11 Best Restaurants in Aruba

Don’t let the rustic decor fool you: this is not your average Italian resort eatery, though it's an inviting choice for large groups. Da Vinci pulls out all the stops to present a seriously upscale, authentic, and creative menu of Mediterranean favorites. Tucked away in the Holiday Inn Resort, it’s well worth seeking out for killer incarnations of osso buco, homemade pastas, and seafood served Italian-style, plus great vegan options. There's also a fabulous wine room with a surprisingly comprehensive selection of vintages from around the world. It's family-friendly, too, with a kids' menu and big communal tables for groups. Dining at Da Vinci Ristorante is included in the resort's all-inclusive program, but it is also open to the public.

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.

There's always something cool happening at this bright and lively indoor--outdoor spot. The international kaleidoscopic menu includes everything from Dutch pancakes and Asian specialties to gourmet burgers and Caribbean seafood—surprisingly, they do it all very well. The many rotating special nights and monthly Bubbles & Bites evenings are very popular.

Owner Roxanna Salinas has created an authentic Peruvian-style dining spot to share a taste of her home with locals and visitors alike. Authentic specialties are artfully served in a warm and colorful enclave, and a portion of proceeds from the wares sold at the on-site Peruvian craft market go to a local Aruban cancer foundation. Upstairs is a unique stand-alone chef's table experience, a long table communal affair of eight courses called The Kitchen Table; it's the island's only family-friendly chef's table experience. Peruvian beer and pisco sours (the national Peruvian cocktail) accompany the offerings, and not to be missed is the sweet caramel-and-liquor-laden national dessert, suspiro a la limena.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.