Nassau drinks Kalik (the local lager, perfectly cold) and Sands (the rival, slightly more interesting). Bahamian rum is everywhere: try Ricardo Burrows for the local connoisseur's choice and John Watling's Buena Vista for a craft-distilled option. The standard rum cocktail is the Bahama Mama — golden rum, coconut rum, grenadine, pineapple — usually too sweet but a fixture.
For drinking with locals, Arawak Cay in the early evening is the obvious place. For the resort-bar experience, Cable Beach and the Atlantis lounges deliver. Downtown after dark gets quieter than it should — the cruise crowd leaves and many places close by 9 pm. The most reliable post-dinner scene is at Cable Beach.