8 Best Restaurants in New Providence and Paradise Islands, Bahamas

Three generations of Bahamian women treat patrons as if they were guests in their own home. And the Bahamian food whipped up in the kitchen is as close to homemade as you can get in a restaurant. This simple locale is bustling with local professionals during the week and has also become a popular spot for cruise-ship passengers. Grandmother Mena swears their conch fritters are the "conchiest" you'll find. Takeout-only breakfast is served Monday through Saturday, while lunch is both sit-down and take-out the same days.

Feast on Jean-Georges Vongerichten's intricately prepared dishes while overlooking Cabbage Beach at the renowned Four Seasons Ocean Club. Go for breakfast or lunch for the most (relatively) reasonable prices. For breakfast, try the eggs Benedict or traditional Bahamian boiled fish. For dinner, share a Black Plate appetizer sampler featuring everything from crab spring rolls to chicken samosas to start, then end with one of their signature sweet treats like the delicious banana cake topped with caramelized banana slices or the decadent Dune Sundae: rice pudding ice cream, caramelized Rice Krispies and chocolate fudge. It's a great place to unwind amid ocean breezes.

Celebrity chef and philanthropist José Andrés has added his name and global reputation to the restaurant offerings on Paradise Island. As you would expect from the name, seafood takes center stage on this restaurant's mouthwatering menu. Conch is served in all the traditional Bahamian ways, but with Chef Andrés' unique twist. Three tasting menus ranging from 7 to 13 courses give you a chance to taste it all. Offerings for non–seafood lovers are limited, though the various steaks are sourced from the top spots around the world and cooked to perfection.

Nothing beats ice cream to cool off after a hot day on the beach or by the pool. This local ice-cream shop serving unique Bahamian flavors is located in the heart of The Coral lobby in Atlantis and often has a long line, but it's worth the wait. Bahamian chef Wayne Moncur has whipped up frozen culinary delights like soursop, guava, and sugar banana using native fruits and a mint chocolate chip using locally crafted Mortimer Candies. This is also a great spot to grab a quick and simple breakfast pastry and coffee.

This funky little spot puts a unique Asian street-food twist on the guava duff, a traditional Bahamian dessert. Fluffy, handmade steamed bao buns filled with sticky sweet fillings like guava or caramelized coconut and smothered with traditional sauce are a must try, but they also serve savory bao buns filled with island flavors like jerk chicken, curried mutton, and ginger pork. Wash it down with a traditional bush tea, choosing your preferred level of sweetness. While you wait, check out the tiny museum display with interesting artifacts from The Family Islands of old.

This unassuming bar and grill is a consistent Paradise Island favorite with locals and savvy visitors. Their menu is a simple but tasty mix of standard American basics like burgers, pizza, sandwiches, and salads as well as Bahamian classics like curry chicken and conch fritters. Breakfast is strictly American style. The small al fresco bar and restaurant can get quite lively on weekends when the nightly karaoke gives way to professional live music.

This lively, casual spot is one of the most affordable places for breakfast, lunch, or dinner this side of Nassau Harbour, but that doesn't mean it's cheap. The baby back ribs with a homemade barbecue sauce are among the most popular on this Bahamian and American fare menu. The extensive menu (60-plus items to choose from) includes seafood pasta, grouper and salmon, steaks, burgers, ribs, and salads. 

Todd English has paired up with Atlantis to give his signature Mediterranean style a taste of the Caribbean. Pick the fish you want to see on your plate or satisfy your meat craving with a steak or double cut pork chop. Situated right inside the lively Atlantis Casino, Olives is one of the few places to grab a late-night bite—the kitchen is open with a limited menu of their flavorful flatbreads and other staples until the wee hours of the night.