Review: The Cove at Atlantis, Paradise Island

Why book?

You book a trip to Atlantis for an effortless Bahamas escape in a resort with a remarkably diverse menu of tropical leisure activities. Though it is a vast, carefully developed complex that sits on an island, it still manages to cultivate a sense of place through its culinary offerings, its conservation activities, and its experiences in the surrounding areas.

You choose The Cove at Atlantis if you are seeking some combination of luxury, proximity to the beaches and ocean, and grown-up pleasures. It's the most high-end of the resort’s five hotels, and sits steps from Cove Beach and Paradise Beach (accessible only to guests of Atlantis). Staying there, you feel slightly apart from the hubbub of the Royal Towers, the fulcrum of the resort. In the past The Cove has been thought of as a place for singles and couples—in part because of the 18-and-over Cove Pool exclusively for Cove guests, which offers private gaming and 20 outdoor cabanas––but it is also very close, not only to the beaches, but to the family-friendly Cascades Pool and the Aquaventure Water Park, and has become an increasingly popular family option.

Set the scene

When you arrive at The Cove, via a private access road that winds discreetly between Royal Towers and The Reef, your first impression is of serenity and exclusivity. The koi ponds and the East Asian design flourishes throughout the long, stately, open-air atrium contribute to the tranquil vibe, as does the sound of the ocean, visible on the far side of the hotel. On the beach side of the hotel, a lively pool scene plays out all day; after dark, when families and couples change into chic resort wear and swoosh past the upscale boutiques en route to dinner, their faces illuminated by footlights; the feeling is more Saint-Tropez or Mykonos than the Vegas-in-the-Caribbean image Atlantis is known for.

The backstory

The all-suite Cove opened in 2007 (the same year as its neighbor, The Reef) giving Atlantis a more high-end hotel offering than it had previously had. It received a comprehensive renovation in 2017. In 2022, the hotel revamped its club offering into the exclusive Lapis Club Lounge on the 22nd Floor, which offers dining with a view of the sea; a full bar; and concierges who can assist Cove guests with dinner, golf, and cabana reservations.

The rooms

All 600 guest rooms in The Cove are suites with balconies and ocean views; if you dream of drifting off to sleep listening to the lapping of the waves and the whisper of the warm Caribbean breeze, this is the hotel for you. Both of the private beaches are likely to be within view, and the sunsets from here are sublime. Inside you’ll find a tasteful palette of light woods and maritime colors––sand, coral, azure––that nicely complement the drama seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The rooms are generously sized, with the humblest Ocean Suite still occupying nearly 700 square feet and the most generous of the Presidential Suites (one of which the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stayed in at the conclusion of their 2022 Caribbean tour) claiming more than 3,000. The walk-in closets and generous bathrooms with soaking tubs are amenities you’ll appreciate, especially if you’re traveling as a family.

Food and drink

Guests of The Cove have all Atlantis’s 21 restaurants and 19 bars and lounges to choose from, though one of the very best is situated at The Cove itself: José Andres’s Fish. The Spanish chef’s fine-dining concept is an homage to the glories of the world’s oceans, with a strong emphasis on the bounty of the local waters that includes lionfish, Mahi Mahi, and an entire menu section devoted entirely to various renditions of conch. For those with less-briny palates, a fine jerk chicken and a number of steak cuts are also available. Nearby is Sea Glass, a more casual bar and grill with gaming tables and slot machines. There are numerous culinary establishments a short walk away, from an outpost of the legendary sushi restaurant Nobu near the casino in Royal Towers—which offers a few local twists alongside the famous black cod with miso, like Bahamian lobster tacos and cracked conch—to Sun & Ice, a cute ice cream parlor in Coral Tower that offers local specialties (I got a kick out of the Irie Nuts, with almonds, peanut brittle, and salted pecans) and glorious seasonal flavors like guava and sugar banana.

The spa

Asian—specifically, Balinese—influences are again evident in the decor, massage techniques, and ingredients used at the 30,000-square-foot Mandara Spa, the Atlantis location of the beloved wellness brand that operates at resorts around the world and on Norwegian Cruise Line sailings. The extensive treatment menu includes several Bahamian options that make use of indigenous plants. Salon services are also available, along with an extensive fitness center where guests can connect with personal trainers, receive nutritional analysis, and take classes.

The neighborhood/area

Atlantis takes up about half of Paradise Island, just across the Sidney Poitier Bridge from New Providence Island and the city of Nassau. Lynden Pindling International Airport is about a half an hour away. Of all of Atlantis’s hotels, The Cove is the closest to the ocean, which is one of several reasons it has a more private, exclusive feeling—but it also means walking times can be slightly longer to certain parts of the resorts.

