It’s no secret that a trip to the Bahamas is a culinary adventure. Traditional Bahamian dishes include mainly seafood such as fish, shrimp and conch, but the restaurants in the Bahamas offer a large variety of food that tailor to everyone’s taste buds.
Each island is a foodie’s paradise, with dining options ranging from laid-back beach bars with great vibes to more fancy seaside restaurants for ambient sunset dinners. This article focuses on waterfront restaurants specifically, and it was hard to choose “only” 20.
Let’s go off the beaten path and explore some hidden gems far from the tourist traps as well as tried and true waterfront restaurants that have pleased guests for years with their delicious food, great service, and excellent atmosphere. As a bonus, these 20 spots are all easy to reach with your charter boat from Navigare Yachting.
The list is in no particular order, but is categorized by island.
1. Snappas Bar and Grill
Location: Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco, Bahamas
Right next to our Navigare Yachting base in Marsh Harbour, is this Caribbean/American restaurant serving a variety of exquisite dishes, from pasta and seafood to sandwiches, burgers, salads and tropical drinks.
Snappas Bar and Grill is a great first stop before boarding your yacht and beginning your sailing charter with us.
2. Nancy Seaside Inn Restaurant
Location: Sandy Point, Great Abaco, Bahamas
Sandy Point is one of the best beaches in Great Abaco and is also home to a charming little beach bar called Nancy Seaside Inn Restaurant.
They serve fresh seafood and authentic Caribbean cuisine. It is off the beaten path and offers a genuine Bahamian lunch on the beach.
3. Colors By the Sea
Location: Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco, Bahamas
Another waterfront restaurant in Marsh Harbor, where our Navigare base is located, is Colors By the Sea (also known as Colors Restaurant).
It’s a very popular spot, serving a variety of dishes and local beer while also offering great service and, of course, beautiful waterfront views. A reservation might be necessary.
4. Flo’s Conch Bar and Restaurant
Location: Little Harbour Cay, Bahamas
A secluded Caribbean beach bar located on Little Harbor Cay, Flo’s Conch Bar is especially famous for their fresh conch fritters, conch salad, and cracked conch, which is not surprising based on the name.
The Berry Islands is a beautiful area with excellent snorkeling and fishing locations as well as pristine beaches. Stop by for a beach lunch after a morning of snorkeling or enjoy a dinner by the sunset. Celebrities have been spotted here, because of the secluded location of the bar.
5. On Da Beach Bar and Restaurant
Location: Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Bahamas
As you may have guessed, On Da Beach Bar is a coastal restaurant located right on the sand with that unbeatable ocean view.
The beautiful beach view is reason enough to come here, but it doesn’t hurt that the food is delicious, the service great and the atmosphere friendly and relaxed. They even have their own signature drink, called The Turtle Racer.
6. Cap’n Jacks
Location: Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Bahamas
If you are looking for a different type of seaside view, Cap’n Jacks is the place to go as it offers a gorgeous view over the famous Elbow Cay Lighthouse. The sunset view from here is also amazing.
Located right in the harbor, it is a convenient stop on your sailing charter and makes for an excellent lunch ashore before strolling through the picturesque streets of Hope Town.
7. Latitudes
Location: Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas
Located right in the harbor in Nassau, Latitudes is another restaurant drawing a boating crowd.
Prepare for a fancier dinner where you get to enjoy anything from sushi and fresh seafood to pizza, steak, burgers and vegetarian options.
From the beautifully served dishes and exquisite flavors to the modern interior design and the panoramic waterfront views, it is no surprise that this restaurant is the winner of TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award 2022.
8. Banana Bay Restaurant
Location: Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas
If you are in the area around Freeport, we highly recommend a visit to this beach bar called Banana Bay Restaurant.
Banana Bay is an ambient beach restaurant on the sand with a gorgeous view, delicious food, and decently priced tropical drinks.
The pristine beach on which the bar is located is known to not be busy at all, so you can enjoy a relaxed lunch away from all the tourist crowds.
They also won TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award 2022, and if you pay a visit, you will see why.
9. Margarita Villa Sand Bar
Location: Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas
Margarita Villa Sand Bar is a Bahamian bar with a sand floor(!) and ambient beach bar interior. Located on the beach in Shoreline, it's off the beaten path, so if you are looking for an authentic experience, this is the place.
From the friendly staff and the beautiful sunset view to the wide variety of fresh seafood dishes and the cool bar interior design, it’s not hard to see why the locals frequently come here.
10. Sandbar Beach Bar and Grill
Location: Spanish Wells, Bahamas
On Russell Island, also off the beaten path, is another typical beach bar with amazing food, view and atmosphere. You can anchor in the bay and take your dingy or swim ashore for a genuine Bahamian beach lunch at the Sandbar.
This top-rated beach bar will not disappoint with their fish tacos, conch fritters, and tropical drinks. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
11. Wrecker’s Restaurant and Bar
Location: Spanish Wells, Bahamas
Located in a harbor, with outdoor seating on a wooden deck on pillars in the water, this waterfront restaurant will provide an excellent view and exactly the type of dinner experience by the sea that you are looking for.
