Aruba Dining

Aruba has a large assortment of world class gourmet restaurants featuring many menu choices such as fresh ocean seafood, shellfish, conch, lobster, tapas, beef, pasta, churrasco, tempura, ribs and enchiladas. You will discover specialty restaurants serving traditional Aruban dishes featuring goat, keshi yena and wahoo. Aruban restaurant owners treat you like you as a guest at their home for dinner. The wait staff is always courteous and friendly and strives to assure your dining enjoyment and comfort.

Whatever culinary favorites, French, Mexican, German, Authentic Aruban, Argentinean, American, Steakhouse, Seafood or Italian you will find the very best in Aruba. For seafood lover Aruba is the place for a large assortment of caught in the morning and served in the evening shellfish and seafood including Caribbean lobster tail, shrimp, crab, grouper, mahi mahi, Chilean sea bass, salmon, yellow fin tuna, oysters, red snapper and more. For steak lovers there are excellent steak houses on the island. Beef is imported daily into Aruba from the U.S. and Argentina and may be higher in price compared to back home but the quality of steaks at the better restaurants is unsurpassed. For families kids who need foods they're used to at home, all of the popular fast-food chain restaurants are established in Aruba, including Taco Bell, Subway, Wendy's, Tony Romas, Burger King and McDonalds. A sunset cruise in Aruba can also include dining. Ships such as the Balia and The Jolly Pirates will guide you to a delightful cove to drop the anchor for dancing, a moonlit dip, and an on-board dinner.

Advice regarding tipping and service charges: when arriving at a restaurant or making reservations ask if a gratuity or service charge is already included or added to the price of dinner shown on menu. It is common for restaurants to add a 15-20% service charge to your bill. This service charge is shared among the wait staff and kitchen staff. If the charge is included there is no need for an additional tip unless you feel the service was excellent and you want to tip your attendant separately. If the charge is not included in your bill, you should tip the normal 15 to 20 percent, the same as in an American restaurant. Arubans are proud and work hard to earn your satisfaction and tip.

The dress code for dining out in most restaurants is "casual leisure". Dress shorts, sundresses, skirts, shirts, sandals or casual footwear is all that is required in most restaurants, with a very few requiring jackets, ties and long pants for the men.

Since there are so many fine restaurants on the island, it is difficult to list all of them. Listed below are some of the more popular, well known restaurants featuring various cuisines.

For more restaurant suggestions See our restaurant reviews here