The best hotel in the Bahamas isn’t even on the beach. It’s in downtown Nassau, right across from Government House, converted from the 1740 home of pirate Captain John Howard Graysmith, itself built from the remains of the 17th-century First Anglican church. 
 
The Graycliff served the invading Americans as a garrison in 1776, and had various illustrious owners—including British Lord Dudley, Third Earl of Staffordshire, from the 1966 (Winston Churchill stayed in the Pool Cottage when he visited)—before opening as a hotel in 1973. 
 
Each guest room is different, but all are furnished as the elegant tropical home the Graycliff long was, a mix of Oriental carpets and chandeliers, four-poster beds and tapestries, Chinoiserie dressers and ornate fireplaces. 
 
The Graycliff’s excellent, pricey five-star restaurant is the best in town (and recommended separately), or you can dine in the Brazilian churrascaria next door, or reserve a four-course Wine Luncheon in the amazing wine cellar, the third largest in the world. 
 
They also run tours of (and hands-on classes in) the property’s cigar factory (roll your own!) and chocolate factory (mmm, chocolate-making workshops).