Stella Maris Airport

Stella Maris Airport is a charmingly intimate gateway to Long Island, and its culinary offerings reflect that same unhurried, unpretentious spirit. Don't expect a sprawling food court here — the airport is small, serving mostly light aircraft and island-hopper flights. Your best bet before or after a flight is to time your journey around a meal at the Stella Maris Resort Club just minutes away, which has long been the de facto dining hub for arriving and departing guests alike.

If you find yourself with a little time to spare, locals will often point you toward the small snack provisions available near the terminal, where you might snag a cold Kalik beer, a soft drink, or a packaged bite to hold you over. The real reward, though, lies just beyond the tarmac. The surrounding community has a handful of casual spots where cracked conch, peas and rice, and fresh-caught grouper are served with generous Bahamian warmth and zero pretension — honest food that tastes exactly like the islands smell.

Long Island is one of the Bahamas' best-kept culinary secrets, and a layover here is genuinely worth building a meal around. Bahamian mac and cheese — dense, baked, and deeply satisfying — makes an appearance at almost every local kitchen, and the conch salad, made to order with lime and scotch bonnet, is bracingly fresh. Ask your resort or rental host for the current favorite roadside spot, because on an island this size, the best food moves with whoever cooked it best that week.