10 Great Restaurants in Aruba

Papiamento Restaurant serves stone-grilled delights and Caribbean seafood specialities. Set in a 19^th-century Aruban villa, you can see displays of European furniture and antiques. Tables by an outdoor pool offer views of tropical gardens. Popular dishes include clay pot seafood medley, 'on the stone' steak and local delicacies like Keeshi Yena.

Even during busy periods, you won’t usually need to wait for a table at Papiamento Restaurant. We still recommend booking in advance if you want to sit outside, though. You can ask its professional staff for wine pairings – there are over 2,000 bottles from around 120 labels in the wine cellar.

On-the-beach dining makes Elements Restaurant a favourite with couples looking for a romantic setting. You can find it right on Manchebo Beach in Oranjestad. You can enjoy naturally and ethically produced meat and seafood dishes, as well as organic vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives.

Check out Elements Restaurant’s Aruban lunch buffet, which takes place between 12.30 pm and 3 pm. For a health boost, you can follow your meal with discounted mocktails and smoothies during Healthy Hour (3 pm to 4 pm).

Quinta del Carmen occupies a century-old Spanish-style villa that has served as a hospital, clubhouse, and private residence. Today, it’s an elegant eatery with indoor and outdoor dining sections. Food-wise, the restaurant specialises in creative seafood delights, though there are plenty of meat dishes and vegetarian options available.

For a starlit dinner, you might want to reserve a corner table in the courtyard. If you want an upscale dining experience, we recommend booking a suite inside Quinta del Carmen. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be the quietest days, though it rarely takes over 15 minutes to get a table on busier days.

Madame Janette is an award-winning outdoor restaurant in the countryside near Eagle Beach. Standout mains include homemade lobster ravioli, lamb rack and crab cakes, followed by a creative dessert such as a Dying Dutchmen Fried Ice Cream Sandwich or Madame's Diet Crushers Stroop Waffles.

Don’t forget to check out its craft beer menu, which is one of Aruba’s most extensive. Booking a table in advance is a good idea, especially if you intend to eat here on Friday or Saturday evening.

Yemanja Woodfired Grill serves meat and seafood fans with flavourful grilled delights, but you’ll also find plenty of vegan, nut-free and gluten-free options on its menu. Popular dishes range from Caribbean grilled swordfish kebab to Fattoush salad with quinoa-stuffed zucchini. You can follow your main dish with coconut mousse for dessert.

There’s a vast range of wines and cocktails on the menu, but the organic options make for a tasty, guilt-free treat. While you’re in the area, you might want to check out nearby landmarks, which include the Parliament of Aruba and one of the island’s oldest churches.

The Screaming Eagle Restaurant is an excellent place to fill up on seafood specialities and unwind with fine wines or cocktails. Popular meals with a signature twist include starters like lobster bisque and mains such as Beef Wellington with black bean sauce. To round off your meal, try one of its homemade French lemon pies.

The Screaming Eagle Restaurant is usually busy any day of the week, so you might want to book a table in advance. If you prefer outdoor dining to a lounge environment, ask for a table on the terrace, which offers views over Eagle Beach.

Local Store Aruba is popular for its neighbourhood feel, vast craft beer selection, and around 15 types of seasoned chicken wings. Sides include homemade chips and fried polenta with melted gouda cheese. For dessert, your choices range from doughnut holes to waffle towers covered in marshmallows and chocolate sauce.

The imported craft beer menu changes frequently, so don’t be afraid to ask for the latest additions. As a local hotspot, Local Store Aruba tends to be busiest in the evenings, when the bar attracts Arubans looking to enjoy a drink after work.

Bistro de Suikertuin is one of the top restaurants for Aruban breakfasts and Dutch-influenced lunches. In the morning, you can try traditional pancakes with coffee. For lunch, your options range from salads and Dutch sandwiches to Indonesian-style nasi goreng. There’s also an afternoon tea, which usually needs advanced booking.

Visit Bistro de Suikertuin if you want a quiet night with a bottle of fine wine and a cocktail or 2. It's usually at its busiest during the day, but the bar remains open until 10 pm. You can save a few dollars by grabbing a table during happy hour. The bistro is on Wilhelminastraat, one of the oldest streets in Oranjestad.

Barefoot Restaurant is an elegant yet laidback eatery on Surfside Beach, serving fresh seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes. The menu includes lobster cappuccino topped with vanilla, tenderloin with truffle, and a fresh catch combo. If you want to avoid meat, you can choose a veggie treat such as its homemade goat cheese tempura.

Tables are in high demand at Barefoot Restaurant, so you might want to make a reservation, especially if you want to visit on a Sunday. While classy, this restaurant maintains a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere, so feel free to wear flip flops.

Daily Fish is both a fast-food seafood restaurant and a market in Noord. It’s a great place to enjoy baked, smoked, grilled and fried preparations of the daily catch. The fish and chips is a popular favourite, thanks to its light and crispy batter. To sample a variety of fish delights, order the trio combo. The smoked tuna, served with a side of homemade chips, is also a must-try.

Daily Fish’s indoor seating area can get rather cramped, so feel free to grab a takeaway and head to the nearby beach for a picnic. You can also purchase fresh, marinated fillets to cook at home.