A TIMELESS GEM IN THE BAHAMAS

Nestled on the eastern edge of the aptly named Paradise Island, The Ocean Club is the iconic resort known as the Crown Jewel of the Bahamas. A quintessential luxury destination with a sparkling presence. Just three hours on a direct flight from New York. Making it the perfect place to escape for a weekend or a weeks-long vacation.

The resort is part of the Four Seasons portfolio, which means an award winning spa, highly attentive staff, extremely well maintained grounds, and the high-end and recently renovated rooms and suites for which Four Seasons is known. But the storied property also has the charm and character that comes with a decorated history.

Here, where the dazzling waters of the Atlantic meet the soft, white sands of one of the most exclusive corners of the Caribbean, The Ocean Club offers a seductive combination of understated elegance, old-world glamour, and contemporary style.

The Ocean Club legacy began with visionary Huntington Hartford, heir to the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, who sought to create a new kind of luxury winter getaway. One that didn’t fall into what he saw as the existing categories of ‘private and dull or public and cheap’.

In 1962, after two years and $20 million (a whole lot of money in 1962) in development, The Ocean Club was born, its opening marked by the star-studded Bal du Paradis gala, where Hollywood’s elite mingled with global aristocracy and world leaders. The guest list that evening included the likes of Walter Cronkite, Zsa Zsa Gabor, princes and lords from across the world, and five US Senators.

Indeed, The Ocean Club’s glamorous history is a veritable who’s who of 20th-century celebrities. Multiple scenes in the 1965 James Bond Thunderball were filmed on the property with Sean Connery, and then again with Daniel Craig as Bond in the 2006 Casino Royale - each contributing to the panache of the Martini Bar and its signature Vesper. The Beatles shot their iconic Help! movie onsite, and Whitney Houston performed for another star-studded gala in the early 2000s. And, The Ocean Club has been host to various high profile weddings, like Cindy Crawford’s and B&NC MAG locals Jim Dunning and Susan Magrino.

Through multiple renovations and updates the property has maintained an elegant but restrained British Colonial style, which has been fused with contemporary Bahamian chic design. The property is one of the most photographed and filmed beach resorts in the world - including by Slim Aarons, who was a B&NC local, and who’s best known for photographing attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places

A British Colonial main house offers an impressive backdrop to the resort’s modern amenities…and guests are welcomed - with drinks - in a large family room. In the lobby, there’s art by the resort’s resident artist, the renowned Jane Waterous, and a grand piano topped with silver framed black and white photos of some notables who’ve visited. Each of the low-rise wings of rooms and suites are set on unique courtyards or gardens. The original Hartford Wing, set around a gorgeous courtyard, features a sunken reflecting pool and lush plantings. The Crescent Wing’s 52 room renovation was unveiled in 2023 - with each of the well-appointed oceanview rooms overlooking a rolling lawn scattered with carefully positioned mature palm trees and ample hammocks for an afternoon lounge.

The resort offers lavish three and four-bedroom oceanview villa residences, which each include a private infinity pool — just perfect for those seeking the ultimate in privacy and exclusivity.

DUNE, a restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef - and B&NC local - Jean-Georges Vongerichten, sits atop a white-sand bluff in the central area of the resort, with sweeping ocean vistas and fantastic food. It’s sophisticated, but just the right amount of cool for a vacation.

The stunning beachfront location offers guests completely clear water and views of the mesmerizing blue of the Atlantic Ocean, while the extensive grounds boast amenities including three Har-Tru tennis courts with night lights, an advanced fitness center, and a spectacular oceanfront 18-hole golf course.

The resort’s exquisite grounds, spread over 35 lush acres, are lavish and yet completely refined, with the definite feeling of tranquility and privacy. Three pools offer just the right space for every guest to relax at their own pace. The Ocean Pool, which allows all guests to marvel at the ocean vista over a vanishing edge, is the centerpiece of the resort - installed as part of The Four Seasons’ transformation of the property - is situated between DUNE and the more casual Ocean Blu, with casual western-Caribbean fare. At the lagoon-style Family Pool, surrounded by tropical jungle plants, kids of all ages are happy splashing around in the refreshing waterfall. And anyone looking for a more tranquil respite can retire to the adults-only and very elegant Versailles Pool - which has views of the resort’s terraced Versailles Gardens, designed in the French Baroque style and installed by Huntington Hartford with imported remains of a 12th Century Franciscan monastery carefully reassembled by stonemasons.

And, of course, the beach is unmatched!

The clear water is a stunning shade of aqua blue - and known for being home to lots of sea turtles. The waves melodically lap against the expansive white-sand beach. Plush and well-spaced lounges are appointed by a team of beach attendants with an umbrella and a fresh bucket of boxed cold water that’s replenished throughout the day. Like each pool, the beach has a generous sun lotion station, with plenty of reef-safe sunscreen for every guest!

The Ocean Club is more than just a resort; it is a living testament to the glamour and elegance of a mostly bygone era. The Ocean Club stands as a shining beacon of what a great beach resort can be…where every moment feels like a scene from a glamorous movie…where the legends of the past continue to echo…and where new stories of luxury and indulgence are just now being written. The Ocean Club experience is like no other!