Curator’s statement
Harbour Island and Spanish Wells sit just north of Eleuthera, one of the largest islands in The Bahamas. Harbour Island is best known for its stunning, world famous 3-mile-long Pink Sand Beach, which gets its unique color from pulverized coral and shells. Known as “Briland” to locals, it is a premier destination famous for its charming, pastel-colored New England-style cottages, upscale resorts, and a relaxed, refined atmosphere. My family has been coming here for years, and if you’ve been thinking about where to book an upscale beach vacation, Harbour Island is most definitely the place.
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Things to do on Harbour Island
Harbour Island is best known for its pink sands beaches. The sand gets its color from microscopic marine organisms called Foraminifera. These tiny creatures have bright pink or red shells and live on the underside of reefs, in caves, and on the sea floor.
Explore Dunmore Town
The main settlement on Harbour Island is known for its picturesque streets lined with pastel-colored colonial buildings, historic homes, boutique shops, art galleries, and charming cafes. If you’re interested in shopping, don’t miss The Sugar Mill Trading Co., owned by one of the island’s most well known residents, India Hicks. The Blue Rooster is also a great place to shop for jewelry and high-end beach attire.
Boat tours
If you’re traveling to Harbour Island, you owe it to yourself to get out on the water. While there are lots of options, Conch & Coconut offers great day trips.
Scuba diving/snorkeling/kayaking
Valentine’s Dive Center offers a variety of water-centered activities including but certainly not limited to scuba trips, snorkeling, and kayak rentals.
Rent a car and take a road trip on Eleuthera
While there’s tons to see and do on Harbour Island, Eleuthera has its own charm to offer. This is a great activity to do with kids, or if you’re staying on Harbour Island for a longer period of time.
Dance at Daddy D’s
This little nightclub on the island is the perfect place to dance the night away with your spouse and/or your friends! It’s open from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. most nights and often has live music.
Enjoy a relaxing beach day
Harbour Island is best known for its gorgeous and expansive pink sand beaches. Spend the day on Pink Sands Beach and grab a Bahama Mama from Blue Bar & Kitchen, or Coral Sands Beach Bar.
Places to eat & drink on Harbour Island
Caribbean food is a unique, vibrant fusion of African, Amerindian, European, and Asian influences, defined by bold spices, tropical ingredients, and slow-cooking methods.
Sip Sip
This oceanfront hotspot is the signature restaurant at Romora Bay Resort & Marina. The kitchen brings bright Caribbean energy to every meal: fresh-caught seafood, locally-sourced ingredients, and flavors that celebrate the best of island living. From leisurely lunches to sunset cocktails, Sip Sip is the heart of Romora Bay and more formal dining is offered upstairs.
Aquapazza
Serving traditional Italian food since 2007, Aquapazza is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. This fine dining restaurant prepares dishes from scratch with natural ingredients and a touch of Bahamian cuisine.
Rock House
The Rock House restaurant (which is also part of a luxury hotel by the same name) is renowned for its exquisite fare and exceptional wine list. For dinner, request a table with sunset views across the bay, the beautifully appointed Chef’s Table, or a romantic poolside setting. They also have an Al Fresco Martini Bar which is open from 6 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Da Vine Sushi Bar
Da Vine is the island’s top destination for those seeking high-quality Japanese cuisine in a refined, intimate atmosphere. As Harbour Island’s only true sushi bar, it offers a unique culinary experience curated by Chef Edwin, a former Nobu chef known for crafting inventive and delicate plates.
The Dunmore
Perhaps one of the most well-known establishments on the island, The Dunmore is both a hotel and restaurant. Go for lunch, dinner, or even just drinks… the ambiance, decor, and views are incredible!
Ocean View Club
The Ocean View Club is a small and charming family-run hotel that also functions as a restaurant. It is part of Little Island Hotels, a collection of hotels located elsewhere on Eleuthera.
Valentine’s Rooster Tail Bar & Grill
This bar and grill is located right on the marina, so it’s a great place to stop before or after a boat excursion. It has nice views of the water, and sports TVs if you’re trying to catch a game.
Queen Conch
This is the spot to get conch on Briland. Queen Conch is a super casual eatery in Dunmore Town that overlooks the water. One of the most popular items is the fresh Conch Salad, and make sure to ask for hot sauce if you like it spicy!
The Elbow Room Bar
You might be familiar with The Elbo Room in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but Briland’s Elbow Room is a different watering hole altogether. This little bar is located near the water in Dunmore Town, and it’s a great place to enjoy island rum and good company.
The Landing
Both a hotel and restaurant, The Landing is located in Dunmore Town and overlooks the harbor. The plantation style building is home to a buzzy restaurant that serves elevated dishes and fresh seafood.
Need to know
The easiest way to get to Harbour Island is to fly into North Eleuthera Airport. From there, you can hire a taxi to take you to the ferry dock where you’ll take a 20 minute ferry from Eleuthera to Harbour Island. As a reminder, golf carts are the main way of transportation. There are a few different rental companies, but Conch & Coconut, Lulu’s Golf Cart Rental, Dunmore Rentals and Major’s Golf Cart Rentals are all reliable and well rated. Each of these companies offer rentals listed at different price points.
The best time to visit Briland is between December and April. This is the “high season” because it is the driest time of year, which means less humidity. The “shoulder season” is from late April to July. This time of year offers a good balance of nice weather, lower prices, and fewer crowds. August to November is hurricane season, which can bring risks of storms and some business closures, but lower costs. This is referred to as the “off-season.” I recommend planning your vacation around these seasons based on your budget, whether or not you’re traveling with children, want maximum beach time, etc.
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Alexis Welch
Alexis Welch
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