Graycliff Heritage Village

Graycliff Heritage Village in Downtown Nassau is a cultural hub of the island. With art, history, great food, and more, it’s well worth a visit on your Bahamas vacation.

Graycliff Heritage Village is one Nassau attraction that has something to offer everybody. History buffs can tour a museum, art lovers can stroll through an art gallery, and foodies can enjoy chocolate, wine, pizza, and more. With a walkable Downtown Nassau location, it’s a great place to spend a couple of hours. 

Graycliff Heritage Village: Explore the Graycliff Bahamas Attractions

You can spend a couple of hours exploring the different Graycliff Bahamas sites.

What to See and Do at Graycliff Bahamas Heritage Village

1. Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant

A street of venues operated by The Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant, Graycliff Heritage Village is a Nassau highlight. The hotel itself is a luxurious, centrally-located historic mansion. Constructed in 1740 by a Caribbean pirate captain, it became the country’s first inn in 1844. Over the next century, it evolved into a mess hall and a private residence before becoming the swanky hotel it is today in 1973.

The Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant is a beautiful, historic hotel.

Over the past several decades, it’s accommodated many noteworthy people. From Sir Winston Churchill to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the lush and beautiful property has attracted people around the world for years. 

Today, Graycliff Nassau encompasses an area that houses a museum, several shops, and a couple of places to eat. 

The Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant is a luxurious and historic landmark on New Providence. With 20 unique accommodation options and antique decorations abound, it’s a great place to poke around.

Graycliff offers something to do for everyone.

Depending on when you visit, you may not be able to enter certain parts of the hotel grounds. However, the hotel restaurant serves both lunch and dinner to the public. Just keep in mind that there’s a dress code – for lunch, it’s casual, but for dinner, it’s elegant. 

2. The Heritage Museum of the Bahamas

The Heritage Museum of the Bahamas is a Graycliff Heritage Village highlight. Located across the street from the Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant, it features hundreds of unique artifacts and relics. 

The Heritage Museum of the Bahamas is an area highlight.

From costumes and tools to musical instruments and a 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite, it’s difficult to predict what your favorite part of the eclectic collection will be. 

3. Charles Towne

The area of Nassau was originally called Charles Towne.

Before Nassau was the developed British colony of the 18th and 19th Centuries, it was a hub for pirates, outlaws, and vagabonds. Originally known as Charles Towne, you can find relics of this past across the island, including at the Graycliff Heritage Village. 

4. Bahama Barrels by Graycliff

Bahama Barrels by Graycliff is one of the most popular venues in the village. A functioning winery (and the only one on New Providence), the site is in an old church. 

Bahama Barrels is a great local winery at Graycliff Nassau.

While the Bahamas may not be famous for its wine production, you’ll find a visit to Bahama Barrels by Graycliff to be exciting nonetheless. While there, you’ll have the chance to sample different varieties and even make your own concoction. 

5. Graycliff Chocolatier

A tour at the Graycliff Chocolatier lets you make your own chocolate.

Like Bahama Barrels by Graycliff, the Graycliff Chocolatier is popular for many of the same reasons. Travelers who visit the factory not only get to sample different types of chocolate but also make their own. 

As chocolate was a staple product of the New World, it’s fitting that you’ll have the opportunity to make it while visiting the Graycliff Heritage Village. 

6. Heritage Village Artist Studios

Featuring art from local creators, Heritage Village Artist Studios adds modern artistic flare to the historic neighborhood. You can even purchase the artwork you see as the ultimate souvenir.

You can find bright colors both inside and outside of the studio.

Getting into Graycliff Nassau

Like many of the best Bahamas attractions, the Graycliff Heritage Village is right in Downtown Nassau. Because of that, it’s easy to visit, particularly for cruise ship passengers arriving into the cruise port.

Graycliff Heritage Village is a street of venues.

From the cruise ship terminal, you’ll be able to walk to Graycliff Bahamas in around ten minutes. Travelers staying at a hotel somewhere else on New Providence will find taxiing to be the most straightforward way to reach the village.

There isn’t an entry fee to walk down the village street, but certain venues like the Heritage Museum of the Bahamas do charge a fee. 

Getting Around Graycliff

As explained, the Graycliff Heritage Village is a strip of attractions. Whether it’s learning about Bahamian history in the Heritage Museum of the Bahamas or making chocolate at the Graycliff Chocolatier, you’ll be able to choose which venues you stop into. 

Because the street is narrow and the shops are small, crowds can take away from the experience. If you’re able to visit when there aren’t groups of people everywhere, you can have a much more enjoyable time. 

Our Travel Guide Suggests… 

While the entire Graycliff Heritage Village is worth exploring, make sure to save time for the Heritage Museum of the Bahamas. The private collection of artifacts it houses is mind-boggling and helps visitors better understand the country in which they’re traveling. 

Graycliff Heritage Village is a great place to visit on your Bahamas vacation.

Graycliff Heritage Village: Something for Everyone 

Graycliff Heritage Village has something to offer everyone. From history and art to food and more, it’s an area of Nassau that all travelers should visit.

After seeing the various Graycliff Nassau sites, you’ll want to spend some time exploring other nearby attractions. The Government House is a great destination to visit, as is Gregory’s Arch, Arawak Cay, and Junkanoo Beach.

Looking for more tips and guides? Check out the rest of our site for Nassau destination guides, an interactive map, and more.