Aruba‘s capital, Oranjestad, is the most populous region on the island. Over 31,000 people of diverse races and ethnicities reside here. Their rich culture and heritage have shaped this city’s landscape. Hence, visitors will find diverse local music, traditionally costumed folkloric dancers, local art, and culinary specialties. It also houses many colorful architectural buildings and historical landmarks, such as Fort Zoutman, The Willem III Tower, and The Historical Museum.
This town’s culinary tapestry includes local specialties and cuisines from different countries. You will find various international cuisines, such as Italian, European, Asian, and Peruvian. Since downtown has many eateries, let us help you narrow it down in this blog. So, check out these best restaurants in Oranjestad Aruba.
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Barefoot Restaurant
- Address: L.G. Smith Boulevard 1, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 5 PM – 10 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook
We start our list with the iconic Barefoot Restaurant. Owners Luc & Greco started this business in 2010, and it has since become a local favorite. As its name suggests, you will enjoy dining barefoot in a beautiful beach location. With your feet in the white sand and a gorgeous sunset in the background, your meal becomes tastier than you initially anticipated.
Barefoot Restaurant is located near the airport and across Talk of the Town. You must reserve the table, as this establishment is often packed. It offers delicious European and International dishes. Its cocktails are also to die for; you should check out its impressive wine collection. The dress code is casual; visitors can come here in flip-flops.
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Gostoso Restaurant
- Address: Caya Ing. Roland H. Lacle 12, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 12-4 PM, 6:30-10 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook
Next, we have a Portuguese restaurant, Gostoso, in Oranjestad. This hidden gem is famous among locals, and tourists will fall in love once they try it out. It is open during lunch and dinner hours. Furthermore, this establishment serves Portuguese and Aruban dishes in a homey and comfortable ambiance. It is famous for its seafood, chicken, and beef specialties.
Gostoso has several signature dishes. The first is delicious Seafood Medley, a mix of lobster, clams, shrimps, mussels, scallops, calamari, and grouper in a saffron coconut sauce. You must try its Espetada Portuguese Style, an N.Y. strip loin kebab marinated with bay leaves, garlic, red wine, and sea salt. Other local favorites include Octopus Vinaigrette and Criollo Sushi Roll.
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Yemanja Woodfired Grill
- Address: Wilhelminastraat 2, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 5:30 PM – 10 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Instagram, Official Facebook
If a restaurant has set a bar in Downtown Oranjestad, it must be Yemanja Woodfired Grill. Running since 2007, it serves international cuisine electrified by bold Caribbean flavors. Chef Joyce Hüsken is the owner and executive chef of this establishment. She has made her restaurant stand out through her unique dishes with bold flavors. She and her staff skillfully prepare brilliant dishes using wood-fired grilling techniques.
Yemanja accommodates various dietary requirements, including gluten-free cooking. It is one of the few Aruban restaurants to serve many gluten-free dishes without sacrificing flavor and texture. In addition, the establishment offers indoor, garden, and open-air dining settings. Visitors can sip cocktails on a garden patio or drink at the bar.
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West Deck
- Address: Lloyd G. Smith Blvd, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 11 AM – 10:30 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook
While in Aruba, you must dine in a beachside restaurant. West Deck is conveniently located on L.G. Smith Blvd at the Governor’s Bay on one of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the island. It is on a large wooden deck by the water’s edge. You will get spectacular ocean views and close views of departing cruise ships. In addition, it also offers a view of the landing planes.
This establishment offers delicious hot and cold Caribbean appetizers, including Governor’s Bay Beach Salad, Jumbo Shrimp, Trocadero Garlic Shrimp, Arashi Chicken, and Caribbean Jerk Chicken Wings. You should also try full-plate house specialties like BBQ Chicken and Ribs, BBQ Mix Skewer, Surf and Truf, Seafood Duo, and Pan-friend Grouper Fillet. West Deck also serves excellent tacos, desserts, and booze.
