5 Best Restaurants in Oranjestad and Environs, Aruba

Dutch pancakes are unlike North American–style flapjacks since they can be both savory and sweet, offering opportunities for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and this legendary spot in the Renaissance Marketplace is considered the best place to try them. More like thin crepes, they can be covered in (or stuffed with) a multitude of ingredients, which might include meats, vegetables, and cheeses. The menu includes dozens of varieties of both sweet and savory styles, as well as puffy little silver-dollar-size poffertjes. You'll enjoy them in the indoor-outdoor café, but if you eat outside, keep an eye on your syrup bottles, as the little resident sugar birds are always trying to get into them for a sweet treat.

Opened in 1986, this rustic nautical-themed restaurant owned and operated by the Merryweather family is justifiably famous for serving up the freshest catch of the day caught by the owners themselves. Typically they recommend the fresh fish be served Aruban-style for the best local experience (that means pan-fried and topped with a spicy creole sauce). Not to be missed is the fish soup that's been a family secret recipe since the very beginning. You can join them on their deep-sea fishing adventures through their sister company Driftwood Charters and have them cook up your own catch for dinner that night.

Look for the big smiling pastechi sign and a line of locals waiting to grab Aruba’s favorite fast food (think empanada). Order one for yourself and wash it down with a cold batido (fruit shake). They also have little crab cakes to go as well.

Enjoy cool and creative cocktails and beach-shack eats in the afternoon on a pristine stretch of white sand and aqua sea, just minutes from Downtown Oranjestad. The fun and friendly vibe includes beach service, lounge and umbrella rentals, and happy hour drink specials. It’s also a great spot to watch sunsets over the sea and to see the planes pop up out of the blue en route to the nearby airport.

Opened by the same people who own Pinchos, this fun and friendly wood-decked grill joint offers casual fare like barbecue ribs and grilled shrimp by the dozen, as well as Caribbean bites like jerk wings, fried funchi (like a thick polenta) with Dutch cheese, and West Indian samosas. There are some surprisingly snazzy main dishes, and the signature "Beer-Ritas" (a full bottle of beer served upside down in a big margarita) are legendary. Located at the base of the new Linear Park, it’s the perfect place for sunset views over the ocean as the cruise ships come and go.