Welcome to Checking In, a review series in which our editors and contributors rate the best luxury hotels based on a rigorous—and occasionally tongue-in-cheek—10-point system: Each question answered “yes” gets one point. Will room service bring you caviar? Does your suite have its own butler? Does the bathroom have a bidet? Find out below.
Describe the hotel in three words: (Jean-Michel) Gathy’s Seychellois homage.
What’s the deal?
In December 2024, Cheval Blanc opened its sixth maison in the crescent embrace of the Anse Intendance beach on Mahé island in the Seychelles, making a new addition to its deliberately discriminating portfolio of properties for the first time since 2021. On this 22-acre slice of paradise, the teal ocean and crowded foliage appear so rich in colour, it feels like the saturation slider has been cranked up to 100 percent—it is a stunning location that begs to be photographed, and at the same time, it is the sort of place that pictures do not do justice.
Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston—a past collaborator on Cheval Blanc Randheli in the Maldives—returns to the LVMH-owned hospitality brand to meld the geometric silhouettes of traditional Creole architecture into 52 contemporary-chic villas ranging from one to three bedrooms across eight categories, 24 of them skirting the sands of Anse Intendance and 28 of them curled into jungled expanse. As is Cheval Blanc tradition, each hotel or resort receives a distinct colour identity: Randheli flaunts Pop Yellow, Saint-Tropez parades Riviera Blue, and Seychelles is paired with a fetching Wild Green, a revitalising shade that captures the emerald biodiversity enveloping the all-white and greige accommodations. Five restaurants, a Cheval Blanc Spa that leans on the expertise of Guerlain, and fitness facilities at the Gym will keep guests occupied on-site while a veritable platoon of staff looks after them. Off-property, guests can adventure on land or on water thanks to a roster of guided experiences.
The best room?
One might consider the best room to be Villa Horizon, the flagship. Its sequestered location and stilted perch between an outcrop of granite rocks guarantees unobstructed, front-row enjoyment of watching the too-blue turquoise waves breaking on the boulders—the soundtrack is suitably elemental and unfiltered. Villa Horizon comprises two bedrooms that sleep four total, a living room that acts as the heart of the accommodation, commodious dressing rooms, a sun-soaked terrace, a 25-metre-long lap pool, and an open-air spa.
However, Ocean Hill Villa 33—ours—is a multitasking beaut nestled in dense foliage, discerning in that its placement on the sloping hillside affords discretion, and practical in that it is positioned within walking distance from the main lodge and the Cheval Blanc Spa. It has a rectangular open-plan configuration that allows the space between bathroom, bedroom, and living and dining room to flow into one, but can be partitioned using moveable dividers; the infinity-pool-abutting terrace is divided into a pergola on one side, and a relaxation area on the other; and with the sliding floor-to-ceiling glass pushed wide open, the separation between inside and outside is made non-existent, and the ocean breeze is invited in. Even from up here, the soundtrack of ocean wave crashing against rock resonates.
(For families with kids in tow, Cheval Blanc Seychelles explicitly remarks that cliffside and hillside villas are off-limits to children under 12 years old because of potential risks associated with their elevated locations, so that would mean opting for accommodations along the beach. It would be a more sensible choice anyway, when it comes to getting around, as the distance to the Le Carrousel kids club would be that much shorter.)
No matter the villa, the atmosphere of the accommodations and the common areas is united through Malagasy artist Joël Andrianomearisoa’s 52 expansive textile canvases, creating a dialogue between spaces, and the Cheval Blanc Seychelles signature scent formulated by Guerlain nose Thierry Wasser; the creamy, sweet, tropical wafts of Jungle Chic recall green undertones, white florals, and a distinct olfactory character associated with the Seychelles.
Did they greet you by name at check-in?
Yes, all part and parcel of the high level of personalised care and attention that one expects of the Cheval Blanc staff. A smart golf buggy delivers us to Villa 33, a guided walkthrough of the spacious premises follows, and check-in is handled comfortably and efficiently.
