22 Best Restaurants in Aruba

Since 1941, Charlie's has been the heart and soul of San Nicolas, famous for its interior decorated with eclectic bric-a-brac left behind by decades of international visitors. It also serves surprisingly good food, including delicious fresh fish and shrimp and killer steaks. They also bottle and sell their own brand of hot sauce called Honeymoon Sauce. Lunch or a very early dinner are the only options, since closing time is generally 6 pm. 

This red-hot landmark establishment in the heart of Renaissance Marketplace specializes in traditional Havana specialties and is the only spot on Aruba where you can enjoy an authentic Cuban sandwich for lunch. There's even a surprisingly good selection of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan fare on offer. The atmosphere is fun and friendly, and the location is ideal for people-watching along the seaport marina. Their boast of having the best mojitos in town is a fair claim, and they also have a mojito-to-go kiosk if you want to judge for yourself before committing to dining there.

This gorgeously decorated emporium near the Old Windmill is awash in cherry blossoms and soft neon with ultra-modern accents and an exciting inviting feel, but the biggest surprise is the fusion of cuisines all under the same little roof. The menu features a mix of elegantly presented Japanese and Peruvian fare, with excellent sushi renditions as well. It’s unusual but it works. And of course, sushi platters are always great to share with the whole table. Delivery available, and vegan options available on request. 

A contemporary poolside dining option at Manchebo Beach Resort, this alfresco oasis features inspired Caribbean-international cuisine, and vegans are especially excited about their entire menu devoted to gourmet plant-based dining. Creative preparations of meat, seafood, and fish—locally sourced whenever possible—are all enhanced with flavors from the on-site herb garden, and the chef often surprises with exotic daily specials. Note that this is a cashless restaurant.

There's always something cool happening at this bright and lively indoor-outdoor spot. The international kaleidoscopic menu includes everything from Dutch pancakes and Asian specialties to gourmet burgers and Caribbean seafood---surprisingly, they do it all very well. The many rotating special nights and monthly Bubbles & Bites evenings are very popular, and live steel pan music on their Caribbean Night Tuesdays are also a draw. 

Owner Roxanna Salinas has created an authentic Peruvian-style dining spot to share a taste of her home with locals and visitors alike. Authentic specialties are artfully served in a warm and colorful enclave, and a portion of proceeds from the wares sold at the on-site Peruvian craft market go to a local Aruban cancer foundation. Upstairs is a unique stand-alone chef's table experience, a long table communal affair of eight courses called The Kitchen Table; it's the island's only family-friendly chef's table experience. Peruvian beer and pisco sours (the national Peruvian cocktail) accompany the offerings, and not to be missed is the sweet caramel-and-liquor-laden national dessert, suspiro a la limena.

A variety of German beers, schnitzel, and bratwurst presented in a true beer-hall setting are guaranteed to provide that Oktoberfest feeling. The hearty cuisine is paired with over 20 different types of beer by owners who take their imbibing seriously. With a bright blue exterior and pennants flapping in the breeze, the place is hard to miss, and it's fun, friendly, and lively.

The legendary Champions Sports Bar has been totally reimagined into a replica of a colorful Mexican village square with a bar that features 100 different kinds of tequila, premium mescal, and killer margaritas. Endless complimentary nachos, salsa, and fixings are available out of the trunk of a vintage Volkswagen, and the menu, though limited, offers up creative versions of many well-known authentic Mexican specialties. You can still catch NFL games on TV.

Opened in 1986, this rustic nautical-themed restaurant is owned and operated by the Merryweather family. It's justifiably famous for serving up the freshest catch of the day caught by the owners themselves. Typically they recommend the fresh fish be served Aruban-style for the best local experience (that means panfried and topped with a spicy creole sauce). Not to be missed is the fish soup that's been a family secret recipe since the very beginning. You can join them on their deep-sea fishing adventures through their sister company Driftwood Charters and have them cook up your own catch for dinner that night.

At one of Aruba's most legendary Italian eateries, part of the fun is watching chef Vittorio Muscariello prepare authentic Italian regional specialties in his open kitchen. The staff helps you choose wines from the extensive list and recommends portions of hot and cold antipasti, risottos, and pastas. Those on a tight budget should stick to the pizza offerings. As you leave, pick up some limoncello (lemon liqueur) or olive oil at the gourmet shop.

Considering its secret location in the bottom corner of Harbour House, this adorable little Peruvian-themed escape has garnered a big buzz for its food, likely because owner Chef Teddy Bouroncle is well-known for his culinary talents from his tenure at the Aruba Marriott. Dine inside or out and enjoy traditional Peruvian dishes like lomo saltado or their special take on ceviche. The menu is small and not all Peruvian, but each week the chef promises to change things up to keep it fresh while keeping the classics.  They have an exciting chef’s table sister spot next door called Ever. 

