27 Best Restaurants in Aruba

Named after the plant tequila is derived from, this welcome addition to Aruba’s culinary scene is dedicated to showcasing authentic Mesoamerican flavors inspired by diverse regions like Oaxaca. Familiar-sounding dishes like tacos, tostadas, enchiladas, and fajitas come full of surprises like braised octopus, beef tongue, chorizo, and cotija cheese, and they also do a mean vegan taco. Signature cocktails are also creative with surprisingly authentic Mexican twists. The stand-alone bar and the restaurant are open to the public and resort guests, but reservations are recommended for dining.

Located across the street from Divi Village Golf and Beach Resort, this trendy beachfront spot serves the perfect seaside casual fare—panini, wraps, burgers, and salads—as well as great cocktails and live entertainment. Enjoy superb swimming and sunset views there. They also serve breakfast. 

This charming bistro dining spot is the quintessential meeting place for those seeking great signature cocktails, creative tapas, quality coffee, and healthy lunch options. They also offer a full dinner menu, with dishes that range from chicken cordon bleu to beef tenderloin with Dutch potatoes. Suikertuin means “sugar garden” in Dutch, and this spot is so named for the yellow sugar birds that frequent the courtyard behind the historic colonial heritage house.

What began as a catering company became so popular that they decided to open a brick-and-mortar café in the heart of Downtown Oranjestad, so now you can dine inside their cheery space to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner with an amazing selection of gourmet cheeses, quality charcuterie, and a surprising selection of fine wines, too. Grab one of their BC boxes to go for a perfect picnic, or a lavish platter of goodies to entertain guests back at your hotel.

The bizarre rock formations at Casibari, which may make you feel as if you've dropped into Fred and Wilma Flintstone's dining room, make a great backdrop to this casual, offbeat restaurant, where wood-fired barbecue is king. Your generously portioned meal will be fire grilled under the stars, always accompanied by delicious sides that include coleslaw, Caribbean rice, and Casibari beans. Seating is strictly alfresco. After dark, the rocks are playfully illuminated for the nighttime crowd—this is a regular stop for the Kukoo Kunuku party bus dinner tour.

If you’re seeking something more pubby than clubby, sleuth out this casual and comforting spot tucked away on The Cove Mall's far corner, facing the Holiday Inn parking lot. It’s all about the beer and the bites here, as Fireson offers up their own craft beer and authentic Aruban comfort food like funchi fries with cheese, croquettes, and empanadas (pastechi's close cousin). They also serve homemade Angus burgers, lots of styles of wings, tacos, and quesadillas. This is Aruba’s first microbrewery, so it’s more about the beer than the fare, as good as it is, and these folks are fun, friendly, and really know their brews.

Located about five minutes from Arikok National Park's entrance, this spot has always been a legendary place for authentic Aruban baked goods, especially whole bolos (cakes). They still have about 20 kinds to choose from, including a few 6-inch sizes. Recently, they've upped their game to offer a wide range of hearty international and authentic Aruban breakfast, lunch, and dinner choices, making it also a great place to sample some of the island's traditional stobas (stews) and sopas (soups). The menu is still in Aruban florins though, so while they do take U.S. dollars, your change will most likely be in florin.

Housed in a cheery blue-and-green cottage, this charming spot is run by Kamini Kurvink, who combines her Trinidadian heritage with local flavors to create unique Caribbean comfort food. Fish, seafood, and meat dishes are served with a spicy flair thanks to Kamini's secret signature hot sauces.

The historic 200-year-old red windmill called De Olde Molen is a famous Aruba landmark, brought from Holland in 1960 piece by piece and then reconstructed to its original glory. It has housed many different venues for dining and imbibing over the years, but now it splits its time as Diana’s Pancakes, which serves up Dutch-style crepes in a variety of delicious styles during the day, and at night Chef Fred creates an eclectic choice of international dishes. After dinner, you can hop up to Fransje’s Bar on top for a superb panoramic view of Downtown along with craft cocktails and cold beer. There’s also a small souvenir shop.

Rising like a phoenix from a vacant lot, this funky new gathering place specializes in creative modern cuisine and handcrafted cocktails in an alfresco bar/garden setting with eye-popping outdoor art. The eclectic menu, though small, includes authentic Aruban flavors like sanger yena (blood sausage) and Dutch fusion dishes like Gouda spring rolls and popcorn chicken waffles with peanut sauce. Vegan dishes are creative, too, but the grill is king on Sundays—their weekly BBQs with DJ-driven music and mojito happy hours are legendary. 

You need not be a vegan or seeking gluten-free options to thoroughly enjoy the creative takes on strictly plant-based fare at this happy little nook, but if you are, it’s bound to be your new paradise. It’s tiny though, so if you intend to dine in, reservations are a must, though there is a bustling takeout and delivery business, too. The owners organize cool vegan events like hikes, cruises, and "sushi" nights.

The second location of Chef Urvin Croes’ poke, bao, and sushi spot is an ideal place to watch the boats in the marina and enjoy an awesome alfresco lunch, dinner, or post-shopping or pre-casino snack. The award-winning chef is known island-wide for his artistic plating and modern cooking at his upscale outfit called Infini, but this franchise shows off his playful side with fun creative tweaks on fusion Asian cuisine and comfort food. Chef Croes takes creative vegan dishes very seriously, and this place boasts some of the island’s very best.

