Travel Guide: Harbour Island
đź“Ť Harbour Island, Bahamas
Similar Dress (also) || Sandals || Similar Handbag
After a blissful week in Harbour Island, I am sadly back to reporting from St. Pete, Florida. David and I had the most incredible stay in The Bahamas. It was exactly what we needed to feel recharged and inspired for the projects ahead. Now that we’re home, I’m so excited to share all of the details of our journey. You may be shocked to find out how easy a trip to this remote slice of the Caribbean can be. In this Travel Guide, you’ll learn how to get there, where to stay, where to eat, and what to do. It makes me want to book another trip just thinking about it!
How To Get There
Before Your Trip
In my previous post, Welcome to Harbour Island, I outlined what you need to check off before visiting The Bahamas. The biggest step is to make sure you have a Negative PCR test no more than 5 days before your trip. It’s a generous amount of time so you can apply for a Health Visa afterward. Depending on how long you’re staying, it will be between $40 and $60. This will give you the green light to visit and includes an additional test if you’re staying for more than 5 days.
Your Flight:
There are just a handful of flights each day that come into this teeny tiny airport. Even though we live in Florida, we still had to have a layover in Miami with American Airlines. Other direct flight options are from Atlanta with Delta and from Fort Lauderdale with Silver. While your layover may be longer than the actual flight, the good news is that all three airports are easy to get to from around the country. Shop around and see what’s best for your schedule and starting point.
After You Land:
As always with travel, you should always prepare to have cash on you! After you breeze through the quickest customs line I’ve ever seen, there will be a row of taxis already waiting for you. Any one of them will take you to the water taxi, about a 5-minute drive away. Next, hope on the next water taxi and enjoy your first experience with the shockingly beautiful water. It’s not the smoothest ride in the world, those boats are hustling, but you’ll be safe on Harbour Island in about 10 minutes. Each leg of the journey is $5 per person. Because the exchange rate between the US and Bahamas dollars is 1 to 1, everywhere on the island will accept both. Don’t be surprised if you’re change is a mixture of both currencies.
Where To Stay
The Secret:
The Secret is a secret no longer! This quiet little slice of Harbour Island was our home for the entire stay. Because we were working from home, we knew we wanted more space to spread out. We found this gem on Airbnb and it was simply perfect! It was a quick, 10-minute walk to all of the shops and restaurants near the water, plus only 5 minutes away from the pink sand beaches. If you’re wanting to visit Harbour Island more on a budget, Airbnb will be your best choice.
The Dunmore:
We absolutely adore The Dunmore. We found our way here almost every evening for pre-dinner cocktail hour. The staff is incredible and I felt like I’ve known them my entire life. David loved this spot too and he’s often difficult to impress. I think what sold us were the stunning grounds, interior spaces designed by Amanda Lindroth, and private beach access. Before we even got home, we’re started looking up availability for the summer. Who knows, we may be back for my 30th birthday in June.
Rent A Home:
If you’re traveling with a large group, you may want to consider renting a full house. There are so many options on the island and I find myself thinking about them almost daily. These houses are typically 3 or 4 bedrooms, decorated impeccably, and often have private pools. My number one pick would be Chatterbox. It’s been featured in Coastal Living several times and the owner, Trish Becker, is an absolute doll. She also owns Jewelbox and Mainbrace on the island, each equally great and with their own sense of style. Not to be outdone, I of course have to mention the Coral House. It’s owned by Charleston-blogger, Chassity Evans. Each of these homes serves as constant decor inspiration for my St. Pete bungalow.
Where To Eat and Drink
As a quick note: I think there are two sides to dining on Harbour Island. There are high-end resort restaurants and budget-friendly, local favorites. My number one piece of advice is to make sure that you make an effort to try the whole spectrum. No matter the price point, every meal we had was incredible! This list is no particular order, so feel free to explore them all.
Arthur’s Bakery
You know a day’s going to be good when it starts at Arthur’s Bakery. You know you’re there when you see the famous pineapple fence. This just feels like the place to be on, first thing in the morning, with a line beginning to form almost as soon as it opens. They offer a whole list of coffee drinks, but more importantly have simply delicious baked goods! My favorite was, hands down, the coconut muffin, but I deeply regret not ordering a loaf of their freshly baked bread during our visit. I promise next time!
Queen Conch
CASH ONLY! We actually ended up eating here twice, we loved it so much. Once for lunch at the beginning of our visit and for our final dinner. The dinner also happened to include the prettiest sunset to cap on a fantastic trip. When you’re here, obviously order the conch. It’s served up in a variety of ways: Fritters, sandwiches, wraps. I think their signature dish is the conch salad, a Bahamian spin on ceviche. Order the kind with mango and apple for a healthy, sweet, and spicy meal.
Island Pizza
I think I irrationally love this place. Sometimes a pizza is just what the doctor ordered, right? When grabbed a pizza to-go from here, many locals were ordering themselves. Because it’s the local fare, we got the conch pizza and it was amazing! The pizza was cheesy and the sauce was on the sweet side, which perfectly complemented the healthy topping of fried conch. It doesn’t look like much, but I can’t recommend this spot enough.
Dunmore Deli
CASH ONLY! Located right next to the island’s main grocery store, this little lunchtime spot serves up delicious sandwiches. We didn’t get here until our final afternoon, but I wish I would have stopped by sooner. Our two favorites were the Islander (roast beef, avocado, and grilled onions) and the Emperor (roast beef, goat cheese, and arugula). It was quick and filling, fueling me up for an afternoon of exploring the nearby boutiques.
Sybil’s Bakery
The aromas alone are enough to make us want to pop in. Couple that with all the locals we talked about raved about this spot meant we had to try it for ourselves. Open for breakfast only, you get a lot of food for a surprisingly small price tag. Breakfast sandwiches and pineapple tarts, need I say more?