The recipient of TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award 2022, Wrecker’s Restaurant offers a beautiful seaside ambiance and caters to everyone with a wide variety of delicious dishes including pasta, burgers, tacos, nachos, sandwiches, lobster, steak, as well as vegetarian and vegan options.
12. The Shipyard Restaurant and Bar
Location: Spanish Wells, Bahamas
An amazing place for a sunset dinner is the Shipyard Restaurant and Bar in Spanish Wells. Located in the perfect place at the eastern tip of the island, their seaside view is stunning and if you wish to cool off from the heat, you can also sit inside.
Apart from some of the classic Bahamian dishes, they also serve some unique things like lobster mac and cheese and yam fries. The tropical drinks are delicious and reasonably priced.
13. Tippy’s Restaurant and Seaside Bar
Location: North Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, Bahamas
If you’re in Governor’s Harbour, keep your eyes open for this wonderful restaurant on the beach. Compared to some of the other beach bars on this list, it's more of a busy place, so it’s a good idea to make reservations.
Tippy’s also won TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award 2022, thanks to great service, gorgeous beach views, and delicious food. Any dish you may be in the mood for, you can most likely order it here, because of the large menu selection.
14. LeoRose Sunset Beach Bar and Grill
Location: James Pt, Eleuthera, Bahamas
Located in a beautiful spot off Queens Highway in James Pt on Eleuthera, LeoRose Sunset Beach Bar is a picturesque bar that serves traditional Bahamian bar food such as conch fritters, grouper fingers, cracked conch and other seafood dishes.
It’s definitely worth a stop for a beach lunch or sunset dinner on your sailing charter. The view is amazing; both the bar itself and the beach are stunning.
15. Fishbone Beach Bar and Grill
Location: Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas
Drop anchor and come enjoy some fish tacos at Fishbone Beach Bar in Savannah Sound on Eleuthera. They offer the perfect breakfast to begin a day of fun in the sun or a delicious lunch after a morning of snorkeling or watersports.
The outdoor seating is on a beautiful wooden patio overlooking the pristine beach and turquoise waters, and the indoor seating area features plenty of artwork to admire.
16. Tropic Breeze Beach Bar and Grill
Location: George Town, Great Exuma, Bahamas
Here is another winner of Traveler’s Choice Award 2022. While all beach bars in the Bahamas have great views, the beach here is truly gorgeous.
Tropic Breeze Beach Bar is famous for their delicious food and if you are lucky, you may even get to meet the chef, who is known to sing occasionally for guests! It’s simply a must-visit.
17. Shoreline Beach Club
Location: Great Rolleville, Great Exuma, Bahamas
Nestled among palm trees on a tropical pristine beach in the northern end of Great Exuma, Shoreline Beach Club is a hidden gem. If you take the time to stop by, you will not be disappointed. The beach is beautiful!
As another winner of Tripadvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award 2022, it’s no surprise that the beach vibes are great and you will get your traditional Bahamian/Caribbean bar food cooked to perfection.
18. Rusty Anchor
Location: Georgetown, Great Exuma, Bahamas
For a more fancy waterfront dinner, look no further than the Rusty Anchor in Georgetown.
It’s worth mentioning that they also received last year’s Traveler’s Choice Award from TripAdvisor, and it’s not without reason. From exquisite food to excellent location, Rusty Anchor is a great choice for a nice dinner out.
19. Tranquil Turtle Beach Bar
Location: Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas
If you are in Green Turtle Cay, one gorgeous beach that you must visit is where the restaurant Tranquil Turtle Beach Bar is located. Imagine white sand strewn with palm trees and a truly tranquil place. You can relax in a hammock and gaze out at the stretch of white beach that transitions into turquoise waves.
While you are here, pay a visit to the beach bar and enjoy a wonderful meal on the beach. Both their food and drinks are known to be good! They serve many of the classical Bahamian dishes like conch fritters, fish tacos etc.
20. Tiny’s Hurricane Hole
Location: Thompson Bay, Long Island, Bahamas
Tiny’s Hurricane Hole, located on a beach in Thompson Bay on Long Island, is just as good for lunch as dinner. They even have a “dinghy dock”, so anchor your boat, take the dinghy and come enjoy a freshly home cooked meal at Tiny’s Hurricane Hole.
Enjoy a relaxed lunch in a tropical paradise or how about a pizza dinner under the light strands with the sound of the waves? The island vibes are on point at this quaint little beach bar.
Since 2001, over 300,000+ charter guests have set sail with Navigare - it’s safe to say that your yachting adventure will be in capable hands. With 11 exotic locations worldwide, the possibilities are endless! Whether you're an experienced sailor or a first-time adventurer, Navigare Yachting opens up a world of exploration, discovery, and sailing that comes with complete peace of mind.
