Zimbali Culinary Retreat

10/10

Exceptional

09 Sep 2025

Gabriel

Culinary retreat

We went in the off season. The owners and staff were very attentive. I highly recommend the food there for all meals just make sure to tell them in advance you'll be eating there. Travel from Negril to the retreat if you drive there. If dont you will drive through very hard to drive in mountains (at least for an American). It is very beautiful and remote. We do plan on coming back for the food and amazing veiws and recomending it to out friends and families.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 May 2025

Tricia

A beautiful tropical paradise. Very peaceful and tranquil. Excellent food. A natural picturesque retreat . An amazing place to stay, visit , eat and relax. It also very safe! You’re in excellent hands at Zimbali. Not to mention the food is all organic..

Business_and_leisure Self

2/10

Poor

01 Apr 2025

Jennifer

I will start by saying that we visited the property a day before our scheduled reservation to see exactly where we would be staying and received a cold welcome from the owners, husband and wife. The property itself is very beautiful and the staff are friendly and helpful. However, because of the treatment of the owners, what we thought would be a peaceful stay, ended up not being nice at all. After our second night, there was a misunderstanding about how many nights we had booked and rather than calmly discussing with us to resolve, the wife (chef) became aggressive with me and began screaming at me. At that point, my husband and I promptly left the property. I hwe would be staying, the owners wife, who is also the chef, literally screamed at me instead of respectfully discussing the situation and seemed to have no control over her emotions. We guess that because we are black Jamaicans and are not perhaps the preferred European cooking show guests is why we received that treatment. I am certain European guests would not have experienced the treatment we received but would have been dealt with differently. The treatment of the owner ruined the entire experience.

10/10

Exceptional

31 Mar 2025

roseanna

Stayed for 1 night with my partner. We absolutely loved a night in the country, lush greenery everywhere, nice walks, friendly neighbours and a family atmosphere. The dinner experience was amazing we will definitely be returning.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Mar 2025

Nichole

I don’t know where to start. The food was amazing. The owners are warm and welcoming. The staff is never without a smile. It’s the most perfect place to unplug from the hustle and bustle of the world.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

06 Mar 2025

ANAYANSI

Great food!

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jan 2025

Michael

Wonderful stay and the farm to table culinary dinner was a special experience. The owners treat you like family and you get a real feel for the Jamaican culture. We hope to return in the future.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 Jan 2025

Richard

The property was nice and quiet. The owners do have children that are adorable. Dogs are there but not clean.
We were looked at like we were at the wrong place upon arrival.
I would recommend staying at this location only if you seek solitude to reflect on life or need a place to hide for 2 to 3 days. Do not book for more than 2 days if you like to get out and enjoy a more active life.
Although we paid for 8 days, we left day 2 and got a hotel in Negril. We did speak to owner kindly about possibly refunded half the money since we literally stayed two nights. I will say this, he didnt even offer to give one day as a courtesy. He actually stated we were straight on his end to leave.
He gave no care!
Anyways.
Transportation could run $30 or more each rider EACH WAY. Most companies do not want to travel to this location due to bad potholes and far distance.
Come with the things you like...snacks and water!
They do offer coffee pot, glasses, coffee cups, used sugar, used coffee, spring water in pitcher,and spoons. Our coffee pot was dirty with old coffee in pot and spoons were dirty.
Bring towels and floor mat, if important. The towel had a smell and the floor mats for our private room were unclean.
Food...
We did not spend any money on eating at Zimbali culinary retreat daily. We did purchased dinner for 2. To understand it was a 3 course meal. Our shrimp were overcooked and for the price we deserve more than 6 small overcooked shrimp. Zimbali is breathtaking!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jan 2025

