Sip Sip: Beach Bar: Harbour Island: Seashell

Seashell, our surfside correspondent, washes ashore in Harbour Island, Bahamas:
"The quiet northern end of Harbour Island is a picture-perfect retreat of purity. No cars, no televisons, no radio, and thankfully no crazy bass-thumping night clubs. Just pristine beaches and crystal blue waters, and a landscape sprinkled with beach bungalows painted in cheerful colors. All entirely satisfying for about five hours until the transcontinental Ambien wears off and the booze shakes set in. At this stage in the trip, we discovered, not one, but two Bahamian-style watering holes perched along the beautiful Pink Sands Beach.

At one end of the beach, the errant beachcomber is conveniently directed to the “Steps to Sip Sip” via a brightly painted neon-colored sign. After climbing the steps to this two-story beach shack bar and café, one is rewarded with amazing views of the surrounding island and the most perfect breeze rolling in off the ocean. Not to mention a drinks list that would make any high-school Cancun spring-breaker drool with envy. “Kylien’s Special Colada” boasts a secret blend of speciality rums mixed with piña colada and topped with a dark rum floater. Make sure to avoid the lunch-time tourist rush and opt for a late afternoon cocktail around 2pm or so. You’ll be sure to score a table on the outside deck and the servers are much more efficient at accommodating your drink orders without that pesky “food” business in the way.

For a more dramatic setting, trek about a quarter mile down the beach to the Pink Sands Resort’s lunchtime spot, the Blue Bar. No you are not in London at the Berkeley so leave the catwalk clothes back in your cabana. Painted in a bright blue, almost identical to the Bahamanian sky that serves as its backdrop, Blue Bar is the place to be and be seen, if there is such a spot on this remote island. Make sure to ask for Pete, the bartender, to add his speciality touch to the infamous “Pinky” drinks here. We’re fairly certain that Pete’s only “magic touch” is four extra shots of rum in the mix, but we loved it when Pete made our drinks all the same."
+Sip Sip, Court St (on the beach), Harbour Island, Bahamas +242 333-3316.
+Blue Bar at Pink Sands (on the beach), Harbour Island, Bahamas +242 333-2030
+Blue Bar, Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place, London, +44 207235 6000.
+When in Harbour Island, W4 stays at: The Landing.