Baha Mar Resort Review

I couldn’t be more excited to finally share the project I’ve been working on with Modern Luxury and Baha Mar! Back in January, Matt and I stayed at Baha Mar Resort in the Bahamas and it was one of the most amazing places we’ve stayed. We were both blown away. I’ll review all the aspects of the resort in this post and cover how to win a 3-night stay at Baha Mar!

Getting to Baha Mar Resort.

Baha Mar is in Nassau – the main island in the Bahamas. If you’re flying to Nassau from the US, you may have a connection in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale but they are working on increasing the number of direct flights to Nassau. Once you land in Nassau, the resort is less than 10 minutes away from the airport. You’d never know though because you feel completely transported once you drive onto the Baha Mar Resort property.

What I loved about the idea of a longer weekend in the Bahamas is that this destination is still pretty easy to get to especially if you live in the midwest or eastern part of the United States. The fact that the resort is so close to the airport is a huge bonus. The shorter travel time makes a 3 or 4 night trip totally doable. The Bahamas is exotic enough to fulfill your wanderlust thirst but still within your comfort zone. I couldn’t think of a more perfect location for a quick getaway.

Where to stay at Baha Mar Resort.

So this is where it gets interesting. Baha Mar is actually a “mega resort” – it has 3 different hotels on the property. There is the Grand Hyatt (where we stayed), the SLS, and Rosewood (opens this spring). They increase in price and luxury in that order. You can’t go wrong with any of the choices. The benefit of staying at the SLS is that you have access to an additional pool that has a DJ during the day. You can still walk through the lobby and enjoy a drink if you stay at the Grand Hyatt though!

Before you read any further, make sure to enter the sweepstakes to win a 3-night stay here! It was truly paradise!

Where to eat at the Baha Mar Resort.

You can’t go wrong with any choice. We were both impressed by the selection and quality of the cuisine on the resort property. The numerous options made it so you didn’t feel compelled to leave but were able to have a different experience every night. The one question that I got asked over and over is how expensive the food was. Since Baha Mar Resort is not an all-inclusive, this seems to be at the top of your mind for you guys! The best way I can describe it is that it’s just like you’re eating in a big city like Chicago or Los Angeles. It’s not as expensive as New York. However, the quality, flavor palettes, and expansive options are a great value for the meals. Considering they are importing food onto an island, I was honestly surprised the food wasn’t a little more expensive. Breakfast and lunch entrees were $10 – $20. Dinner ranged a bit more depending on how many plates you ordered but our meals were the same as if we had gone out to dinner in Chicago.

So what were the best places to eat?

Katsuya.

We ate at Katsuya on our first night at Baha Mar and it was just as good as we remembered. Katsuya has several locations in the US and the restaurant at Baha Mar met every expectation. I personally think it’s better than the Miami location. For those new to Katsuya, it’s a sushi and robata restaurant but don’t let that turn you away if you aren’t into raw fish. As a vegan, they were able to accommodate me 100% and even offered me options that weren’t on the menu. If you go to Katsuya (at any location), the crispy brussels sprouts are a must have. I’ve turned so many people onto them and they cannot be missed! Just remember to ask for no bonito flakes if you’re vegetarian or vegan!

CLEO.

CLEO was right up our alley for dinner. Having just visited Greece last year, we were craving some good Mediterranean food. CLEO didn’t disappoint one bit. In fact, the brussels sprouts here were just as good as the ones at Katsuya but a little spicy. You can expect to order a few plates at this restaurant as everything is meant to be shared by the table. The restaurant is also beautifully decorated like a Hamptons meets Southern California vibe. If they’d have let me, I would have taken every photo inside this restaurant!

Cafe Madeleine.

This was the perfect spot to grab breakfast or a little dessert midday. You could select from quite a wide variety of options ranging from a bowl of berries to nutella pancakes. They also had a few delicious cocktails to start the day as well as fresh French pastries. The decor was also adorable!

