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World Travel Guide > Guides > Caribbean > Bahamas

Bahamas Food and Drink

The Bahamas has a wealth of good restaurants and bars, from local beach-side food joints to upscale diners. Unsurprisingly fish dominates the menu: with boiled whitefish a favourite for breakfast through to dinner-time seafood and steaks. The latter are served with plantain, rice, fries or potatoes. Another popular side-dish is the Johnny Cake (pan-cooked bread made with butter and milk). Fresh fruit from the fertile Out Islands includes sweet pineapple, mango, breadfruit and papaya.

Specialities


• Conch is on every menu, from creamy chowders and fritters to stews and salads. Order it 'scorched' for a ceviche-style dish served with lime juice, hot pepper, chopped tomato and onion, or 'cracked' for deep fried.
• Rock lobster (typically broiled, minced or used in salads).
• Land crabs (usually boiled or baked).
Souse (a soup consisting purely of onions, water, lime juice, celery, peppers and meat).
Guava duff (a dessert made with sieved guava pulp and served with Switcha a sauce made with lemon, sugar and water/rum, or, equally, a chilled beer.

Tipping

Budget for a 15% gratuity as standard, but check the bill as some hotels and restaurants include a service charge. Tip porters B$1 per bag and allow 10-15% for taxi drivers.

Drinking age

18.

Regional drinks


The local liqueur is Nassau Royal, a rum served neat or in coffee.
A refreshing alcoholic drink is coconut water, sweet milk and gin.
Kalik is the beer of the Bahamas.
Rum punch.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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