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Caribbean
These Bahamian Faves Have Beach, Culture, Food in One!
by Waheeda Harris
The Islands of the Bahamas beckon with turquoise waters, white sand beaches and the warm hospitality extended from casual beach bars to elegant five-star restaurants.
There’s no better way to start this Caribbean foodie fantasy than in the gateway of Nassau & Paradise Island.
How to Fish Fry
A quintessential Bahamian culinary experience is the fish fry, a convivial gathering of street vendors or beach shacks serving freshly caught seafood, barbecue chicken or pork, an endless supply of cold drinks and a side of sultry calypso music.
Less than a half-hour stroll (or a quick taxi ride) from downtown Nassau, Arawak Cay (which locals refer to as the fish fry) offers several sit-down restaurants and beach bars near Long Wharf Beach, a welcoming place whether you’re a visitor celebrating being on holiday or locals gathering to toast to the end of the workday.
A fish fry staple is conch (pronounced konk), a mollusk with a distinctive spiral shell. Taste this shellfish multiple ways: conch fritters (deep fried in a batter of spicy flour, peppers and celery), cracked conch (fried in a batter and served with rice and peas), conch chowder (creamy soup with conch bits), or conch salad (conch marinated with onions, peppers, chili, citrus and spices).
Walk and Learn
Explore the streets of downtown Nassau, hit the step count goal, taste local cuisine and learn about Bahamian culture.
Founded in 2012 by local entrepreneur Alanna Rodgers, Tru Bahamian Food Tours connects visitors with authentic Bahamian culture through guided culinary walks in Nassau.
The Bites of Nassau Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour is the most popular, a three-hour discovery of memorable places serving up traditional Bahamian flavours and multicultural influences embedded in Nassau’s vibrant food culture. As your palate is treated to several tastes including conch fritters, Bahamian-style macaroni and cheese, rum cocktails, you’ll also have plenty of time for photographs of the colourful streetscapes and harbour. The tour ends with a sweet finish of chocolate from Graycliff Chocolatier. This beloved shop within the elegant Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant also schedules classes on chocolate making and chocolate and spirits tasting.
Taste More
Near Goodman’s Bay Beach is luxe Baha Mar Resort featuring three posh hotels: Grand Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood. Upon arrival guests are offered a chilled glass of Sky Juice, a Bahamian cocktail of coconut water, condensed milk and gin.
Baha Mar also tempts guests with nearly 30 dining options, from Café Madeleine for morning coffee to Sugar Factory’s Instagrammable desserts. Other notable dining options include Marcus Fish + Chop House by Chef Marcus Samuelsson, haute Chinese cuisine at Shuang Ba and classic French at Café Boulud by Chef Daniel Boulud.
Located on Paradise Island, oceanside resort Atlantis has over 40 options for sipping and savouring, including restaurants from three MICHELIN-starred chefs: Michael White, José Andrés and Nobu Matsuhisa. There are also fast casual options such as Shake Shack, McKenzie’s Conch Shack, Murray’s Deli and Ben and Jerry’s, all within steps of the white sand beach.
For a memorable experience to indulge in Bahamian cuisine, meet award-winning chefs and participate in foodie events, add these festivals to the calendar. From October 22–26, the 2025 Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival will celebrate art, cuisine and culture at the Baha Mar Resort, while in spring 2026 the Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival, presented by Atlantis, will be a five-day fete of over 30 events to please the palate.
How to Get to Nassau & Paradise Island
In October, Air Canada increases service from Toronto (YYZ) to Nassau (NAS) from seven to 12 flights per week, and will continue to operate four times per week from Montréal (YUL) to Nassau. Watch for Air Canada’s new direct flights from Ottawa (YOW) and Halifax (YHZ) beginning in December. WestJet continues to operate daily service from Toronto and, this year, has added a second flight on both Saturday and Sunday. The Calgary-Nassau service from WestJet has expanded to two flights per week. Porter Airlines has added new seasonal service to Nassau. Starting in November, Porter will fly daily from Toronto, and in December will begin operating two flights per week from Hamilton, and one per week from Ottawa. (aircanada.com; westjet.com; flyporter.com)
Travel Planner
For more travel information about Nassau & Paradise Island, visit nassauparadiseisland.com
