Cafe Matisse

Getting to know the background of this restaurant is like taking a tour of Europe. The name was inspired by a chef from Switzerland; the decor is a tribute to the artist from France; and the specialty is undeniably the traditional food of Italy.

Cafe Matisse on Bank Lane in Nassau, The Bahamas

Table for two at Cafe Matisse's courtyard

Cafe Matisse owner Greg Curry and his wife Gabriella ("She's the Italian," he pointed out) were vacationing in San Moritz when they met a talented chef named Matisse. He was so memorable that they named their cafe after him.

Inside the restaurant, Henri Matisse's art pervades. The brand tagline, "From canvas to table," playfully alludes to the French artist. Although it sounds very French, Cafe Matisse specializes in authentic Italian cuisine.

"We also make our own pasta, pizza, and bread," explained chef David Fiora, speaking with a distinctive Italian accent. Originally from Milan, Chef David has been working his magic in Cafe Matisse's kitchen for 15 years.

Cafe Matisse Chef David Fiora hails from Milan, Italy

Since opening in 1996, Cafe Matisse has built and upheld a reputation for being one of the best fine dining restaurants in Nassau, The Bahamas. (Number one on TripAdvisor.) It sits in the heart of downtown Nassau, along a narrow alley called Bank Lane. The restaurant can be found behind the historic Parliament Square, a landmark that is hard to miss with its bright pink facade fronted with the statue of Queen Victoria. History reveals that the centuries old building, which is now Cafe Matisse, was once a horse and buggy firehouse.

Main dining room

The courtyard for al fresco dining

Private dining room upstairs

From the minute I stepped inside the restaurant, I instantly felt like a guest in someone's charming home. It was my friend Jane Lightbourne who suggested Cafe Matisse for a dinner get-together. After hearing rave reviews, I looked forward to dining there. I didn't expect I'd be smitten.

The inviting reception area makes you feel at home

A welcoming sofa at the reception lounge

I remember that everything we ordered that night was great. Thanks to Jane, who offered me a bite of her appetizer, I was forever hooked to the heavenly octopus salad. I only had a morsel but it left a powerful impression with me. It was succulent and tasted as tender as a fine lobster dish. I've never had octopus that excellent before.

Insalatta di Polipo, Octopus Salad with Potatoes and Olives

Also notable was the service we received. I could tell how well established the restaurant was just by observing the friendly and efficient staff. They moved purposefully and seamlessly like clockwork.

We were there early but it didn't take long for the place to fill up. If you have any idea about parking in downtown Nassau, you'll appreciate the popularity of this dining hotspot even more.

I was focused on spending time with our friends that I didn't take pictures that evening. So there I was back in Cafe Matisse the other day, on a mission to complete this story. I arrived before they opened for lunch service. Even though the staff was busy setting up, they remained helpful and courteous.

More of the garden courtyard

Shortly after, a modest Greg Curry casually walked in, briefly excusing himself to extinguish his cigar. The Bahamas-born restaurateur was kind enough to spare a few minutes answering my questions about his restaurant.

During this return visit, I was treated to Insalatta di Polipo, the Octopus Salad. Since the menu is updated every six months, the sublime appetizer came with a new twist this time around. The hero ingredient featured Spanish octopus which is packed with flavor. I enjoyed the contrasting textures of the octopus and the soft potatoes. The olives with the simple dressing gave the dish a delightful zest. And the ginger lemonade recommended by Tico was just the right beverage complement. It was refreshing, as promised by the gentlemanly food attendant.

The ginger lemonade makes the perfect beverage complement to the octopus salad.

I didn't want to leave without taking a photo of Greg. I found him sitting at the bar. "Make sure to get 'Lou Rawls' in the picture too," he joked, referencing a TripAdvisor review that stated their bartender sounded like Lou Rawls. I think his voice sounded more like Barry White. Ah, but the guy's charm is all his own.

Cafe Matisse owner Greg Curry

The Lou Rawls sound-alike bartender at Cafe Matisse

Cafe Matisse is closed on Sundays and Mondays but open for lunch from noon to 3:00 p.m. and dinner from 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. the rest of the week. To view their menu, click here. Reservations are highly recommended.

Traveling to The Bahamas

I'm starting a new blog series about The Bahamas. First, I'd like to share these travel tips especially if you're flying from the West Coast. I usually fly out of Las Vegas. Hope you find these helpful.

