All too typically a mere stopover for cruise ships floating between the Caribbean isles, Nassau—the Bahamas capital residing on the island of New Windfall—is a marvel of white sand seashores and mouthwatering delicacies, deserving of its personal slot in week-long trip infamy. A less-than-3-hour flight from New York Metropolis, the oasis is a hub bursting with tradition, from its annual Junkanoo celebration on Bay Avenue to its colonial structure infused with pirate artifacts and its quite a few retailers and eating places, the place locals present a better have a look at conventional dishes and artisan abilities handed down between generations.
However maybe one of the crucial interesting features of vacationing in Nassau is the town’s adaptability: Dad and mom will discover child-friendly (and budget-friendly) actions amongst the resorts and water parks; newlyweds will uncover unique getaways in rooms alongside the shore; and people with a couple of additional bucks to burn will meet ample alternatives for world-class luxurious. Dropping by for a couple of hours isn’t sufficient. To get essentially the most out of Nassau’s hidden gems, you’ll need to stick round lengthy after the day trippers disappear into the horizon.
We received a sneak peek of Nassau’s summer season choices throughout a current whirlwind go to, which included encounters with stay sea turtles, spoonfuls overflowing with conch, lobster, and spaghetti, and indulgent spa therapies beneath the solar’s mild glow. Forward, all the pieces we found alongside the way in which—together with the most effective accommodations, eating places, and experiences to make Nassau your new favourite vacation spot.
Nassau Straw Market
A Bahamas custom for generations, straw-weaving is a talent ingrained in lots of Nassau locals, and also you’ll discover a few of their greatest handmade creations on the Nassau Straw Market, housed in an infinite air-conditioned warehouse on Bay Avenue. Although not all the pieces on the procuring heart is technically made by hand—you’ll discover loads of imported knick-knacks adorned with Caribbean iconography—that’s a part of what makes the hunt so enjoyable. When you encounter a vendor promoting genuine delights—together with fruit baskets, totes, wallets, and even seaside slides—the following haggle is a thrill. Convey loads of money (U.S. {dollars} are fantastic) and be ready to barter, however stick round lengthy sufficient to listen to the distributors’s tales: Lots of them discovered the follow from their mother and father and grandparents, and their tales of custom are as touching as they’re spectacular.
The Present Gallery & Artwork Middle
Since its opening in 2018, The Present has been the house of native art work and group arts funding on the Baha Mar resort. Though hooked up to and related to the resort, The Present operates as its personal gallery and studio area, highlighting works from native creators in a wide range of types, mediums, and ranges of expertise. (Remaining works from the establishment’s 2500-piece assortment are displayed all through Baha Mar’s on line casino, eating places, lobbies, spa, and visitor rooms.) Curated by acclaimed Bahamian mixed-media artist John Cox, who formally labored on the Nationwide Artwork Gallery of The Bahamas, the gallery affords ample alternatives for looking in a relaxed, open-space inside, and an hooked up reward store sells art work, prints, and genuinely beautiful souvenirs together with shirts and jewellery. Maybe most significantly, The Present permits resort company and guests to do extra than simply ogle: Lessons in acrylic pouring, leaf printing, panorama portray, and extra can be found for artists of all ranges all through the week.
Junkanoo Seaside
Courtesy of Nassau Paradise Island Tourism
The Bahamas is understood for its seashores, so choose nearly any stretch of coast and also you’ll have a assured good time. However Junkanoo is among the extra distinctive choices on the menu: Only a brisk stroll away from the native cruise port, Junkanoo is a go-to spot for rowdier crowds, partially due to its loud music and quite a few cocktails inside arm’s attain. One in every of a handful of public seashores in Nassau, Junkanoo affords chairs and snorkel gear for lease and nearly at all times has a volleyball sport or two going. In case you’re hungry, the pastel-colored shacks lining its boardwalk supply conch fritters, jerk hen, and margaritas aplenty. (On weekends, locals host cookouts you gained’t need to miss.) Whereas not essentially the most secluded spot—you’ll need entry to a seaside resort for that—Junkanoo is certainly one of the crucial worthy fast journeys on the island should you’re on the lookout for a Bahama Mama and an ocean view.