Driftwood Restaurant Aruba
- Address: Driftwood Building, Klipstraat 12, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 5 PM – 10:30 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Instagram, Official Facebook
Next, it’s time to list Aruba’s best authentic seafood restaurant. Driftwood Restaurant specializes in serving fresh seafood from the Caribbean Sea. It uses original recipes and serves the fresh catch of the day. Chef Jovani Rangel, a Venezuelan-born cook, has worked in this establishment for the past fifteen years. He prepares each dish with passion and serves it in a visually appetizing manner.
Diners can enjoy their meal in a relaxed and rustic ambiance. They can order various fish and shrimp dishes from the menu. Some popular dishes are Curried Shrimp, Fish Croquet, Calamari Fritti, Creole Sauce, Escargot in Garlic, Seafood Pasta Alfredo, and Chilean Sea Bass. Moreover, these items are budget-friendly, with the cheapest costing only $5.25.
Cuba’s Cookin’
- Address: Lloyd G. Smith Blvd 9, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 11 AM – 10 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook
It’s time for Cuba’s Cookin’! Located in Renaissance Marketplace, this place oozes Cuban charm and takes diners back to Havana Resto Bar circa 1959. They can marvel at the art on the walls, showcasing various parts of Cuba. Furthermore, this establishment is open seven days a week from 11 AM to 10 PM and hosts live performances of traditional Cuban music. You can sing and dance to the beats.
Cuba’s Cookin’ serves the best food in the town. It offers lunch, dinner, vegan, dessert, and cocktail menus. Some of its must-try dishes are pollo con aceitunas, Tofu Ropa Vieja, Cuban Burger, Havana Chinatown Pot, Cuba’s Cookin’ Chicken Mofongo, Habanera Shrimp Enchilada, and BBQ Cuban Ribs. Afterward, order a cocktail or any beverage to wash your palate.
El Gaucho
- Address: Wilhelminastraat 80, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 11:30 AM – 11 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Instagram, Official Facebook
We are halfway through our list of the best restaurants in Oranjestad Aruba, and it’s time for El Gaucho. It was launched on February 17, 1977, and has nearly five decades of expertise. It is also the Argentine restaurant in the city. In addition to Argentine food, this establishment serves Aruban-flavored fresh seafood platters.
El Gaucho specializes in Argentine steaks. These tender, juicy cuts will melt right inside your mouth. Its specialties include Gaucho steak, Pincho Torro Caliente, 16-oz Sirloin, T-bone steak, and veal chop. On weekdays, diners can listen to live music from guitarist duo Carlos and Jonathan. They will also get many options for Argentine wines and other beverages.
Wilhelmina Restaurant
- Address: Wilhelminastraat 74, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 6 PM – 12 AM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Instagram, Official Facebook
Next to El Gaucho, you will find Wilhelmina Restaurant on Wilhelmina Street. It was established in 2015 and is located inside a beautiful city garden. This hip, trendy establishment offers a casual, elegant setting with limited seating capacity. It is an adult-only restaurant that is best for hosting parties, get-togethers, and private events.
Chef/Owner Dennis van Daatselaar and Chef de Cuisine Leon de Leeuw are the masterminds behind Wilhelmina’s creative dishes. They serve everything from homemade fresh pasta to fresh seafood and the best certified Black Angus steaks. The restaurant also offers vegan and vegetarian options. In addition, each of its dishes is designated with a small flag, indicating that different cuisines can coexist peacefully.
Taste My Aruba
- Address: Wilhelminastraat 57, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 5:30 PM – 11 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Instagram, Official Facebook
We are listing another restaurant from Wilhelmina Street called Taste My Aruba. It is a family-owned, farm-to-table and sea-to-table restaurant. The owners believe food is part of their culture and only use Aruban ingredients to prepare their dishes. You shouldn’t expect fast dining; this restaurant takes time to prepare every item on the menu, and the wait will be worth it.
This seafood restaurant serves the fresh catch of the day. Hence, you can expect local lobster, wahoo, and tuna tataki dishes. It also offers a cooking experience for interested diners. The offer costs $150 per person and involves learning several dishes and a cocktail. Likewise, the Mixology Masterclass costs $185 per person and teaches you the secrets of crafting classic and contemporary cocktails.
