You understand that uncommon resort that feels each grand and simple on the identical time? That was British Colonial Nassau for me.
From the second I stepped into the foyer (excessive ceilings, heritage particulars, and that cool, old-school confidence), the “British Colonial” title made good sense.
The resort has anchored this stretch of waterfront for over a century (rebuilt grandly in 1924 after an earlier hearth), and locals realize it like a favourite assembly place. Proms, weddings, and extra are a staple right here and have been for a few years, simply ask the workers!
After a serious refresh and reopening, it’s again to being the downtown Nassau icon—solely polished and more comfortable than ever.
A Reset I Didn’t Know I Wanted
My arrival ritual was easy: fitness center, then seaside. The health heart did precisely what I wanted (shake off the flight and change my mind to island mode) after which I walked straight out to the personal seaside cove to seize a lounger.
It was a kind of shiny Nassau afternoons the place the water seems nearly unreal, with cruise ships coming out and in throughout the harbor.
Watching that slow-motion choreography grew to become a theme of the keep; there’s one thing surprisingly peaceable about it while you’re on the resort’s sand or by the swimming pools.
Why British Colonial Works As A Base
Location is the cheat code right here. You barely must drive as a result of most of what you need is inside minutes. Bay Road, museums, snacks, and quirky one-off experiences are proper at the doorstep.
The property sits proper on Nassau Harbour, walkable to the cruise port and downtown sights, which makes “let’s simply come out for…” the default.
In the meantime, again at base the vibes are resort-y: two oceanfront swimming pools, a personal seaside, and a low-stress towel/lounger setup that makes fast dips the best determination of your day. Plus the bar proper subsequent to the seaside serves something you could possibly need (order a Sands for me!).
The Heritage, Reimagined
British Colonial’s story is a good dinner-table icebreaker, and I realized all about it from the Advertising and marketing workforce’s very personal Shirlen Godet, who I used to be fortunate sufficient to get to know and be taught from on my journey.
The positioning’s early resort opened in 1901, was rebuilt in 1924 after a fireplace, grew to become the storied “Grand Dame” of Nassau, and, after latest funding and a top-to-bottom redesign, reopened as an unbiased property in late 2023/early 2024.
The outcome retains the traditional bones you possibly can really feel within the public areas, with recent rooms and resort areas that match how we really journey now. It seems timeless—but it surely runs trendy.
Eat & Drink (and do not forget to be merry!)
I discovered myself toggling between a couple of distinct vibes on property: a dressed-up, Outdated-Bahamas supper-club really feel after I wished a correct night time out, and an easygoing tavern for cocktails and luxury classics after I simply wished to unwind. A
nd after I was craving one thing lighter and ocean-forward, there’s additionally a sushi-and-noodle counter leaning into recent Bahamian seafood with an Asian twist—easy, social, and precisely proper after a seaside session.
Sakana Noodle & Sushi Bar — “That includes the freshest of seafood from native Bahamian waters and a standard Asian-inspired noodle bar”… Count on sushi, sashimi, ramen, and yakisoba. Extremely advocate this spot, it was most likely my favourite!
Mahogany Membership — elevated Bahamian delicacies with heritage substances reimagined in a supper-club setting.
Woodes Rodgers Tavern — the all-day social hub for cocktails and luxury bites (typically with stay music).
When Plans Change: Our Pirate-Flavored Detour
We had been purported to do a Nassau driving meals tour, however determined to swap issues out for a extra adventurous day… we pivoted to a pirate-leaning island circuit as an alternative with Pirate Jeep Tours.
It turned out to be a spotlight: a bat-filled sea cave (you’ll discover “The Caves” alongside West Bay), an outdated limestone quarry space known as the Queen’s Staircase, and a rum cease—John Watling’s Distillery, a beloved in-town property the place tastings double as a historical past lesson.
The British Colonial’s location makes last-second swaps simple. You’re minutes from each historical past and pour.
@traveloffpath Thanks Pirate Jeep Excursions for an ideal day trip!
Rain Plan That Really Labored
Goombay Summer season Pageant—the massive Ministry of Tourism avenue celebration—was rained out throughout our go to, so we leaned right into a extra native night with stay music as an alternative, the British Colonial has stay music a couple of nights per week so positively test it out!
In case your dates line up, Goombay is a vigorous crash course in Bahamian culture (Junkanoo rush-outs, rake ’n’ scrape rhythms, meals, artwork), however Nassau delivers tradition even when the climate doesn’t cooperate.
