Blackbeard made Nassau his HQ three centuries ago and the city has been the beachy capital of the Bahamas ever since. Tristan Rutherford picks his perfect whistle-stop tour
08:00 - Atlantis Marina
Sailors who prefer their Château Montrachet to pirate’s rum should moor at Atlantis. The nation’s premier marina can accommodate superyachts up to 73m so you can extend your passerelle directly onto paradise.
08:30 - Hog Island Lighthouse
Avoid the temptation of the private cabanas at Atlantis (butlers can pre-load them with chilled Bahamian beer Kalik Lime) and hike for 30 minutes to Hog Island lighthouse. The inviting waters surrounding it demonstrate why the island has been the location for four James Bond films (as well as for the underwater scenes in Jaws).
10:00 - Fort Fincastle
Take a 10 minute ride in a Lincoln limousine to Fort Fincastle and climb the Queen’s Staircase – 66 steps hewn from solid limestone by slaves between 1793 and 1794 – which mount the highest point in Nassau.
11:00 - Downtown
Wander five minutes west to downtown past Government House, the shocking pink residence of Her Majesty’s governor. Shop for handicrafts at Straw Market on Bay Street then recharge with an Earl Grey at the British Colonial Hilton – the country’s first hotel, built atop Blackbeard’s lair.
13:00 - Fish Fry
For lunch, stroll 10 minutes west along the seaside to the Fish Fry, a Nassau institution. The 30 seafood shacks boast endearing names such as Frankie Gone Bananas. Order conch, an indigenous mega mollusc, coated in tempura batter.
15:00 - Ardastra Gardens
Head to Ardastra Gardens, a conservation park a five minute saunter north, for a post-prandial stroll accompanied by pink flamingos and lory parrots.
16:00 - Baha Mar Resort
Take a 10 minute cab west to Cable Beach, home to the newly opened ultra- luxurious Baha Mar resort. Book into the 2,800m2 ESPA spa for its signature massage, which uses gently heated cowrie shells to aid relaxation.
19:30 - Sapodilla Estate
Dine five minutes west at the rarefied Sapodilla Estate. This Bahamas- inspired fine dining establishment is named after the sugar-sweet local tree berries used in some dishes. Move from crab and plantain cakes to crayfish beurre blanc. Finish with bananas flambéed with John Watling’s rum, distilled near Government House.
22:00 Atlantis Casino
Atlantis will arrange a limo back to its casino, which has 85 gaming tables. Throw snake eyes at craps to pay for a conch sashimi midnight feast from Nobu. Your superyacht is a two minute walk away when your luck runs out.