Bistro De Suikertuin
- Address: Wilhelminastraat 64, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 11 AM – 10 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Instagram, Official Facebook
Would you like to dine in one of Oranjestad’s historic buildings? Located in a colorful mansion, Bistro De Suikertuin offers a good ambiance and delicious food. You can find everything here, from a homemade healthy lunch to a sumptuous high tea and delicious dinner. In addition, you can have your meal in the courtyard or indoors.
This Dutch bistro offers signature dishes, including Tuna Duet, keshi yena, nasi goreng, Beef Carpaccio, and Shrimp in a Jacket. The latter is beer-battered shrimp in cocktail sauce, lettuce, and wakame and is the must-have dish on the menu. Visitors can also try its royal high tea and royal high wine.
Italy In The World-Wine Restaurant
- Address: Oranjestraat 2, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 5 PM – 10 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Instagram, Official Facebook
So far, we have listed Cuban, Portuguese, and Argentine restaurants; it’s time for an Italian establishment: Italy In The World-Wine Restaurant. It is located in a charming Cunucu house from the early 19th century. It is one of the best Italian restaurants downtown, serving only authentic dishes and exquisite wines. The Italian flavor and hospitality will make your dining experience unforgettable.
You can expect classic Italian dishes, such as panna cotta, lasagna, pasta, ravioli, tiramisu, bruschetta, and risotto. This restaurant serves different pasta dishes, including Linguini Putanesca, Potato Gnocchi, Buscaiola Pasta, Pasta a la Norma, Spaghetti a la Carbonara, and Penne a la Vodka. Its equally impressive wine collection features red, white, rose, prosecco, and Moscato wines.
Así Es Mi Peru
- Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 64, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 12 PM – 9:30 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook
Next, we have a Peruvian establishment, Así Es Mi Peru, in Paradise Beach Villas. Owner Roxanna Salinas opened this cozy establishment in 2016. Her mother, Lastenia, brought up the idea during one Christmas dinner, which has now become one of the top restaurants in Oranjestad. This establishment offers a relaxed ambiance and delicious food. Each dish is prepared using fresh ingredients and following original Peruvian recipes.
This Peruvian restaurant serves authentic dishes, such as causa, Pescado a lo macho, anticucho, lomo saltado, and aji de galina. The menu’s star is ceviche, made from fresh seafood and fish marinated in lime juice and mixed with onions, tomatoes, aji amarillo, salt, and hot pepper. Other items include a filled potato, trilogia dishes, shrimp soup, and seco de carne.
Café the Plaza
- Address: Renaissance Marketplace, Lloyd G. Smith Blvd 9, Oranjestad, Aruba; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 7:30 AM – 11 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Instagram, Official Facebook
Finally, we have Café the Plaza in Renaissance Marketplace in Downtown Oranjestad. Owners Hans Nooter and Harry Koeman opened this place more than twenty years ago, and the business is still thriving. It is an ideal destination for grabbing a quick bite after shopping in the market. Thankfully, it is open throughout the day and serves exquisite breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
This restaurant offers different menus to ensure a diverse dining experience. Customers can start their day with Dutch pancakes or a Dutch wrap. They can also choose from various sandwich and salad options. The lunch menu includes Plaza Burger, Chicken Sate, 2 Dutch Kroketten, and Shoarma. Likewise, the dinner menu offers many dishes, including starters, salads, and main courses.
Our handpicked best restaurants in Oranjestad, Aruba, include upscale, expensive, and cheap establishments. From seafood to European dishes, you will experience the best flavors around the town. You should also try Aruban food, such as Pastechi, Sopi, Pan Bati, Funchi, and Stoba. Aruban cuisine combines African, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, South American, Indian, and Chinese techniques and traditions. Hence, you can expect a flavorful meal at a local restaurant.
In addition to top restaurants, Oranjestad is home to diverse boutiques, international luxury retailers, and dazzling jewelry stores. It is a shopper’s paradise with numerous shopping malls and department stores. You will also find luxurious hotels, casinos, lounges, and bars. This city also offers a rich nightlife in its nightclubs and discos. Overall, there is something for everyone here.
