The City Lover’s Guide to Cosmopolitan Bermuda

In every season, Bermuda offers a refreshing mix of cultural wonders and upscale experiences to savour. Discover the island’s sophisticated side with world-class arts and culture attractions, upscale shopping, fine dining, music-filled nightlife, and more. It’s all within easy reach thanks to short flights from major gateways like New York City. Your elevated island escape awaits.

Ideal for Winter

Where to Stay 

The Rosedon Hotel offers a cozy yet elegant retreat just steps from the heart of Hamilton, Bermuda’s capital. As an adults-only boutique hotel known for its warm hospitality, the Rosedon welcomes you with its peaceful vibes, modern comforts, and intimate atmosphere. The onsite Huckleberry Restaurant serves delicious, locally sourced dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with an indulgent weekend brunch.  

Top Tier Arts & Culture Attractions

Tucked into a stately Georgian-era home, the Bermuda Historical Society Museum in the City of Hamilton whisks you through 400 years of Bermuda history with its fascinating collection of period furniture, portraits, and artefacts. Treasures include a sea chest belonging to the shipwrecked sailors who settled the island in the early 1600s. Nearby, the Bermuda National Gallery houses fine art and decorative works, along with major travelling exhibitions.

On the island’s East End, explore the Carter House Museum, one of the island’s oldest homes. Beyond the 17th-century farmhouse, you can tour a replica of the settler’s hut, which provided a safe haven for the original Bermudians. In nearby St. George’s, take another journey back in time at the Mitchell House Museum. Built in 1731, the house features a colonial-era kitchen, artefacts dating back centuries, and a Gutenberg-style printing press that’s still operational.

Bespoke Tours

Alexandra Mosher Studio Jewellery is a standout in the island’s shopping scene. The artist handcrafts high-end pieces that capture the beauty of Bermuda, including the dreamy pink sand collection. The Behind-the-Scenes Studio Champagne Tour, held at the flagship store in Hamilton, gives you an exclusive look at the innerworkings of the design studio. Sip pink champagne as you see how this remarkable jewellery is made.

Upscale Shopping 

Browsing the fashion-forward boutiques of the City of Hamilton is time well spent. At Atelerie, find clothing, jewellery, and accessories from coveted brands and emerging designers. Discover fresh pieces from Rag & Bone and Helmut Lang along with graphic art tees and stackable bracelets. At 1609 Design, shop island-inspired jewellery, photography prints, and artful gifts. Nearby, Lusso’s curated high-fashion finds range from Lilly Pulitzer to Fendi and Ferragamo.

Elevated Dining 

In Hamilton, Port O' Call on Front Street serves fresh local catch and expertly prepared steaks topped with foie gras butter or béarnaise sauce. There’s an award-winning wine list, plus a lively bar that’s a magnet at happy hour. In the iconic Hamilton Princess hotel, the Intrepid Restaurant offers prime steaks, a stellar raw bar, creative seafood dishes, and craft cocktails along with panoramic harbor views.

On the East End of the island, BLT Steak NY at The St. Regis Bermuda is the place for impeccable cuts of beef complemented by delectable appetizers, drinks, and desserts. See more fine dining favourites around the island.

Pre- Nightlife Picks 

Toast to a beautiful island evening at Hamilton’s Evolve BDA, a speakeasy nestled in the Bermudiana arcade. Beyond innovative cocktails with ingredients like lemongrass gin and falernum liqueur, you’ll enjoy the vintage aesthetic mixed with modern flair. At The Wine Bar at Little Venice, warm up to award-winning wines from their extensive private collection.  

After Dark

Cap the day on Front Street with a martini at the upscale-casual Pickled Onion, or sip beer, wine, or cocktails at the Hog Penny Restaurant & Pub, the oldest pub in Hamilton. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Hog Penny has live entertainment and DJs after 9:30 pm. For late nights, check out The Terrace on Front Street and Bungalow 56.