Was a welcome drink ready and waiting when you arrived?
Indeed. Moët & Chandon was chilling in the room and waiting to be popped.
Private butler for every room?
You bet. In fact, we had two majordomes to assist round the clock, so there is constantly someone to turn to, no matter the time of day. It’s not just the on-site support that sets the service apart—the homework that goes into understanding each guest and anticipating their needs is equally commendable. No two experiences at Cheval Blanc Seychelles are ever the same, because no two guests are ever the same—the concept of ultra-personalisation might not have originated from Cheval Blanc, but this brand is inching it closest to perfection.
Before arrival, guests are asked to complete a detailed form indicating their personal preferences, so that your majordome can arrange ton deuxième chez-soi precisely the way it should be to feel like home. Prepare to be quizzed on preferred room temperature, bed cover configurations, side of the bed to sleep on, turndown service, robe and slipper sizes, food restrictions, preferred snacks and drinks—the list goes on. Don’t want alcohol in the private bar? Got a penchant for Scotch? Prefer pastries and confectionaries over fruits? Make a note and your majordome will curate the amenities and keep stocks replenished. (Repeat Cheval Blanc guests will have their information from previous visits already on file.)
Is the sheet thread count higher than 300?
Double that. Guests will be sinking into silken, 600-thread-count sheets from Garnier Thiebaut, a French heritage house with a long history tracing back to 1833, so sleep better, dream bigger, and rest assured that these Vosges weavers are experts at their craft.
Is there a heated floor in the bathroom? What about a bidet?
No heated floors, and no need for them, either. In these temperate, tropical climes, where humid warmth is consistent year-round but skies can be mercurial, solid air-conditioning is the top priority. Bidet devotees will be content with the Toto Washlets in their villas.
Are the toiletries full-sized?
Bien sur. Parisian haircare brand Leonor Greyl was tapped to develop a bespoke line of bath products for Cheval Blanc Seychelles, but the hotel truly goes the extra mile when it comes to bathroom amenities to curate an environment that feels like home: branded lip balm, body oil, body scrub, bath salts both as coarse rock crystals and as packaged bath bombs, bar soap in the whimsical shape of the coco de mer—all perfumed to the tune of Jungle Chic. Not to mention, a rain shower that actually fulfils its promise of creating an immersive experience that feels like natural rainfall on skin—the coverage is generous, the water pressure divine. Next to it, there’s an oval bathtub so large that one could practically do zero-gravity floats in it, and right opposite, a pair of tall vanities with mirrors that reach for the ceiling.
Is there a private pool for the room’s exclusive use? How are the spa and gym?
Oui. All 52 villas come with their own private piscines, and not small plunge basins, either—Cheval Blanc Seychelles unreservedly committed to attaching 13-metre swimming pools to all keys. (Except for the Horizon Villa—guests will find themselves splashing around in a 25-metre-long swimming pool instead.) Nothing to rival the Olympics, but enough to get a few laps in. Besides, multiple communal pools on the grounds, such as alongside Vivamento and Sula, and at the Gym, offer abundant opportunities for guests to dip their feet into.
(Not to burst the bubble before the excitement even begins, but despite its postcard-perfect looks, Anse Intendance is known for its strong currents, so swimming and snorkelling in these waters come with a caveat and just-in-case guidelines. During the southwest monsoon season, bluebottles could wash up on shore. Better loll around in the private pool, we think.)