Traveling to The Bahamas - Travel Tips from the Curious Adventurer

Flight schedules:  I recommend taking a red eye flight. Remember you lose 3 hours going East because of the time difference. Typically, I choose to fly late Tuesday night so that I am in Nassau early the next morning. When I arrive, I just catch up on sleep. By the afternoon, I'm ready to be out and about.

To maximize my stay, I choose to fly back late afternoon on a Sunday. That gives me about 5 days to spend on the island but taking only 3 days off from work. I highly recommend this because other flight schedules consume so much travel time. If you're traveling as far as the Bahamas, wouldn't you want to make the most of your time there versus sitting on a plane?

Choosing Your Airline:
American Airlines - Their red eye flight that leaves Las Vegas (LAS) at 11:45 pm PST arrives in Miami (MIA) at 7:27 am EST the next day. Then the connecting flight leaves at 9:46 am and puts you in Nassau (NAS) in an hour. American Airlines has the most flights from LAS to NAS. Other flight schedules include a 3-hour layover. To make the layover bearable, go for a massage at the airport spa.

JetBlue - They have a red eye that leaves LAS at 11:57 pm PST and gets you to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) at 7:44 am EST the next day. The connecting flight to Nassau leaves at 9:00 am and arrives on the island at 9:55 am. For the return flight, I recommend taking the late afternoon schedule. It leaves 5:25 pm and lands in FLL at 6:30 pm. Then it takes off at 7:40 pm EST and lands at 9:47 pm PST in LAS.

Southwest Airlines - Although they do fly to Nassau, flight schedules are limited. It's worth looking into if you're connecting from FLL and you are a Rapid Rewards member. You just might have enough points for a free flight.

Sleeping On The Plane:  If you're one of those who can't easily fall asleep on the plane and you've taken melatonin before, take one right before take off. Bring your noise canceling headphones or ear buds in case you're seated next to a loud snorer or crying baby. No offense to parents who bring their young ones. Oftentimes their infants/toddlers just get uncomfortable and cry throughout the flight. Sleep eye masks are also helpful especially when you're ready for shut-eye but a passenger close to you is working on his computer or watching a movie on his device. It's not a bad idea to bring a travel pillow either. For women like me, pack a pashmina or wrap and use it as a blanket when the air conditioning gets unbearably cold.

Entertainment:  If you're flying American Airlines, download their app ahead of time. Once on the plane, it will be easier to watch TV shows or movies from the app. This is the case until they replace gogoinflight which takes forever to download -- if you can even download at all. Most of AA's aircrafts no longer have the TV screens. If you don't have a tablet or a mobile device with you, I suggest you prepare to play Sudoku found in the inflight magazine.

Snacks:  I usually bring some cashews or almonds and power bars. By the time the flight takes off, you're likely to just sleep. But in case you do get hungry or in case of any delays, you'll have some munchies ready.

Mobile Plan: Keep in mind that you are traveling overseas. Work with your mobile carrier about a temporary international plan while you're traveling. You wouldn't want to come home to an outrageous mobile phone bill with international charges or ridiculous roaming charges. Apps such as Viber or Facebook Messenger as well as iPhone's FaceTime will allow you to communicate for free via WiFi connection. They are great for video/voice calls or text messages. Just remember that if you make a phone call from Nassau to the US, rates can be as much as $1.99 per minute.

Carry-On and Personal Bags: While waiting to board, American Airlines sometimes announces that they are willing to check your carry-on bag for free. Make sure to keep valuables and other essentials in your personal bag so that anytime this happens, you need not worry about handing them your carry-on luggage. It's a good idea anyway because it's a long flight. If you end up in the window seat, you wouldn't want to crawl over your seat mate to reach for your items in the overhead compartment.

Cash to Bring: Around here, cash is king. Power outages are common and debit/credit card systems are down when there's no power. Some establishments accept only cash so it's best to have some $ in your wallet. US dollars can be used here. The Bahamian dollar is equivalent to an American dollar. Another good thing to note is that Bank of America and Scotiabank are both members of the Global ATM Alliance. If you bank with BA, you can withdraw from any Scotiabank ATM on the island without incurring international access fees. You will still, however, be subject to the local 7.5% VAT or value added tax.

Anything else: On your flight to Nassau, you'll be required to fill out an Immigration Form so make sure you have a pen handy. I also recommend spending the money on Trip Insurance. Anytime you're traveling overseas, this is a no-brainer.

Do you have any tips you'd like to share or add? Feel free to comment below. I'd love to hear from you!