The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in the Bahamas

Each private cottage faces the crystalline water of Governor’s Harbour at French Leave Resort. It’s a ten-minute walk from the restaurants and shops at the heart of Governor’s Harbour town, yet feels completely secluded amid the lush, tropical gardens. Every villa and studio comes with an oceanfront, white-banister veranda in true Caribbean style, and has an in-room island pantry for a mini-bar. Sea views continue at the 1648 Restaurant where the terrace overlooks the water – it’s particularly special at sunset.

Located 70ft (21m) above sea level, on a steep hill, is the ten-room Ocean West Boutique Hotel. The hotel’s location provides a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Killarney, south of the property. Guests can pamper themselves in the massage suite or exercise at the rooftop fitness center. Aside from breakfast meals served at the hotel, the restaurant Sapodilla, one of Bahamas’ most sophisticated restaurants, is just next door for dinner.

Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the luxurious, ecofriendly Tiamo Resort is an exclusive tropical paradise on South Andros Island. Stay in one of the 11 villas or beach-side cottages with access to the pool, library, spa, and gym. Enjoy a sunset cocktail at the beach bar or tuck into seared ahi tuna with sautéed zucchini for dinner, with a fantastic view of the Caribbean waters. During the day, the hotel hosts a number of activities. Go paddling in a transparent kayak from the resort’s private beach or off-shore fishing in the Tongue of the Ocean, a mile-deep canyon teeming with fish.

The 30-room Island House is located near one of Nassau’s most exclusive communities, Lyford Cay. With just 30 rooms, the hotel never feels busy. Onsite, you can play squash, swim in the lap pool, or try one of the daily yoga and fitness classes. While Island House isn’t a beachfront property, you can just hop in the hotel’s Land Rover ‘taxi’ for a five-minute ride to the Old Fort Bay Club private beach. Dining options include Shima, a southeast Asian restaurant, serving arguably the best pad thai in the Bahamas, as well as pizza at Mahogany House and vanilla lattes at the Coffee House.

The historic Graycliff Hotel, once a colonial mansion built in 1740 by pirate Captain John Howard Graysmith, is nestled in the heart of Nassau. The ornate decor makes this hotel one of a kind, with four-poster beds, antique dressers, and floral bed linen. Downstairs, there is the world’s third-largest collection of wine in the cellar to enjoy a bottle from. The Graycliff is also home to the Caribbean’s first 5-star restaurant (think lobster bisque and chateaubriand). Take a dip in the pool or learn how to roll your own cigar at the Graycliff Cigar Company nearby.

The Coral Sands Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel situated in the heart of Harbour Island. The oceanfront resort features 37 rooms, each decorated in a British colonial style, beautiful ocean-view cottages, and a three-bedroom private villa. The resort is located on the famous pink-sand beach where guests can go snorkeling, scuba diving, or have picnics. Coral Sands is also home to the Terrace Restaurant and the Beach Bar, which serves irresistible food, drinks, and wines.

Soak up the slow life at this family-run, boutique Bahamian resort. Intimate and authentic, you’ll never have to queue for breakfast or get up at dawn to claim your sun lounger. Decorated with local art and with a concierge who can recommend everything you need for a full Caribbean cultural immersion, Sandyport Beach Resort offers a genuine experience with a true sense of place. There’s no shortage of pristine white sand either. Choose the Lagoon Beach suite to step directly from your room to the shore.

A secluded sanctuary, Pink Sands Resorts is tucked away in lush gardens overflowing with flowering hibiscus, frangipani, and fruit trees. Classic Bahamian glamour is given a luxurious twist in the individual cottages and villas, taking inspiration from traditional island architecture. Dine on organic vegetables and herbs grown right in the resort, and unwind on the iconic pink-sand beach for laid-back Caribbean living at its finest.

The vibrant and colorful Rock House Hotel is a historic property on Harbour Island that has seen many transformations since it was built in the 1940s. Once a private home, then a bed and breakfast followed by a rental property, the boutique hotel now serves as one of the most sophisticated resorts in the area. Rock House features ten uniquely decorated rooms, a pool, and a fully equipped gym. The restaurants at the hotel are among the best on the island and, if you’re feeling like a stroll, there is the famous pink-sand beach running along with the property.