Best Exuma Restaurants

What makes The Exuma one of the most talked-about Bahamas charter destinations? Is it the region’s turquoise-waters? The untouched and totally isolated beaches? The supreme isolation in this off-the-beaten path region of the Bahamas?

Absolutely. Those are just a few reasons flock to this Carribean destination every year. The Exuma region is a decidedly beautiful archipelago – comprised of 365 untouched cays starting 35 miles away from Nassau – and the region’s picturesque and laid-back port towns beckon charterers every season.

But here’s something that remains little-known about The Exuma: The region’s beachside restaurants and port pubs serve up incredible Caribbean-inspired dishes in incredible locales. Which restaurants should you stop off at on your next Exuma charter? Here are five favorites:

1. Staniel Cay Yacht Club – (Staniel Cay)

A staple of the Exumas dining and social landscape, the Staniel Cay Yacht Club serves up delicious Bahamian- and Continental-inspired dishes in a relaxed dockside dining room. Try the conch fritters – which are always fresh – and the famous Staniel Cay Lime Pie is to die for. Just want to relax with a burger and a beer? The Yacht Club has you covered.

Really, the Yacht Club is the perfect place to relax. The dining room fills up each night with boaters dressed in island wear, and the adjacent bar is one of the best watering holes in the Exumas. Grab a glass of rum punch, or try another specialty cocktail as you while away the evening.

Reservations: Make dinner reservations at the bar or by phone/radio by 3:30 p.m.
Attire: Casual and comfortable

2. Taste and Sea – (Staniel Cay)

A laid-back, rustic eatery on Staniel Cay, Taste and Sea has been serving up Caribbean and Bahamian dishes for decades. The dining room is causal and relaxed, but the kitchen doesn’t disappoint. Seafood dishes like the coconut shrimp and blackened grouper pop with flavor.

Bottom line, if you want an authentic Bahamian dining experience, go to Taste and Sea. The food is always great. The service friendly and quick. And the views are sprawling.

Reservations: Not required
Attire: Causal and relaxed

3. Lorraine’s Café – (Great Guana Cay)

Lorraine’s Café – one of the only restaurants on tiny Great Guana Cay – serves up fresh seafood and loads of Caribbean hospitality. Go here for super-fresh, authentic Bahamian seafood and homemade fare. (You’ll be dreaming about the homemade island bread for months.) And menu favorites like the lobster dinner and grilled fish melt in your mouth.

The dining room is decidedly quaint, but the food is some of the best in the Exumas.

Reservations: Not required; lunch buffet served daily
Attire: Causal, relaxed

4. MacDuff’s – (Norman Cay)

Norman Cay’s only restaurant and bar, MacDuff’s doesn’t disappoint. The beachside eatery – think upscale, chic beach bar & grille – serves up some of the most tantalizing dishes in all of the Exumas. The menu, curated by Executive Chef Jason Wallace, features colorful daily specials and contemporary Bahamian fare. Favorites include pineapple chutney with fresh-caught snapper and Chef Jason’s famous conch burgers.

Want to just enjoy a cocktail? MacDuff’s specialty drinks like the Goombay Smash or Mango Daiquiri will quench your thirst. Simply stated, MacDuff’s might specialize in fine dining, but the experience is certainly stress-free.

Reservations: Required for dinner; can be made by calling ahead
Attire: Island eveningwear; causal for lunch

5. Hill House – (Fowl Cay)

Hill House Restaurant at the Fowl Cay Resort serves up fresh-caught seafood in a dining room with sprawling 360-degree views of the Exumas. Come here for refreshing libations and delicious seafood dishes in a rustic and cozy environment.

Chef specials are available daily. Try the mini guava cheesecake or the fire-roasted Mahi-Mahi. If you’re looking for upscale, the Hill House offers one of the best fine dining experiences in all of the Exumas.

Reservations: Required for dinner
Attire: Island eveningwear

Next time you charter in The Exumas, you know where to dine. The region offers the best of the Bahamas – incredible beaches, sapphire-blue waters, isolation, and some absolutely delicious dining options. These five restaurants deliver – the food in each is great, and the ambience is ideal after a day of cruising. Schedule an Exumas Charter today with Worldwide Boat.