201 Best Restaurants in Bahamas

This waterfront restaurant serves up Bahamian specialties such as cracked conch, fresh grouper, snapper, and grilled lobster, with homemade bread. A dinner bell rings when dinner is ready and diners move from the bar to the dining room. You must place your dinner order by 4 pm. 

A small hut bar overlooking the ocean and a brightly colored food truck serve simple but delicious small bites—conch fritters, fresh-catch ceviche, and fish tacos hit the spot. In true Bahamian style, the bar is open more frequently than the food truck, so be sure to check the schedule before driving all the way out for a bite. The original spot got completely wiped away by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, but they're slowly coming back.

One of Nassau's hot spots, this simple restaurant has an extensive menu, including traditional rolls, sushi, and sashimi, as well as more innovative options that incorporate conch and other local delicacies. The volcano roll topped with their special conch sauce is a favorite. There are enough non-seafood options on the menu to satisfy anyone in your group. Friday and Saturday nights are really busy, and they do not accept reservations, so be prepared to wait for a table.

Every table has a nice ocean view at this warm and friendly beachfront restaurant and bar at the Seascape Inn. Owners Mickey and Joan McGowan do the baking and cooking themselves. If you are staying elsewhere, make sure to call at least one day ahead, if not more. Grilled chicken salad, burgers, sandwiches on kaiser rolls, and, at times, quesadillas, are ample lunch temptations, which you can preorder for daily outings. Chicken in white wine–lime sauce, roast pork loin, grilled steaks, and fresh fish of the day are a few dinner sensations. Even if you're full, the chocolate ganache, Grand Marnier–chocolate cloud, and homemade ice creams should not be missed.

Located at the end of Jerry Wells Road, this charming, authentic conch shack stuck out on a dock in the water is truly local, offering friendly service, fun music, and good food. Sling back in the hammock, catch some tunes and breeze as you (if you're lucky) watch the almost-tame osprey, "Iron," snack on fish morsels. House favorites include fresh conch salad (watch Kenny pull the conch straight from the water), grilled lobster, and grouper made any way you want it—all go best with a cold Kalik. Some visitors rate the fresh conch salad as the best, noticing the great care Kenny takes to make it. Seaside Village is open on Sunday.

This Mexican-themed party place fills with cruise-ship passengers in port for the day and sends them back to the boat happy, fed, and full of rum drinks. The location at the Freeport Harbour is open-air and full of life, complete with a dance stage, large flat-screen TVs, a wraparound bar, and seating for more than 100 people. The music is loud, the crowd is lively, especially around spring break months, and the Mexican menu has fun Bahamian and tropical twists. Watch out for waiters who run around blowing whistles and pouring tequila down your throat, and if your party endurance is ready for a challenge, try your luck at a musical chairs game that includes two shots with every circle.

You may have a hard time picking your drink from the extensive menu of frozen concoctions at this upstairs spot. The Sneaky Tiki, with seven types of rum, is a favorite, as are the Sharkeez Volcano (which is set ablaze) and the Nassau Iced Tea, a twist on the "Long Island" traditional. Sit indoors or enjoy the fresh air and a fantastic harbor view on the long wraparound balcony with some basic American and Bahamian bar food. Finish up with guava duff for dessert. No matter what your sport, this is a good spot to catch your team in action on one of 10 big-screen TVs.

Also known as Greene's after its owner Ornald "Shine" Greene, this waterfront spot on Little Harbour is as close to nightlife as you'll get on Mangrove Cay—live music is rare (save for during homecoming and regatta festivals) but if the island's busy or a big group requests it, they'll arrange a live band. Dominoes and backgammon with reggae and calypso tunes add to the upbeat ambience as you view the harbor, sip a beer or Goombay Smash, and tuck into the daily catch of fish, conch, and lobster. The fresh ceviche is excellent. Shine (or Greene) is one of Mangrove Cay's top fishing guides for bonefishing and bottom or deep-sea fishing. He's known for his spontaneous generosity and will instantly arrange a snorkeling, spearfishing, or fishing tour for the next day—assuming he's not already booked. Shine carves little fish out of conch shells, another highlight to treasure along with his extraordinary hospitality. Open for lunch and dinner.

This famed Harbour Island staple has relocated to Marina Village on Paradise Island. Enjoy a variety of light bites featuring local ingredients, such as black bean hummus, conch chili nachos, or the delicious lobster quesadilla. There's also a salad menu as well as a few burgers and a grouper reuben. By the way, "sip sip" is the local term for gossip. 

