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Strolling the main drag
Bay St is a shoppers’ paradise
Even a casual stroll down Bay St makes it obvious that Nassau is a shoppers’ paradise.
What’s known as the downtown core–six blocks of Bay St, along with its narrow side streets and colourful arcades–is located within easy walking distance of the cruise ships tied up at Prince George Wharf. It’s lined with stores and boutiques that offer everything from T-shirts to tanzanite, native wood carvings to designer-name watches and sparkling diamond jewellery to hand-crafted clothing.
Look twice at the prices and you’ll see that many are 10 to 15 per cent cheaper than they are on comparable goods in the US. Plus, there are no hidden sales taxes. The price on the tag is the price you’ll pay
at the checkout.
With so many shops to choose from, and the help of friendly and knowledgeable staff, gift seekers and souvenir hunters are sure to find what they’re looking for, whether it’s a key chain or a high-end handbag.
Designer brands
If you’re looking for a specific designer brand, downtown Nassau has most of them in boutiques along Bay St, including Coach, David Yurman, Fendi, Gucci and Versace. These retailers specialize in their own exclusive collections featuring items such as writing instruments, fragrances, eyewear, leather goods, watches, accessories and fashions for men and women.
John Bull’s flagship store on Bay St specializes in a vast selection of designer goods from sunglasses to perfume, cosmetics to cameras and leather to cigars. It is also the exclusive retailer for Rolex, Cartier, Tiffany, Bulgari, Gucci and David Yurman.
Quantum Duty Free, located at 284 Bay St across from the Straw Market, carries an extensive selection of luxury brand watches including Blancpain, Piaget, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Baume & Mercier, to name a few. The store also sells fine leather goods and high-quality pens from the Montblanc collection as well as elegant jewellery.
Carlo Milano also carries designer watches including Chopard, Corum, Hublot and Bell & Ross as well as beautiful jewellery. The Carlo Milano Treasures of the Sea collection features exquisite pieces inspired by plants and animals of the sea–highly popular this season.
And if you’re looking for high-fashion handbags, leather goods, watches or cool sunglasses, don’t miss the chic Fendi boutique at the corner of Bay and Charlotte Sts.
Bushels of bling
Aficionados of gold, silver and precious gemstones will delight in Bay St’s trove of jewellery stores.
Colombian Emeralds International has two locations, one on Bay St opp the Straw Market and another at Rawson Square, and is renowned for its selection of beautiful emeralds and gemstones, including sapphires, rubies, diamonds, amethysts and tanzanite. It is also one of the largest duty-free retailers in the world.
Crown Jewellers also has two locations on Bay St and is known as “the diamond shoppe of The Bahamas” for its dazzling collection.
Not to be outdone is Effy Jewelers with three Bay St locations: on the corner of East St, the Baker Building near Frederick St and in the International Bazaar. This jeweller has a wide range of elegant designer jewellery featuring diamonds and precious and semi-precious gemstones set in necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets.
On Charlotte St, off Bay St, is Coin of the Realm, a jewellery store in one of Nassau’s most historic buildings. Back in the 1700s, it was a gunpowder magazine for Fort Nassau, which was located on the present site of the British Colonial Hilton Hotel.
Today, it’s a place to find ancient Greek and Roman coins from the 4th century BC, Spanish shipwreck coins and modern gold coins. Coin of the Realm also specializes in The Bahamas’ only gem, the luminous pink conch pearl.
Across Bay St on Charlotte St north is Hard Rock Cafe, a restaurant, 20th century rock n’ roll museum and a trendy shop. Gift items include sun visors and merchandise featuring the Hard Rock Cafe logo. A special item is Hard Rock’s “city tee,” which sports a graphic unique to Nassau.
Hidden treasures
Not far from Charlotte St is the International Bazaar and Prince George Plaza, where you’ll find a variety of boutiques, gift shops and souvenir stores. These narrow, picturesque shopping arcades also include bistros such as Olives Mediterranean Café & Bar at the International Bazaar–perfect for a cool drink and a tasty nibble on your shopping walkabout.
The International Bazaar and Prince George Plaza both exit on to Woodes Rogers Walk, where you can stroll along the promenade overlooking Nassau Harbour, where the cruise ships dock. Here you’ll find even more souvenir stores and speciality shops.
Although it is outside of downtown Nassau, Bahama Hand Prints is not to be missed. Located off Mackey St near the exit bridge from Paradise Island, Bahama Hand Prints offers a wide selection of garments, bags and household items made of colourful fabrics and eye-catching prints, as well as a behind-the-scenes tour on how the prints are made.
Everything at Bahama Hand Prints is unique, according to owners Linda Brown and Joie Lamare. The company will custom-print fabric in whatever colour the customer likes.
New Straw Market
The Straw Market on Bay St has always been a popular shopping destination. Year after year, tourists have been drawn to its eclectic selection of handcrafted straw goods, crafts, artwork and very affordable souvenirs. However, some may be surprised to know it wasn’t always housed in its current tented surroundings.
In 1983, the Straw Market was located in a building that was destroyed by fire on Sept 4, 2001, displacing hundreds of vendors. The present tent was erected for the Straw Market until a new plaza could be built.
In 2009, plans to rebuild the Straw Market were finalized, with construction taking place behind the huge, colourful murals lining the street.
Once finished, the new market will be a spacious 37,000-sq-ft plaza and will combine old world Nassau charm with modern technology–cooled by solar power. The new straw market is expected to be completed by late 2011.
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Lead_BaySt_WTDNJul10
Strolling the main drag
Bay St is a shoppers’ paradise
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