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An island jewel, Nassau reigns as the capital of the Bahamas. Onshore enjoy unparalleled shopping, beaches, dining and gaming. Offshore, a world of turquoise water activity awaits - explore reefs, hook a game fish and more - What is your pleasure
Home to over half of the Bahamian population, Nassau brings to mind many things to many people. To some, it is the fine sand that ribbons the coast—so pure that it makes some think of baby powder, how smooth and white it is. To others, gambling comes to the fore, as the Bahamas are known for their world-class casinos. Others dream of their retirement in a colonial island paradise whose government increasingly recognizes that its inherent beauty is its economic strength. Yet for others, thoughts turn back to the 1980s, the days of the illegal substance cowboys exemplified by Don Johnson, Phillip Michael Thomas and the TV show "Miami Vice,"—the modern-day smugglers in high-speed chases from the American mainland to The Bahamas, as well as romance on the high seas. All this makes for a plethora of water sports and activities, superb shopping, excellent historic sites and a hopping nighttime scene.
But of course, the island of Nassau is so much more, it is an antidote for people needing relief from the day-to-day hassles and stress of life in the "real world," where the concern is not which reef to visit but which bill to pay. So the question is, "where do you go to best enjoy all these things?"
Downtown
Downtown is the hub of activity in Nassau. Thousands of people visit daily, to shop, dine, sightsee and enjoy the bustling atmosphere of this port city. While the busiest part of Downtown is the Bay Street thoroughfare and the Woodes-Rodgers Walk, located across the street from the port and parallel to Bay, the area actually extends for several blocks in each direction. It starts at West Bay, around the Junkanoo Beach area. A few hotels and restaurants are located on West Bay, most notably
The pace in this district is busy, so it is frantic at times. Without a doubt, it gets the most foot traffic on the entire island. This place is perfect for recreational shoppers, sightseers and first-time visitors.
Cable Beach
If Downtown Bay Street is known for its shopping, Cable Beach is the recognized hotel district. Five enormous hotels—two of them all-inclusive—are located on this strip. The area is also known for its dining options, the magnificent
Paradise Island
Nothing can prepare one for the sight of the
Paradise Island is stunning in some parts, lovely in others, and in some...well, it's not finished yet. There is constant construction and even more constant renovation as hotels strive to match up to the world-famous Atlantis. This is easily the most expensive and tourist-oriented place in all of the Bahamas, but no one would deny that it's a lot of fun. There's no bus over the Bridge. Drive, or take a cab or bus to the foot and walk.
Entertainment
Perhaps the two words that come to mind when people consider Nassau entertainment are Paradise and Island. Developed in large part in the 1970s, it features the
Start with its renowned casino—all 1,100 slot machines and more than 80 gaming tables, including roulette, poker and blackjack. But that's only the beginning, because it has what it calls the Entertainment Complex that incorporates nightclubs,
Quite fun is the interactive museum
On Elizabeth Hill is the Queen's Staircase, so named for Queen Victoria of England. The attraction does, indeed, consist of a structure with 65 steps. There also is a straw market for all things Bahamian, although it's not nearly as substantive as the straw markets in, say, Freeport and Port Lucaya on Grand Bahama. You might want to save your straw-market spending money for the latter two if you take an island trip.
Junkanoo, a musical form unique to the Bahamas, is celebrated at the Junkanoo Expo at the Prince George Wharf, basically an homage to the annual festival marked each Christmas season, when the locals and visitors get down and do some serious partying to celebrate the islands' heritage. However, it's undergoing some renovation, so at this writing, you might find it only nearly close to reopening. Call or stop by to confirm.
When the boat or plane drops you off, what do you think? You think beaches, you think surf. You think
You first want to go to anywhere that serves the native cuisine. That consists of conch, of course, and bull dolphin (mahi-mahi game fish, not the Flipper sort), grouper, bonefish and more ocean delicacies. And anywhere means anywhere, from the large resorts to the mom-and-pop local operations.
Then you want music, dancing, drink. You'll find far too many fun places to list here, but a sampling includes, besides Atlantis, the , a comedy club; the We Place on Thompson Avenue, where locals make up the clientele for the most part.
Dining and Drinking
As both the capital of the Bahamas and a world-famous vacation destination, Nassau boasts a wide variety of dining and entertainment options. Many of the island's restaurants and bars keep to a tropical theme in terms of ambience and cuisine, but a more eclectic dining scene is beginning to flourish, and different kinds of night spots are also beginning to crop up. One can find Chinese takeout, European bistros and Italian trattorias throughout downtown Nassau and Paradise Island. Gourmet rooms and upscale cocktail lounges are also scattered throughout the island, with a few restaurants making the "Top Ten" list in gourmet publications and trade magazines.
However, people don't come to Nassau to eat Chinese food or French food. They come to Nassau to drink rum and eat conch—that deliciously chewy sea creature rumored to have extraordinary libido-boosting properties. Spring Breakers visit the island for the inexpensive liquor and the thumping reggae and calypso music, while entire families can enjoy Junkanoo parades and inexpensive local seafood. The quintessential Nassau dining experience includes chipper Calypso music, fresh fish or lobster, friendly service and a view of the sea. One can find all of these qualities at dozens of restaurants in Nassau and Paradise Island.
Downtown-Bay Street
Dining options on Bay Street aren't quite as plentiful as one might expect. The street is primarily a shopping area, and there are just a few restaurants interspersed with the stores. Most restaurants are located on side streets, a short distance from the thoroughfare. At the beginning of Bay Street, the majestic Colonial Hilton offers several dining options, all of them expensive. The Wedgwood Room is a perfect choice for very special occasions, say anniversary dinners or 50th birthdays.
Fine dining choices don't stop at the Hilton, however. A number of gourmet restaurants are located within a few blocks of the landmark hotel. is a perfect place to check email and nibble on a salad. Skans Café is smack dab in the middle of Bay Street. Busy and informal, it does a brisk lunchtime business. On a side street of Bay, the Brussels Brasserie serves delectable brunch and lunch dishes in a casually cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Most of Nassau's nightlife is located downtown. Bahama Boom, the latest hot spot, also claims the distinction of being Nassau's first techno club. Waterloo is a popular dance club, featuring all kinds of music and an outdoor patio. The Drop Off is famous for its intriguingly seedy mixed crowd and its late-night food service.
East Bay
While it's not known for much else, the area around the foot of the Paradise Island Bridge has become a sort of restaurant district. Several popular restaurants, including the jazzy and legendary Poop Deck, are clustered here, near Nassau Harbour. The recent addition of two popular restaurant franchises, the Outback Steakhouse and Hooters, makes this an even more popular dining destination.
Cable Beach
This part of Nassau is known for its world-class hotels, but it has plenty of fine independent restaurants as well. , located in the
Around the Island
Some of Nassau's best and most unique dining options aren't located in any specific area, but manage to flourish by drawing customers away from the main drag. Foremost among these restaurants is the famous Sun and... Not only is its name enough to catch the eye over and over again, its cuisine is sufficient to draw rave reviews from the world's toughest critics.
Nassau is a fun city for dining and drinking. With the exception of a few five-star gourmet rooms, the prices are not prohibitively expensive, and the cuisine is often inventive and flavorful. There are dozens of places to get a mixed drink for a few dollars, and the atmosphere at restaurants and bars is usually pleasant. Whether you're a student on Spring Break or a millionaire on a pleasure cruise, you're sure to find something that suits your palate and wallet.
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