A common misconception that needs clearing up right away is that Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda, is located in Hamilton Parish. It’s not. The City of Hamilton is in Pembroke Parish, approximately three miles south west of Hamilton Parish.
The area was initially named Harrington Tribe, after Lucy Russell (nee Harrington), the Countess of Bedford. She was a shareholder in the Virginia Company that colonised Bermuda at the beginning of the 17th century. It was renamed after she sold her shares to James Hamilton, the Marquess of Hamilton.
Hamilton Parish wraps around Harrington Sound, a large inland body of water connected to the ocean at Flatts Village. It is home to Bermuda’s newest and most luxurious hotel, two prestigious golf courses, and some popular tourist attractions.
It has an area of just over two square miles and a population just under 6,000. Smith’s Parish lies to the west, and St George’s Parish to the east.
Hotels
Hotels and places to stay in and around Hamilton Parish include:
- Grotto Bay Beach Resort
Restaurants & Bars
The list was last updated on Friday 29th of November 2019.
| Name | Address | Cuisine | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey's Ice Cream | Blue Hole Hill Hamilton Parish | Desserts | $ | Ice cream parlour near Grotto Bay Beach Resort and the Crystal Caves. [Trip Advisor] |
| Cafe Ole | 8 Crystal Caves Road Hamilton Parish | Cafe | $ | Family-run cafe at the Crystal Caves. Offers burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads etc. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Island Brasserie | Rosewood Bermuda Hamilton Parish | Steakhouse, Seafood | $$$ | Elegant colonial style dining room at the Rosewood Bermuda. Features original murals from the Pan Am Building (now MetLife) in New York. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Rustico | 38 North Shore Road Hamilton Parish | Italian | $$ | Casual Italian restaurant in Flatts village. Close to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Swizzle Inn at Baileys Bay | 3 Blue Hole Hill Hamilton Parish | American, International | $$ | Pub in Hamilton Parish. The birthplace of Bermuda’s national drink; the rum swizzle, and the island’s most famous watering hole. Offers live entertainment in the summer. Close to Grotto Bay Beach Resort, the Crystal Caves, and Blue Hole Park. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Tom Moore's Tavern | 7 Walshigham Lane Hamilton Parish | French | $$$ | Fine dining restaurant. Situated in a waterside home built in 1652. Named after Thomas Moore. The Irish poet stayed here in 1804. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
Places to Visit & Things to Do
Beneath the stretch of land between Harrington Sound and Castle Harbour there’s a network of underground tunnels, caves, and grottoes. The Crystal and Fantasy Caves are open to the public and are a must-see for any visitor. There are also caves in Blue Hole Park and in the grounds of the Grotto Bay Beach Resort.
The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo (BAMZ) is one of the island’s most visited tourist attractions. You won’t find elephants, lions, tigers or other large animals here but it’s still an interesting place to visit. The most impressive display in is the North Rock Exhibit; a huge 140,000 gallon tank with barracuda, sharks, and impressive collection of live corals.
Shelly Bay is the only public beach of note in Hamilton Parish. It’s more popular with local families than tourists and features a decent playground, a small nature reserve, and sports pitches. John Smith’s Bay is Smith’s Parish is close by.
Sports enthusiasts are really spoiled for choice. The Mid Ocean Club is one of the most famous golf courses in the world. It’s an exclusive private club with high membership fees but visitors with deep pockets can play here on certain weekdays. The other course in the area is the Tucker’s Point Golf Club.
Dive Bermuda is based at Grotto Bay. You can rent a Boston Whaler from Blue Hole Water Sports or go on a snorkelling cruise with Ana Luna Adventures.
Walkers and cyclists can explore the Railway Trail. The stretch passing through the area runs along the northern shore and is particularly scenic. It starts just outside Flatts and passes Shelly Bay, Crawl Waterfront Park, and Abbott’s Cliff Park.
For many years the Bermuda Perfumery was a landmark attraction just down the road from the Swizzle Inn. It has now relocated to Stewart Hall in St George.
Shops
The Shelly Bay MarketPlace is the only supermarket in the parish, although there are several smaller grocery stores in Flatts. Harrington Hundreds in Smith’s is also close by.
Transport
Hamilton Parish is connected to St George’s Parish by the Causeway. Cross this bridge and you’ll find yourself at the airport.
Four bus routes run through the parish. All travel between Hamilton (the capital) and St George but take slightly different routes. Bus 10 and bus 11 travel along the North Shore Road, while bus 1 and bus 3 follow routes south of Harrington Sound.
If you want to explore Bermuda at your own pace you can rent a scooter from Oleander Cycles at Grotto Bay.
Services & Information
ATMs are located at the RUBiS Causeway Service Station (next to Grotto Bay), the Shelly Bay MarketPlace, Crawl Hill Esso Tigermarket, and at Rosewood Tucker’s Point.
The Swizzle Inn offers complimentary WiFi for customers. There is one post office in Hamilton Parish; the Crawl Post Office.
For official tourist information you’ll need to leave the parish and visit the St George’s VIC.
