8 Best Restaurants in San Nicolas, Aruba

The bizarre rock formations at Casibari, which may make you feel as if you've dropped into Fred and Wilma Flintstone's dining room, make a great backdrop to this casual, offbeat restaurant, where wood-fired barbecue is king. Your generously portioned meal will be fire grilled under the stars, always accompanied by delicious sides that include coleslaw, Caribbean rice, and Casibari beans. Seating is strictly alfresco. After dark, the rocks are playfully illuminated for the nighttime crowd—this is a regular stop for the Kukoo Kunuku party bus dinner tour.

Since 1941, Charlie's has been the heart and soul of San Nicolas, famous for its interior decorated with eclectic bric-a-brac left behind by decades of international visitors. It also serves surprisingly good food, including delicious fresh fish and shrimp and killer steaks. They also bottle and sell their own brand of hot sauce called Honeymoon Sauce. Lunch or a very early dinner are the only options, since closing time is 6 pm. But you can book 4-course private dinners for five to fifteen people, and you will have the space to yourself from 6 to 9 pm.

Dine inside or out at this tiny spot dedicated to the revolutionary Haitian hero Jean-Jacques Dessalines, where the cuisine is inspired by the chef's family’s Haitian heritage. A number of classic Caribbean dishes are available, but try the Haitian spaghetti with turkey sausage and smoked herring, the classic Haitian griyo (pork shoulder), or the pikliz (spicy cabbage salad) for an authentic feel of Haiti. You'll find the restaurant tucked beside the old water tower that serves as the Museum of Industry. Lunch with chef's specials are served during weekends, though they are planning on making it available during most weekdays.

Housed in a cheery blue-and-green cottage a few minutes from Baby Beach, this charming spot is run by Kamini Kurvink, who combines her Trinidadian heritage with local flavors to create unique Caribbean comfort food. Fish, seafood, and meat dishes are served with a spicy flair thanks to Kamini's secret signature hot sauce.

The café in the beautifully restored historic Nicolaas Store in the heart of downtown San Nicolas serves up great barista-style hot and iced coffees and snacks. With seating indoors or out, this is an ideal pit stop before or after exploring the outdoor art. The big communal courtyard out front is often the site of special events with live music as well.

Sandra Brown, the Mother of legendary baseball player Xander Bogaerts, is the \"Mama\" of this soup takeout spot downtown. The menu changes daily, but she usually has a choice of five different soups using the likes of goat, pigtails, oxtails, fish, oyster, pumpkin, bull foot, chicken, and more. There are also a few homemade baked goods for dessert.

Right smack in the middle of the San Nicolas Art Walk, O'Niel's is a warm and welcoming eatery that's an ideal spot to get your Jamaican jerk on. Real-deal Jamaican dishes like ackee with saltfish and oxtail with beans are menu favorites, but there are also local Aruban specialties like goat stew and fresh local seafood; vegetarian and vegan dishes are also available.

This hole-in-the-wall is the place for the best sacos, paper bags full of fried chicken, ribs, chops, plantains, fries, and johnnycakes. Locals and regular visitors often make a trip across the island just to have it.