There is an art to dining in the Bahamas. And through this Bahamas Food Guide, I will share that art with you. There are so many factors to consider when thinking about food in the Bahamas. Some of which are- what island are you on? Are you on a family island with limited resources and restaurants? Are you in Nassau where there are many options, but not sure which ones are worth it? Are you on a budget? Do you have food restrictions? All these questions come into play when planning your vacation.

In this Bahamas Food Guide, I will not only answer these questions but also give you plenty of tips and tricks to best enjoy your food experience in the Bahamas. Whether you are visiting Nassau, Eleuthera, Exuma, or any of the other many islands and cays of the Bahamas, this guide will help you in all your food endeavors.

What is Bahamian Food?

Bahamian food is a concoction of many things, usually fried, and served with a large portion of rice, plantain, coleslaw, or macaroni. Bahamian food is definitely not the healthiest food choice; however, it is quite delicious. Usually packed with tons of flavor, Bahamian food is something you must try on your vacation.

The thing about it though, is you can’t eat fried food every day. It gets old, and you definitely need some variety in your life. You can usually find some steamed veggies or a side salad to go with your meal, however, most of your proteins will be fried, with the exception of some grilled options here and there, depending on the restaurant.

Many people have the assumption that the Bahamas is the land of fresh seafood and delicious locally whipped-up dishes, but the fact of the matter is many traditional Bahamian meals are fried, and almost all of the food in the Bahamas is imported from the United States. So, unfortunately, there are not tons of local fresh options when it comes to eating in the Bahamas, with the exception of the conch salad, which is a must-try!

Most of the fish you will find in restaurants is caught locally, however, I would ALWAYS recommend you ask. Some restaurants use tilapia for their fish fingers and other cheap imported fish- always ask your waitress to ensure you are ordering the freshest option.

It’s also important to note that fishing is in seasons, so you may order a grouper however if it’s not in season, that grouper was likely sitting in the freezer for months. Just make sure to ask your server what type of fish is being served. Mom-and-pop restaurants will have more local fish options and usually will offer fresher, cooked-to-order food.

Popular Bahamian “Must-Try” foods

• Stew Conch or Fish (stew with battered fish or conch and lime)
• Chicken Souse (chicken wings in a broth with potatoes, onions, and lime)
• Conch Salad (raw conch ceviche)
• Peas & Rice (side dish)
• Cracked Conch (battered & fried, smothered n lime, and hot sauce)
• Chicken in Da Bag (fried chicken smothered in ketchup & hot sauce served over fries)

What kind of fresh local food can I find in The Bahamas?

The family islands (all islands except Nassau) will usually have a bigger culture of local farming and fisherman that you can go to directly and buy from.

There are also several local farms in Nassau that offer their products in the local grocery stores, however, the options are few and far between and may or may not be there. You should note that in Nassau, all the fish you buy from the grocery store has been imported. If you are looking for fish you can go to one of the boat docks, including Montague Beach, and buy the fish directly from the fisherman in the afternoon every day.

If you are on one of the family islands, you can likely ask around where to get local produce. The soil is very fertile in the Bahamas and depending on the season there are tons of fruits and veggies that are grown locally, you just have to look a little harder and ask more questions. Additionally, on almost all the islands you can go down to the dock between 2-4 PM when the fishermen get back and purchase fish directly from the source. This is the best way to eat as locally as possible.

Local Fish (depending on the season)

Grouper, snapper, mahi, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, lobster, conch, jacks.

Local Veggies (depending on the season)

Bahamian sweet potatoes (my personal favorite), tomatoes, fresh arugula & greens, sweet peppers, goat & bird peppers, corn, broccoli, plantain, pumpkin, cabbage, okra, pigeon peas

Local Fruits (depending on the season)

Mango, watermelon, banana, coconut, sapodillas, sugar apples, soursop, pineapples, avocados, guava, papaya

What is the dining experience like in Nassau?

Dining in Nassau is about as close to big-city dining as you’ll get in the Bahamas. There are tons of fine dining options (which you can check out on my previous blog post), local options (another blog post), and simple takeout/quick spots to eat. Nassau even has food chain restaurants if that’s your thing (Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, Dominos, Ihop, and more).

If you are a foodie, Nassau will definitely be your best bet. Some of the best dining experiences I have had in my life have been in Nassau. I have a few favorite restaurants there, just to name a few- Island Bros & Cie, Shima, The Pepper Pot, Social House & Dino’s Conch Stand.

