Brussels Bistro is a quaint establishment whose linen tablecloths, dark wood paneling and cozy bar evoke the old-world charm of an authentic bistro. Menu musts include rich onion soup with freshly baked French bread, chicken and mushroom puff pastry with cream sauce, and fresh steamed mussels in a wine broth, the bistro's specialty. Belgian beer, French wine and decadent desserts complete this unforgettable culinary experience. Brussels Bistro is open for lunch Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and dinner Tuesday-Saturday 5-10 p.m. In addition to the regular lunch and dinner menus, there are daily specials that feature an appetizer, two entrees and a dessert.
Recommended for Restaurants near Cruise Port because: Brussels Bistro serves authentic Belgian food — and beer — with a side of old-world charm near Bay Street.
Shannon's expert tip: Lunch and dinner specials feature an appetizer, two entrees and a dessert at affordable prices.
A small chain with locations in Mexico and the Caribbean, Senor Frog's caters mostly to tourists, functioning as a festive family friendly restaurant by day and a lively nightclub by night. The menu is big, with enough choice to please everyone, even kids. The unique Mexican Shrimp Cocktail is fabulous, and south of the border salads are hearty and satisfying. In addition to specialties like Winter Sabana (a thin beef filet covered with refried beans, salsa verde and Monterey Jack, served with a side of tortillas), there are a few American favorites as well, such as steaks, burgers and ribs. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights Senor Frog's welcomes live bands, and other nights there's karaoke or a DJ, but whatever the entertainment, you can be sure the crowd will be dancing and partying til the wee hours.
Recommended for Restaurants near Cruise Port because: Located on the water near the port, Senor Frogs is a fun place to hang out while you're docked in Nassau.
Shannon's expert tip: Keep an eye on the clock at this fun and festive restaurant so you don't miss your boat.
Breakfast at Aqua can be traditional or trendy. Opt to make your experience full service or join the buffet line. At the breakfast buffet bar choose from fruits, yogurt, bagels or have an omelet prepared your way. Sit down items range from steak and eggs to an egg sampler plate to the traditional boiled or stewed snapper. The Aqua Lobster Benedict, two poached eggs, lobster, sauted spinach in a hollandaise sauce, comes highly recommended. For the health conscious diner, breakfast can be steel cut oats or a fruit parfait with a choice of whole, skim or soy milk. You can get an early start at Aqua, breakfast is served from 6:30 a.m.
Recommended for Restaurants near Cruise Port because: Aqua at the British Colonial Hilton is located near the Straw Market and is a good starting off point for your day in Nassau.
Shannon's expert tip: Order the Aqua Lobster Benedict for breakfast before spending your day at nearby Junkanoo Beach.
Matisse the painter may have been thoroughly French, but Matisse the cafe is completely Italian. Set in an 1800s home, the restaurant has a charming courtyard and an abundance of colorful art prints on the walls. It's located behind Parliament Square just steps away from the country's legal and business center in downtown Nassau and is a popular lunch hangout for lawyers, politicians and local business persons. The menu changes every three months, taking advantage of the freshest available produce, but dishes are creative and wonderfully flavorful. You might enjoy an appetizer of thinly sliced veal with a tuna-caper sauce, or lobster salad with hearts of palm and orange-ginger vinaigrette. Pastas and gnocchi are homemade, and main dishes such as rack of lamb, baked snapper with braised fennel, and veal with prosciutto on a bed of spinach are all divine.
Recommended for Restaurants near Cruise Port because: Centrally located, Café Matisse features an Italian menu that changes every three months.
Shannon's expert tip: Save room for dessert.
Regarded as the best restaurant on New Providence, if not in the Caribbean, Graycliff also happens to have one of the world's top wine cellars. Offering some 250,000 bottles, from an 1865 Chateau Lafitte Rothschild Premier Grand Cru Classe to a 2001 Niebaum-Coppola merlot, the cellar has it all, in every price range. Graycliff is also known for its 90-some varieties of cigars, many of which are hand-rolled on the premises by Cuban ex-pats. The food is crafted with the finest ingredients: beluga caviar, foie gras, truffles, lobster, Certified Angus beef, milk-fed veal, imported Parma ham, and fresh seafood. Reservations are essential.
