16 Best Restaurants in Aruba

This landmark family-run bakery has been a local favorite since it first opened in 1949, and it's still home to the island's most authentic baked goods, including epic cakes, cupcakes, and pastries. There are also sandwiches and savory snacks like pastechi (handheld stuffed pastries) and hot dog broodjes ideal for a grab-and-go lunch or breakfast.

Enjoy locally roasted coffee at this cheery spot and take home some of their special Aruba blend as an ideal souvenir. They also offer gelato, locally made pastries, soups, and sandwiches.

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.

Excellent coffee, creative snacks, and master baristas are the hallmarks of this local brand. They are also licensed for cocktails, wine, and beer, and make decadent milkshakes, too.

Look for the giant black-and-white-striped booth in the interior courtyard of Paseo Herencia for some truly decadent delights. Specializing in alcohol-infused gourmet baked goods, particularly little Bundt cakes (no cupcakes here) that are infused with your choice of liquor-laden syrups, there are also specialty coffees, sweet or savory crêpes, waffle bowls, ice cream, and frozen yogurt, all available with “drunken toppings.”

It’s hard to miss the brilliant outdoor art on the storefront of this spot specializing in light, healthy foods, where you can grab fresh pastechis, banana pancakes, and more. To date, there are five Eduardo’s locations on the island, but this one also has a drive-thru out back.

This cheery little hut on Palm Beach is famous for its healthy and delicious fresh fruit and veggie juices, smoothies, bowls, kombucha, and creative vegan options. All of their specialties are free of additives and artificial substances. They now have five outlets scattered about the island, but this is the original spot, so expect a line.

This barbershop doubles as a café out front and offers a little bit of everything to everyone, including ice cream, homemade baked goods and snacks, specialty coffees, and even cold beer and spirits. If you have some time on your hands, you can also play a game of pool, get a shave and a haircut, or just partake in the convivial socializing that happens here.

Enjoy homemade gelato and a wide range of snacks and drinks at this alfresco bar.

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.

Though there are a few big brand-name coffee spots in Alhambra Mall, the Market offers excellent early-bird prices on PURO fair-trade coffee, as well as freshly baked Aruban pastechis and Dutch kroket snacks. There is a small terrace and free Wi-Fi as well.

This colorful roadside stand, just before the Savaneta turn, has excellent smoothies and fresh juices, as well as healthy wraps and acai bowls. They also sell great organic herbal remedies made from local produce and have recently opened a second outlet in San Nicolas. Shaded benches, a big wooden swing, and a hammock add to the allure.

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.

This spot tucked away in the corner of Metro Mall serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it's also a very cool place to drop in for coffee or cocktails for photo-printed drinks. A nifty machine imprints photos right from your phone into the foam on top of your drink in impressive detail—all you need to do is to just send your picture via the QR code on the table.

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.

With a name that means \"pirates\" in Dutch, this alfresco restaurant sits right on the Savaneta pier, where the local fishermen bring in their daily catch. The menu is basic: the day's fish and other seafood, fried almost as soon as it's lifted out of the boat and served with sides of local staples like fried plantains. You can chase it all down with a cold local beer or homemade popsicles made from exotic local fruit. The restaurant has become very popular with locals and visitors alike, so expect it to be busy, especially on weekends. On Sundays, there is often a line down the street.