Perfect for Summer

Where to Stay 

Settle in at the waterfront Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort & Spa for a luxurious and refreshing getaway. Enjoy views of Hamilton Harbour from your private balcony, and spend many blissful hours lounging in the infinity pool, savouring treatments at the spa, or golfing in paradise at the resort’s own championship course. Award-winning onsite dining includes the coastal cuisine of Aurora and the delicious surf and turf offerings of Blû Bar and Grill, which is located right next to their golf course.

Top Tier Arts & Culture Attractions

Just a short drive from the resort, the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art features thousands of watercolours, photographs, etchings, and more. See works by legendary artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and Winslow Homer, who were inspired by Bermuda’s allure, plus vibrant works from contemporary Bermudian artists. 

On the island’s West End, visit the National Museum of Bermuda in Royal Naval Dockyard to dive into the fascinating world of Bermuda history, including its maritime heritage and captivating shipwreck stories. Plus, witness one of the island's most in-depth and impressive works – “The Hall of History,” a two-story mural exploring Bermuda’s story over the centuries.

Bespoke Tours & Workshops

Head to the Town of St. George, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for unique and memorable experiences that will deepen your appreciation of the island. Take the History with a Twist tour with Long Story Short, a partnership with Gosling’s Bermuda. With your local tour guide Kristin White, you’ll explore top cultural attractions and captivating hidden gems, sampling spirited drinks along the way. The tour includes three cocktails, a glass of bubbly and all museum fees.

At the botanical wonderland of Lili Bermuda, you can shop island-inspired scents, learn about the art of perfumery, and even create your own signature fragrance with a Perfume Workshop experience.

Upscale Shopping

At Cassine in the City of Hamilton, shop a curated collection of high-quality, eco-conscious products including skincare, makeup, fragrances, clothing, and jewellery. The clean, sustainable skincare lines are a highlight, and you can even contribute to planting coral thanks to the store’s partnership with the Living Reefs Foundation. 

For men’s clothing and accessories, don’t miss Waterfront Man on Front Street. Shop casual tees, polos, Bermuda shorts, belts, hats, fragrances, and more, including some only-in-Bermuda finds. Explore more Bermuda shopping.

Elevated Dining 

For ocean panoramas, savoury seafood, and Mediterranean flavours, it’s hard to beat Cafe Lido at Elbow Beach Bermuda. Specialties include sustainable, fresh-caught local fish, authentic Italian dishes, and handcrafted cocktails – and the mesmerizing views will make your meal even more unforgettable. Nearby, the new restaurant Surf at Azura Bermuda offers creative Mediterranean fare with a focus on seafood, plus expansive ocean views from its floor-to-ceiling windows.

Down the road and also on the coast, The Pink Beach Club at the ultra modern Loren Hotel exudes breezy sophistication with its open-air setting. Locally sourced sea-to-table cuisine and fresh produce from small-scale farms are signature offerings, and Atlantic views are a highlight. See more fine dining favourites from around the island.

Pre- Nightlife Picks

In Hamilton, The Flower Bar creates a sweet start to the evening with its blend of colourful, flower-infused concoctions. Cocktails include the Flower Bar Spritz, with elderflower and rose petals, and the Crimson Elegance, a gin drink made with hibiscus syrup. A mocktail menu is also available.

Sunset & After Dark 

Take a sunset sail with UberVida, a 70-foot catamaran that offers sunset cocktail cruises and a variety of daytime adventures. There’s nothing like watching the sun dip below the horizon with an island libation in hand. For an option on land, head to Bermuda Bistro at The Beach, where you can enjoy a mix of cocktails and other drinks on the Hamilton Harbour waterfront.

In summer, The Front Yard offers a late night scene where the cocktails, music, and island vibes flow well into the early morning. With the city’s pastel skyline, the buzz of Front Street, and the sparkling harbourfront setting, it’s the perfect place to soak up Bermuda’s cosmopolitan allure.