Juliette

I cannot overstate how wonderful Zimbali was. It’s a family-run eco retreat on an organic farm in the hills not far from Negril. Picture little cabins with balconies looking out at the jungle, open-air common space held up by trees, beautiful birds and plants everywhere, and a relaxed vibe—but with an excellent quality restaurant and beautiful pool. A highlight was the “Rasta tour” hike up Canaan Mountain, and the drummers before dinner (which was always excellent). They also do a “cooking show” multi course dinner with food from their farm that looked delicious. The road up to the hotel is terrible so either take a taxi or make sure you go during the day and have a spare tire. I would not plan to go in and out every day, it’s far from things, which is part of the appeal for us but could be an issue for some. We weren’t bothered, but there are bugs including mosquitoes, as well as lizards and dogs, so if that stresses you out it might not be a fit. We went out to YS falls and the crocodile safari one day (highly recommend), but otherwise mostly relaxed and hiked in the immediate area. It was one of the most perfect hotels we have ever stayed at—if you’re looking for rustic, rural, eco-conscious travel with a relaxed/quiet vibe, this is the spot!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Dec 2024

Suzanne

Excellent retreat outside Negril

We loved our stay at Zimbali! It was relaxing and fun - we did the dinner show and Rasta tour, both highlights of our trip. Very accommodating for our son's food allergies. Only drawbacks were that the air conditioner did not work well in our room and dinner was served very early when not doing the cooking show (like 4:45pm). But overall, absolutely fantastic and we are already dreaming of going back for another stay!

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

04 Aug 2024

Debbie

An amazing experience! Serene escape to fully relax and enjoy the peacefulness in a safe and extremely beautiful location! I will definitely return and you’re really missing out if you’ve never gone for a culinary experience or brief stay!

10/10

Exceptional

22 Apr 2024

Errol

An amazing experience

I had an amazing stay. I did not know what to expected considering that the road to the hotel was a little bumpy but at the end of that road was a delightful oasis nestled in lush green forested landscape with various fruit trees. The staff were welcoming and tended to our every need and food preference.

6/10

Pleasant

08 Apr 2024

April

We booked Zimbali because we love nature, and wanted to do the retreat experience they offer. The property is beautiful, and filled with nature. We had researched the property for quite some time so knew alot about it, but not from the owners personally. We did the farm to table 5 course meal, and the rasta tour. Both were amazing. Natalie (a staff member there) was wonderful as well as the other staff members. The issue we had was with the owners. Mark for the most part was welcoming and assisted us with getting a cab into town. His wife/co owner Alesia was rude. She never acknowledged us when we got there. Anytime we asked her a question she was dismissive, had a rude tone and made it seem like we were intruding on her space by talking. The first night, she shut all the lights off around us while we were sitting there (it was 8pm). The second night, she told us we were being too loud and would wake her kids with the gate (that is at the retreat) and by playing music/talking. We were not loud AT ALL, but you can hear the neighbors sneeze at this place it’s so quiet. Lastly, we asked for the 420 package from her and she said “no, stores closed.” although the items were in her room and there’s no store hours. After that, we chose not to engage with her. Had to shorten due to Expedia's character limits. Blessings.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Feb 2024

Katrine

Lovely welcoming property, the healthy breakfasts are the best! I highly recommend!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Feb 2024

Peggy

Tranquil Culinary Paradise in the Mountains

Great food. Beautiful happy people that seem more like long-term friends. It’s a comfortable peaceful environment encouraging relaxation.

We were impressed with the attention to details. The hammock on our room’s porch was my favorite spot.

No TVs (WiFi is available) ZIMBALI'S CULINARY RETREAT offers the opportunity to disconnect as much or as little as needed.

One of the unexpected benefits was the quality of sleep we experienced—undoubtedly the best in months, as verified by my sleep app.

My advice: Don’t miss The Culinary Cooking show. The farm fresh food is authentic. It is delicious. The five course meal is uniquely prepared and presented in a way that pleases all senses. We also gained some valuable knowledge of plant based farm to fork eating and the African drummers added a wonderful rhythm to the whole experience.

