TravelPulse is currently in Nassau, Bahamas as the Atlantis Hotel hosted the Nassau Food and Wine Festival for the first time. This first edition of the most important culinary festival in the country ended on Sunday, March 19 after five days of festivities.
The Atlantis hotel needs no introduction. A mythical establishment built like a real underwater palace, it celebrates 25 years on the island of New Providence this year and is a world-renowned destination for its architecture, its history, its many attractions, its water park, casino, swimming pools, but also and above all, its unparalleled culinary offer.
For the record, the Atlantis hotel was the first hotel-casino built in Nassau, but also the first hotel to import the concept of a star chef restaurant on the island. Since then, the destination has been recognized for its extensive offer of world-class restaurants, and one of the best dining islands in the Caribbean. It is for all these reasons that a culinary festival worthy of the name was more than necessary.
Throughout the
Atlantis mega complex , there is a Nobu restaurant, Carmine's, Olives, Fish by José Andrès to name a few. Several of these personalities and others from the Food Network were present during this festival which brought together big names in the industry, but also admirers and foodies.
Catherine Maisonneuve and Jose Andres (Catherine Maisonneuve and Jose Andres)The festival's signature event, A Taste of Paradise, was actually a big celebration with live music, food stalls, unlimited drinks and a host of celebrity chefs for fans (like me!) to chat and take photos. The great chef José Andrés, who runs the Fish restaurant in Atlantis, was there, as was Aaron Sanchez from the Food Network, to name a few. The festival was for hotel guests only, but all events were open to everyone, just had to buy tickets beforehand. An excellent marketing tool and an excellent way to promote the culinary offer of the first so-called "foodie" hotel on the island: the Atlantis was more than full during the weekend of the event, it was literally madness.
The Atlantis hotel is impressive, so vast that you can get lost in it, with its maze that leads to a giant underground aquarium, its water slides and its lazy river that crosses the hotel for miles, its countless swimming pools, its vast beach, its infinite restaurants, its huge casino and its inexhaustible entertainment offer make it a huge playground for young and old who want to do everything, see everything, everything at the same time (to wink take a look at the recently Oscar-winning film of the same name). We weren't bored for a single second during our stay, there is always something to do or see, whether we are traveling with or without children.
But above all, for foodies like us, Atlantis is a true paradise. It's really, everything, for all tastes: we didn't even have time to try all the restaurants we wanted, the offer is too vast and bonus point, even if most are reserved for months in advance and our stay was confirmed in the weeks preceding the event, they all accept walk-ins at the bar, so don't worry, I was able to eat at Nobu even though the restaurant was full for months. Phew.
This festival is an excellent opportunity to remember that the Atlantis is an institution on the island, a precursor in its field and in its industry. Twenty-five years ago, there was a vision for Paradise Island: to become a hotel-casino where people would come for the beach, but stay for the general food, drink and entertainment offerings. Even today, the Atlantis draws crowds and does not seem to have aged. So it was a winning bet as they say.
Interesting facts and novelties at Atlantis:
The Royal Tower at Atlantis has just undergone a multi-million makeover and offers updated rooms
The hotel will soon host a Shake Shack, an extremely popular concept among burger lovers
A new cocktail bar (Sip Sip) and a coffeehouse (Dilly House) in addition to a new restaurant, Frezca, have just opened.
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