The Abacos islands, Bahamas.
This beautiful cluster of islands, or cays (pronounced keys) sits in the northeast region of the Bahamas. We spent a lot of our time here during our wedding elopement trip, and one restaurant in particular warranted an entire blog post: Nippers Bar and Restaurant.
Arguably the most famous bar in the Abacos, Nippers adds a splash of color to the highest point of Great Guana Cay. It’s made a name for itself as a celebrity haunt, especially since Justin Bieber proposed to his girlfriend there. The restaurant has a cool island vibe, its tables and awnings in every shade of pastel pinks, greens, and blues. And with the loud music, pool and extensive bar, guests are bound to find a party.
Ok, so it was February when we went, and no one was in the pool, but it was still pretty busy—and rightly so! Nippers has great food, but it’s best-known for its frozen drinks, or “Nipper juice”, as they call it. Be careful: those drinks are much stronger than they look. Weekends at Nippers are extra-special (and extra-busy); on Sundays, they even roast a whole pig.
Even if you don’t spot a celebrity, the view from the deck is a big-enough draw. Nippers sits on top of these large dunes, almost like a cliff. It overlooks the Atlantic, and from there you can see straight to Bermuda. A boardwalk leads down to the beach, onto a gorgeous stretch of soft sand. Waves hit the rocks in a brilliant spray. And you just can’t get away from the colors—the deep blue of the ocean, the sand in quartz-white, and up above, Nippers and its crazy-bright décor.
Hurricane Dorian: Total Destruction of Nippers
When 2019’s Hurricane Dorian hit, the restaurant was destroyed, losing its two roofs, stairs and large sections of the deck. Like everywhere else in the hurricane’s wake, Nippers and other businesses suffered from the pause in tourism and the costs of rebuilding.
Thankfully Nippers is back up and running, once again drawing visitors from across the globe.
If your jaunt to the Bahamas includes a stop in the Abacos, make sure to pay this gem a visit. As of writing, Nippers is open every day, except Tuesdays, from 10 – 5. Even if a busy bar and restaurant is not your scene, a quiet walk along Great Guana Cay’s beautiful beaches is alone worth the trip.
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