Unless you're a lucky all-inclusive guest at this resort famous for its diving and fishing, the best way to enjoy it is to buy an all-inclusive $199 day pass allowing you breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bar drinks (starting at lunchtime). From 7 am to 10 pm, you can enjoy all the facilities and equipment on Small Hope's gorgeous beach: kayaks, windsurfers, sailboats, snorkeling, paddleboards, and a fresh whirlpool. Just dinner and wine is $90 per person, which does not include bar drinks.

Charming and experienced chef Bruno and his capable team do a superb job pleasing upmarket American and European palates. Dine in the cool inside or on the stone terrace. For breakfast, browse the buffet or order a full breakfast from the menu. Lunch includes a choice of conch chowder, hearty sandwiches, burgers, and salads. For dinner, the kitchen prepares the freshest fish in a variety of ways, along with Bahamian lobster tail, steak, pork tenderloin, and a build-your-own pizza with a variety of toppings to choose from. Fresh fruit and ice cream make for a great hot-weather dessert, and the liqueur coffees are delicious. You can order from the bar menu until 9 pm or have pizza delivered to your room.

This waterfront pavilion at Romora Bay Resort perfectly frames sunsets over Harbour Island, so be sure to get here in time to snag a good seat for the show. Popular with locals, the restaurant serves mid-priced Bahamian specialties, such as conch fritters, for a casual lunch or dinner. The bartender is always happy to create drinks just to suit your vibe. 

Swain's Cay Lodge's beachside Reefside Restaurant & Bar is a local dining and cocktail-sipping hot spot serving delicious authentic Bahamian cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, supported by a well-stocked bar. (Nonguests are welcome, but book in advance.) The decor is modern contemporary, and big windows and glass doors give it a bright ambience. Dine inside in air-conditioned comfort or on the beachside deck. With staff exuding friendly, professional hospitality, the owner Cheryl has set a high standard for the dining as well.

Paying homage to the world-famous swimming pigs with its name and a few small paintings, this bustling gastropub is one of the only spots in the resort where you can get late-night grub. The menu is mostly American-inspired—hearty burgers and flatbreads—with a few touches of English pub fare like the oxtail, Guinness pie, and fish-and-chips. It's open 24 hours, and while the dinner menu ends at 11:30 pm, there's a scaled-back late-night menu until 4 am, and then flatbreads only until they start breakfast at 7.

This tiny ice-cream parlor and coffee shop boasts 30 flavors. Located inside a painstakingly renovated island home, there's limited space and seating inside, but across the narrow road are a few picnic benches under the shade of huge trees. Strangely, this spot isn't open until early evening.

This brightly painted restaurant is famous for its frozen daiquiris and range of local cuisine. Icy mixes of strawberry and piña colada are swirled into a striking (and delicious) dessert cocktail. Bahamian fare is available at lunch and dinner in the casual outdoor dining area. There's no harbor view, but the alfresco atmosphere is pleasant nonetheless.

There's something for everyone at this busy sports bar: indoors, the dining room and bar feature games on flat-screen TVs; outdoors, casual canal-front dining (think pub food like burgers and nachos) and drinks are available. The menu is quite extensive. Fish or shrimp tacos or nachos are good options for starters with local flair. There's also four different types of mac and cheese. For a main course, choose from steaks, burgers, ribs, pizzas, and a variety of hearty sandwiches.

You'll find the most delicious Bahamian meals at Unca Gene's casual, seaside restaurant, as well as delicious burgers and pasta dishes. The restaurant has a homey feel, painted in light blue, with an outside dining patio where guests can enjoy the cool sea breeze while they eat.

Grab a seat on the large porch and enjoy cocktails and sunset before dinner, or escape the heat with an indoors lunch at this top Marsh Harbour spot. Burgers, wraps, pasta dishes, and nightly specials draw a crowd.

There are a few plastic tables and chairs outside this basic kitchen spot, but for the most part it's a takeout joint. The menu is limited, but the food is delicious. You can't go wrong with their burgers, yummy jerk chicken wrap, or seafood options. Some nights there's pizza on offer as well.

Yardie's owners, Odette and Derrick Rolle, serve up large-size genuine Jamaican and Bahamian dishes such as jerk chicken, steamed pork chops, curried mutton, barbecue ribs, and their famous fresh conch salad. If you really want an island meal, try the breakfast grits with tuna or corned beef. They are one of the few spots open all day long and the only stop in northern Cat Island for ice cream. This place is no-frills, but a great shady spot to stop for lunch, a snack, or just a cold drink and a game of dominoes. You can even rent a car for $70 a day.