Locals and regular visitors in the know flock to this off-the-radar boathouse-style restaurant for fresh fish and seafood, as well as the melt-in-your-mouth filet. Spectacular sunset views are a given, and kids love seeing the abundant fish swimming all around the illuminated pier at night with underwater lights.

The lively seaside eatery is popular with nonguests who make a special trip to enjoy great food (meats, fish, seafood, and a good selection of Italian specialties), superb sunsets, and the warm camaraderie of fun folks. It's a great place to catch the game or enjoy happy hour specials and snacks, and they serve breakfast and lunch, too. They also offer a romantic dinner for two on the beach with a fixed menu that includes Champagne or wine. 

Best known as a beach party spot, this legendary hangout has good food and is a popular place for a seafront breakfast. Dinner under the giant palapa or on the beach is first-rate, as is lunch—particularly since it's the perfect place for people-watching along Aruba's busiest stretch of sand. The barkeeps are real showmen, and the resident mixologists make great signature cocktails.  Don’t miss the table-side flaming crème brûlée for dessert.

Since the mid-1990s executive chef Ligia Maria has delighted diners with delicious and authentic crioyo (local) cuisine in a rustic and cozy traditional cunucu (countryside) house. Try the house version of Aruba's famous keshi yena—chicken, raisins, olives, cashews, peppers, and rice in a hollowed-out Gouda rind—or thick hearty stobas (stews) of goat or beef. The fresh catch of the day with a choice of special sauces is a treat, and the stewed conch is also very good. There's live music some nights.

Mauve mood lighting and enchanting fairy lights set the stage for this intimate little family-run restaurant specializing in seafood and grilled meats. The menu is not comprehensive, but what they do very well includes beautifully prepared shrimp and grilled-to-perfection tomahawk steaks. They offer a decent selection of vegan specialties, too.

Despite the name, the fare here is not Mexican but much more international with some real surprises, like a comprehensive sushi menu. The staff is helpful and friendly, creative chef specials change often, and it's a great spot to stop in for signature cocktails and special tapas; don't miss their a la carte weekend brunches or their Grand Dessert, four chef-special treats on one plate. This funky eatery is also part art gallery.

A sophisticated upscale spot on the water minutes from Downtown Oranjestad does its best to replicate the South Beach Miami scene with luxe cabanas, daybeds, and beach and pool service around a chic seaside bar. Dinner is mostly laid-back in high style with a good selection of quality cuts of meats and fresh fish and seafood, plus a good selection of fine Champagnes. Daytime snacks and lunch offer up some interesting shareables and tapas, and there's a kids' menu. They serve a deluxe breakfast, too.

Those still mourning the loss of two of Aruba’s most beloved old dining spots—Chez Mathilde and Le Dome—can dry their eyes, because some of the original players of those establishments have teamed up to create the same type of classic French experience in Downtown Oranjestad. Expect impeccable personal service and classic French fare like tournedos au poivre (beef in red wine) and coq au vin, but vegan options can also be requested on site.

For first-rate Italian food, stellar sunsets, and an unpretentious environment, head to the Ritz-Carlton Aruba's indoor/outdoor Solanio. Large windows allow for lovely views from inside, and alfresco diners are treated to softly played live music, cooling trade winds, and a cheery bonfire. The food is carefully prepared in an open kitchen, and the atmosphere is casual. The smoky, braised short ribs make an outstanding start to the meal, and the risotto with wild mushroom and black truffle is woodsy and rich. Pizza and pasta menus have standout gluten-free options. Sunday brunch is becoming very popular.

Fashioned after a New York-style steak house and sports bar, the focus of The Brownstone is good stiff drinks, great steaks, and hearty portions of ribs, chicken, and fish. Pretentious it's not, but the fare is first-rate, and they have a well-curated selection of creative cocktails using only top-quality spirits. Beyond sports on the flat screen, you also get treated to nightly live music wafting across the mall from Fusions. Double daily happy hour (4–5 pm and 9–10 pm) is also a plus.

This sprawling spot that takes over one entire side of Paseo Herencia’s interior courtyard is anything but lazy; it's a rollicking affair offering up an eclectic mix of interesting specialties like Cambodian chicken served alongside pastas, steaks, and seafood with fabulous soups like pumpkin with cashews or coconut-plantain. The revelry spills over to their new neon-pink Flamingo’s Cocktail Bar across from their outdoor patio, with its own brand of zany nightlife offerings, creative libations, and snacks.