We are already looking forward to future visits. This one checked all the boxes for us.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jan 2024

Benjamin

Zimbali is an oasis for peace and calm. We opted to take our infant on his first trip here instead of the original idea of an all-inclusive resort. We made the right decision since we were able to relax and soak in the nature around us. The family who runs the property are warm and welcoming and they engaged with us family-to-family. I would recommend this place to anyone for the food and local beauty.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

22 Dec 2023

Samantha

Really nice stay. We vacationed here for 2 nights to try something different from the constant all inclusives. And it was definitely worth it. Located up it the hills of little London, definitely not an easy drive, but a very rewarding experience. There is wifi available, no TV, a pool and private site/villas for each room. We stayed in the mountain cottage and there was enough space for more than 2 people. Ample closet space and, kitchenette located in room. Patio was large and you are able to pick starfruit from the deck. The true high light of this stay is the 5-course dinner cooking show. Chef Alessia really outdid herself. Breakfast in the morning and lunch in the evening was also great. The food is farm grown and it tastes amazing. They use no added salts or flavors, just natural tastes and it was delicious. She makes it all from scratch. Overall, a really enjoyable stay if you want something more authentic! Would definitely visit again.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Nov 2023

Shannon

This is a long overdue review. This was our second time at Zimbali. The first time we went for the cooking show, this time we stayed for three nights. Its hard to put into words the beauty of this place. As someone who is normally go go go, this is just what I needed. Marks daily meals were amazing and the long days just relaxing at the pool were just what we needed to unwind and rejuvenate. I have never slept so good in my life. The sounds of the mountains were a welcome change for the sounds of the city than I am use to. We can't wait to come back in April and introduce this amazing experience to two more friends that will be visiting Jamaica for the first time. See you in April.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

09 Oct 2023

Kamala

If you need to get away and be with nature. Even if you dont stay. You have to book the Zimbali Culinary Show.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jul 2023

Michael

This was an amazing retreat! Not for everyone but is needed by all! Peaceful and Restful!

Great healthy fresh food! Loved every moment

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jan 2023

Anna Eliza

If you want to feel the Jamaican hospitality, relaxation and the best food you have ever had.You have to go!If you love ,respect nature and animals,You have to go!Mark has the answers for your escapes,his wife that is the Chef with her kitchen team cooks the most delicious food with products straight from there farm.The housekeeping ladies so kind and caring.The kitchen boys also.And my special friends Bruna, Peppers,whity and there gang.I stayed 11 days with my husband and maybe i forget someone.Guys thanks a lot for everything!!!!!!
Bless and Love
Liza & Bill from Greece

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jan 2023

BRITTANY

There are not enough stars to give Zimbali. More than just hotel or retreat...Zimbali is an OASIS. Family run by a group of beautiful individuals who live on the gorgeous property with their children. The retreat is on expansive land that is full of marvelous fruit trees, plants and various crops.

The head chef boss lady in charge Alicia and her husband Mark are the best hosts ever. Alicia and her chefs make you 3 meals a day with ingredients from their expansive garden. You must book the cooking show, the most affordable 5 course meal I've ever seen...and incredibly delicious.

I stayed for a few nights and found myself nearly teary eyed when I had to go. I'm still in Jamaica and will be returning to Zimbali next week to bring a friend for dinner and a farm tour.

Anything you need...transportation, snacks, a drink, herbal refreshments, nature lessons and suggestions...Zimbali has you covered. Their beautiful location is in the middle of the jungle and waking up every morning there felt like such a gift. The hammock on the balcony is perfect...you'll spend many hours there. The pool is also a perfect likkle vibe.

The entire staff at Zimbali are so incredibly funny and kind, and it's so beautiful to see them all working together...more than just \"employees\" they are family. And after staying there for a few days...they made me feel like family too.

I will be making Zimbali a mandatory stop on all my Jamaican vacations!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

31 Dec 2022

Kerry

Charming Jamaican retreat

Charming place to stay for a night or two off the beaten track. Part of the fun was driving there. Mark and Lisa were excellent hosts along with all their team. Food was fantastic!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jun 2022

Gary Ashley Hodson

This is a place in which a person goes to relax and recharge, while being surrounded by nature. The owners live on the property, which is a farm to table, eco-friendly resort. The grounds are amazingly beautiful, it is safe, and the staff are incredible. The food is clean and makes your body feel good. The fresh fruit juices are especially delicious.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2022

Deseria

All my boxes, both big and small, were checked by Zimbala. The hospitality was way beyond expected from the moment we stepped out of the car. The food was to die for - the flavors made all my tastebuds dance. Amazing and entertaining chefs for Food Show. Room was rustic, clean and comfortable. The small stuff that is extremely important to me good A/C, excellent hot water and water pressure in shower, excellent reluable wifi cover on property, good coffee in room. The 1.5 mile to property after getting off the main was take a little maneuvering, but will be apart of the adventure. A day trip to Negril's 7 miles is about 30 minutes. My experience was awesome. This is a must do.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 May 2022