Belonging to the LVMH tribe means an enviable number of skincare maisons to choose from when it comes to brand crossovers for the Cheval Blanc Spa. Guerlain has tastefully shaped the wellness rituals of multiple Cheval Blanc properties, from Courchevel to Randheli, and continues to do so in the Seychellois wilds. Enter through a high-ceilinged lounge and make the ascent though lush landscapes and granite boulders to one of eight hillside rooms to begin the sensorial experience. In addition to offering signature Guerlain treatments such as the Ultimate Black Orchid and Aura Nobile, the French skincare and cosmetics house custom-created a quartet of archipelago-inspired rejuvenation rituals for Cheval Blanc Seychelles. Among them, the 90-minute Wonders of Shells massage uses heated seashells to soothe the muscles, stimulate the nerves, and revitalise the skin, and the 120-minute Wonders of Aqua experience leans on the healing properties of water in its different forms. Each treatment begins with a grounding guided meditation and a scented inhalation exercise. Bid farewell to sun-damaged locks or just treat the tresses to some TLC at the Beauty Studio with special Leonor Greyl hair spa rituals exclusive to the Cheval Blanc Spa. (Upon your eventual return to Earth, perhaps pick up a Guerlain fragrance as a souvenir from the Spa Boutique.)
Over at the Gym, there are light-filled studios for yoga and meditation, a sizeable fitness centre decked out in the latest cardio and strength-training machines, outdoor tennis and padel courts, a 25-metre lap pool, and even a FlowRider surf simulator—the only such tech-toy in the Seychelles, and one of just two in the Indian Ocean, the other being at Cheval Blanc Randheli. Morning group classes help to shake off the last vestiges of sleep; a sauna and steam-room circuit in the Gym’s changing rooms energises you for the day ahead.
Is the restaurant worth its salt?
Yes. Five individual restaurants—plus the around-the-clock, in-villa or in-nature Carte Blanche dining concept—mean that the flavours of Cheval Blanc Seychelles are diverse, dynamic, and delightful. Fisheries is the second-largest economic sector in the archipelago, so fresh seafood is a firm staple. Open-air Le White offers international specialities—there is an intriguing masala omelette for breakfast. Beach-facing Sula embraces Mediterranean and Creole cuisines—the octopus, local tuna tartare, and Melba with pineapple, passion fruit, and mango are laudably lip-smacking. Italian restaurant Vivamento does a fabulous risotto ai gamberi with Madagascan prawns, alongside pastas, pizzas, antipasti plates, and surf and turf dishes. Le 1947 orchestrates French haute cuisine with finesse. Mizumi, housed in a traditional bungalow atop a stretch of wetland, mostly serves Japanese and Southeast Asian dishes, but hosts a Creole evening once a week to showcase Seychellois cuisine. Private dining for up to 12 guests at the intimate and refined La Table de Partage should be reserved 24 hours in advance so that the chefs can design a bespoke menu accordingly.
Do you want to spend Friday night in the lobby bar?
Frankly, we would like to spend Friday night anywhere at Cheval Blanc Seychelles. Make that every night. Over at Vivamento, the bar programme translates classic cocktails through a lexicon of Seychellois influences and ingredients; the Giardino Old Fashioned is zhuzhed up with homemade truffle syrup and the Intendance Spritz is enhanced with fresh watermelon and grenadine syrup, for example. Local rum producer Takamaka occupies a sizeable part of the liquor menu, as do rum blends from around the world. When in Rome…
Would you buy the hotel if you could?
Oh, to own a slice of paradise! It would be a (costly) dream come true. “Exceptional” is almost too perfunctory a description for Cheval Blanc Seychelles, but even at the risk of sounding so flattering that it borders on the saccharine, it is rare to come across a hotel where faults are few. Cheval Blanc Seychelles has had the better part of a year to correct the inevitable gaffes and teething troubles that all new properties struggle with, and from it has emerged a destination that, despite some shortcomings, has enchanted us.
Score: 10
What Our Score Means:
1–3: Fire your travel agent if they suggest you stay here.
4–6: Solid if you’re in a pinch—but only if you’re in a pinch.
7–8: Very good. We’d stay here again and recommend it without qualms.
9–10: Forget booking a week. When can we move in permanently?
All images courtesy of Cheval Blanc Seychelles.
