This place is perfect for a family getaway. Flew from Nassau and stayed here with my wife and 2 sons. The boys loved it, and having the bar and restaurant on property made it fun for everyone. The marina is right next door and so also perfect for boaters and fishing charters.
My wife and I had decided to travel to the Bahamas as we had never been before, I'm an avid saltwater fly fisherman so to read reviews about DIY Bonefishing on Long Island that was the destination chosen, after researching places to stay Winterhaven looked the best for location ,amenities and good food.From the point of booking Muriel was excellent helping with our requirements, we chose a full board option and lets just say we were not dissapointed, the food was excellent and there is plenty to choose from even on a 14 day stay and always freshly cooked. Lobster, fresh fish and local dishes like the mutton curry were very very good. The accomodation was good with an excellent sea view and a welcome pool to cool off during the heat of the day. The bay around the corner has lots to see especially turtles, osprey and does have some bonefish in, also evidence of Tarpon but never encountered any, I had a few fishing trips with local guides and good fishing was had. We hired a car and thats a must on Long Island. We had a great time on Long Island and the family and staff at Winterhaven made it very special for us, thanks to Bernard and his brothers for all the banter and jokes and to Muriel and the staff for the great stay we had, we will be back ! Spicy Wing dings are amazing and the cheesecake huge and delicious..
Winter Haven aka "Rowdy Boys" has some of the best food on Long Island, recently dined on some native mutton, prepared by traditional recipe. It's better than KFC, because it's finger licking good. Beautiful view of the ocean and pool. A must visit!
On our first visit to the Bahamas, we chose to visit a variety of destinations, including Harbour Island/Eleuthera, Long Island, and Nassau (Atlantis). In late November, Long Island was recovering from Hurricane Joaquin and one could not miss the evidence. Visitors to southern Long Island need to be somewhat independent, as there is no regular local transportation system. We had found it difficult to book a rental car in advance as communications were not back to 100%, and the staff at Winter Haven Inn were very helpful in locating a car for us and also jump starting it on our last day (it didn't want us to leave).
The Inn has a fine location next to the harbour with a view of the whole town. The accommodations were excellent with an ocean view. The Rowdy Boys restaurant had just re-opened on the day we arrived and it looked like new; also a quiet place so don't let the name put you off. While I'm no gourmet, I was very impressed with the quality of the food in such a remote location. This is surely the best restaurant in the area.
For anyone considering travel to southern Long Island, this makes an excellent base. Not too far to drive to the southern tip of the island where you can have an unspoiled Caribbean beach to yourself, and in the other direction it's not too far from the airport and the world famous Deans Blue Hole.
While we didn't stay at Winter Haven, we ate many meals in the Rowdy Boys Restaurant.
In a word: Fantastic! My wife and I are big fans of fresh seafood, and in particular, conch.
One memorable dinner was the Rowdy Boys conch burger. A fresh baked bun, literally overflowing with conch, lettuce and tomato, and a plateful of seasoned fries. Wash it all down with a couple of ice cold Kaliks. Life is good!
Our only complaint is that they don't have Sands beer.
