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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.
Chef Jonnie Boer and his maître d' wife Thérèse of De Librije—a 3–Michelin star restaurant in the Netherlands—opened a surfside dining establishment in Bonaire in 2018, the popularity of which led to a second location in Curaçao. Set upon a stunning rock pier over the water at Blue Bay Golf & Beach Resort, Brass Boer specializes in small plates of international fusion fare made for sharing. They also offer a nightly chef’s special set menu for dinner at $145.
Located in Hòfi Mango Park, a historic mango plantation, Kultura Kòrsou is helmed by locally born chef Willy Balentina who earned his impressive culinary chops at exemplary restaurants like De Librije, Ron Gastrobar, and more. The restaurant serves creole-focused dishes made from locally sourced ingredients and infused with Balentina’s trademark flair for creativity and vibrant flavors.
This little gem tucked away in the hip district of Pietermaai specializes in creative fusion shareables, small plates, and killer craft cocktails. Themed around the culinary melting pot that is Brooklyn, New York, it provides an excellent beginning to a night out.
This cheery, lively alfresco eatery takes up a good swath of Mambo Beach Boulevard’s first level of offerings, attracting visitors and locals alike for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The evening menu surprises in its vast range of cuisines: Choose from many Mediterranean, Latin American, and Mexican specialties, as well as big steaks and hearty burgers, fresh seafood, pasta, pizza, and even sushi. Though it’s often a challenge to be everything to everybody, The Green House manage to serve it all up consistently well.
