If you go to Bimini and don’t get conch salad… what are you even doing?
Trying the best conch salad in Bimini ended up being one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. It’s one of the most popular local dishes on the island, and after talking to locals and stopping at a few different spots, I quickly realized — people here have very strong opinions about where to get it.
We made it our mission to track down the best, and these were the three places that kept coming up over and over again.
If you’re planning your day around beaches and food (same), this fits perfectly into a full island day — I mapped it all out in my guide to one day in Bimini.
If you’ve never had conch salad before, think of it as the Bahamas’ version of ceviche.
It’s made with fresh conch (a type of shellfish), chopped up and mixed with:
Lime juice
Onion
Tomato
Peppers
Some places also add pineapple or mango, depending on the spot.
It’s super fresh, a little citrusy, and usually made right in front of you. And I’m not going to lie — it just hits different when you’re eating it outside by the ocean. Something about the salt air makes you feel like you made a great life decision.
Braxton’s is tucked right behind Smitty’s Beach Bar, which makes it an easy stop if you’re already in the area.
You know it’s going to be good when the conch is handpicked straight from the ocean. There’s no show here, no extras — just fresh ingredients and really solid flavor.
This one felt very local and simple, in the best way. If you want that straight-from-the-source experience where you’re watching it come together right in front of you, this is it.
Joe’s is a little more built out than your typical roadside stand, but it still keeps that laid-back, local feel. There are shells everywhere, fun decor, and it’s the kind of place where you end up hanging out longer than you planned.
One of the coolest parts is that you can sometimes see stingrays swimming in the water nearby where they toss the conch scraps. Not something I expected, but definitely memorable. The conch salad here runs about $12 and is made fresh right in front of you, just like the others.
Also — don’t skip grabbing a bottle of Friendly Joe’s hot sauce to take home. It’s one of those “why didn’t I buy two?” situations.
This one was my favorite.
Shaky’s (also known as Mike’s) is right by Blister Bay, which means you can grab your conch salad and walk straight onto the beach. That alone already puts it at the top of my list.
The conch salad here was super fresh, and everything just hit right. The flavors felt balanced, nothing overpowering, and the whole experience — the beach, the setting, the people — made it stand out.
If you’re heading this way, definitely pair it with some beach time. I break it all down in my full Blister Bay Bimini guide, because it ended up being one of my favorite spots on the island.
Once I was in Bimini I talked to the locals to get the scoop. I visited each one they recommened — and these three were the spots they consistently recommended.
If I had to pick just one, I’d go with Shaky’s.
Between the beach location, the freshness, and the overall experience, it just stood out the most. But honestly, you really can’t go wrong with any of these. They each do it a little differently, and that’s kind of the fun of it.
Before you go, a few quick things that make the experience smoother:
Cash is king — bring small bills
Everything is made fresh, so expect a few minutes
You can usually choose mild or spicy (I stick with mild)
Expect to pay around $12–$15
Also, don’t overthink it. Point, order, and enjoy it while it’s fresh — this is not the time to be saving it for later.
If you want to try more than one spot (highly recommend), getting around matters. The easiest way to do that is by golf cart. It makes it really simple to bounce between beaches, food stops, and different parts of the island without waiting around.
If you’re staying overnight or coming in early, you can find hotels in Bimini here so you’re not rushed trying to fit everything into a few hours.
Trying the best conch salad in Bimini is one of those things you just have to do.
It’s quick, it’s affordable, and it’s one of the easiest ways to experience local food on the island. And if you’re anything like me, it turns into a full-on mission to try multiple spots and decide which one wins.
Pair it with a beach stop, take your time, and just enjoy it while it’s fresh.
Because honestly… food tastes better when you didn’t have to cook it and you’re steps from the ocean. If you want to see exactly how to plan your stops and route everything together, check out my Bimini golf cart day guide: the best way to explore Bimini on a cruise stop.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
I do not like seafood. 🐟 So when I booked a tasting menu at a restaurant built around aquarium walls at Atlantis The Palm, I was nervous.
Ossiano sits underwater fish gliding past the whole meal, moody lighting, the kind of room that makes you lower your voice without meaning to. It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. You’re paying for the entire experience.
Here’s the honest part: they have a vegetarian tasting menu, and I assumed it would be an afterthought. It ended up in my top five meals of all time. Course after course, the same care and precision as the seafood-forward menu everyone comes for. They even swapped in a steak for the main and it still felt cohesive with everything around it.
By course four you’re full. They bring out three more breads anyway. I ate all of it. No regrets.
Small detail that stuck with me my dress was black, so they swapped my napkin from white to black without me asking. That’s the kind of thing that tells you everything about a place.
Full breakdown of the menu, the vegetarian option, and what to expect linked in bio.
Dubai is all skyline until you drive an hour into the dunes and it goes completely silent. Bab Al Shams was that shift for us: slower, quieter, more intentional than anything we did in the city.
If you want nightlife or walkable everything, this isn’t your stop. But if you want a night that feels like a reset, it delivers, polished service, food I’m still thinking about, and a setting that never tries too hard.
Full review (and whether it’s worth adding to your Dubai itinerary) is linked in bio. 🏜️
I flew @emirates economy to Dubai fully expecting to just survive the flight. We booked seats by the exit row — @bradplummer1 got the legroom (he’s 6’7”), I got a normal seat right next to him, and it saved us money over booking two extra-legroom seats. Smart trick if you’re traveling with someone who needs the extra space and you don’t.
The food alone earned this post. Warm chicken, a Waldorf salad that actually tasted fresh, real butter on the roll, and a breakfast spread that put most airport brunches to shame. Add in the twinkling-star cabin lighting once dinner wrapped, and it felt less like a flight and more like the trip had already started.
Not everything was perfect — the wifi didn’t work for me at all, so if you’re planning to get work done in the air, download what you need beforehand. But that was the only miss in an otherwise excellent long haul.
If you’ve got Emirates lounge access in Dubai, use it. Showers, buffets, quiet corners to nap it makes the layover feel like a reset instead of a slog.
Full review seats, food, lounge, and the wifi situation is on the blog. Link in bio. ✈️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