Recommended for Restaurants near Cruise Port because: Graycliff is a five-star restaurant with an award-winning wine cellar.
Shannon's expert tip: Make your reservations for the wine luncheon. And don't miss the chocolate factory tour.
What began as a few ramshackle huts has grown into a Bahamian dining destination. Andros and Twin Brothers Seafood & Steakhouse are just two of the restaurants you'll find in this strip of restaurants and bars offering fresh seafood and homemade dishes to locals and visitors alike. The Fish Fry is a great place to try conch — you'll find conch salad, scorched conch, conch fritters, cracked conch and conch chowder, just to name a few of the most popular dishes. Several festivals and public events are held here each year, but the atmosphere is decidedly upbeat and festive every day.
Recommended for Restaurants near Cruise Port because: The restaurants at the Fish Fry on Arawak Cay serve up fresh, authentically Bahamian seafood.
Shannon's expert tip: Order the conch salad. The chefs prepare it fresh and its more authentic than what you'll find at the hotels.
Van Breugel's is an European-style family bistro located near Rawson Square in downtown Nassau, Bahamas. The bistro serves up old world ambiance in a casual setting. The menu is moderately priced and features European-inspired Bahamian dishes. The chef specialties include beef stroganoff, Thai beef, Weinerschnitzel, shrimp Indienne, braised lamb shank, veal scallopinni, boillabaisse, spicy tomato soup and coconut curry conch chowder. There is also a grill menu, pasta menu, snack menu, bar tapas menu, cocktail menu and a small selection of desserts. Attire is smart casual. Reservations are recommended and can be requested on their web site. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.
Recommended for Restaurants near Cruise Port because: This moderately-priced European-style bistro is a great place to grab lunch after a morning of shopping on Bay Street.
Shannon's expert tip: The Coconut Curry Conch Chowder is a must. Its the house specialty.
Same great food, new name, Bahamian Kitchen is now Bahamian Cookin. A local favorite for nearly 30 years, this lunch and dinner spot is Nassau's best-kept secret dining spot that's gaining popularity with visitors looking for an authentic Bahamian dining experience. Everything is authentically Bahamian, from the food to the table settings. Known for seafood dishes like cracked conch, friend shrimp and broiled lobster, Bahamian Cookin also caters to the salad and sandwich crowd. Dine in the main dining room or in the sports lounge and enjoy the down-home family atmosphere and service. Friday happy hours include a complimentary treat. Casual attire. Cash only. Closed Sundays.
Recommended for Restaurants near Cruise Port because: Bahamian Cookin (aka Bahamian Kitchen) offers authentic Bahamian food from its convenient, downtown location.
Shannon's expert tip: This establishment is cash only.
Via Caffe is a trendy, European-style cafe that transforms into a nighttime hot spot. Great for breakfast, Via Caffe serves lunch and dinner, too, blending European and Caribbean flavors into a creative menu. Come in the morning for a great cup of coffee and a steak & egg wrap. Come back at night and hit the dance floor. There are nightly specials and entertainment themes from jazz and salsa to happy hour and ladies night. Best of all? Its super close to the port if you need to get back to the boat after your night of dinner, drinks and dancing.
Recommended for Restaurants near Cruise Port because: Via Caffe is a stone's throw from your cruise ship. Start or end your day here.
Shannon's expert tip: Need to connect (or reconnect)? Via Caffe has free wifi.
Set above Bay Street, at the corner of Bay and Charlotte Streets, Athena Cafe's upstairs restaurant overlooks Nassau's busy downtown shopping district. Open since 1996, Athena Cafe is a family-operated Greek restaurant that is a popular lunch spot for locals working in the financial district as well as visitors to Nassau. Sit outside on the balcony or inside the air-conditioned cafe. Athena Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving up authentic Greek and Mediterranean cuisine with a smile. Takeout is also available. Travel tip: Say hi to Peter Mousis, aka Mr. Opa, and ask for his menu recommendations.
Recommended for Restaurants near Cruise Port because: Athena Cafe serves affordable Greek food in a location that's convenient to the port and to downtown shopping.
Shannon's expert tip: Order the gryos; they're famous.