Monkey Bar
Monkey Bar operates inside the SLS Baha Mar hotel, offering a cocktail-focused experience that separates it from the resort's higher-volume venues. The design-forward interior features curated decor, low lighting, and seating arrangements that create intimate pockets within the larger space. The bar counter is the focal point, where bartenders with actual craft cocktail training work through a menu that changes seasonally and incorporates Caribbean ingredients alongside classic techniques. Capacity is deliberately limited to around 60, keeping the atmosphere intimate and the noise level at a point where conversation flows naturally. The crowd tends toward couples and small groups who chose Monkey Bar specifically for the cocktail quality and the calmer pace. The absence of a DJ, dance floor, or high-volume music positions it as the anti-nightclub within the resort's nightlife ecosystem.
What to Expect
A small, well-designed cocktail bar where the drinks are made with care and the atmosphere invites conversation. It feels like a bar that could exist in New York or London, transported to a Caribbean resort setting.
Intimate, design-conscious, and focused on the drinks. The small size creates a personal experience that the resort's larger venues can't match.
Curated playlists at low volume: jazz, soul, and downtempo. Music enhances rather than competes with conversation.
Smart casual. The space feels curated enough that beach wear would be out of place. A nice shirt and trousers for men, equivalent for women.
Cocktail enthusiasts, couples, small groups wanting quality over volume, anyone needing a break from casino and club energy
Cards accepted. SLS guests can charge to their room.
Price Range
Craft cocktails BSD 22-30, wine BSD 16-24 per glass, beer BSD 12-16, bar snacks BSD 18-30
Cocktails ~$22-30/~20-28 EUR, wine ~$16-24/~15-22 EUR
Hours
17:00-midnight daily
Insider Tip
Sit at the bar counter if you want to watch the bartenders work and get personalized recommendations. The seasonal menu incorporates Caribbean fruits and spices that you won't find in standard cocktail bars. Ask what's new rather than defaulting to classics.
Full Review
Monkey Bar exists in deliberate contrast to everything else in the Baha Mar complex. Where the casino is vast, Monkey Bar is small. Where Bond Nightclub is loud, Monkey Bar is quiet. Where Drift Bar is casual, Monkey Bar is considered. This positioning is intentional, and it works.
The cocktails are the point. The bartenders here have the training and the ingredients to make drinks properly. Fresh citrus, house-made syrups, quality spirits, and Caribbean ingredients (guava, passion fruit, allspice, coconut) combine in cocktails that justify their BSD 22-30 price tag. The seasonal menu rotates, so return visits offer different options. Asking the bartender for something off-menu based on your preferences often produces the best results.
The bar counter provides the best experience. Watching a skilled bartender work through a complex build, explaining the ingredients and technique if you ask, adds a dimension that table service misses. The counter seats fill first on busy evenings, so arriving early pays off.
The design of the space deserves credit. The lighting creates warmth without hiding the cocktails' visual presentation. The seating arrangements break the room into semi-private zones that reduce the feeling of being in a hotel bar. The sound level is managed precisely, loud enough to provide atmosphere but quiet enough for conversation at normal volume.
As a pre-dinner or post-dinner stop, Monkey Bar excels. One or two well-made cocktails in a comfortable setting provide a better experience than three or four average drinks at a louder venue. The pacing is different here: you're meant to sit with a drink, appreciate it, and let the evening unfold at its own speed.
The limitation is scope. Monkey Bar does one thing well, but it only does one thing. There's no entertainment, no dance floor, no event programming. After two hours and three cocktails, most visitors have gotten what the venue offers and are ready to move on to the casino or Bond.
The Neighborhood
Inside the SLS Baha Mar hotel. Skybar is on the same hotel's rooftop. The casino and Bond Nightclub are a short walk through the resort complex.
Getting There
Enter through the SLS Baha Mar hotel lobby. The bar is on the main level. Accessible to non-hotel guests. From downtown Nassau, taxi BSD 18-25.
Other Venues in Cable Beach
Bond Nightclub
Baha Mar's flagship nightclub with bottle service, international DJs on special event nights, and a sleek interior design. The crowd is resort guests and Nassau's upscale social set. Dress code enforced strictly.
Baha Mar Casino
The largest casino in the Caribbean with over 100,000 square feet of gaming floor. Blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and hundreds of slot machines. Multiple bars within the casino floor serve complimentary drinks to active players.
Drift Bar
Open-air beachside bar at Baha Mar with direct sand access and sunset views. Frozen cocktails and local Kalik beer are the staples. Transitions from daytime beach bar to evening lounge with fire pits and ambient music.
Skybar
Rooftop bar at the SLS Baha Mar with panoramic views of Cable Beach and the ocean. Cocktail-focused with a DJ on weekend evenings. The sunset hour is peak time. Dress code leans toward resort chic.