Aruba is a foodie's playground, with over 300 restaurants.- Keep reading for Insider's list of the best places to eat in Aruba.
Aruba offers many notable culinary
Classic dining emporiums still abound. But don't be surprised to find modern creative concepts like Peruvian Asian menus and Hawaiian-style poké bowls. Gourmet vegan fare is easy to find now, too.
As such, Aruba is a foodie's playground. But with over 300 restaurants, you might become overwhelmed. Here are a few recommendations to get you started.
Fine dining, off-beat culinary experiences, and local eats
Some spots — notably those at the recently opened Cove mall — even transform throughout the day. For example, by day Temptation is a French bakery, but by night it's a raw bar offering lobster, oysters, scallops, and more.
For locals, Aruban fast food is pastechis (fried filled pastries) and fresh-fruit batidos, which we recommend trying. Also seek out sacos — brown paper bags overstuffed with fried fare such as ribs, chicken, and pork chops — at food trucks and hole-in-the-wall hideaways called "snacks."
If you're parched, an ice-cold Balashi beer will hit the spot. Or request an Aruba Ariba, the island's cool national cocktail, made with a special local liqueur called coecoei.
Papiamento
Papiamento, a gorgeous century-old heritage house, is where the Ellis family has been providing a special brand of hospitality for over 30 years. The restaurant has a stellar wine cellar, a mini-museum room full of European antiques, a cozy lounge, and an outdoor tropical plant-adorned dining area that surrounds a pool; Just don't expect to take a swim — the pool is only for aesthetic enjoyment.
Try the secret-family-recipe version of keshi yena, an intriguing mélange of spices, chicken, beef, raisins, cashews, and prunes, topped with melted Dutch cheese.
Elements
Elements is an elegant, adults-only seafront spot known for serving fresh, organic, and locally or ethically sourced fare. Its award-winning "world cuisine" menu offers creative takes on meat and seafood. There's also a vegan menu and an Aruban buffet option. For an intimate experience, opt for a romantic dinner for two under a private palapa on the beach.
Infini
The celebrated local chef Urvin Croes, a pioneer of molecular gastronomy in Aruba, opened an intimate chef's-table experience at the Blue Aruba Rentals condominium complex. Put yourself in his very capable hands and watch him work magic at Infini's open-kitchen venue as he creates a surprise menu of eight courses, each of which may be paired with wine or hand-crafted cocktails.
You'll also want to have your camera ready to capture the plating, which can only be described as edible art. Reservations are mandatory.
Taste My Aruba
Taste My Aruba is an enchanting downtown spot set in a 100-year-old heritage house with an open-air courtyard. Owners Nathaly de Mey and her nephew, chef Derwin Tromp, are dedicated to using local ingredients as much as possible. Creative takes on Aruba's freshest fish and local specialties, and Nathaly's larger-than-life personality, make this a must-visit eatery.
Quinta del Carmen
The alfresco courtyard of a restored mansion seems an unlikely spot to offer up Dutch comfort food, but in the case of Quinta del Carmen, it works. Mining memories of home cooking in the Netherlands, the owners offer their grandma's favorites. Try sucade lappen, a traditional dish of meat stewed in wine, herbs, and spices, and enjoy the cheery tapas and cocktail garden.