Crystal

Great Starting poing

Great start to our wonderful trip in Jamaica, a great place to truly unwind.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

03 Apr 2022

William

Staff was wonderful friendly and thoughtful , unique setting a bit off beaten path. Don’t be in a hurry to get there the road is rough. The food was great the experience is worth the trip. if your looking to get out of Negril it is a good option .

Leisure

8/10

Excellent

02 Mar 2022

Terry

2022 Jamaica

New experience for us. Enjoyed the mountain hike & rasta lunch. Also the culinary dinner was a fun experience.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Dec 2021

Andre

Amazing food and amazing people.

It was exactly what the doctor ordered for the holidays. Loved it, the food, the place, the people. A great way to spend Christmas at a home away from home. I will definitely return, with company.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

26 Apr 2021

Verified traveler

The staff was courteous and helpful, the property offered serenity and relaxation. Would definitely recommend it.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Mar 2021

Verified traveler

New pool rocks! Facilities have been upgraded during Covid, food better than ever.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Dec 2019

Robert

Great food at Zimbali

We spend one night at Zimbali and highly recommend it!
It’s nice to get out in the forest and get close to the food they will serve you. The evening meal was fantastic and a nice social experience. Great breakfast the next day. Very friendly staff, highly recommend Zimbali.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

At Zimbali you will see an example of how real Jamaican life is lived in a rural location and you will eat the best food on the island.

10/10

Exceptional

19 Feb 2018

Verified traveler

Family feel cozy farm retreat

Our stay at Zimbali was excellent. We stayed one night in the cozy cottage right off the main entrance. Rooms are rustic and charming. My favorite part of the room were the two hammocks on the balcony. The meals were delicious, fresh and wholesome. The farm to table cooking show was amazing and the food was amazing. Definite, must try. Staff were very friendly and provided a welcoming environment.

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jan 2018

Verified traveler

Amazing Mountain Retreat

Food is amazing. The whole place is kept super clean and tidy. Staff are wonderful.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

10 Jan 2018

kungfukitty

Promises more than is

The location was fabulous! The ride an adventure on its own. We didn't rent a 4wd but managed to get there on the very bumpy 30min dirt road.
We received a very warm welcome and were shown our room and the restaurant/bar facilities with a welcome drink. There were several dogs on site and some children playing around. It was a day before Christmas and was lovely to have a feeling of being amongst family and cheerful kids.
The room was very homey and nicely decorated with cultural flair. The balcony was nice and small with 2 hammocks and view into the forest and another home down the bottom of the property.
The internet connection was super! The large antenna was directly in the corner of our room for the whole premises. Electrosmog was not so eco friendly.
There was some loud construction work going on near our room which was very disturbing and we could not relax at all. This went on for several hours. The reason we came to the Retreat was to have peace. Some other lady staying nearby complained and they stopped for a while. Other guests were staying in the room next to us and we could hear everything they were saying so I assume the walls are thin. Therefor there was little privacy.
At lunch, we were seated with other guests on the same table. We expected more creativity and something different being a cooking school. Maybe fresh fruit would have been lovely.
The dogs kept barking into the night so sleeping was difficult.
We paid for 3 nights but only stayed one.

8/10

Excellent

03 Oct 2017

Paula

A day deep in nature

Was seeking somewhere different off the beaten path to stay just for a night stumbled upon this gem great host, great private screen location great food and staff!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Mar 2017

