10 Best Bars in New Providence and Paradise Islands, Bahamas

Tropical wallpaper and plush couches adorn this trendy hot spot, which takes its cocktails very seriously—we're talking 30-page-cocktail-menu seriously. They cover all the standards with a complete range of top-shelf liquors, but this is definitely the place to try something different. Take a drink from the absinthe fountain, build your own signature gin and tonic, or sip a cocktail out of a cute pig-shape cup in tribute to the country's famous swimming pigs. There's also an impressive mocktail menu and a small but tasty tapas menu for those who get peckish. Earlier in the day they serve delicious teas, coffees, and soft drinks.

You feel like you're stepping back in time inside this coffee shop by day, cocktail bar by night hot spot. The decor is vintage tropical, and the menu and the beverages are all very carefully crafted. The coffee is brewed from locally roasted beans, and the mochas and hot chocolates use locally crafted chocolate. There's also a small selection of food to accompany either your coffee or your cocktail. Take time to peruse the menu—the names and the descriptions are pure entertainment.

The SLS lobby comes to life at night as this lively spot heats up and takes over. The drinks flow from 11 am until midnight during the week and until 1 am on weekends, when there is also a DJ. This spot is popular with locals and hotel guests alike.

Enjoy some of the best views of the island, the Baha Mar resort, and the ocean from the island's only rooftop bar. The open-air pavilion on top of the SLS hotel is a great spot to enjoy the sunset. World-renowned DJs ensure the vibe is just right. Seating around the perimeter with the best views comes at a cost—$300 on weekends and $150 weeknights for a table for up to eight people.

Day or night, you'll find a crowd of locals and tourists gathered around the largest beach bar on Junkanoo Beach. Pull up a bar stool or grab a table in the shaded dining area and enjoy views of Nassau Harbour and the sounds of live music. There are daily specials on drinks and shots, plus packages that include beach chairs, umbrellas, and snorkel gear. Group beach activities and Wi-Fi are free.

Featuring a spectacularly open and airy design, the 50,000-square-foot (100,000 if you include the dining and drinking areas) casino is ringed with restaurants and offers more than 1,100 slot machines, plus baccarat, blackjack, roulette, craps tables, and such local specialties as Caribbean stud poker. There's also a high-limit table area, and most of the eateries have additional games. The sports book with the massive video wall looks out over the luxury yachts in the marina. The casino is always open, with gaming tables available from 10 am to 4 am daily.

Located upstairs from the Atlantis Casino, this nightclub is the place to see and be seen on Paradise Island, though many of the celebrities who frequent the club opt for the ultra-exclusive private lounge. Dancing goes on all night, and bartenders dazzle the crowd with their mixing techniques. The music varies from night to night.

With 100,000 square feet dedicated to gaming, this is the largest casino in the entire Caribbean. Out-of-the-ordinary, floor-to-ceiling windows keep gamers connected to the beautiful Bahamian ocean as they take a chance on 1,140 slot machines and 18 different table games or bet in the state-of-the-art Baha Mar Sports Book by William Hill. There's also the option of gaming in the exclusive high-limit slots area or one of five reserved high-roller gaming salons.

The only nightclub this side of the island is located inside Baha Mar and keeps the party going all night long. International celebrity DJs make sure the vibe is always on point, and the team of mixologists offer specialty handcrafted cocktails.

This legendary hot spot has had a complete revamp and offers indoor and outdoor bar and dining areas, accommodating up to 2,000 guests at a time. There's often live music, some of the island's top DJs, top-shelf drinks, and a delicious Sunday brunch.