I've eaten my way around Aruba for years. These are the restaurants and bars I recommend to friends visiting the island.
Where to find freshly caught seafood, traditional Aruban dishes, Dutch favorites and some of the island's most memorable meals.
I write about food for a living, and I've spent years eating my way around Aruba . The island's dining scene is one of the most underrated in the Caribbean, shaped by Dutch, Venezuelan and broader Caribbean influences, and a new generation of chefs pushing past the dated, generic hotel-food reputation. Palm Beach, where many of the chain hotels and restaurants are, has its share of tourist traps, so skip the resort buffet and use this list instead.
The perfect fish shack: Zeerovers
Zeerovers , in Savaneta on the island's southern coast, is worth the drive from the resort strip. Fishing boats pull right up to the dock, and the menu is whatever they brought in that day: whole fried snapper, wahoo, head-on shrimp, all priced by the pound. Order the pan bati, a cornbread-like local staple, and a bucket of Balashi beer, then grab a picnic table over the water.
Fresh fish near the hotels: Wacky Wahoo
If you can't make the trek to Savaneta, Wacky Wahoo near Palm Beach is my top pick for fresh seafood. It's owned by an actual fisherman, and the menu changes daily based on his morning haul — the Aruban fish soup alone is worth the trip. They don't take reservations and fill up fast, so show up early.
Traditional Aruban cooking: The Old Cunucu House
You're in Aruba, so you should try keshi yena, one of the island's best-known traditional dishes, with a savory meat filling inside a shell of Gouda or Edam. The Old Cunucu House serves the classics inside a 150-year-old country house. Here's a tip: The iguana soup isn't on the menu, but ask for it and your server will likely bring you a bowl — and a story to go with it.
Family meals: The Dutch Pancake House
Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and its Dutch influence shows up everywhere from the architecture to the food. One of my favorite examples is the island's pancake houses. Dutch pancakes are thin, closer to crepes than the fluffy American version, and each one is large enough to share.
Everyone has a favorite spot, and mine has always been The Dutch Pancake House , which I grew up visiting. You can order sweet toppings, but the savory combinations are what keep me coming back. My go-to pick pairs salty ham with creamy French Brie, honey and caramelized walnuts. Save room for the poffertjes too. These Dutch-style silver dollar pancakes are served with butter and powdered sugar, and they're the perfect sweet finish to your meal.
Date night: Lima Bistro
This Peruvian spot on the Oranjestad harbor is my favorite restaurant on the island. Expect a line before the doors open, often made up of off-duty chefs and travelers trying to squeeze in one last meal. Order a pisco sour, the ceviche of the day and the crème caramel with vanilla ice cream, which beats the flan you'll find on every other menu here.
The island's best tasting menu: Ever
If you're splurging on one dinner in Aruba, make it Ever . Just next door to Lima Bistro, the chef pairs his Latin American roots with Michelin-starred European training, and the seven-course tasting unfolds over about three hours at a bar facing the open kitchen. The menu draws inspiration from the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe, like a Venezuelan-style braised short rib with cashew purée. Prefer to keep it lower-key? There are à la carte and set-menu options at the dining tables too.
An adults-only dinner: Terra by Jeremy Ford
For a special night without kids around, book Terra inside the adults-only Bucuti & Tara resort on Eagle Beach. It's led by Jeremy Ford, the "Top Chef" winner whose Miami restaurant, Stubborn Seed, holds a Michelin star and a Michelin Green Star for sustainability. Terra bills itself as the first Caribbean restaurant led by a chef who holds both distinctions, and the kitchen embraces island-grown ingredients whenever possible. Order the pull-apart brioche with miso honey butter and the agnolotti with maitake mushrooms grown right on the island.
Stocking your rental: Super Food
If you're staying somewhere with a kitchen (or you just want to eat well between meals), stop by Super Food . This is where I go for fresh-baked stroopwafels, Dutch snacks, international groceries and the best selection of Gouda on the island. Even if you don't need groceries, it's worth wandering the aisles to see what culinary souvenirs you might want to bring home.
A drink over the water: Bugaloe Beach Bar & Grill
Out on the Palm Beach pier between the Riu and Hilton, Bugaloe is a laid-back beach bar with some of the best views on the island. Come for buckets of beer, cocktails and casual beach fare and stay for the sunset over the water. The events calendar includes live music and karaoke, plus two daily happy hours. The kitchen closes at 10 p.m., but the bar stays open until midnight.
