The Best Bars in the Bahamas

A visit to John Watling’s Distillery offers both a tour of a historic estate in downtown Nassau and the opportunity to sample locally made John Watling’s rum. The distillery, the only locally owned one on the island, is housed in the Buena Vista Estate, which began construction in 1789. The estate grounds encompass tropical gardens and a 200-year-old water well. Visitors can also take a free tour of the museum and distillery, where you can see the aged white oak barrels filled with rum. Finish the tour with a cocktail from the on-site Red Turtle Tavern, or pick a bottle of John Watling’s rum from the store.

Sea Glass has a chill vibe, serves fantastic tapas and cocktails all day and all night long, and has a number of gaming tables that are never too far out of reach -- the perfect escape at the heart of The Cove Atlantis.

All-night adventure for the big kids - I suppose that’s a sound way to sum up Aura, the enormous Jeffrey Beers club that sits at the heart of the Atlantis nightlife experience. Two bars, two VIP sections, a fantastic DJ booth, and posh accommodations are the signature of Aura, a great place to kick back with a cocktail after... kicking back with a cocktail on the beach.

At Chat ‘N’ Chill, a beach bar on Stocking Island in the Exumas, you can enjoy cold drinks with your feet in the sand and eat your fill of local fare like BBQ ribs and grilled fish. The menu also has burgers, hot dogs, and made-to-order conch salad. This laid-back spot is a classic island beach bar, and you can even wade into the clear water to feed the conch scraps to the local stingrays. Chat ‘N’ Chill is also famous for its Sunday pig roasts, a lively event with a whole, slow-smoked pig, drinks, and island music on the beach.

Venturing to the other side of Harbour Island, I stumbled into The Landing just when they were beginning to infuse a new batch of Afro Head vodkas and rums by hand. Brilliant timing! I was quickly invited to partake in a little side-by-side tasting: off-the-shelf vs. handcrafted. The difference blew my mind. Truth be told, I have been back for their hand-infused vodka cocktails (especially the sweet revenge!) a few too many times since...