Elbow Room
By far the best drink deals on the island! Happy hour is from 4 to 6 most evenings and it’s buy-one-get-one cocktails. The menu is small and the space is cozy, but I loved their Elbow Smash. It’s a spin on the country staple, Goombay Smash: rum, pineapple juice, and orange juice Be sure to pace yourself because those drinks will catch up with you quickly. I’m speaking from personal experience!
Beach Bar
Located at the Coral Sands Hotel, it has one of the best restaurant views on the island. We got to enjoy that first hand. I ordered my Harbour Island usual, conch fritters and goombay smash. They’re best known for their lobster salad sandwich. David ordered one and even though he’s a New Englander with high lobster standards, he still thought it was incredible.
Latitude 25
We ended up eating our first evening, also at the Coral Sands Hotel. I’m not typically in the mood for pasta, but the phrase “seafood fettuccine” definitely gave me a change of heart. The freshly made pasta with full of lobster, mussels, and shrimp with an incredibly (slightly) spicy sauce. I’m so glad I ordered something just a little bit out of the ordinary.
Da Vine
You don’t typically think of sushi when you’re in the Caribbean. Well, think again! You’ll need to make a reservation the day before, but it’s worth the effort. They have classic rolls, but some have a Harbour Island twist. We ordered four different rolls, but were so blown away, we decided to skip dessert and order two more. Da Vine reminded me how much I love sushi and need more of it in my life.
The Landing
Sadly, we didn’t get to eat here, but I’ve heard the most amazing things about their breakfast and dinner menus. Instead, we made time for pre-dinner cocktails and exploring the space designed by India Hicks. They offer the longest drink menu I saw on the island, which we happy to take advantage of. After ordering, we found a quiet spot on the second-floor balcony that overlooked the harbor. It was the perfect place to watch island life pass by. On our next trip, we’ll make eating here a top priority.
The Dunmore Restaurant
And finally, we come back to my favorite place on Harbour Island. We were very fortunate to snag last-minute reservations here. Thank you so much, Erica! Even with a full dining room, it still felt so intimate. The special of the day was jerk lamb. If you know anything about my food preferences, you know jerk-anything is an instant favorite for me. This meal did not disappoint. I don’t know if I have a true favorite meal from our trip, but this one was certainly the very top of that list!
What To Do
Rent A Golf Cart
The island is extremely walkable. You get almost anywhere in under 15 minutes. However, if you want to get somewhere quickly, a golf cart will be a saving grace. We rented from Conch and Coconut. This local company does a lot to show off the best that Harbour Island has to offer, including a business directory and curated adventures. They were so great to work with and I highly recommend them to anyone visiting.
Explore The Boutiques
For such a tiny island, there are certainly a huge number of places to shop from. My favorite boutique was probably Blue Rooster. I want to call it my style personified in a store with lots of floral caftans and pearl accented jewelry. Other noteworthy shops are Dake’s, across from the pineapple fence, and India HIck’s shop, The Sugar Mill. Space was very limited in my carry-on, so I had to make my souvenirs count. I opted for a very special print from the Princess Street Art Gallery.
Have A Beach Day
I joke that the water is almost painfully blue, especially with the pink sand beaches. During your trip, be sure to treat yourself to at least one beach day. If you’re staying at a beach resort, they already have you covered! If not, there are several shops along the beach so you can rent chairs and umbrellas. If you need a break from the sun, take a dip in the refreshing waters and grab a rum punch from a nearby hotel.
Treat Yourself To A Straw Bag
I don’t think I need to explain my penchant for straw bags. They’re practically all I ever use. A local shop that has been on my radar for quite some time is A and A Hidden Treasures. It is quintessential Harbour Island and you see her pieces all over. I thought ahead of time and pre-ordered a monogrammed clutch plus a tote with my new blog logo. To say I’m obsessed is a severe understatement!
What To Know
Wear Your Mask
Just do it! Even if you’re not sure, wear your mask. You’ll send signs on every business on the island. It’s something that locals are still taking seriously, as they should. The reason that American tourists can visit Harbour Island is because of the low rate and that didn’t happen by accident! You’ll also be required to use hand sanitizer each time you enter a store. These are both small steps that make everyone feel safer.
Slow Down
As a Floridian, I thought I had a pretty good grasp on island time, but I’ve never really experienced it first hand. One day, our “quick” lunch took almost two hours. David and I are both extremely patient people, but I could see when other visitors were getting anxious. Accept the fact that you’re on vacation and enjoy the moment.
Adjust Expectations
I think there may be a misconception that Harbour Island is this perfect pristine ‘resort’ town like you’d find in Florida. Remember that you’re on an island nation. Resources are different, groceries can be very incredibly expensive, and it’s not just wealthy vacationers who live here. With all of that said, Harbour Island feels incredibly safe and the locals are very kind and friendly.
Be Okay With An Early Wake-Up Call
I can’t speak for the entire island, but from our bungalow, we were woken up each day by a chorus of roosters. It’s exactly what you would expect from a destination that embraces the rooster as their unofficial logo. It truly didn’t bother us because David and I are huge morning people, but I could see how it wouldn’t be ideal after a late night. I can honestly say that you’ll get used to it after a couple of days and added to our whole travel experience.
2,200 words later, I feel like there’s still so much more to be said about Harbour Island. After years of daydreaming about this destination, the fact that I got to visit still doesn’t feel real. It’s safe to say that it will always feel like our Bahamian home and I can’t wait to return. Who knows, it may be sooner rather than later. I’m hoping in the meantime, I can convince David of purchasing our own home there.
Love from Harbour Island,
Katie
As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.