DIY Nassau: Bush Tea, “Rooster In A Bag,” And Junkanoo Pleasure
Climate scratched our snorkeling boat the following day, so we constructed our personal little island crawl, and that is a part of the fantastic thing about the British Colonial’s good location. A pivot in plans is very easy when you’re surrounded by so many choices!
Since we had swapped a meals tour for a pirate tour the day earlier than, we determined to create our personal tour with meals alongside the way in which. If you wish to take a look at some actually nice native haunts, take these for spin:
- Bush tea store: natural blends and tales poured in equal measure at Tasty Teas. The founder reportedly healed from most cancers largely due to the teas she created.
- Bamboo Shack: the fast-food legend. Order Rooster-in-the-Bag—crispy thighs, onions, condiments, served… in a paper bag—and thank me later.
- Museum of Junkanoo: shiny, kinetic, and excellent for understanding the soul of Nassau’s most well-known celebration. I did not actually know what to anticipate right here but it surely was a blast, and we even had our personal little occasion on the finish with devices and all!
All of it was shut by; none of it felt like a heavy elevate. Getting again to the resort to unwind was a breeze.
Peak Connection: Individuals-to-Individuals Dinner
The People-to-People program pairs guests with Bahamian hosts for actual dialog and home-style meals.
Our farewell dinner by way of this system ended up being the most significant a part of the journey: tales, recipes, neighborhood ideas—and that smooth, “you’re a visitor, not a buyer” glow you possibly can’t script. They even had a metal drummer ready for us after we arrived!
I spoke with the grownup son of our host for over an hour and realized all about his life, what having his son not too long ago has been like in Nassau, and swapped tales like we would been mates for a very long time.
For those who’re interested in Bahamian life past resort partitions, that is the door you need to knock on.
Seashore & Pool Practicalities
- Non-public seaside + ship-spotting: Convey a guide… after which ignore it when a mega-ship slides by. It’s a part of the enjoyable from the sand or the pool deck.
- Two swimming pools (one heated): Straightforward in/ out. For those who’re day-passing from a cruise, you’ll test in on the Heritage Reward Shoppe and be beach-ready quick.
- Walkability: Determine 8–12 minutes to/ from the cruise port relying on crowds; cab is fast should you’ve over-shopped Bay Road.
Who It’s For (And Who Ought to Choose Elsewhere)
Nice match should you: need a downtown base with resort perks; love heritage resorts; plan to museum-hop, snack-graze, and do brief half-day excursions with out automotive dependence.
Perhaps look elsewhere should you: need a sprawling mega-resort with slides/ lazy rivers; plan to spend all day day-after-day on a lengthy, open-ocean seaside as an alternative of a relaxed harbour cove.
@traveloffpath Come for the historical past, keep for the fashionable luxurious. ✨ Room tour of the British Colonial Nassau in The Bahamas! #britishcolonialnassau #nassaubahamas #roomtour#bahamas ♬ One Night – Phill Loud
Fast Planning FAQ
- How “historic” is historic? The property’s story stretches again to the early 1900s; in the present day’s constructing dates to a 1924 rebuild and has simply undergone a $50M+ modern refresh and reopening. You’re feeling the legacy with out sacrificing consolation.
- What are the on-site eating anchors? Mahogany Club (elevated Bahamian delicacies) and Woodes Rodgers Tavern (all-day hangout, completely satisfied hour).
- Is there a day move? Sure. Third-party sellers list 9 a.m.–5 p.m. entry with seaside/ swimming pools/ towels and a straightforward 10-minute stroll from the pier; packages and pricing fluctuate by date and vendor. E-book forward in peak season.
- Junkanoo museum—price it? Completely. You’ll both go to the cruise-port-side Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo or the hands-on Educulture Junkanoo Museum—each make the music, costumes, and custom click on.
- That “hen in a bag” place? Bamboo Shack. It’s a Bahamian staple—go hungry.
Why I am going to Go Again
British Colonial hits a candy spot I didn’t anticipate: traditional with out being stuffy, central with out the town problem, and resort-easy without having a shuttle for each little factor.
I beloved the rhythm of gym-dip-snack-wander-repeat, the ship-watching from the seaside, and the way rapidly we might pivot when climate nudged our plans. Cap it with a Individuals-to-Individuals dinner and a spin by way of Junkanoo tradition, and also you’ve obtained a Nassau keep that feels linked—rooted within the place as an alternative of floating above it.
For those who’re after a fast Bahamas escape the place your resort is a part of the story, put British Colonial at the top of your list.
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