Posts

Aruba is not only a perfect beach destination, but also an island full of culinary delights waiting for you to taste! The food in Aruba and the restaurant scene is experiencing a steady rise  – there’s already over 300 restaurants already!

Believe it or not, these restaurants aren’t the touristy type. Aruba is considered to have the best restaurants in the Caribbean.

If you are wondering what to eat in Aruba and where to eat, keep on reading…

However, before you continue, make sure you’ve had a bite to eat, because you’ll be hungry at the end of this article – bon apetit!



Must Try Best Food in Aruba

The dishes featured in this post are just a small selection of the wide variety of cuisines available on the island. There’s plenty of other delicacies that will set your taste buds ablaze, but I’ll leave those for another bigger list of must eat foods in Aruba.

Here are some of the top choices when going fine dining in Aruba.

Let’s start of with…

Shellfish Trio at Barefoot

If you like seafood, you’re in for a real treat, because there’s plenty of seafood dining in Aruba.

A seafood dish that’s worth trying is the shellfish trio at Barefoot. It’s a marriage of lobster, shrimp and scallops dressed in a lobster sauce that’s simply delicious!

best food in Aruba

A mix of lobster, shrimp and scallops – Image by barefoot.com

Coconut Pineapple Shrimp At Ricardo’s

Next on the list is another shrimp inspired dish, but with a tropical twist.

The twist in this dish is the coconut pineapple lime marinade that’s coated on the shrimps. It’s served with rice, broccoli, coconut flakes and roasted pineapples.

You’ll taste the creamy coconut sauce in every bite that you take!

best food in Aruba

Can you imagine this being your table? Image by ricardosaruba.restaurant.com

Pork Calypso at Passions

For every succulent seafood dish on the island, there’s a delicious meat dish that’s equally that’s worth trying. And that’s the pork calypso dish by passions on the beach.

It’s a sauteed pork tenderloin stuffed with prunes that have been marinated in Captain Morgan. Served with rice, melon gravy and toasted cashew nuts sprinkled on top – yummy!

As you can see in the picture, the dish is presented with pork surrounding the rice dress in sauce.

Passions restaurant is one of the many restaurants that offers romantic beachside dining in Aruba.

best food in Aruba

Pork,pork, pork! Yummy! Image by passions-restaurant-aruba.com

Grilled European Swordfish At Screaming Eagle

The next dish tastes as good as it looks. It’s the grilled European swordfish. Served with green asparagus, oven baked tomatoes and a delicious dressing.

This dish is flavorful, a must taste!

best food in Aruba

Taste this! Image by screaming-eagle.net

Crusted Mahi Mahi at White Modern Cuisine

Everyone is crazy for mah imahi on the island and white modern cuisine has a mahi dish everyone should taste.

The fish is pan fried and served with potatoes, pickled red onions, sweet glazed carrots, glazed zucchini and dressed with a avocado creme & creole sauce.

Are you getting hungry yet?

I sure am!

best food in Aruba

looks and taste delicious! Image by whitecuisine.com





Land & Sea Kebab at Driftwood

Driftwood restaurant is known for their seafood, not only that but the fact that the fishes are caught by the owner himself and prepared by the chef in the evening during dinner makes this restaurant unique.

One of their special dishes is a mix of both worlds – the land & sea kebab!

It features two skewers, one with slices of tenderloin. And another skewer with lobsters and shrimp. Served with red onions, lime and potatoes on the side.

best food in Aruba

The best of both worlds, land and sea kebab! Image by driftwoodaruba.com

Filetto alla Trattoria at El Faro Blanco

El faro blanco is known for their Italian cuisines and breathtaking views of Arashi beach.

Besides their delicious pasta dishes, the filetto alla trattoria stands out in presentation and looks scrumptious!

It’s a grilled Fillet Mignon wrapped in bacon and dressed with a red wine sauce.

Topped with sprinkles of brown sugar, cloves and cinnamon, vegetables, sliced oranges and a fresh strawberry.

best food in Aruba

I’m getting hungry just seeing this! Image by faroblancorestaurant.com

Grilled Skirt Steak at Amuse Bistro

If you like steak as much as I do, you will love the grilled skirt steak at Amuse Bistro.

This is a meats lovers dish!

A plate with a generous amount of well seasoned grilled steak. It’s served with sweet plantains, potato and mango chutney.

best food in Aruba

Steak lover only! Image by amusearuba.com

Tuna Taki Taki at Windows on Aruba

The chef at windows on Aruba restaurant knows how to bring the lure of the ocean on on a dish with this tuna taki taki dish.

This dish has cuts of seared ahi tuna with sesame crusted peppers, cucumber, cremini mushrooms, wakame salad, dressed in a coconut lime marinade.

best food in Aruba

Presentation is on point! Image by windowsonaruba.com

Seafood Pasta at Sweet Pepper

Last but not least, one of the dishes you should try is the seafood pasta at sweet pepper.

