The Best Shopping in the Bahamas

Androsia Hand Made Batik Factory has been a local family business on Andros since it started on the beach in the late 1960s. The colorful fabrics, with patterns inspired by the natural beauty of the Bahamas, are hand created using a technique called batik, in which designs are applied to the cloth with wax before the cloth is dyed. Androsia’s fabrics have become an iconic part of Andros, and visitors to the factory can not only watch the artisans at work on a self-guided tour, but also arrange batik lessons. A small store offers batik fabrics by the yard, along with clothes, jewelry and other handicrafts.

If you’re tempted to head to the (often overcrowded) Straw Market, come to this boutique at the Marina Village shops at the Atlantis Resort instead. You’ll find comparably traditional straw work—handwoven totes, handbags, hats, place mats and more—but with designs that are unique and of extremely high quality.

The local equivalent of Lilly Pulitzer, this Bahamian company (with a boutique in downtown Nassau) specializes in vividly colored, hand-printed fabrics inspired by the islands. These fabrics, patterned with seashells, starfish, flowers and leaves, are used to make dresses, sarongs, handbags, pillows, napkins, tea towels and more.

Adjacent to Doongalik Studios—the best contemporary-art gallery on the island—this bright cottage carries eclectic jewelry, scarves, bath products, hand-painted glassware and all manner of decorative items (mirrors, picture frames, napkin rings) adorned with shells and coral. Everything in the shop is made by local artisans.

At Graycliff Chocolatier on Nassau, you can do more than just taste delicious, gourmet chocolates—you can learn how to make them yourself with the help of Graycliff’s master chocolatier. The chocolate-making experience is part of the chocolate factory tour, in which guests learn how the chocolate goes from raw cocoa beans to a rich liquid that can be poured into molds. Then you’ll have the chance to mold your own chocolate bars. Of course, if you’d rather taste it than make it, you can purchase a selection of chocolate and truffles, or join one of the chocolate and spirits tasting sessions to learn how to pair gourmet chocolates with spirits like rum, whiskey, and port.

Cigar aficionados can get an up-close look at the making of cigars at the Graycliff Cigar Company. Located in the historic Graycliff Hotel in Nassau, this boutique cigar company uses a select blend of tobaccos to create its award-winning cigars, including the Graycliff, Bahiba, and Cabinet Selection by Graycliff varieties. Visitors can tour the cigar factory to watch the 16 expert torcedores at work, and even take a cigar-rolling lesson to learn the art of cigar making for themselves. Afterward, enjoy one of Graycliff’s fine cigars with a tasting session of rums from the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Among the last things you might expect to find on a tropical island would certainly be a bronze casting operation using a 5,000-year-old lost wax-casting technique. So you may be surprised to find exactly that operating out of Pete’s Pub & Gallery in Little Harbour. The bronze foundry has been used by three generations of the Johnston family, and it’s the only one of its kind in the Bahamas. The bronze sculptures made here have been displayed from Nassau to the Vatican. Visitors can peruse the art pieces on display and watch new ones being created.

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.

Handicrafts made from woven straw have been a staple of Bahamian life for generations. The technique was traditionally used to create functional items like fish traps and baskets for carrying food, but today such items are made primarily for souvenirs. A great place to find these and many other keepsakes is the Nassau Straw Market, where around 500 vendors sell a wide variety of goods, from baskets and handbags to wood carvings, drums, and T-shirts. The Nassau Straw Market is a short walk from the Bay Street shopping district. It’s open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At Sandpiper Arts & Crafts in George Town on Great Exuma, you can browse handmade pottery, jewelry, photography, ceramics and more all made by local artists. It’s a great way to experience the local Bahamian art culture.