The Bahamas' Most Beautiful, Underrated Island Has a New Hotel on a Working Farm—and It's Already a Favorite Among Celebrities

Yahoo

03-06-2025

This brand-new Bahamas hotel is on a fully operational Eleuthera Island farm.
The hotel runs completely on solar power and nearly everything you eat on The Farm comes from the land you're staying on.
The property is a 10-minute shuttle to the airport, a five-minute walk to the beach, and a quick ferry ride to shops and restaurants on nearby Harbour Island.
The design is inspired by a famous South African winery, and its rustic, tropical elegance is something you'll find nowhere else in the Bahamas.'It's down the road just five minutes,' she said. 'No turns. You can't miss it.'
My girlfriend and I thanked our concierge at the front desk of The Other Side Hotel on the Bahamas' Eleuthera island—the beachside boutique our ferry dropped us off at—and headed inland. The dirt path went up and down again with no sign of the accommodations we had booked for the next few days. Was it even real? The photos and videos we saw of The Farm, a new hotel on Eleuthera island, before the trip did make it seem too good to be true.
And then, rising up another hill, we saw it, almost appearing out of nowhere: An expansive piece of property with swaying palm trees, 200 sweet-smelling garden beds, and thatched-roofed cottages scattered along the outer edges.
'It's a little oasis in the jungle,' said Ben Simmons, founder of The Farm.
Simmons, who also runs Harbour Island's Ocean View and Eleuthera's The Other Side, actually built the farm part of The Farm back in 2018. It provided fruits and vegetables and eggs (there are about 70 clucking chickens on-site) to the kitchens of his two hotels and his wedding business. But Simmons—who acquired the land in a squabble that dates back to a dramatic 18th-century sea battle involving his Eleutheran ancestors defeating the much more powerful Spaniards—had bigger plans for his agricultural oasis. He wanted to grow his business, he wanted to increase the number of Bahamian-owned properties in the Caribbean, and, most importantly, he wanted to instill in travelers and locals the ideas of sustainability and living off the Caribbean's rich, fertile land.
So, five years later, he thought, why not also build another hotel on the farm?
The Farm opened in November 2024 as part of Simmons' Little Island Hotel chain. His team envisions it being a place for visitors to stay, but also to learn about gardening and growing. He hopes to arrange speakers and seminars during the low seasons. He also plans to expand the gardens, the diversity of crops, and the number of chickens.
Celebrities like Michael Jordan and Derek Jeter have already found their way to The Farm's exceptional Sunday Brunch. Eli Manning's family stayed on property a few weeks ago. Even Kendall Jenner's assistant got married among the mangos and avocado trees this past winter.
Still, even with all that fanfare, when you're here, it's like nobody else is around. All I heard were the bees humming inside the flowers, someone slipping quietly into the pool, and the whoosh of a welcome breeze finding its way from the nearby Atlantic.
Here's all you need to know about The Farm on Eleuthera island.
There are 12 cottages dotted around the lush vegetable and flower beds. The eight larger accommodations are 1,024 square feet ($550 to $600 per night)—with king-size beds, wide verandas, and an open-plan layout—while four are smaller at 540 square feet ($350 to $400 per night) and can have a king-size bed or two twins. Our larger cottage was located at the far end of the property along the inviting freshwater pool. As soon as we stepped in through the wooden dutch doors, we immediately felt at ease. Simmons says his inspiration came from South Africa's Babylonstoren winery, noting the gentle curves on the cottage roofs.
A plush king-size bed, two couches, and an ever-so-tempting standalone bath made up the inside. Every accommodation also includes strong Wi-Fi, ample AC, a Nespresso machine, a waterfall shower, and a tea kettle.
'The subtle message is that the farming life can be hard, rugged, almost austere,' he said, when describing the construction. 'But it is luxurious in its provision of health, food, community, and connectivity to nature.'
Much of the food, of course, comes from the grounds around you.
The Farm has a main kitchen, where there are complimentary breakfasts of fruit, veggies, yogurt, and coffee. You can also order from a menu of mostly egg dishes. The eggs, of course, are plucked from the hen house each morning. I was partial to the egg sandwich with a side salad, because I watched the waiter go out to the garden and fill a bowl full of greens after I ordered the salad.
The Farm is reservation-only for lunch and dinner—priority booking is given to guests staying at the resort. Those meals are comprised of vegetables from the garden and fish caught that day out at sea. No meat is on the menu.
Guests can also dine by the beach at The Other Side, just a five-minute walk away; we did for a delicious mac-and-cheese and ribs combo one night. Or, the wonderful concierge Allie Saunders can arrange a ferry and golf cart for you to visit Harbour Island, just a 10-minute boat ride away. On Harbour Island, we ate at the Coral Sands' Pink (very ornately-pink) Mermaid for dinner one evening, an Italian seafood haven overlooking the ocean.
And, of course, there is Sunday Brunch at The Farm: A communal, family-style soirée in the garden under the centrally located Yellow Elder trees. It's a must-do event with fresh food, expertly-mixed drinks, and laughter among new friends and old.
The pool is the crown jewel of The Farm. The 576-square-foot gem is perfect for wading, doing morning laps, or just lazing alongside with a good book. And lazing around is, well, mostly what you do on The Farm.
There are also outdoor ping-pong and billiard tables—plus a rustic-chic gym—for active guests. And, if you tire of lounging in the shade of one of The Farm's avocado trees, you can walk over to The Other Side's private beach. Here, you can go for a sunset paddleboard. The resort also offers free snorkeling along the nearby coral reef. You'll run into turtles, rainbow fish, and even octopuses in the shallow, crystal-clear waters.
There is no spa at The Farm—yet. The team says they plan on adding one in 2026: A deluxe hut with a cold-plunge pool. For now, guests can book in-room or poolside massages.
Although I can't personally vouch for the family-friendly offerings, Simmons and The Farm certainly encourage families to visit. The Sunday Brunch is a huge draw for large families and their children, with space to wander and swim and partake in an aforementioned billiard or ping-pong match. Cottages can obviously be booked for family vacations or reunions. And Simmons wants the younger generation to learn why it's important to grow your own food—both for your health and the environment. Kids can help feed the chickens or pick tomatoes with the help of the always-friendly head groundskeeper, Richard.
Sustainability is the reason The Farm was created. The property is 100 percent powered by solar panels, which absorb energy from both the sun above and the ground below. The kitchen uses plastic sparingly, there are 10 compost stations—with 15 more on the way—and all vegetables are grown organically with no weed killers or toxins.
'We believe calling ourselves sustainable means we also must be efficient,' Simmons said. 'So while the panels power our facility, they also provide shade to our chickens who process our food scraps and feed our plant beds. The panels also protect our hydroponic and propagation stations.'
The Farm team is all-in on the idea of living off the rich, fertile soil they've been blessed with in the Bahamas. And they plan on expanding their plot—adding citrus trees and maybe a farm stand next season. Sustainable tourism is as prevalent as it could be in the Caribbean, and The Farm hopes to encourage other hotels to follow its lead.
The Farm is about a 13-minute car ride from tiny North Eleuthera Airport. It's also a short ferry ride from Harbour Island. The Farm's concierge can help arrange either of these transfers. They'll also assist you in renting your own car to explore the island—including nearby Gregory Town or local haunts like Daddy Joe's or Tippy's beach bar.
Because of its small, boutique size, The Farm doesn't currently have relationships with any major credit cards or reward programs. Room pricing, especially in the low season, is a steal; the smallest cottages start at $350 a night.
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