pace. Rockhouse is very laidback -- food is very good. Atmosphere is great as well as the rooms. I started in a big Cabana, and moved when it was apparent that this was a solo trip. The rooms are pretty rustic -- but fine -- I guess there are some lux cabanas, but rustic-lux.