Review: Eleven Bahama House, The Bahamas

Why book Eleven Bahama House?

To embrace chic island life: sandy feet, salty hair and light linen clothing. Harbour Island has a special glow and a warm, friendly atmosphere – there’s a reason many here are regulars.

Set the scene

The dusky pink Bahama House is a short walk from Harbour Island port. Reaching anywhere on the little three-mile-long island happens in a matter of minutes. More like a home-from-home, this hotel offers plenty of privacy, with adjoining rooms acting as apartments with private shared living spaces and spacious sun decks. The dreamiest hangout is the shared swimming pool at the centre, surrounded by sun loungers, frilly umbrellas, and plenty of bright green tropical foliage. The only other time you’d see guests is at the open-air bar where bartender Chris makes a mean rum punch – or during breakfast under the wooden pergola.

The interiors are rather fitting. We feel as if we’ve stepped into a mermaid's lair, with every room’s furnishings inspired by the sea. There are covered mirrors, lamps crafted from driftwood, shell-printed fabrics, cabinets filled with unusual coral and artwork of sea creatures and retro bamboo mirrors covering the walls.

The backstory

The Eleven Bahama House experience is all about outdoor adventure travel. The portfolio includes a bunch of properties in the US and a few in Europe; each location offers unique experiences that are the centre of the stay. Before arrival, contact the guest experience manager, who seamlessly pulls together bespoke itineraries, from wakeboarding sessions to simple cocktail-sipping on Eleven's private beach.

The rooms

Whether you are staying as a group in one of the adjoining apartments or as a couple in a private room, one thing is for sure: there’ll be plenty of space and the prettiest, unique furnishings. There are just 11 double bedrooms, each with an individual style. Some have four huge wooden poster beds, and others have colourful upholstered headboards. White marble bathrooms come with all the amenities and a spacious double-headed shower to rinse off stubborn sand. The minibar is stocked with coconut water, local beer, juices, and chocolate-covered pretzels, and it is restocked every day free of charge – a touch we love. One thing is sure: shells will be everywhere, from shell-covered jewellery boxes to giant conch shells taking pride in place on a stack of photography books.

The food and drink

There’s a little breakfast menu and a daily special every morning. We tried the veg-filled frittata and the eggs benedict with crispy bacon. Most guests head out for dinner with restaurants such as The Landing and Da Vine Sushi, a short walk away. If you want to dine in, you’ll need to pre-book with guest services, who arrange private chefs to whip up decadent three-course meals. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to sample fresh fish caught by guests who booked onto the deep sea fishing adventure.

The neighbourhood

Manicured bougainvillaea clings to colourful wood-clad houses along the island's sleepy two parallel roads run by bicycles and golf buggies instead of cars. Soak up island life on either side of the island; on one side, you have the port packed with superyachts, gift shops filled with boho dresses and island souvenirs and a bunch of delicious restaurants, including our favourite Da Vine serving fresh sushi and strong cocktails. The east side of Harbour Island is scattered with five-star hotels, sea-view restaurants, and the vast Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Islands' most prized possession and the prettiest beach in the Bahamas. Head here at sunset when the sand glows even pinker.

The service

You’ll see the same staff daily. Service is super friendly, always with a smile and not overbearing. One of the reasons one would pick Eleven would be for the unique experiences the in-house team plans around your stay. A deep sea fishing adventure where you’ll return with your catch for dinner. Water sports, sunset horse rides along the beach – the list goes on. However, if you only go for one, make it the half-day island tour on the hotel's private Scorpion boat, where you’ll swim and snorkel with turtles, stingrays, starfish and the infamous pigs before devouring lunch on a dazzling sandbank and swinging from a rope into the pristine waters.

Eco effort

There’s no plastic in sight, food waste is limited, and the people who run the show are all local. As part of any stay, guests can offset their carbon footprint accrued during the journey to and from the properties.

For families

Families should book one of the two-bedroom cottages, which both come with an outdoor terrace with loungers and a pretty living space. While we didn’t see any children during our stay, they are most welcome; guest experiences can create the perfect family-friendly itineraries to suit all age groups. Pets can also stay for a fee.

Anything else left to mention?

It’s not the most humble of islands, with most visitors wearing designer gear, from Dior beach bags to Hermes sandals. Some casually own a yacht and deck themselves out in private yacht merch. Also, don’t be surprised if you spot a celebrity or billionaire. Lap it up, but watch the bank balance – cocktails and the like come at a relative cost.