7 of the Best Restaurants to Eat at in Aruba on Your Family Vacation
Wondering what are the best restaurants in Aruba? Our group of 12 checked out some of the top rated on our family vacation. Whether you’re looking for a casual lunch spot or a special place for dinner, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of our families’ favorite Aruban restaurants.
Aruba may be known as a white-sand tropical paradise with year-round perfect weather.
But, let’s face it.
Man (or woman) can’t live on beautiful beaches and sunny days alone.
If your family’s like ours, food is one of the things we remember most about a specific vacation destination.
And while some destinations aren’t always conducive to leaving the resort, Aruba certainly is. It turns out Aruba is a Caribbean vacation destination that’s perfect for exploring local restaurants. The island’s low crime rate and high standard of living means tourists can venture off resort property easily and safely.
We certainly did a lot of venturing on our family vacation. (“Family times three” vacation, that is. Because we were actually three families traveling together!) It was the perfect way to enjoy all that Aruba has to offer.
Overall, we found Aruban restaurants offered good food in relaxed environments with non-rushed service. (You will be on island time after all on your Aruba vacation. So, drinks are meant to to be sipped a little longer, meals enjoyed a bit more slowly.)
All those good, long meals on your family trip won’t come cheap though. One of the most consistent things we heard prior to our trip was to expect food to be expensive. And it was. Restaurants are pricy on the island.
But we found some that we thought were worth the splurge.
Here are 7 of the best restaurants in Aruba to check out.
For the best activities in Aruba, check out:
1.Atardi At Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino
Our party of 12’s official vote for the best restaurant in Aruba during our trip. (Or at least as official as it gets for 3 families trying out the island fare.)
We were on a quest to find the tastiest fish in Aruba on our family vacation. And this resort won the prize.
Starters like scallops and burrata salad were great openers. Fish and seafood dishes were even better main dishes. And the desserts and wine ended up being some of the best we found on our trip.
Don’t let “wine” and the romantic beachside location fool you though. Because although it is a great spot for couples, we found Atardi to also be perfect for our families. The kids could explore the beach a little while we were waiting for our food. They also has some kid options that weren’t listed on the menu.
The location was a bonus, as the restaurant is located within walking distance of the hotel district. So getting there and “home” via a walk on the beach was part of the experience.
Price wise, Atardi was in line with what we found at other restaurants in Aruba.
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2. Eduardo’s Beach Shack
Our favorite lunch restaurant in Aruba. So good we kept going back! There were plenty of guilt-free options to choose something different each visit.
Vacationers know dinner doesn’t always have to be the star of the day. And great food doesn’t need to be accompanied by white tablecloths and crystal glasses.
Eduardo’s is best enjoyed with sandy feet and in beach cover-ups. It’s a walk-up stand located in front of the Playa Linda resort in the hotel district of the island. You’ll usually find a line at this popular choice but it moves quickly.
Their super yummy (and healthy) açaí bowls and poke bowls were our favorites. They also serve protein balls, smoothies, pitaya bowls, and other options.
We loved them so much they were a staple almost every day during our vacation.
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3. Divi Bar and Lounge at the Ritz Carlton
This was our “put the kids to bed and leave the teenager” in charge after -dinner escape. It was also our favorite place to stop with kids for a mocktail and sushi.
So, we’re two down on our list of the best restaurants in Aruba and we’ve got your first dinner and lunch all planned! How about cocktails and light fare?
Divi Sushi Bar and Lounge at the Ritz Carlton Aruba is our pick in that category.
The beautiful setting first enticed us to try it out. (Think comfy seating, a center bar, and a contemporary decor.) The great cocktails and sushi kept us coming back throughout our stay.
We also loved the indoor/ outdoor seating offered. And that it’s walking distance to other hotels on the island.
4. Madame Jannette’s
A close runner-up in the “best restaurant in Aruba dinner category”, this spot didn’t disappoint for sure. Lots of options and a great patio on which to enjoy the meal.
Another of our favorite restaurants in Aruba for dinner is Madame Janette’s. Although this restaurant is a cab drive away, it’s a short, doable trip.
The local restaurant has lots of outdoor seating nestled in trees with little white lights. It’s a beautiful setting with a tall fence to block out the view of the parking lot.
The menu is varied and everyone in our large party was able to find something that sounded great. Our favs were the Caesar salad and ceviche but steaks and even German dishes are offered.
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5. Faro Blanco Restaurant
Although fish was our go-to menu item most of the time for this trip, we were happy to diverge a bit here. Think upscale Italian in an unhurried setting.
The hilltop, seaside setting of this restaurant makes it a definite go-to in Aruba. Faro Blanco has a fantastic atmosphere, especially if you’re sitting on the huge patio.
It’s about a 10 minute drive from the hotel district and is located next to the famous California Lighthouse. The views are unique and beautiful.
Faro Blanco features traditional Italian dishes. We did find it a bit pricy (are you sensing a theme yet?) for pastas. But that view certainly helped justify the cost.
There’s also a large wine list and some kids options are a nice bonus. Service was super friendly during our un-rushed meal.
Because of its location and open patio, the dishes at this restaurant are usually served with a hefty dose of Aruban wind. So, while seated outside, a hair tie was a needed dinner companion for anyone in our party with long hair.
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6. Driftwood
This is the only restaurant in Aruba that’s on our list and isn’t located on the water. We loved seeing a bit of downtown here though. And we loved checking out a place that’s not quite as well-known.
If you plan to try your hand at casting your reel while in Aruba, Driftwood should be on your itinerary. That’s because they’ll cook what you catch.
Just bring your fresh catch with you. Tell them how you want it prepared. (They can offer suggestions.) And instead of BYOB, you’re all set for BYOF.
Or you can of course let them do the fishing for you. The restaurant specializes in fresh catch of the day and Aruban style seafood.
Driftwood is locally owned by a mother and son and opened its doors in 1986. It’s located in the heart of downtown. It’s super casual decor features coastal driftwood on the walls and a nautical theme.
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7. Flying Fishbone
Google “best restaurants in Aruba” and this one is likely to come up. It made our list too.
You’ll often find Flying Fishbone at the top of a list of best restaurants in Aruba. While we couldn’t put it at the top of our list, it had to be included. Its beautiful setting and great food make it tough to leave off.
It’s also one of the toughest reservations to get on the island. While all tables are in the sand, some are placed so your toes are in the water. And reservations are made according to table location.
Our service was fantastic by our waiter and the setting is picturesque. The food was delicious. The menu features things like scallops Florentine, roasted rack of lamb, and grilled maple leaf duck breast.
Less than great service by the hostess and the staff member making our phone reservation bumped this to the bottom of our list.
Although expensive, prices were in line with the setting of the restaurant. However, expect a $40 one-way cab ride from the hotel district. Double that price if you have more than 5 in your family. Aruban regulations only allow taxi drivers to take up to 5 people, even when their vehicle can accommodate more.