Embroidered Seaside Tote
Zadig & Voltaire
bloomingdales.com
$348.00
Zadig & Voltaire

St. Lucia Linen-Mix Off-the-Shoulder Tiered Costume
Tommy Bahama
tommybahama.com
$118.00
Tommy Bahama

Ébano Floral-Print Recycled Swimsuit
Agua by Agua Bendita
net-a-porter.com
$270.00
Agua by Agua Bendita

Oh Rattling! Gold Shimmer Sun shades
Le Specs
lespecs.com
$69.00
Le Specs
Dune
CHRISTIAN HORAN PHOTOGRAPHY
A swanky French-Asian eatery hooked up to the equally polished Ocean Membership on Paradise Island, simply throughout the bridge from Nassau, Dune is a soirée for the senses. Embedded alongside the coast and that includes unobscured views of the tranquil turquoise waters, Dune is the crème de la crème of Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, designed with coastal-chic interiors by Jeffrey Beers. Merely studying the menu is sufficient to make your abdomen rumble. Begin with the shareable Black Plate, that includes conventional Bahamian conch salad, crab spring rolls, hen samosas, rice paper-wrapped tuna and avocado, and shrimp satay. Subsequent, go for pizza or fish: The Bahamian lobster pizza adorned with three gooey cheeses is heavenly, and the spice-crusted snapper and Nassau grouper are equally flaky, delicate, and scrumptious. Pair with prosecco or a vodka thyme lemonade, however don’t overlook dessert. A banana cake with praline crunch will ship you again to your room already dreaming of Dune’s breakfast choices the subsequent morning.
Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chophouse
Housed in a suave up to date outpost alongside the shore, Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chophouse is the brainchild of chef Marcus Samuelsson, who designed a menu highlighting native elements and recent seafood remixed with revolutionary strategies. Strive, as an example, the acclaimed Spaghetti Piccadilly, a crab and lobster-stuffed pasta smothered in shellfish butter and topped with Calabrian chilis. Or order the Downtown Jerk Rooster, a half chicken served with conventional rice and peas, topped with pineapple chutney. Don’t overlook cornbread for the desk, full with buttered rum for optimum spreading. Dessert is awash in conventional Caribbean flavors: coconut tarts, mango sorbet, a chocolate dacquoise sponge cake, and a caramelized apple cobbler are sufficient to boggle the thoughts.
Café Martinique
Courtesy of Nassau Paradise Island Tourism
To disregard what Paradise Island’s famend mega-resort Atlantis has to supply can be to insult what a whole lot of hundreds of holiday makers have liked most about their holidays. The enduring locale not solely options its notorious gravity-defying water slides, but in addition a smattering of world-class eating places. The French fantastic eating institution Café Martinique tops the checklist as one in all Atlantis’ greatest, that includes basic caviar and escargot alongside coq au vin, duck breast, and a complete dover sole meunière served with arugula pesto and crispy kale. For dessert, chocolate creameux and baba limoncello fall in line alongside profiteroles and multi-hundred-dollar scotch and cognac. A spot for particular events, certainly.

Cuarzo Semilla Otoño Maxi Costume
Agua by Agua Bendita
modaoperandi.com
$1,250.00
Agua by Agua Bendita