Many guests will never leave Atlantis during their stay, but if you’d like to visit the vendors and fish shacks of Potter’s Cay, which sits beneath the Sidney Poitier Bridge, or go into Nassau, it’s quite easy to do so. The hotel will also gladly arrange excursions to neighboring islands.

The service 
From the servers in the fine dining restaurants to the folks operating the waterpark rides, from the attendants in the poolside cabanas to the housekeepers, the service is consistently professional but with oodles of gregarious Bahamian warmth. We were provided with a butler who was in regular contact with us throughout each day via WhatsApp to make sure we had everything we needed and see if there were any extras he could offer. In 2022, Atlantis also added its Sapphire Services concierge program, which facilitates authentic Bahamian experiences off-property—from releasing sea turtles on secluded Rose Island to taking part in a Junkanoo parade—as well as on-site educational experiences, like a visit to the resort’s fish hospital.

For families

Atlantis’s central proposition is family fun, and a stay at The Cove will position a family to make the most of it. In addition to having the family-friendly Cascades Pool and the 141-acre Aquaventure aquatic park (where the river rides on inner tubes are a particular joy to experience as a family) steps from your door, you’re also close to Dolphin Cay, an extraordinary habitat where your concierge can help set up encounters with the 35 dolphins who live there, which include a number of Hurricane Katrina rescues. If you’re visiting Atlantis with children of any age, don’t miss this, and if your brood is particularly intrepid, an overnight glamping experience is available on the beach here. A bit beyond Dolphin Cay is the resort’s world-class kids’ club, Atlantis Kids Adventures, where little ones can do everything from decorate cookies to stage theater productions. Atlantis has smartly put it around the corner from Mandara, making it extremely convenient to park the kids there while you indulge in a spa day. Across the hallway from Atlantis Kids Adventures is The Gamers Reef, a classic arcade with everything from Pac-Man to driving games, which may appeal to parents (especially those raised in the ’80s) even more than their offspring. Also of note is The Dig, a labyrinthine aquarium with a “lost world” feel that stretches beneath the Aquaventure water park. One of the coolest things about Atlantis is the way the marine habitats are threaded through the entire resort experience, so if you’re walking somewhere as a family you’re always finding yourself pausing to check out a hammerhead or a stingray. If your kids enjoy watching critters chow down, be sure to consult the feeding schedules at the various habitats.

Eco effort

As you’d hope, Atlantis has sought to reduce its carbon footprint via initiatives to encourage recycling and adaptive reuse (including programs for reusing motor and cooking oil) and by eliminating single-use plastics and styrofoam, but it also has a much broader environmental mandate focused on conservation and habitat restoration in the Bahamas and beyond. Beyond being a place for kids to have fun, Dolphin Cay is a world-class rescue and rehabilitation facility; its very first residents were 16 bottlenose dolphins who were rescued after being swept out to sea, during Hurricane Katrina, from their initial home in the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, Mississippi. Atlantis also supports the Atlantis Blue Project, a nonprofit that funds scientific research and conservation efforts like reef restoration. The increasingly popular Nassau Paradise Island Wine and Food Festival, which draws star chefs and culinary figures like Andrew Zimmern, helps raise money for this work. The resort has also played a key role in marine habitat protection in the waters off the neighboring island of Andros, and in preserving mangrove forests and wetlands elsewhere in the Bahamas.

Accessibility

Upon booking, Atlantis can arrange accessible shuttle transfers from Lynden Pindling International Airport. There is a complimentary shuttle that operates within the resort, although it's not wheelchair accessible. The resort itself is almost entirely accessible, with a wide array of curb drops, ramps, elevators, and other infrastructure seamlessly integrated into the resort design. Service animals are permitted widely throughout the resort.

Anything left to mention?

At the end of Cove Point, a natural peninsula in between Cove Beach and Paradise Beach, you’ll find Sacred Space, an installation by the Bahamian artist Antonius Roberts rendered in carved Madera wood and sculpted copper of seven dancing women. According to the artist, it is a tribute to conservation, progress, and hope for the Bahamas. On the sand among these figures, visitors have stacked dozens of cairns from rocks they’ve found along the shore. It is an unexpectedly moving site to visit; an intimate, organic sanctuary that feels unlike anything around it; and a wonderful place to go if you need a few minutes to get away from it all.