Dutch pancakes are unlike North American-style flapjacks since they can be both savory and sweet, offering opportunities for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and this legendary spot in the Renaissance Marketplace is considered the absolute best place to try them. More like thin crepes, they can be covered in (or stuffed with) a multitude of ingredients, which might include meats, vegetables, and cheeses. The menu includes dozens of varieties of both sweet and savory styles, as well as puffy little silver-dollar-size poffertjes. You'll enjoy them in the indoor-outdoor café, but if you eat outside, keep an eye on your syrup bottles, as the little resident sugar birds are always trying to get into them for a sweet treat.

As the name suggests, this is a local favorite for pizza in Santa Cruz, but they also serve great snack platters, chicken, and burgers. There's outdoor garden seating and cold beer on tap, too. The prices listed on the menu are in Aruban florins. They do take USD, but you'll most likely get your change in florins.

The Dutch still have strong culinary ties to Indonesia, so this welcome addition to Downtown offers an ideal place to indulge in quality comfort food from that corner of the globe. Exotic and traditional Asian specialties also abound, and this is one of the few places on the island where you can sample the elusive rijsttafel (rice table), a large assortment of small dishes meant to be shared by a group. They also make authentic Indonesian bubble tea.  There's a four-person minimum and two-day advance reservation for rijsttafel as it’s very time-consuming and complicated to prepare.

Look for the giant black-and-white-striped booth in the interior courtyard of Paseo Herencia for some truly decadent delights. Specializing in alcohol-infused gourmet baked goods, particularly little Bundt cakes (no cupcakes here) that are infused with your choice of liquor-laden syrups, there are also specialty coffees, sweet or savory crêpes, waffle bowls, ice cream, and frozen yogurt, all available with “drunken toppings.”

Right smack in the middle of the San Nicolas Art Walk, O'Niel's is a warm and welcoming eatery that's an ideal spot to get your Jamaican jerk on. Real-deal Jamaican dishes like ackee with saltfish and oxtail with beans are menu favorites, but there are also local Aruban specialties like goat stew and fresh local seafood; vegetarian and vegan dishes are also available. Special events with live music or karaoke are popular.

This massive, indoor-outdoor, well-known eatery promises "elevated Asian cuisine" as part of the Gloria entertainment venue, and it delivers. Especially popular for special occasions and family-style dinners, it's also a good spot for pre- or post-cinema meals. Delivery and take-out options are available.

Grab a slice, a whole pizza to go, or a cold beer and snack at this friendly alfresco hideaway beside the Alhambra Mall. There are also pasta dishes, salads, wraps, and BBQ options on the menu, as well as daily specials, and they deliver. There's live music every Friday night. 

Tucked away in the lobby of Azure Residences on Eagle Beach, this is another culinary venture by legendary Chef Urvin Croes (owner of Infini), but here Croes strays from high-end upscale modern cuisine to create Asian comfort food. His fresh takes on poke, sushi, and steamed baos are inspired by his Chinese heritage; he also offers up some delicious vegan versions as well. There's another Po-Ké Ono outlet in Renaissance Marketplace.

The owners of the legendary Downtown restaurant Driftwood and its sister operation, Driftwood Fishing Charters, opened this much smaller and far less formal dining nook centered around fresh fish and seafood. Locals love it and visitors are just beginning to discover it. You can never go wrong with their catch-of-the-day, authentic Aruban fish soup, or their surprisingly creative craft cocktails. 

What started as a classic French restaurant has splintered into three distinct alfresco sections---French, Greek, and Italian---with separate menus and separate chefs but still under the same roof. So whether you're in the mood for frog's legs, moussaka, or pasta, this is the spot—plus there are wines from all three regions, too. They also offer a great Sunday brunch on special occasions like Mother's Day and on special request for large groups, and their legendary rotisserie chicken is also available to-go. 

Behind the Alhambra Mall, this is an ideal spot to get your gourmet coffee fix and grab some breakfast sandwiches to-go before a beach day. Or stop and chat with locals enjoying barista-style coffees, gourmet sandwiches, and decadent desserts at lunch. Don't miss their weekly Tuesday night artisans' market for unique made-in-Aruba souvenirs. They also have a second location in Downtown Oranjestad.

These expat American owners brought a taste of home to their alfresco Palm Beach bar hut with authentic Wisconsin brats and sausages, Chicago-style hot dogs, and their great selection of loaded fries. They also have funnel cakes, coffee, and some killer creative cocktails. Breakfast sandwiches are also big, and sometimes they have live steel pan music.

Enjoy cool and creative cocktails and beach-shack eats in the afternoon on a pristine stretch of white sand and aqua sea, just minutes from Downtown Oranjestad. The fun and friendly vibe includes beach service, lounge and umbrella rentals, and happy hour drink specials. It’s also a great spot to watch sunsets over the sea and to see the planes pop up out of the blue en route to the nearby airport.

“Eat 'em to beat ‘em” is the motto behind this snack shack that serves only lionfish dishes---deep-fried lionfish, sandwiches, wraps, smoked fillets, and a lionfish dip---to help combat the invasive species. It's only open Saturdays from noon to 7:30 pm, so make sure to plan accordingly if you really want to eat here. They also sell pre-cleaned lionfish fillets to take home if you want to try them on the grill yourself, and unique jewelry made from lionfish skin.

Opened by the same people who own Pinchos, this fun and friendly wood-decked grill joint offers casual fare like barbecue ribs and grilled shrimp by the dozen, as well as Caribbean bites like jerk wings, fried funchi (like a thick polenta) with Dutch cheese, and West Indian samosas. There are some surprisingly snazzy main dishes, and the signature "Beer-Ritas" (a full bottle of beer served upside down in a big margarita) are legendary. Located at the base of the new Linear Park, it’s the perfect place for sunset views over the ocean as the cruise ships come and go.