The Straw Market is Nassau’s best-known shopping experience, a large covered market on Bay Street that has been selling Bahamian handicrafts to visitors for generations. Hundreds of stalls fill the building, offering woven straw baskets and bags, wide-brimmed hats, placemats, dolls and fans, along with wood carvings, shell jewellery, painted trinkets, T-shirts, beach wraps, spices and bottled sauces. The craft of plaiting straw is deeply rooted in Bahamian island life, passed down through families, and the best stalls still show it in skilled, patterned work made by the women who sit and weave beside their goods. The market is also a place for conversation and a bit of theatre: vendors greet you, chat, offer a deal and sometimes plait a hat to size while you watch. It is lively, noisy, hot and fun, and it is only a few steps from the cruise port and the western end of Bay Street. Visitors who want a gift that feels genuinely local, rather than another mass-produced souvenir, can find it here with a little patience.
How it works
The market is open to walk through at no charge, and you pay vendors directly for anything you buy. Opening hours are generally daytime, running later when ships are in port, but check locally because they can vary by day and season. Most stalls accept cash in US dollars, and many take cards, though cash gives you better room to negotiate.
Bargaining is expected and friendly
Start with a smile, ask for the best price on two or three items together, and be ready to walk away politely if you do not reach a number you like.
What to expect
A dense warren of stalls, with fans and music for atmosphere and very little personal space on busy cruise days. Quality varies. Many goods on sale are imported or machine-made, while others are handmade in the Bahamas, so look closely at the weaving, ask where an item was made and look for any tags or labels that identify genuine Bahamian handmade work.
Straw goods should feel tightly woven and sturdy, with neat edges and no loose ends. Wood carvings, shell jewellery and local spices make lighter souvenirs that pack easily. Vendors can be persistent, but a clear and polite no is usually accepted.
Making the most of it
Go early, before the biggest crowds arrive and while the building is cooler, and walk the full length before you buy anything, because the same item often appears at several stalls at different prices. Start at the back, where stalls are often calmer and more willing to deal, and work your way forward.
Bring small bills, a bag for purchases and a bottle of water. If a hat or bag is a size or fit question, try it on, and ask whether the vendor can finish a piece for you while you wait.
Keep valuables in a front pocket or zipped bag, as in any busy market. Combine the Straw Market with a walk along Bay Street and up to the Queen’s Staircase, or take the Bites of Nassau food tour, which passes through the same downtown streets. Allow an hour, or longer if you love browsing. Afterwards, the cruise port, the harbour beaches and the Fish Fry are all within an easy walk or short taxi ride, so it slots neatly into a day built around downtown.
What to expect
The experience
A large covered market of stalls on Bay Street selling straw goods, wood carvings, jewellery, clothing and souvenirs, with friendly bargaining.
Best time
Early in the day, before the cruise crowds build and while the building is cooler.
How long
An hour or two, depending on how much you enjoy browsing and bargaining.
Tips
Walk the whole market first, bargain politely, and ask where a piece was made to find genuine Bahamian handwork.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone hunting for a Bahamian souvenir or handmade gift, and travellers who enjoy a lively market atmosphere.
- Families
- Fun for children who like colour and noise, though it gets crowded and hot on cruise days.
- Couples
- A good morning wander for matching hats and gifts, followed by lunch downtown.
- Pair with
- The Queen’s Staircase and the Bites of Nassau food tour, both a few minutes’ walk away.
- Time needed
- One to two hours.
Good questions
Is it free to enter the Straw Market?+
Yes, you can walk through and browse at no charge. You only pay for the things you buy from the vendors.
Should I bargain at the Straw Market?+
Yes, polite haggling is normal. Ask for a better price when buying several items together, and be prepared to walk away if you cannot agree.
Are the goods really made in the Bahamas?+
Some are, and some are not. Ask vendors where an item was made, and look for genuine handwoven pieces with tight, even weaving.
Where is the Straw Market?+
It is on Bay Street in downtown Nassau, a short walk from the cruise port.
What are the best things to buy?+
Handwoven straw hats, bags and baskets are the classics. Wood carvings, shell jewellery, spices and Junkanoo souvenirs are lighter and easier to pack.