Gio Sandal
Larroude
larroude.com
$285.00
Larroude

Mini Corda Crossbody Bag
Staud
shopbop.com
$250.00
Staud
Graycliff Restaurant
Courtesy of Graycliff Lodge
Though a celebrated restaurant in its personal proper—Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been identified to fly in only for a meal—Graycliff Restaurant within the storied Graycliff Lodge is probably most intriguing for its award-winning wine cellar. That includes 275,000 bottles from 20 completely different nations, the cellar is an fragrant feast for connoisseurs and sommeliers, of which Graycliff options solely the most effective of the most effective. Begin within the lounge for cocktail hour, hand-rolled cigars, and stay music—a rendition of “New York State of Thoughts” by native singer Tanya Hanna charmed this visitor—then transfer to the backyard patio to maintain the booze flowing, this time with wine so multi-layered it virtually counts as a meal. Order a steak and chocolate soufflé should you get hungry, however strive to not let the booze obscure your judgment. In spite of everything, you wouldn’t need to by accident buy the cellar’s oldest bottle of wine obtainable: a 1727 Rudesheimer Apostelwein priced at $200,000.
Martini Bar and Lounge
When in Nassau, drink as James Bond would do. You would possibly acknowledge The Ocean Membership’s Martini Bar and Lounge from the 007 movie On line casino Royale, by which Daniel Craig’s Bond sipped his shaken-not-stirred martinis in one of many bar’s luxurious leather-based chairs. This summer season, the venue is launching a brand new Bond-themed expertise for company: a seven-course secret tasting menu. To bask in 007’s delights, you’ll need to guide the expertise first; solely then will you obtain an in-room message with data on easy methods to take part within the night’s occasions. Trace: Count on quite a few martinis, paired with caviar and maybe a gold flake-adorned tart or two—Aston Martin not included.
Skybar
Courtesy of SLS Rosewood Baha Mar
No trip is full with out a journey to no less than one rooftop bar, particularly when the sunsets within the Bahamas are this chic. Skybar, perched atop the SLS Baha Mar constructing on Baha Mar campus, takes a web page from Los Angeles’ Sundown Boulevard with its aux-pumping ambiance and suave pavilion. Already that includes among the finest views on the island, Skybar additionally nails its beverage menu: mojitos and margaritas can be found in a spread of flavors, whereas the gin-mixed Skybar Lemonade and vodka- and prosecco-infused Pear Feté stand out amongst beers, ciders, and a curated wine checklist. Push your dinner reservations again an hour and journey the elevator up prime round golden hour, when the Instagrams will undoubtedly come out greatest.

Wendi Scarf Prime
Apparis
apparis.com
$43.40
Apparis

The Simple Pant
Everlane
everlane.com
$78.00
Everlane

Carmel Floral Appliquè Ankle Strap Sandal
Kat Maconie
nordstrom.com
$360.00
Kat Maconie