The linguini pasta is served with a mix of seafood specialties: lobster, clams, shrimps and a sweet sauce. It’s a mouthwatering pasta dish!

The owners of sweet pepper are known to hand select their seafood, so you’re dish is as fresh as it gets.

best food in Aruba

Love for pasta! Image by sweetpeppersaruba.restaurant.com

Your Suggestions…

If you’ve had your share of dishes on the island, we’d love to hear about it. Add a comment and let us know what we should try next…




Join Our Newsletter

Did you enjoy reading this must eats foods in Aruba?

If so sign up for our weekly newsletter to get updates and news about Aruba straight to your inbox for free!

Sign up today and I’ll send you my “Aruba on a Budget” eBook filled with money saving tips via email.

Beachside Dining in Aruba

So your flight is booked and your bags are just about packed. Now you’re looking for a restaurant for a romantic beachside dinner in Aruba.

All you have in mind is a private table as close to the water as possible and your feet dancing in the sand.

One of the highlights of having a romantic beachside dinner in Aruba, is watching the sun dip as you enjoy your meal and welcome a night full of entertainment.

If you don’t want to miss the sunset, make reservations at least half an hour before sunset.

The sun starts to make its way down at 6:30 PM and peaks around 6:45 PM (give or take a couple of minutes), so the best time to make reservation is around 6:00 PM to enjoy every minute of your romantic beachside dining in Aruba.

Local Tip – Inform the restaurant during about your special occasion for a special touch during your beach side dinner in Aruba.



Romantic Beachside Dining in Aruba

Here are 5 of my suggestions for restaurants you should look into for romantic beachside dining in Aruba.

Some of these restaurants take the thought of  “beachside dining in Aruba” seriously, because they have their tables directly in the water, if they were any closer you’d be swimming with the fishes…

1. Atardi Restaurant

Formerly known as “Simply Fish”- Atardi is a pop up restaurant on the beach at Marriott.

It’s located between towering palm trees and has breathtaking views of the Caribbean sea.

The word Atardi means late afternoon in Papiamento (native language on the island) and this time of the day is a perfect time to have a romantic dinner on the beach.

Their specialty is seafood, but they also have dishes for meat lovers on the menu.

beachside-dining-in-Aruba

Romantic setting at Atardi.

2. Passions on The Beach

Passions is hands down the most romantic restaurant for beachside dining in Aruba.

It’s a pop up restaurant with beautiful decorations, candles and tiki torches that provide a romantic setting.

They are located right on Eagle Beach, one of the most popular beaches in the world!

beachside-dining-in-Aruba

Can you imagine yourself here?

3. Barefoot

As the name suggests, you’re going to be dining Barefoot!

The restaurant is located on surfside beach in Aruba, which is at the start of the runway of Aruba’s airport.

You can eat indoors under a large palapa or ask for a table right on the beach and dine with your toes in the sand.

Barefoot has an eclectic menu featuring international and vegetarian dishes.

The setting here is perfect for two reasons, to watch the sunset and see planes coming in and taking off.

Barefoot is the go to restaurant for many of Aruba’s repeat visitors, because of the great food, service and ambience.

surfside beach Aruba

Dine barefoot on the beach.



4. Elements

Elements is located on the beach at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort.

It’s an adult only (18+) restaurant with the option to dine in the open air deck, under a private cabana or right on the beach, depending on your preference.

The place brings a nice romantic vibe to a beachfront paradise and has one of the most spectacular views of the sunset due to the location on the beach.

beachside-dinig-in-Aruba

It looks so magical…

5. Flying Fishbone

Flying Fishbone is considered a “hidden gem”, because they are located on the other side of the island, far from the low and high rise hotels.

The restaurant has tables directly on the beach shore, you will be practically sitting in the water, getting your feet wet. They offer shoe stands to keep your shoes dry and offer warm water and towel to dry off after your unique “toes in the water” romantic beachside dinner in Aruba.

Reservations for feet in the water tables are required.

Flying Fishbone also has a very romantic setting with blue lights in the water so you can see the fishes swim up to the shore and next to your table.

beachside-dninig-in-Aruba

Dine with the fishes at your feet…

It’s bit far from the hotel area, in the district of Savaneta, but well worth the ride, because it allows you to see a part of the island you wouldn’t normally see.  

The price for a taxi to Savaneta can be pricey, so look into renting a car in Aruba for the day you’re planning to dine at Flying Fishbone.



Join Our Newsletter

Did you enjoy reading this article?

If so sign up for our newsletter to get more updates about restaurants, news and other related articles by email.

Sign up today and I’ll send you my “Aruba on a Budget” eBook filled with tips to save you money during your vacation in Aruba.

 

Discover More…

Read our other popular articles and newsletters to discover more about the island…

10 Delicious Dishes You Should Try in Aruba

Must Have Items While on The Beach 


Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links, which means our partners will pay us small commission if you click an advertisement or a link and purchase something that I recommended on Vacations By Aruba. Clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running! Please check out our disclosure policy and privacy policy for more details. Thank you for your support!