There's no other spot in The Bahamas, with the possible exception of the Crystal Palace complex on Cable Beach, with such a wide variety of after-dark attractions, and absolutely nothing that approaches its inspired brand of razzle-dazzle. Even if you stay in Nassau or Cable Beach, you'll want to drop in at this artfully decorated, self-contained temple to decadence, even if gambling isn't really your passion. Love it or hate it, this place is simply a jaw-dropper. The casino is the most lavishly planned, most obviously themed venue of its kind this side of Vegas. Its managers claim that it's the only casino in the world built above a body of water. Designed in homage to the lost continent of Atlantis, it appears to have risen directly from the waters of the lagoon. The gaming area is centered on buildings representing a Temple of the Sun and a Temple of the Moon, with a painted replica of the zodiac chart overhead. Rising from key locations are four of the most elaborate sculptures in the world. Massive and complex, they were crafted by teams of artisans spearheaded by Dale Chihuly, the American-born master whose glass-blowing skills are heralded globally. Other than the decor, the casino's gaming tables, open daily from 10am to 4am, are the main attraction in this enormous place, and about a thousand whirring and clanging slot machines operate 24 hours a day. Recent additions include a lineup of poker tables and the Pegasus Race and Sports Book, with an illuminated and computerized display that lists the odds for many of the world's upcoming sporting events. Thanks to instantaneous communications with a centralized betting facility in Las Vegas, the staff here will make odds on a staggering number of sports events, both professional and collegiate, as well as horse racing and greyhound racing. This facility also contains a mini-amphitheater with plush armchairs and views over a battery of TV screens, each displaying one of the sporting and/or racing events for which odds are being calculated and money is changing hands. Upstairs from the casino is Aura, a totally upscale nightclub experience that manages to attract a few local hipsters as well as Atlantis guests. Come anytime during casino hours for a drink. A sweaty, flirty crowd parties all night on the dance floor. The club gets going around 10pm nightly, with a cover charge of US$50 (£25) for females and US$100 (£50) for males, unless they're residents of Atlantis, in which case they enter without charge. (Note that the nonresidents' entrance charge is usually waived for women if they're hip or beautiful enough.) Drinks inside carry big-city price tags, usually hovering around US$17 (£8.50) for a scotch and soda. Ringing the casino are at least 3,252 sq. m (35,004 sq. ft.) of retail shopping space, with even more located nearby in the Marina Village and an impressive cluster of hideaway bars and restaurants. Also in Atlantis, Joker's Wild (tel. 242/363-3000) is the only real comedy club in The Bahamas, with a talented company of funny people who work hard to make you laugh. Showtimes are Tuesday through Sunday at 9:30pm and there's a per-person cover charge of US$15 (£7.50) for everyone. At least two comedians appear on any given night, and most of them hail from either the U.S. or the U.K.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Bahamas 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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