Antigua and Barbuda, home to countless beaches and safe harbors, have spent decades quietly building. Today, they represent some of the Caribbean’s most coveted addresses. As a former British colony and still a member of the Commonwealth, the ‘vibe’ is decidedly English with both left-hand driving and a polite formality upheld by all.

Over the past few decades, this leeward island has secured its reputation as the go-to spot for superyachts, world-class sailing regattas, championship golf, and hideaway luxury resorts.

Seventy-nine years ago, a developer bought hundreds of acres of prime waterfront to cater to the newly affluent, post-war class. And in 1947, his Mill Reef Club became the first of many establishments catering to those who wanted privacy from their public lives. Architectural homogeneity was the goal, and membership was “by invitation only” to 700 families. From the outset, low-key was the guiding principle, and opulence was disallowed. Only two-bedroom homes were permitted.

In 1983, reflecting vastly increasing affluence, Jumby Bay was established—one of its three founders being the late Robin Leach, host of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” Still deemed the most exclusive resort in the Caribbean, Jumby Bay rests on its own island, membership determined by an admissions committee. Homes sit on acres of oceanfront. Guests are housed in separate cottages. And yet for all its restraint—only 56 homes—the island runs a full operation: watersports, restaurants, bars, and its own ferry to the mainland.

On the whole, Antigua boasts a half-dozen ultra-luxury resorts. Hermitage Bay is a standout: an undisturbed cove, private villas on the beach or the hillside, and chef Desroy Spence turning local ingredients into something worth the trip alone.

Another notable mention is Nikki Beach—the St. Barth’s-born beach party brand that somehow went global, has also entered the market. Now, diverging from their usual business model, they are offering branded residences for sale.

Into all of this enters the newest and definitively most luxurious of all: the Beach Club Barbuda.

A low-lying island just north of Antigua, Barbuda is ringed by some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world. On a 400-acre property, featuring two miles of beachfront, is the latest vision of legendary actor Robert De Niro, Australian billionaire James Packer, and British hospitality developer Daniel Shamoon. I say “vision” because it is still under construction.

Beach Club Barbuda is to be built partially on the site of the legendary K Club, a quiet luxury hideaway for royals and celebrities that closed in 2004 and was later devastated by Hurricane Irma. Princess Diana was a frequent visitor, and the beach in front of the new club bears her name.

The island itself is important to De Niro. He told Worth, “The first time I came to Barbuda, more than 30 years ago, I knew there was something special about it. It’s one of those places that stays with you.”

I was the exclusive journalist given a preview of the project. It began on the 10-minute helicopter ride from Antigua that currently brings both diners to Nobu’s beach-hut style restaurant and those interested in learning about the new development.

Nobu Matsuhisa’s restaurant is already drawing gourmands. The De Niro-Nobu relationship is not a celebrity-driven, superficial one. It’s long-standing and deep, as De Niro was one of the founding investors of the Nobu brand. Together, they have 58 restaurants on five continents plus 46 ultra-high-end hotels open or in development.

As an admirer who watched Nobu Matsuhisa roll maki and cut sushi in LA in 1987, I was not surprised at the creativity of the food. He sets the standards, and his culinary team does not disappoint. The open beachfront space is framed by hand-hewn posts and beams, aged to shipwreck perfection. Tables and chairs, when not in the central space (covered in case of a short tropical rain), are firmly anchored in the sand, blending indoors with outdoors.

De Niro and his partners’ goal is to develop a low-impact luxury inn with home sites, all of which will be single-story to preserve the vista. De Niro said, “I wanted to create something that respects the spirit and beauty of the island.”

As part of the Beach Club Barbuda, the Nobu Beach Inn will have 17 two- and three-bedroom rental villas, private pools, restaurants, and a full complement of water sports—sailboats, powerboats, kite surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and voyages to neighboring islands.

For those seeking a more permanent island connection, 25 semi-custom, 5,000–6,000 sf residences, each set on one acre with 100 feet of beachfront, are available. Interior choices will be semi-bespoke: working with in-house architects, floor plans, and finishes can be customized while still benefiting from the timeline savings of overall standardization.

Twenty-three larger lots with 150 feet of expanded beachfront, plus seven estate lots ranging from four to six acres, are also on offer. These are, within the overall curated design parameters of the club, fully customized. A list of recommended contractors is available, and overall guidance can be provided.

Homeowners will have privileges at the “owners only” Clubhouse, with amenities including a pool, gym, restaurant, and bar. Ownership of individual homesites is contingent upon acceptance into the club. All individual homes are eligible to be placed in a rental program managed by the developers.

Shamoon noted, “The environmental footprint will be so low it may be barely visible from a water approach. Water will be desalinated and gray water reused. The entire project is off the grid. Energy will be from solar, LNG, and battery backups.” He emphasized this is a legacy project for multi-generations to enjoy. “All the principals are building houses here. We have no exit strategy. We all plan to live on the island.”

An organic farm will be a source of fresh food for the myriad restaurants planned. The very small Barbudan community will also benefit from a guest and homeowner fund that will enhance education and infrastructure on the island.

Currently, the only element of the development up and running is Nobu’s restaurant—though on the evidence so far, that alone is worth the helicopter ride.

Each year, yacht brokers set sail to Antigua for the highly anticipated Caribbean Charter Show. On display are the largest, most opulent, best fitted-out superyachts available—not surprisingly, as English and its adjacent Falmouth Harbors on the island’s southern end are the desired bases for the world’s greatest power and sail yachts. A recent visit saw the legendary sailboat Maltese Falcon and the world’s most advanced power yachts, Obsidian and the aptly named 363-foot Leviathan, in the harbor.

Events are centered around the Antigua Yacht Club, and must-attend regattas for the most agile of sailing yachts are a staple. Then there is the RORC 600—a 600-mile, sailor’s-bucket-list regatta that passes 11 islands and takes between two and four days to complete. Past RORC CEO Eddie Warden Owen told Worth, “Antigua is the best place to start and finish a challenging course. It is the perfect winter playground for both enthusiastic Corinthian offshore racers and the top pro sailors from around the world.”

For traditionalists, every spring there’s a feast of wood and canvas as the world’s great classic yachts—like the king of the sailing seas, J boat Rainbow—enter the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta.

An international airport with a long runway can already accommodate all private aircraft, and charter flights from nearby St. Barth’s are available.

This development is evolutionary, not revolutionary for Antigua and Barbuda, long a hotspot for both yachting and land-based pleasure. The Beach Club Barbuda will be one more jewel—perhaps the ultimate one—in the crown of these lovely Caribbean islands.