West Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas | (618) 248-8274
Classy
rooms have large bathrooms, and ocean, lake, or garden views
Hilltop location with scenic views of Lake Killarney and the ocean
Pretty pool
with a roomy deck, which faces the ocean
Pleasant
bar with indoor and outdoor seating with pool views
Some rooms
include fireplaces and furnished balconies
Small fitness center with a few cardio machines and free weights
Free Wi-Fi throughout and free self-parking
A la carte
breakfast available (not included in rates)
Shuttle
service to the airport and around the island, for a fee
Massages
available, for a fee
No direct
beach access, and coast is rocky
Out of the way location, with little within walking distance
Complaints about slow and inconsistent service
Fitness center is cramped, with limited equipment
Ocean West
Boutique Hotel is a three-and-a-half-pearl property located along Nassau’s main oceanfront
road. Set in a former mansion, the hotel and its 10 rooms have a timeless decor that complements its stately setting. The hotel has an ocean-view pool, small bar, and small fitness center, but there’s no direct beach access and not much within walking distance. Travelers might want to also check out the Compass
Point Beach Resort down the road, which has a similar boutique ambience and often lower rates, plus beach
access and an excellent restaurant.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Boutique hotel with an intimate ambience and striking decor
There’s no
denying that the Ocean West Boutique Hotel has an impressive setting overlooking the ocean, set in a renovated mansion that's perched 70 feet above sea level. The hacienda-style decor that pervades the common areas and guest rooms accentuates the stateliness of the original mansions. From the small fitness center to the ho-hum bar area, though, the hotel’s amenities are at best average, leaving the impression that although the property is lovely, it
could be spectacular with just a few tweaks.The hotel seems to attract older couples, and with only 10 rooms, it’s
not uncommon for guests to find themselves with the pool or bar all to themselves. During our visit, the hotel seemed understaffed, and guests' complaints about service confirm this impression. Check-in and check-out
can be slow-going, and guests have to frequently request service at the unstaffed bar. Rates are a bit steep for an upper-middle-range hotel, especially with nearby competing properties such as Compass Point Beach Resort and A Stone’s Throw Away often offering lower rates.
Location
Quiet location on West Bay Street, a five-minute drive to the airport
The hotel’s
main entrance is on West Bay Street, a major road the runs along the northern
coast of Nassau. The ocean is across the road from the hotel, but the
coast is quite rocky here. While there are some sporadic softer stretches of sand, not many swim or sunbathe in this area. Cable
Beach, among the "proper" beaches with sand, is about a 10-minute drive away. There are a handful of restaurants within a 15-minute walk,
but overall, the hotel is a bit out of the way.Lynden
Pindling International Airport is about a five-minute drive from the hotel, and
downtown Nassau is about a 20-minute drive away. A jitney (minibus) stops right in front hotel, providing inexpensive transportation to Cable Beach and downtown
Nassau (although keep in mind that it runs only until early evening).
Rooms
Elegant rooms with microwaves and mini-fridges
The 10 rooms
at Ocean West Boutique Hotel are inviting and refined, with dark-wood
furniture and gold accent linens. Bold artwork with gilded or intricate wood frames add much-needed character to the otherwise plain white walls. Rooms with hardwood floors, such as the Ivory Room, have a warmer ambience compared to the white-tile floors found in the other rooms. Aside from the floors, decor is fairly consistent from room to room, with some offering extra features such as fireplaces or private balconies. All rooms include mini-fridges,
microwaves, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Most rooms have full or partial views of the
ocean or lake, with the exception of the Tanzanite Room, which has garden
views. Large bathrooms include shower/tub combos. All are stocked with
off-brand shampoos, conditioners, and body lotion; some have countertops with double sinks.
Features
Bar area with indoor and outdoor seating, attractive pool, massage room, and no-frills fitness center
For an intimate boutique property, Ocean West Boutique Hotel has a fair amount of features, but they don't all hit the mark. There’s a
small bar area located on the hotel's lower level, with a pool table, cushy chairs, and a sofa. The space is a tad hodgepodge, with the dignified-looking
wooden bar and pool table clashing with tropical prints and a fake palm
tree.The bar
area opens onto a terrace that overlooks the hotel’s nicely shaped outdoor
pool, with an elegant balustrade. The pool faces the ocean and lush greenery on one side, and
the hotel’s grand facade on the other. The large pool deck offers a few soft
lounge chairs and beach umbrellas.The hotel
advertises a rooftop fitness center with ocean views on its website, but the cramped gym doesn’t
deliver. While guests can reach the rooftop from the gym, the gym’s
small windows limit the views for guests working out inside. The rooftop lacks seating, but the view is great.Massages
are available by appointment in a tiny treatment room (the "massage suite") with one table. Free
self-parking is available within the hotel’s gated grounds, as is free Wi-Fi. An a la carte breakfast is served each morning in a regal
dining room for an additional fee. The gorgeous dining room also doubles as a
meeting and event space. Shuttle service -- to and from the airport and around the island -- is available for a fee.