Verified traveler

Fantastic Farm Owned by Great People

We've been traveling to Jamaica for years and the farm at Zimbali Retreats has been our favorite experience by far! This little slice of heaven if nestled up in the mountains and is perfect for those wanting to experience less ocean/touristy stuff and more farm/authentic Jamaican life. Mark and Alecia have created a great little hide-away and we will be regulars. All the food is from the farm or local area and is organic. If you hike up the mountain a little further you can share a vegan lunch with a Rastafarian named Fire. You can tour the farm and head in to dinner and watch Sharika and Rambo prepare a delicious meal before your eyes. You can walk to the nearby village and visit with the locals. There are 4 dogs, 4 cats, a donkey and plenty of goats to keep you entertained. The property is full of fruit trees, vegetable plants, and bamboo. There is a meditation hut with a fantastic view. There is no air conditioning, but we were fortunate to have a wonderful breeze each night. I loved spending time on our deck in the hammock. The water is brought in from a spring and tastes delicious! Rain water is collected for showers. The cabin we stayed in was of perfect size. There was a tv in the room (for my husband) and free wifi. Anything we encountered that cost extra (and that wasn't much) was very affordable. I highly recommend this \"resort\" for anyone wanting a spiritual (not to be confused with religious) get away. I came back a much better person for having stayed there.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2017

maxine

A piece of heaven away from the hustle and bustle

This is an amazing place . We were looking to get away from everything , this place is literally in the middle of a beautiful mountain valley , the owners and staff are like family we had maximum privacy and the best food .

10/10

Exceptional

10 Mar 2025

Martine

A 7-Day Stay at Zimbali:
More than a vacation, a cultural immersion. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We spent a week at Zimbali, with three days on the all-inclusive package and the rest free to explore and relax.

The Rasta Tour was incredible! A challenging mountain hike, but worth every step. We learned about jungle plants and trees, and Fya cooked a delicious meal at the top. Stunning views of lush mountains, jungle, and the ocean!

The farm-to-table meals were outstanding and refined. The Cooking Show with Alicia was a highlight. Her passion for food was inspiring, and she explained the health benefits of every ingredient. We felt satisfied, never heavy.

The water was a surprise! I drank straight from a jungle spring and felt amazing, even with my sensitive digestion. I never got sick.

We asked Mark for a beach day and sunset experience, and he arranged everything effortlessly. Just tell him what you need, and he’ll make it happen!

We loved the Paradise Pool with its jungle-view deck—no mosquitoes, just peaceful relaxation.

Sleeping in the jungle was bliss—crickets and frogs at night, and a comfy bed.

The staff felt like family—always warm and welcoming. The drivers were more than guides—they were caretakers, ensuring we were safe at every stop.

To each one of you: Thank you so much!!!
We can’t wait to return! 🇯🇲💛💚❤️

IMPORTANT TIP:
Book Zimbali’s shuttle! Expedia’s service didn’t reach the retreat. The roads are rough—Mark’s drivers know them well and make the trip stress-free.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Feb 2023

Sonia

J'ai tout apprécié. La beauté des lieux, le calme et la paix que l'on y ressent, la super vibe à l'heure de l'apéro, tous les repas, les marches sur la ferme accompagnés par le chien Pepper, les chiens qui venaient nous donner de l'amour, le Rasta Tour with lunch, etc. On y dort évidemment très bien. J'y retourne dès que possible. Merci à Mark et à toute la merveilleuse équipe pour cette belle énergie et cette capacité que vous avez à nous faire sentir chez nous. Love & Blessings - Sonia

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Dec 2022

Verified traveler

Amazing retreat up in the mountains

We had a great stay at Zimbali, it's a fantastic place! Can strongly recommend it to anyone who is traveling to Negril.
Everyone who works there were so kind and nice. We went on the rasta tour and the cooking show and they were bith amazing experiences. Only thing that could be better is keeping track of the services that you buy while staying there, it's easy to loose track and not remember everything when you are checking out.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

19 Jun 2022

Dariusz

Dobre miejsce na odcięcie się od cywilizacji.

Super miejsce na odcięcie się od cywilizacji . Przyroda jest super . Bardzo słaby dojazd drogą kamienistą z dziurami. Personel mało aktywny , ustawiony raczej na wyciągniecie kasy od klienta . Oferowane posiłki były małe ilościowo i drogie . W pobliżu nie ma żadnej alternatywy zakupu ani innej restauracji. Ładny basen .

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

30 Nov 2018

sophie

Un excellent accueil par le propriétaire et par ses équipes le concept permet de découvrir des recettes du pays un agréable moment de détente tres bon rapport qualité prix pas de supplément