Massive Diamond Hoop Earrings
Good Earth
brilliantearth.com
$1,695.00
Good Earth
Baha Mar
“For a few years, Atlantis was like the center of the physique,” says Philip Bethell, proprietor of the transfers and excursions firm Bahama Beautiful, as he shuttles me from one resort to the subsequent. He factors to the large Baha Mar resort advanced on the horizon, a multi-hotel campus that includes a personal seaside; a newly opened water park; a on line casino; quite a few eating places, bars and swimming pools; an artwork gallery; and even wildlife sanctuaries for flamingos and marine creatures. “They’re actually giving Atlantis competitors.”
It’s not arduous to know why. Baha Mar was an infinite, multi-billion-dollar development funding on the island, and when its three accommodations—the Grand Hyatt, the SLS, and the Rosewood—opened in April 2017, November 2017, and June 2018, respectively, the race to overhaul Atlantis’s long-running resort dominance started. Such extravagance may have made Baha Mar appear overstuffed, however the reverse is true: Completely balanced between family-friendly and opulent, the 1,000-acre property is a well-oiled machine. The Grand Hyatt is essentially the most budget-friendly of its constructions, with the SLS essentially the most up to date and the Rosewood most swanky, however every have their share of exclusivity, which makes even turning a nook at Baha Mar really feel like entering into a brand new, intriguing realm. A stroll alongside the seaside will reveal a number of procuring stalls and meals vehicles, and myriad swimming pools supply celebration vibes, rest, or childlike journey, relying in your wants for the day. Don’t try with out a journey to the ESPA, a 30,000-square-foot luxurious spa best for unplugging.
Graycliff Lodge
Courtesy of Graycliff Lodge
An entire 180-degree flip from Baha Mar’s seemingly limitless actions, Graycliff Lodge, situated within the coronary heart of downtown Nassau, is a quaint inland gem, insulated from the crowds by its place atop a hill. You’ll discover a very completely different sort of luxurious on this refurbished manor, first constructed within the early 1700s by the retired pirate John Howard Graysmith and bought, a few years later, by the Garzaroli household, who nonetheless function the property to this present day. Rooms and cottages, which have hosted the likes of company together with Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Nelson Mandela, Michael Jordan, and Sean Connery, are outfitted in conventional colonial decor, together with lace curtains, four-poster beds, and floral linens. However you’ll need to spend most of your time both by the hand-painted tile pool or at one in all Graycliff’s ancillary companies, together with a five-star restaurant, a vineyard, a chocolatier, a cigar firm, and a museum. Take time to review the well-preserved architectural particulars of the constructing, and join afternoon tea or a wine luncheon earlier than you embark on a stroll to the water, mere minutes away.
The Ocean Membership
CHRISTIAN HORAN PHOTOGRAPHY
One of many ritziest choices obtainable on Paradise Island, the Ocean Membership, operated by the 4 Seasons, is a splurge, however its legendary lodging are value it. Suites, bungalows, and villas function vaulted ceilings, pressed linens, and memorable ocean views, and the pristinely manicured lawns are a sight to behold—particularly on the Versailles Gardens, the place the romantic Twelfth-century Augustinian cloisters invite company to sneak a kiss. The peacefulness amongst the resort’s swimming pools and eating locales is profound, making it the best locale for a much-needed retreat from actuality. With its personal health heart, golf course, and tennis courts, train is straightforward to squeeze in, and any drained muscular tissues will certainly get kneaded away in an open-air spa villa with its personal tub and courtyard. Seize a hammock on the garden or a chair close to the Seaside Deck, or climb right down to the Ocean Membership’s personal stretch of seaside for a really stress-free afternoon of sunbathing.

Inez Underwire One-Piece Swimsuit
Revel Rey

Sunstruck Shirt
Le Superbe

Solar Struck Boxer Brief
Le Superbe

Anita Crochet Bucket Bag
Staud

Solar Drops
Dr. Barbara Sturm
violetgrey.com
$145.00
Highly effective SPF is a should beneath the glare of the Bahamas solar, however by no means did slathering on sunscreen really feel so luxurious. This stylish little bottle is crammed with a super-lightweight sunscreen serum that blends nicely with moisturizer and sits effortlessly beneath your basis of selection.
Dr. Barbara Sturm

Stunning Pores and skin Basis
Charlotte Tilbury
nordstrom.com
$44.00
The aforementioned basis of selection may (and, we’d argue, ought to) be Charlotte Tilbury’s glow-in-a-bottle Stunning Pores and skin components. The hydrating recipe achieves medium-to-full protection with solely a pair pumps of product, and the result’s a natural-looking end that positively shimmers beneath the daylight.
Charlotte Tilbury

Sundazed Eau de Parfum
Byredo
nordstrom.com
$276.00
In case you’re staying in paradise, you should scent prefer it, too. Byredo’s citrus-forward Sundazed encompasses a splash of mandarin orange and lemon, tapered by neroli and jasmine with a touch of musk. Brilliant, recent, and candy—however with sufficient dimension so as to add intrigue—this is a perfect spritz earlier than dinner.
Byredo

The Chic Gold Oil
Miriam Quevedo
nordstrom.com
$95.00
A couple of days on the seaside would possibly naturally brighten your hair coloration, but when your locks want a further enhance, Miriam Quevedo has the mix down pat. This hair oil works wonders to strengthen and assist your hair, whereas including a silky sheen simply photographed for Insta.
Miriam Quevedo
Lauren Puckett-Pope
Affiliate Editor
Lauren Puckett-Pope is an affiliate editor at ELLE, the place she covers information and tradition.