There are resorts in the Caribbean where dining is a supporting feature. Then there’s Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, where restaurants, bars and chef-driven concepts are a central part of the experience from the moment you arrive on Cable Beach.
Now the Nassau resort has a new culinary leader.
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar has named veteran chef Jakob Esko as its new Executive Chef, bringing more than 30 years of international hospitality experience to one of the Caribbean’s largest food-and-beverage operations.
Esko officially joined the resort on April 13 and is now based in Nassau, overseeing culinary operations across more than 25 dining venues, along with banquet programming and in-room dining at the sprawling Baha Mar resort complex.
That means responsibility for one of the biggest resort culinary portfolios in the region, spanning everything from celebrity-chef restaurants to large-scale convention dining.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jakob to the Baha Mar family,” said Peter McMahon, Managing Director at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. “His global perspective, passion for excellence, and commitment to developing talent will further strengthen our culinary program and elevate the overall guest experience across the resort.”
A Massive Culinary Operation in Nassau
The appointment comes as Baha Mar continues to expand its position as one of the Caribbean’s top culinary destinations.
The resort’s dining lineup now includes more than 40 food-and-drink concepts across the broader property, from upscale steakhouse experiences to beachfront cocktails and chef-led tasting menus.
Among the best-known venues at the resort is Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House, the Marcus Samuelsson concept that has become one of Nassau’s marquee dining rooms. The property also recently debuted Leola, the new restaurant from celebrity chef Scott Conant.
Esko will oversee the culinary direction behind the resort’s enormous dining footprint while managing a large team of chefs and culinary professionals across the property.
His arrival also comes as Nassau continues to see growing demand from travelers seeking resorts with destination-level dining programs instead of traditional all-inclusive buffet experiences.
From Stockholm to The Bahamas
Esko’s career began in Stockholm, Sweden, before taking him through hotel kitchens and luxury resorts across multiple continents.
Over the years, he has held leadership roles with major hospitality brands including Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Capella Hotels & Resorts, and W Hotels.
His résumé also includes work in Michelin-starred culinary environments and large-scale banquet operations serving as many as 10,000 guests.
Most recently, Esko served as Executive Chef at both Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland and Gaylord Pacific Resort in California, where he oversaw culinary operations involving more than 200 team members and multi-million-dollar food-and-beverage programs.
For Esko, the move to Nassau also carries personal significance: The Bahamas becomes the 10th country where he has worked as a chef.
“I’m excited to join Grand Hyatt Baha Mar and work alongside its talented team to build on the strong culinary foundation already in place,” Esko said. “The Bahamas has a remarkable spirit and sense of place, and I look forward to learning from the people and traditions that make this destination so special.”
The Resort
Located on Nassau’s Cable Beach, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is the largest hotel within the wider Baha Mar resort development.
The property has more than 1,800 guestrooms, suites and residences, along with a large casino, extensive pools, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and the massive Baha Mar Convention, Art and Entertainment Center.
Dining remains one of the defining features of the resort experience, particularly as Caribbean travelers increasingly prioritize chef-driven restaurants and local culinary identity when choosing destinations.
That has become especially true in Nassau, where the dining scene has continued to expand beyond with a growing mix of Bahamian flavors, international concepts and celebrity-chef collaborations across the island. In other words, Nassau is one of the true culinary capitals of the Caribbean right now.
Caribbean Journal Staff
2026-05-06 17:10:00