El Jefe.

On the Baha Mar property, there are a few food trucks and a bunch of little shacks/bars to grab snacks throughout the day. They even had a Conch shack where the chef prepared a fresh Conch – Matt tried it and said it was delicious! El Jefe was one of the cutest food trucks I’d ever seen and my personal favorite. It was Mexican food and I just thought it was one of the coolest experiences! This spot would also be perfect for happy hour because they have delicious margaritas and an ocean view.

The Swimming Pig.

If you weren’t aware, the Bahamas are known for being home to swimming pigs. While none are on Nassau, I loved that Baha Mar incorporated so much of Bahamian culture into the way they designed their resort and named it. The Swimming Pig was more like a pub – we didn’t eat there but did grab a cocktail before dinner one night and it was a really cool vibe inside. They had quite a few beers on tap!

Fi’lia.

We didn’t get to try this place because it had just opened the weekend that we were there but I would recommend it! It’s sure to be as good as CLEO and Katsuya!

What to do at Baha Mar Resort.

Being a “mega-resort”, there is little need to leave the property. They have everything onsite that you would want which is also why I think it makes for a great weekend trip. Here are a few things to do.

Soak up the sun.

Whether you’re a pool person or a beach person, they have got you covered. The beach is expansive and they have multiple water activities available such as paddle boarding, kayaking, and sailing. Everything is available at your convenience and included in the price of your stay!

If sitting poolside is more your thing, Baha Mar has 7 tropical pools and some (such as The Grotto) are modeled after natural formations in the Bahamas. I loved that sense of tribute to the local landscape!

Spa.

One of the best parts of vacation is relaxing and what better way to do it than at the spa? ESPA is the spa on the Baha Mar property and it was absolutely stunning. We didn’t get a chance to get a massage but if the facilities were any indication, I bet it would have been amazing. The fitness center was near the spa and it was very impressive. You could even take some of the stationary bikes out on the balcony and cycle to the view of the ocean (see the view below)!

Play tennis.

This was surprisingly the most fun thing that Matt and I did. The racquet club on the property is stunning. They have every type of surface and you can rent any equipment you’d need. This is what makes it so easy and convenient! It doesn’t matter if you’re a tennis pro or just a beginner, this was a great way to get a workout in a beautiful setting.

Gamble.

Baha Mar resort is home to the biggest casino in the Caribbean and it’s spectacular. Matt’s favorite part was the sportsbook – he placed a few bets while we were there! If you’re new to gambling or aren’t sure how to play something, try taking a class. We did it for Baccarat and thought it was awesome. It was a great way to get to know the game without putting any money on the line. Plus, the people teaching us were so nice and friendly that we made a night of it!

Art.

One of the things that struck me the most was the resorts commitment toward incorporating Bahamian culture. Most of the art on the property was created by artists local to the islands. They also host 3 artists as part of a rotating residency program to create artwork across an array of mediums. There was an art show while we were there and we got to see some of the pieces and they were just incredible. Truly impressive.

Dance.

If you’re looking to liven up your night, Bond Nightclub is on the property and is the perfect place to show off your dance moves.

Go golfing.

If golfing is your thing, there is an 18 hole golf course just a quick shuttle ride away from the main property. We actually ate lunch at the Royal Blue golf club one day for a little change of scenery. The grounds were impeccable and again, everything you would need is available for rent!

How to win a trip to Baha Mar Resort.

This might be the best part of the post! At least, it’s the part that I could barely wait to share with you! Modern Luxury is teaming up with Baha Mar to give away a 3-night stay at the Grand Hyatt with complimentary airfare, 60 minute spa treatments at ESPA, dinner at Katsuya, and a round of gulf. I would truly recommend staying at Baha Mar – it impressed us so much that we are considering going back with a few of our friends! So, make sure to enter the giveaway – it only takes a minute!

Have you been to the Bahamas or Baha Mar Resort? What part of the resort sounds like the best to you?