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Curaçao’s culinary scene has become seriously cosmopolitan in the past few years. Though you can still find places to get traditional, local dishes like iguana soup, keshi yena (seasoned meat wrapped in cheese and baked), and goat stew, the emerging generation of chefs has really raised the bar. Caribbean meets international with a side of nouvelle cuisine or farm-to-fork organic offerings. All combine for a cornucopia of tastes and flavors that meet world-class standards. And the range of locations where you can enjoy these creations is as eclectic as the fare. You’ll find romantic toes-in-the-sand surf-side spots, family-friendly air-conditioned emporiums, lush countryside gardens, and unique historic sites like forts and plantation houses all hosting diners. For authentic local-style lunches drop by the Old Market in Punda; or after the nightclubs, seek out one of the late-night snack trucks (truki pan) for cheap, yet satisfying, eats. Many beach bars also have fabulous fare for less than you’d expect to pay. But for the most part, fine dining will cost you what it’s typically worth, especially since almost every kind of food on this island needs to be imported from elsewhere.
What to Wear. Dress in restaurants is almost always casual (though beachwear isn't acceptable). Some of the resort dining rooms and more elegant restaurants require that men wear jackets, especially in high season; ask when you make reservations.
Set in a two-story palapa and over its own pier on the sea, this oceanfront oasis is the cornerstone of the Jan Thiel Beach collection of eateries and bars, specializing in Argentinean-style grilled meats and seafood served up in shareable plates. First Thursday of the month is live music night and salsa on the pier for all is always on the menu---prepare to get out of your chair and join the crowd.
Jutting out over the ocean at the Avila Beach Hotel, this legendary perch is famous for its sea views, its hearty Caribbean-focused dinner fare, and its Thursday night live music. If you dine out on the deck on a Thursday night, you might see the Punda Vibe's fireworks over the water in the distance. While under the covered area, don't forget to look up: the entire ceiling is a spectacular mural.
Located in an 18th-century bastion of defense that affords sparkling harbor views, this is one of the island’s classic, don’t-miss restaurants. The diverse menu spans land and sea with local and international specialties for dinner and creative cuisine for lunch; if you book an early dinner on the deck you'll be treated to spectacular sunset views over the water.
Have lunch on the verandah of a restored 19th-century Dutch mansion overlooking Santa Anna Bay for spectacular views of the harbor, or in their charming colonial courtyard in the back. The menu offers consistently good local and international dishes. Be sure to stick around after dinner for live music at the bar, which stays open late, especially if it’s a Thursday night when fireworks explode over the water at the end of Punda Vibes night.
Decorated with an awe-inspiring mural by famed local artist Francis Sling, Kome serves up creative fusion fare. The menu is divided into small (chiki) and big (grandi) plates, with dishes ranging from grilled octopus and chicken and waffles to Cuban ropa vieja. A constant effort to source locally has led to surprising results on the regularly changing specials menu. Their small terrace outside is the place to be for a more romantic setting.
Incredible aromas waft from the open-air kitchen of the Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort's signature restaurant, where Chef Hortencia surprises with fabulous fusions of local and international flavors. Set on a hill beside the golf course and affording stunning sea views, Shore is a trendy lunch spot that morphs into a lively yet romantic dinner enclave. The restaurant also has a children’s menu.
A unique installation on such an arid island, L'aldea is in a small rain-forest reserve, replete with lizards, animals, fish, and birds that you would find typically in lusher climes. But what is most impressive here is the handcrafted design of absolutely everything including faux Mayan and other ancient culture recreations, caves and tropical atmospheres by local craftsmen (some of whom are the owners) using wood and cement to recreate a "lost world" in the middle of nowhere. They have also recently added a few small rooms as ecoaccommodation stays there. The easiest way to visit is to take a tour that includes a facility visit and then stay for their Latin American-themed dinner. The fare is incredible—the largest salad bar on the island—plus a carnivore's heaven with grilled meats served Brazilian grill-style until you burst. Live music also adds to the full-on experience. For day-trippers though, it would be great if they served some kind of lunch.
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