North America · Caribbean
City overview
The Bahamas is an archipelago of over 700 islands, though for kosher travelers the story is almost entirely Nassau and neighboring Paradise Island. Jewish life here runs through Chabad of the Bahamas, led by Rabbi Sholom and Sheera Bluming since 2010, with minyanim held at the Baha Mar resort rather than at the Chabad House itself. Nearly all kosher food in the country sits within Baha Mar: CinKo, a Glatt kosher Asian-Latino meat restaurant, the Cholov Yisroel Knosh food truck on the Hyatt beach, and a takeaway hut behind it. An eruv built by Chabad surrounds the Baha Mar property including all three hotels, though not the wider island. Beyond the resort, kosher groceries can be found at Oasis and Solomon's Fresh Market, with kosher wine at the Flying Dutchman in Cable Beach.
Bahamas
Rabbi
Rabbi Sholom D. Bluming
Website
www.jewishbahamas.comChabad of the Bahamas is the hub of Jewish life in Nassau, offering Shabbat and holiday services, Torah classes, Hebrew school and a range of community events for residents and visiting travelers alike. Chabad supervises all kosher food at Baha Mar and coordinates minyanim at the resort rather than at the Chabad House itself.
Getting Around
Public transit
Jitneys — privately operated minibuses — run set routes across New Providence for a flat fare of about $1.25, paid in cash on board.
They cover Cable Beach and downtown Nassau well but stop running in the early evening and do not serve Paradise Island. A separate water taxi runs between downtown Nassau and Paradise Island through the day.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft do not operate in the Bahamas.
Taxis fill that role and are the practical way to get around: fares are set by government rate schedule rather than meters, so agree the price before setting off. Hotels will call a licensed taxi on request.
Car rental
Rental cars are available at the airport and through the larger resorts.
Driving is on the LEFT, a legacy of British rule, though most cars are American left-hand-drive imports, which takes some adjustment. For a stay centered on Cable Beach or Paradise Island a car is rarely necessary.
Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) sits on the western side of New Providence, roughly a 10 to 15 minute drive from Cable Beach and Baha Mar, and about 30 minutes from Paradise Island. It is the country's main international gateway, with direct service from several US east coast cities. Domestic carriers connect from here to the Out Islands including Exuma, Eleuthera and Abaco.
Good to know
Mid-December through April is the dry season, with warm days, low humidity and little rain; late summer into October is hurricane season and the wettest stretch of the year.
Almost everything kosher in the country is inside the Baha Mar resort complex, so staying at one of its three hotels — Grand Hyatt, SLS or Rosewood — puts you inside the eruv and within walking distance of every kosher option. CinKo requires advance reservations and fills up, particularly during Yeshiva Week in January, when Chabad runs expanded minyanim three times daily. If you are staying at Atlantis on Paradise Island instead, arrange kosher meals with the resort before you travel, as nothing kosher is prepared fresh on that property. Bahamian dollars and US dollars are used interchangeably at par, so there is no need to change money.
Nassau is generally safe for visitors, particularly in the resort corridors of Cable Beach and Paradise Island. Standard city precautions apply: stay in well-lit, populated areas after dark, avoid the Over-the-Hill neighborhoods south of downtown at night, and use licensed taxis rather than unmarked cars. Police/Ambulance/Fire: 919 or 911. Princess Margaret Hospital (Nassau): +1 242-322-2861. Doctors Hospital (Nassau): +1 242-302-4600.
Local time
4:06 AM
+4 hrs from NYC
Plug
Type A/B
120V
Currency
Bahamian Dollar
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