BAHAMA BREEZE: Where To Eat, Sip and Savor – Pools Included
Certainly, there’s never a bad time to visit the Bahamas. From the iconic white sands of Nassau’s Cable Beach to the surrounding enclave known as Baha Mar (made up of the SLS, Grand Hyatt, and The Rosewood respectively), you’ll find plenty of prime Caribbean views and day-into-night entertainment that rivals Miami’s fabled South Beach. You’ll also find chic cabanas, airy cocktail bars, and swanky dinner spots (a little dancin’ afterward is never a bad idea either). We also touch down on Abaco Island where private beach time, conch chowder, and perhaps a generous pouring or two of Komos are on the menu.
Carna
Helmed by the legendary Dario Cecchini, an eighth-generation Italian butcher from Panzano (Chianti), this contemporary steakhouse leans on its famed proprietor’s mastery of wood-smoked meats – a Tuscan porterhouse and all-natural Japanese Snow-Aged Wagyu A5. Cecchini's personal favorite? The go-big-or-go-home Panzanese (aka Tomahawk) steak. That’s not all: an uber-fresh raw bar offers a fruits de mer tower, just-shucked oysters with champagne mignonette, stone crabs, and caviar (i.e., Kaviari Kristal and Petrossian Beluga) in a decadent, clubby room that’s equal parts sexy and plush – and featuring a marble bar for Komos digestifs.
Fi'lia
Well, you surely won’t go hungry inside Fi’lia, a rustic Tuscan-meets-Italian coastal spot where dreamy, svelte interiors dovetail with deliciously shareable plates. Start with the handmade pasta (the lobster mac and cheese is as richly decadent as you’d imagine), and move to the Neapolitan wood-oven fired pies – the bresaola & burrata showcases stretched-to-order artisan dough that’s been fermented for 72 hours. The results? Light-and-fluffy crust, of course. Also available are a tasty grilled branzino and a whole lobster with lemon herb butter and salsa verde.
25 Degrees North
With an unbeatable location, the 25° North remains the sole seasonal southern California eatery in Nassau. While smaller appetites will enjoy the cobb salad and tuna poke bowl; taco lovers should opt for the local grouper with avocado and roasted tomato salsa. There’s plenty of wine and champagne to go around; and cigars include a specially-crafted, hand-rolled SLS Signature Serie Belicoso XO, directly infused with a 30-month Barbadian Extra Old Rum that’s aged for an additional 9-months. With prime views of gently rollicking palm trees and crystal clear blue waters, well, let’s just say there’s not a bad seat in the house.
Katsuya
A food-design marriage of the ages brings sushi master Katsuya Uechi’s artful Japanese creations with Philippe Starck’s sleek, sexy interiors. "It's surprising, it's good, it's modern. I don’t have to adapt Katsuya ... because you cannot adapt the brain of a genius,” Stark said; perhaps nodding to the chef’s famed miso-marinated black cod and playful local delights like conch-oyaki; a fun interpretation of conch fritters done up tempura style and topped with fish flakes. Of course, you can’t go wrong with the heaping plates of sushi, sashimi and robata. To drink are refreshing cocktails like the Samurai with yuzu and ginger, or stay simple and order your Komos neat.
Monkey Bar
Airy. Creamy. Chic. You’ve arrived at the Monkey Bar, situated inside the SLS lobby and doubling as an ideal pre-dinner spot for jumbo shrimp cocktails, salty truffle fries, and mushroom bao buns. Naturally, champagne, wine, and tequila drinks can all be enjoyed at the buzzy bar where warm-hued orb lights ensure everyone is looking their Bahamas best– and where festivities are known to commence before supper, nightcaps, and dancing. Meanwhile, an outdoor terrace overlooking a pool caters to those craving a beachy social club vibe.
Bungalow
Should you be looking for some fun in the sun, look no further than Bungalow, the glammy pool bar where wine, beer, and cocktails are poured inside a smattering of chic black-and-white striped cabanas (equipped with sofas, a mini fridge, flat screen TV and waiter service). Elevated pool snacks and grilled fare – think nachos, flatbreads, burgers, empanadas– are also available at a moment's notice. Afterward, dip your toes in the water and bask in the warmth.
Privilege
Two words: adults only. Commence your later afternoon pool party at this upscale, savvy spot where luxury cabanas dovetail with comfortable day beds, bespoke sips and light bites a la club sandwiches, heaping nachos, and lobster rolls. In due time, a rotating meld of international DJs lights up the scene – a most perfect and dedicated spot to sip Komos with your crew and of course, keep the buzz and revelry alive until the next adventure calls.
SkyBar
As its name suggests, Skybar, perched on the rooftop of the SLS Baha Mar operates as an open-air, ivy-covered pavilion to watch the Caribbean sun fade as you sip and savor fresh cocktails. Come early evening, a seductive swirl of energy arrives just in time – compliments of the hottest DJs whose global beats beckon a nighttime-only mystery and a bottle or two of Komos.
Bond
Glam night out? Named for James Bond, author Ian Fleming’s famed fictional spy, this buzzy, light-filled, open-til-the-wee-hours private nightclub is pulsating with beats, a happening place for dancing and cocktails. Beyond its lush tropic-vibed interiors, a monster sound system and a DJ booth are known to spin the hottest tracks in the hottest room til’ the sun rises again.
Set on 500 acres of pristine private beachfront, the Abaco Club is where turquoise waters meet charming cottages. But that’s not all: you’ll also find a breezy trio of eating and drinking outposts. Equal parts tiki hut, sidewalk cafe, and breezy bistro, the open-air Flippers Beach Club is ideal for global flavors and come Wednesday nights, live “rake n scrape” bands coupled with BBQ, bonfires, and s’mores. In an octagonal clubhouse with views onto Winding Bay, the Cliff House, known to host rotating chefs, offers local seafood (think blackened grouper and fresh lobster) and conch chowder. With its stunning views, Tip-Top is a chill spot for sipping Komos cocktails around a fire pit – preferably as the sun is setting. Or perhaps you’ll take a dip in the infinity pool instead. To which we say: it’s all a win-win situation.
