Mustique sounds like a kingdom straight out of an Arabian Nights fairy tale - but the island really exists. It's located in the Caribbean Sea and is part of the Grenadines. Why, at least to us, is it largely unknown? It has been privately owned for more than 50 years and is a hideaway for the rich and beautiful.

© Alex Amengual

There are about 110 private villas on the island, most of which can be rented; but there's also traditional accommodation: the "Cotton House" was the first hotel on the island. Meanwhile, a second hotel has been built. Despite the high density of celebrities, Mustique is not a classic jet-set hotspot: the idea is to keep to oneself here - there are other destinations for seeing and being seen. The celebrities retreat to their villas on Mustique, and day tourists are only allowed to enter certain areas. Drones are prohibited to guarantee privacy. Only in "Basil's Bar," an institution on Mustique, does everyone get together - of course, there is a strict ban on cell phones there.

Where to stay

Palm Beach

© Alex Amengual

Tommy Hilfiger's villa was influenced by Oliver Messel's architectual designs and built in British colonial style. Two smaller houses on the palm-fringed estate provide privacy for larger groups.

Palm Beach
L'Ansecoy Bay, Mustique
Web: mustique-island.com
Price: From € 70,000 per week.

Mandalay

© provided

This extraordinary property was designed in the 1980s for British rock legend David Bowie. Here Balinese style blends with modern elements and Caribbean flair.

Mandalay
Mandalay Estate, Mustique, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Web: mandalayestate.com
Price:From € 90,000 per week.

Cotton House

© Dominic Lancaster

The coral-colored boutique hotel combines Caribbean elements with the architecture of the French Antilles. Every Tuesday, it becomes a social hub: Champagne and canapés tempt guests in the ''Great Room Bar''.

Cotton House
Mustique, Mustique Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Web: cottonhouse.net
Price:doubles from € 730,-

Where to eat

Basil's Bar

Visitors of the island have been meeting to party in Basil Charles' bar since 1976. Here chances are high to enjoy your rum punch next to stars like Mick Jagger, Tommy Hilfiger or Bryan Adams.

Web: basilbar.com

Veranda

The dinner menu's dishes have their origins in the cuisine of the West Indies: here ribeye steak is rubbed with homemade spice mixtures, and homemade marinades round off the food's flavor.

Web: cottonhouse.net

Beach Café

Every Saturday, at the relaxed event "Cook on the Sand," a large bonfire is built in front of guests on the beach, over which chefs prepare fresh fish and other Caribbean delicacies.

Web: cottonhouse.net

Text: Karin Cerny and Katharina Kotrba