Mason + Emily
Mason + Emily
Eating on The Island
Nearby
The LeoRose oceanfront restaurant and Mel’s Snack Shack take-out is a short walk from the resort.
Three grocery stores, a liquor store, two restaurants, and the famous Stubbs Barbecue can be found less than a mile away in the tiny village of James Cistern.
Head into the city of Governor's Harbour for more stores, banks, bakeries, and restaurants including well-known Tippy’s, the Marriott’s elegant 1648, and Da Perk gourmet coffee shop.
Groceries and Dining in Eleuthera, The Bahamas
The Eleuthera Island Farm is a family-owned farm and farmer’s market located 5-10 minutes south of Governor’s Harbour on the right-hand side. The small, open-air market has a selection of fresh-picked veggies and fruit — many of which you may not know about! You can find Bahamian red and green mangoes, passion fruit, quinep, soursop and more. It’s a great place to pick up fresh ingredients, homemade seasoning blends, jams, beer, wine and liquor to take back to your rental house.
Tippy’s is the coolest beach bar in all of Eleuthera! Located up-the-hill and around-the-corner from Governor’s Harbour, Tippy’s is a beach-front paradise for an afternoon of cold Kaliks and pina coladas. The last time we visited, we played cards on the deck for hours, went back to the house, and came back for dinner! Their lobster is the best I’ve had in all of the Bahamas (and I’ve had my fair share of spiny lobsters).
I’m not sure how we missed the Buccaneer Club on our first two trips. It’s located on the hill in Governor’s Harbour (on the way to French Leave Beach). It’s a great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We were pleasantly surprised by their delicious, authentically Bahamian food and reasonable prices. If you want peas and rice, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and fried goodness, this is the place!
Be sure to stop into their gift shop for an “It’s Better in The Bahamas” t-shirt and a scoop of fresh coconut ice cream, too. I had to swing by for another scoop just before we left the island. It’s that good!
La Bougainvillea far exceeded my expectations. We ate here twice on a recent trip and absolutely loved it! The food was fresh and delicious and they have a solid wine selection. My husband even said they had the best conch fritters of any place we visited. (He’s a bit of a fritter connoisseur.) Plus, you absolutely cannot beat the beach-front views their restaurant offers. Next time, we may even consider staying in their gorgeous hotel.
If you drive out to Pineapple Fields Resort, Tippy’s or La Bougainvillea, you’ll pass Bacchus Fine Foods on the righthand side of the road. It’s very close to Governor’s Harbour and certainly worth a visit – especially if you’re gluten-free! They have an excellent selection of wine, cheeses, meats, crackers, and gluten-free baking ingredients and snacks. Eleuthera (and the entire Bahamas) can be tough for gluten-free eaters like myself, but Bacchus Fine Foods makes it easier! In addition to grocery items, Bacchus also offers dine-in and take-away items like charcuterie boards, omelets and lattes.
Burrow’s is just past the police station in Governor’s Harbour – on the right-hand side if you’re heading South East. It’s the most reasonably-priced and complete grocery store in town. You can find a limited selection of most items, including sunscreen, cereals, bread, frozen pizzas, meat and produce. The freezers in the back are labeled to let you know what’s inside. I highly recommend shopping at Burrow’s versus the Shell station convenience store across from Norma’s gift shop.
The Fish Fry
On Friday nights, locals and tourists gather in Governor’s Harbour to enjoy loud music, cold Kalik, and an array of Bahamian fare as the sun sets on Cupid’s Cay. You’ll find freshly-caught fried fish, barbecued chicken, peas and rice, Bahamian mac and cheese (seriously, the best thing on earth), coleslaw and more. You can even find homemade cakes and pies sold by street vendors near the “dance floor” — which is really just the street in front of the food stand. If you’re ready to absorb all that Bahamian culture has to offer, this event is absolutely worth planning your trip around!
Da Perk Coffee Shop
Picking up coffee from a proper coffee shop is something I love to do at home. Getting to visit a coffee shop steps from the water in Governor’s Harbour is even better! Da Perk (best name ever, right?) is right across the street from Norma’s Gift Shop. They have a full range of coffee beverages – hot and cold – as well as a small selection of pastries to help you get the day started. Definitely worth a visit when you’re in town and eager for a caffeine boost!
We didn’t have a chance to stop at The Cove Resort, but I always drool when I see photos! The Cove is located in North Eleuthera near Gregory Town. It’s not far from the North Eleuthera Airport and would be a great place to stay for people interested in being near Harbour Island and Spanish Wells for day trips.
They have the Freedom restaurant and sushi bar and the Point Bar, which is known for sunset cocktails. The Cove also offers private dining options for resort guests.
The French Leave Resort is located in central Eleuthera, just outside of Governor’s Harbour. The property is gorgeous and provides guests with access to the beautiful French Leave Beach (which you can also visit on your own). The French Leave’s restaurant, which is perfectly located on the water’s edge overlooking Cupid’s Cay, is called 1648. The restaurant offers thoughtful (and somewhat expensive) menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s the ideal spot to catch one of those iconic Governor’s Harbour sunsets!
BAKERS/BAKERY
Christine Rolle: Christine bakes Caribbean classics such as banana bread, coconut cream pie, and pineapple upside cake. Email: daviarolle@hotmail.com Home Phone: 242-225-6435 Cell Phone: 242-470-7782.
Governors Harbour Bakery: 242-333-2285
Abia's Pastries: 242 470-7008 https://www.facebook.com/abiavbowles/ Governor's Harbour. Makes chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies double chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, banana bread with cinnamon, coconut cream pie, pineapple upside down cake, a variety of cheesecakes, decorated cakes, cupcakes, and bakes for special occasions (Valentine's Day, birthdays, holiday cakes) and bread, buns, and rolls. www.eleutheravacationrentals.net 3