New Bight Airport

Let's be honest: New Bight Airport is a small, charmingly unhurried strip on Cat Island, and you won't find a bustling food court or a row of airport restaurants here. The terminal is intimate — think a handful of seats, warm Bahamian light, and the kind of pace that reminds you why you came to the Out Islands in the first place. Your best strategy is to eat well in New Bight or Fernandez Bay before you arrive, treating the airport as a breezy send-off rather than a dining destination.

That said, the surrounding village of New Bight punches well above its weight when it comes to authentic Bahamian cooking. A short drive from the airstrip, you'll find cracked conch, peas-and-rice, and fresh-caught snapper at local kitchens and small family-run spots that change with the season. Fernandez Bay Village, just minutes away, is a beloved haunt for a proper farewell meal — their seafood is impeccably fresh, and the setting, right on the water, makes for a memorable last look at Cat Island's extraordinary blues.

Savvy travelers flying through TBI build in extra time before their departure specifically to linger over a final plate of conch salad or a cold Kalik at a nearby spot before heading to the terminal. The airport's informal rhythm means nobody rushes you out of the village. Pack a few Bahamian snacks — tamarind balls, coconut tarts, or a bag of plantain chips from a roadside seller — to carry on board, because once you're airside, the flavors of Cat Island are behind you until the next visit.