Bahamas: Bites of Nassau Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour

Thanks to the reviews at Trip Advisor, we ventured out on a Bites of Nassau food tasting and cultural walking tour, and we are so glad we did! In all of the time we have spent in Nassau and on Paradise Island (this is our second trip), it was by far the best experience we have had.

Whether you are a foodie or just like to dabble in local cultures and foods, this tour is a great way to get to know Nassau and the Bahamas.

The tour met at the front entrance of the gorgeous Christ Church Cathedral, established in 1670. The church has had a few reincarnations in the community, and the one that stands today is the fifth church building, which opened for services in 1841. In 1861, the building (made with locally quarried cut limestone blocks) was extended to the east and became a cathedral - making Nassau a city. This was only the first of many architectural highlights along the walking tour, an unexpected treat as we took a step into the feast culture of the capital island.


Our guide, Murray, was a fountain of interesting information, and the tour groups are intimate, allowing for easy navigation of the city's busy streets.

Murray explained that the tour is designed to start off slow and easy, and build to a crescendo of sights, sounds, and flavors.

And that is exactly how it went, as we started off with a little slow cooking. Our first stop was Bahamian Cookin', a local favorite established in 1986 and featuring the delicacies lovingly created by Miss Mena and her granddaughters - three generations cooking authentic Bahamian food. We enjoyed a sampling of authentic dishes, including chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, plantains, peas and rice, and coleslaw. While we ate, our guide shared about the history of each dish and the cooking techniques employed.


Tip: Bahamian Cookin' is at Trinity Place, across from Central Bank, and is open for takeout at breakfast and sit down service at lunch.

From there, we walked through the gardens of Graycliff, a colonial mansion featuring a hotel, restaurant, and much more. Originally built in 1740 by the famous Caribbean pirate Captain John Howard Graysmith, the mansion has a rich history, including being owned and occupied by royalty from 1966 to 1973.

We visited both the Graycliff Cigar Factory and Chocolatier, featuring handmade cigars in the Cuban tradition and handcrafted chocolates that really tempt the senses. Our tasting included a local beer or soda in the cigar lounge and two very different and very delicious bonbons in the chocolate factory.

Tip: Check out Graycliff's pizza offerings on Friday evenings. You won't be sorry! Also, ask about their day passes for the relaxing pools and hot tub.

Our next stop was Van Breugel's Bistro and Bar, a Euro Bistro established by Chef Freddy van Breugel (we enjoyed this stop so much we cancelled our dinner reservations at the resort and returned that evening - blog post on that to follow). We savored small bowls of a coconut curry conch chowder that was just the right amount of spicy and delicious. One of the highlights of this stop was the discussion about locally sourced ingredients, and the efforts of Van Breugel to really marry the local fare with his background as a saucier. We were definitely appreciative!

After Van Breugel's, we had the opportunity to explore the city's rich heritage a bit, seeing a few local landmarks and hearing about their history. We saw the Governor General's House, which sits on the hill overlooking downtown, and features a statue of Christopher Columbus on the steps.

Out of respect for the residence and the business that is being conducted at the Governor General's House, visitors are asked to stay behind a yellow line across the driveway from the house.

We also saw a home called Balcony House, which held significance in the desegregation of Nassau.

Next we moved on to a place called Bay Street Station, where we enjoyed what Murray dubbed an "educational tasting," where he shared with us about a number of spices and seasoning combinations commonly used in the Bahamas, along with some lovely sweets. We couldn't resist purchasing a few jars of the lovely spicy curry powder!


With two stops left, things were really starting to move quick, and we next moved to a family-run Greek restaurant called Athena Cafe and Bar. Located at the corner of Bay Street and Charlotte Street North, Athena is one of the top rated eateries in Nassau. We had a delicate Greek salad with fresh touches and a tasty authentic feta cheese. The hospitality was amazing, and the atmosphere was very family friendly.

Fittingly, we finished our tour at the Tortuga Rum Cake Company. The rum cake bake shop has quickly become a staple in the Bahamian culture, just as it is across the Caribbean. The cakes are made fresh daily, and the entire stock of the shop turns over about every day and a half, Murray explained, so the cakes are very fresh. And delicious! We tasted the Original Golden flavor, and purchased a variety pack to bring back and share with the family that didn't join us on the tour. If you have never had a Tortuga Rum Cake, you are missing out. It is moist and delicious, and you can almost smell the sea air when you bite into it.

The tour is $69 for adults and $49 for children, and we found it to be excellent value. Reserve your tickets online at Tru Bahamian Food Tours, and be sure to share any allergy information, they were great about working with people, from what we saw.

In all, we walked about 1.5 miles, with some hills and stairs involved. We brought along a stroller, which was a lifesaver for little legs (and big backs, because we didn't have to carry a five year old when she got tired).

If you will be traveling to Nassau or have a port day there on your cruise, we highly recommend the Tru Bahamian Food Tour.