The Bahamas is more than just soft sand, warm water, and calm surf; it also boasts delicious fare and an energetic culture and nightlife. Bahamas dining choices include celebrity chef helmed resturants at high-end resorts as well as fresh-from-the-shell conch salad made while you watch by market stall vendors throughout the islands. On the popular islands of New Providence, Paradise Island and Grand Bahama Island you can find any number of restaurants and bars to suit your mood, including the five star Graycliff, the kitschy Billy Joe’s or The Blue Marlin, serving the conch the traditional way.

Just as restaurants run the gamut, so does Bahamas nightlife—from dance clubs and bars populating Nassau and Paradise Island, to local haunts like the Red Lion Tavern on the Out Islands, to stargazing on the beaches of Cat Island. For more about where to get the best fried plaintains, the tastiest conch fritters or  where to tip back a few with the local fisherman, check out Blackbook’s Dining and Nightlife guide below.