What is the dining experience like on the family islands (Eleuthera, Exuma, etc.)?

Dining in the family islands is not for the faint of heart. It’s pretty much a crap shoot. Some islands, like Eleuthera (home of Harbour Island and Governors Harbour), have some nice little touristic, but beautiful dining spots nestled around the island. As they cater to tourists, these restaurants are usually expensive for a mediocre meal, although sometimes you can find something extraordinary.

On the other islands, you can usually expect a decent restaurant or two in hotels, and the rest of the island has a few local Bahamian take-out spots, something super simple, or someone grilling jerk on the side of the road on a Friday. You might find a conch stand or two and perhaps someone cooking out of their house and offering food for sale to the public. These are sometimes the best experiences.

You must not have high dining expectations when traveling to the family islands. Sometimes things aren’t open, sometimes things are sold out, you never know, we are on island time in the family islands. No hustle or bustle or need to keep up with the Joneses. That’s not to say that you can’t find something epically delicious, you just have to be a little more flexible and ask a few more questions to find the right spots.

Tips if you have food restrictions

BRING YOUR OWN SNACKS. This is one of the best tips you’ll get in this article. Bring your own snacks, you can pack them in your bag, they will be super helpful on your trip and way more affordable. I would even suggest paying an extra $30 for a bag of just snacks, especially if you have kids or if you have food restrictions.

There are plenty of places that accommodate food restrictions, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, or shellfish allergies. It gets a bit more complicated when you are paleo, or vegan, especially if you are on a family island. Many people do not know what gluten-free is, so it’s important to explain if you have a confused server. Depending on your food allergy I would be conscious of where you eat and stick to the larger restaurants or restaurants in hotels as they have more training/knowledge/understanding about food allergies.

Bring food, shop at the local grocery stores and cook at home, you will save lots of money and save the headache of worrying about your food restrictions. You can save the restaurant experience for cocktails and enjoying the views.

Grocery Stores in Nassau

Nassau has a plethora of grocery store options. You can find your standard grocery stores, and specialty grocery stores (Island Purveyors, Eat Me Skinny or Island House Market). You can also find Fresh Market, which has organic, gluten-free, and a variety of different international groceries. You can mostly find anything you are looking for somewhere in Nassau.

Please note that most items are imported, so you should expect to pay an additional 50% or so on top of the price you are used to. As mentioned above, it is encouraged to bring your own snacks and dried goods in, especially if you want to have some specialty snacks on your trip.

Grocery Stores in Family Islands

Shopping on the family islands is a whole different ballpark. On most family islands, you won’t find a large grocery store, but rather small convenience stores in each settlement of the island. They usually carry your basic fruits and veggies, and some very basic packaged goods and meat options. If you are a picky eater coming to one of the Family Islands, I HIGHLY suggest packing your own food and just buying the basics from the grocery stores. You will find the occasional local fruit & veggie stand on the side of the road, that’s always a must! You can almost always find fresh fish on one of the docks and occasionally you might find local eggs.

A note that you can also bring in a soft cooler with frozen meat if you’d like to, there are no issues with that on any of the islands.

Tips if you are on a budget

If you are on a budget, you should consider a few things.

1. The fancier hotel restaurants and touristy restaurants are going to be 3x the price of a local takeaway spot. Eat where the locals eat, and you’ll end up paying $10-$15 per meal instead of $30-$40 per meal.
2. Bring in your own snacks, coffee, and food to prepare some meals at home.
3. Cook breakfast at home, you won’t find many breakfast options anyway so it’s the best meal to cook at home.
4. Buy liquor from the store and make your own cocktails, cocktails are one of the most expensive things to purchase when eating out.

How to find the best restaurants in The Bahamas

We’ve curated a couple of blogs for the best restaurants in the Bahamas. You can find those here. But for anything not covered in those articles, it’s best to ask your Airbnb/rental host or the staff at your hotel for the best recommendations. Sometimes people will tell you what they think you want to hear instead of their genuine favorite spot to eat, so just really ask them about their personal experiences. Google and TripAdvisor are not super reliable for food suggestions, it’s a good place to start but they are often inaccurate. Usually, the best spots are tucked away somewhere, and you’ll need some local insight on where to find them. If you can find a forum for the island you are visiting, that is often a good resource to check out. If you are staying in an Airbnb/Vrbo, your host will be a great resource and will usually provide some great suggestions.

I hope my Bahamas food guide was a helpful resource and that you enjoy all the food experiences the Bahamas has to offer!