The Ultimate Nassau Guide: Beyond Atlantis

Prices in this guide are the writer's notes from when it was written. Baha Buddy has not checked them with the businesses named, and they may have changed. Confirm current prices directly before you go.

Most visitors to Nassau never venture beyond the cruise ship pier and Atlantis. That is a tragedy, because the real Nassau — the one Bahamians actually love — is a short walk away.

Start at the Friday Night Fish Fry

Arawak Cay, known locally as The Fish Fry, is where Nassau comes alive on Friday evenings. Dozens of brightly colored shacks serve cracked conch, conch salad, and fried snapper to an equal mix of locals and tourists. A Sands beer costs $2.50. This is the real Bahamas.

Getting Off the Beaten Path

Rent a bicycle or take the local bus (jitneys — $1.25 flat fare) to reach Nassaus quieter neighborhoods. Grants Town and Bain and Grants Town offer a glimpse of everyday Bahamian life. The waterfront at Western Esplanade is a local favorite at sunset.