Omar Perez
This year has been a busy one for Atlantis Paradise Island, not just from staging a yearlong celebration of music and events marking its silver jubilee but because of all of the renovations and additions throughout its 200 acres.
Last month, adding to its 40-plus dining and drinking options, Atlantis Paradise Island debuted Paranza, the Italian-coastal cuisine restaurant headed by Michelin-starred chef Michael White, marking the third Michelin-starred chef to open a spot at the resort, joining Nobu Matsuhisa (Nobu) and Jose Andres (Fish). The Mediterranean-inspired Silan and hamburger chain Shake Shack, the first in the Caribbean, also debuted this year, as did the Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival, an event that will return March 13 to 17.
Combining music and dining, the Sunday Gospel Brunch trial at its Cafe Martinique in Marina Village became a permanent event, which fuses live gospel performances with French fare.
This year saw the completion of the resort's renovated casino, which in addition to incorporating modern finishes and celestial fixtures included a new high-limit gambling area as well as additional electronic table games and slot machines. Within the casino, the resort opened Bar Sol, which offers live entertainment and drinks, and renovated the Moon Bar lounge, which debuted a new cocktail menu.
A multimillion-dollar renovation of all the 1,200 rooms and suites in the Royal Towers also took place in 2023, while the Coral Tower pool and its swim-up bar also underwent a refresh.
What's ahead
Next year, the iconic Bridge Suite, which connects the two Royal buildings, is slated for a revamp, as well.
"The renovations at The Royal are probably the best upgrade," said Roy Gal, lead agent and owner of New Jersey-based Memories Forever Travel Group, adding that the casino renovations are a welcome and necessary component to compete with Baha Mar, Nassau's other casino option (Resorts World Bimini Bay Casino, Bimini is the other in the entire Bahamas).
Guests have noticed the lazy river near The Beach tower is closed. The reason for that: The property on which is sits is slated to become Somewhere Else, a joint, 400-room venture between Atlantis Paradise Island, musician Pharrell Williams and David Grutman of Miami Beach-based Groot Hospitality. Groot's portfolio includes another hotel project, the Goodtime Hotel in Miami Beach; Groot and Williams are also partners in that hotel. While earlier reports mentioned a 2024 opening, the resort said there is not an official date.
"We're really going for an emphasis on the outdoors, and experiences that you can have on the grounds of the property, whether in a fun-filled sense or in finding a quiet corner to relax," Grutman told CNN last year. "What we're not going to have is a nightclub, for example."