Graycliff
West Hill St.
Situated on a residential street and next door to Government House, the historic colonial Graycliff mansion is set amid lush tropical gardens. It features many attractions as well as a tranquil oasis of a hotel (20 rooms; 2 pools; fitness center) with an unusual amenity--one of the largest menus of bottled water in the world (guests have a choice of more than 50 brands of sparkling and natural bottled water). It also has the Caribbean’s first 5-star restaurant.
Situated on a residential street and next door to Government House, the historic colonial Graycliff mansion is set amid lush tropical gardens. It features many attractions as well as a tranquil oasis of a hotel (20 rooms; 2 pools; fitness center) with an unusual amenity--one of the largest menus of bottled water in the world (guests have a choice of more than 50 brands of sparkling and natural bottled water). It also has the Caribbean’s first 5-star restaurant.
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| dining room of Graycliff restaurant in Nassau, Bahamas |
●Heritage and History of the Bahamas shore excursion
This tour fits in most of these sites; $45 per adult.
●Graycliff Chocolatier chocolate factory
I have such delicious memories of this tour that while I was writing about it here, I had to hit my chocolate stash. Pay attention to my hard-learned words of wisdom: Always eat chocolate right away. Apparently some of my stash had been stashed too long, and it actually didn’t taste good! Was I ever disappointed! The chocolate factory here provides the opportunity to see the entire process and to do some sampling.
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| Graycliff chocolate factory tour in Nassau, Bahamas |
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| Graycliff chocolate factory tour in Nassau, Bahamas |
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| chocolates on Graycliff chocolate factory tour in Nassau, Bahamas |
●The Graycliff Cigar Company
Production began here in 1997 with a single human roller working in the foyer of the restaurant. That modest start has expanded into an award-winning boutique cigar company with 16 master rollers, or torcedores, each an expert in their various format. This company now produces five cigar brands. Guests can arrange to take a cigar-rolling lesson.
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| Graycliff Cigar Company factory tour in Nassau, Bahamas |
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| thumbs up on Graycliff Cigar Company factory tour in Nassau, Bahamas |
●Bahama Barrels
Housed in one of the oldest and most historical buildings in the Bahamas--a charming little church built in 1937--this winery’s owner jokes that it “went from one kind of spirit to another.” The first winery in the Bahamas, it blends wines from grapes produced in other countries. Guests can taste in a small tasting room and can also arrange to blend and bottle their own bottle of wine to memorialize their visit.
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| wine bottles and barrels at Bahama Barrels winery at Graycliff in Nassau, Bahamas |
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| tasting room at Bahama Barrels winery at Graycliff in Nassau, Bahamas |
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| charming pourer in tasting room at Bahama Barrels winery at Graycliff in Nassau, Bahamas |
●The Heritage Museum of The Bahamas
Located within the historic Mountbatten House, this museum opened in 2014. It offers visitors an in-depth look at the history and heritage of the Bahamas, ranging from the pre-historic times to today. The majority of the collection is owned by British antiques collector Hamilton White. It covers Columbus, the piracy era, slavery and plantation life, the days of the Duke of Windsor, and the Royal Air Force. The oldest artifact is a piece of a meteorite that is approximately 4.5 billion years old.
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| exterior of The Heritage Museum of The Bahamas at Graycliff in Nassau, Bahamas |
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| colorful pirate mural at The Heritage Museum of The Bahamas at Graycliff in Nassau, Bahamas |
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| whale bladder canteen at The Heritage Museum of The Bahamas at Graycliff in Nassau, Bahamas |
●The Graycliff Heritage Village Artists Studios
Set in the restored Sisters of Charity nun's dormitory, these independently operated studios permit guests to meet and interact with talented local artisans and purchase locally created art pieces. Artists work in a variety of mediums, including jewelry, paintings, photography, and pottery, as well as shell-carved ornaments and sneakers made from straw.
●The Drawbridge Patisserie
Located at Mountbatten House, this patisserie serves a selection of housemade pastries and gelato.
images and videos ©2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
