Aruba pretty much stole my stomach! The food scene in Aruba caught me a little by surprise, as did the quality of pretty much everything I ate during my weekend trip. It wasn’t simply good, it was ridiculously amazing, with a wide range of cultural influences. If you enjoy seafood, then you are in for an outstanding culinary experience on this one happy Caribbean island. I’m here to share with you my favorite places that I visited during my recent trip to Aruba. Although the island is small, there are definitely endless options when it comes to dining. Hopefully this list will help you out if you are planning a trip to Aruba!

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Where to Eat

The Flying Fishbone

Savaneta 344, Savaneta, Aruba

Imagine dining right on the beach, toes in the sand, under swaying palm fronds along a perfect little crescent bay in Savaneta, Aruba’s charming fisherman’s town. This was a fantastic introduction to the local food scene in Aruba. The dishes were many and varied and the table setting is unbeatable – we sat at a table in the Caribbean ocean! One of the most romantic dinners we have ever experienced and highly memorable. If you splurge on one meal, this is it! Book a sunset dinner reservation well in advance!

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Eduardo’s Beach Shack

J.E. Irausquin Blvd Noord, Aruba

Eduardo’s Beach Shack is located on Palm Beach and is the perfect spot to start your day or grab a light healthy snack. They sell fresh fruit smoothies and bowls. I personally loved the Acai bowl (pictured below), which was so refreshing on a hot day. It was really enjoyable to walk along the beach while eating my bowl and taking in the beautiful ocean view. Make sure to stop here at least once!

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The Dutch Pancake House

LG Smith Blvd 9 Oranjestad, Aruba 

The Dutch Pancake house is located in the Renaissance Marketplace in downtown Oranjestad, Aruba. The Dutch Pancake house Aruba is famous for their delicious Dutch Pancakes and Poffertjes (silver dollar pancakes). You can order anything from salty to sweet. We ended up ordering one of each and shared and they were both absolutely delicious. If you are looking for something different and unique you have to give The Dutch Pancake house a try!

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The West Deck

LG Smith Blvd at the Governor’s Bay on the Beach Oranjestad, Aruba

The West Deck is located along the Linear Park, on a large wooden deck that overlooks the water and great for a casual lunch or dinner. This was the best food we had the entire trip. HANDS DOWN! We left this restaurant wishing we had one back home in Miami. The food was so fresh and flavorful. We started with conch fritters, which were crispy, meaty and packed with Bahamian flavor. For our main courses we ordered the grilled shrimp and Jamaican jerk chicken with their signature Caribbean rice. The Caribbean rice was mixed with carrots, coconut oil and sweet plantains – it was out of this world! The chicken was SO good that on our way out we stopped and spoke to the chef, who gave us a little information on the seasonings used in some of their dishes. I’m still dreaming about that entire meal.

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Gianni’s Ristorante Italiano Aruba

Gianni’s offers a nice ambiance with indoor and outdoor seating and is centrally located near most of the resorts. They feature an extensive wine list to accompany any item on their menu. Looking for a signature dish? Italian Spaghetti al Formaggio Parmigiano. How it works? They bring out a large wheel of Parmesan cheese, shave out some cheese, pour whisky on it, light it on fire and when the flames die down they pour in the cooked spaghetti and roll it around completely covering the spaghetti with the cheese. You cannot get closer to pasta-heaven.

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Additional Must-Try Restaurants

I would like to include a few other places that are on my list for the next time I visit Aruba. I was only in Aruba for a weekend, however if you spend more time visiting than I did then you will have the opportunity to try out some of these spots. These restaurants all come highly recommended by locals and tourists!

Wacky Wahoo’s

Palm Beach 33B, Noord, Aruba

The fish is fresh and caught the same day and the ambiance is relaxed and lively. If this is a spot you want to try, call for a reservation well in advance of your trip. They book up fast!

L.G Smith’s Steak and Chop House

L.G. Smith Blvd # 82 Oranjestad Aruba, Aruba

 L.G. Smith’s Steak & Chop House is the #1 steakhouse in Aruba according to Tripadvisor, known for fine dining and chic extravagance. This elegant restaurant perfectly fuses the curated flavors of a traditional steakhouse with an upscale, lounge atmosphere. If you’re staying at The Renaissance Aruba then you can walk to this restaurant as it is located inside the hotel.

Madame Janette

Cunucu Abou 37 Aruba, Dutch Caribbean

Madame Janette was founded in 1999 and offers fine dining in a casual atmosphere. Dishes include exotic fruits, herbs and vegetables that are packed with original flavor and a touch of Caribbean influence. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

Zeerovers

Savaneta 270, Savaneta, Aruba

Zeerovers is where you would want to go if you want to go where the locals go for fresh seafood. The process is simple. Boat. Net. Cook. Plate. In fact, this is where top restaurants buy their catch-of-the-day. It’s off the beaten path, but completely worth the drive!

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