From barefoot beach dining to high-end elegance, these Aruba restaurants deliver mouth-watering menus.
Pinchos Grill & Bar
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| Pinchos Grill & Bar
Courtesy Pinchos Grill & Bar
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Perched at the end of a pier at Aruba Surfside Marina is one of Aruba’s most romantic restaurants, Pinchos Grill & Bar.
The best time to book a table at is just before sunset: Start with a
cocktail on the outdoor patio overlooking the water and watch the
stunning vista close on another day in paradise. Dishes include spicy
Aruban fish cakes drizzled with pineapple mayonnaise and grilled Aruban
mahi prepared with a tomato, basil and rosemary sauce.
Flying Fishbone
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| Flying Fishbone
Courtesy Flying Fishbone
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Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017, Flying Fishbone
is an ode to — you guessed it — freshly caught seafood. (Most of the
fish are sourced from a local market.) Warm up your palate with oysters
or Peruvian-style ceviche before easing into entrees such as a shrimp
shitake with blue-cheese casserole or the restaurant’s famed Savaneta
Seafood History (named for the restaurant’s town), folding in curry
sauce and a mélange of seafood and vegetables.
[post_ads_2] The Kitchen Table by White
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| Creole snapper at The Kitchen Table by White
Courtesy The Kitchen Table by White
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While also open for breakfast and lunch, dinner is when The Kitchen Table by White
really shines. 16 diners at a time are seated around a U-shaped
demonstration kitchen to witness the creation of an eight-course tasting
menu ($99, 7:15 p.m. seating only). Plating techniques for the
farm-to-table fare are works of art, with textured layers and pops of
color: think a dessert course of chocolate ganache with popcorn and
red-beet gel. For an additional $75, tack on wine pairings to the
tasting menu.
Madame Janette
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| Madame Janette's courtyard dining area
Courtesy Madame Janette
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A two-time winner of the prestigious Les Amis d’Escoffier award, Madame Janette
bridges various ethnic cultures on its dinner menu, resulting in
offerings like Hungarian Goulash Soup and Chinese-style Bang Bang
shrimp. Even the most traditional of dishes have their own accent,
including the “Gianni Versace” filet mignon, served with lobster
medallions and Portobello mushrooms. Beer snobs will want to eat here at
least once to enjoy the extensive craft-beer menu.
Passions on the Beach
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| Passions on the Beach
Courtesy Passions on the Beach
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Perfect for couples that want to enjoy an intimate meal on the beach, tables for two at Passions on the Beach
are right on the sand. Tiki torches provide mood lighting while waves
lap the shoreline and palapa huts provide shade. Opt for a “Ranch and
Reef” pairing for filet mignon with a lobster tail and shrimp, or a dish
with tropical flair, like the pork calypso with melon gravy and toasted
cashews.
Papiamento
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| The wine vault at Papiamento
Courtesy Papiamento
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Whether you dine inside the historic mansion dating back to the early 1800s, in the garden or poolside, the vibe at Papiamento
is elegant. A wine vault stores around 1,800 bottles, a mix of
affordable and splurge-worthy selections from around the world. Even the
bread service has flair: rolls are stacked on a skewer and presented on
a rustic, tree-bark-inspired charger. The generous portions favor spicy
fare, perfect for diners who love curry and hot peppers.
White Modern Cuisine
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| White Modern Cuisine
Courtesy White Modern Cuisine
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Plating is an art form at White Modern Cuisine,
open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The all-white space with foldaway
walls is a fresh offering from chef and owner Urvin Croes, who got his
start cooking for the Michelin-starred Grand Hotel Karel V in the
Netherlands. Farm-to-table ingredients drive the menu’s unique
offerings, like Aruban seafood stew and curry-coconut-braised lamb
shank.
Nourish
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| The taco salad at Nourish
Courtesy Nourish
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Opened in 2017 and owned by Instagram star Yoga Girl (aka Rachel Brathen), this wellness-oriented cafe
appeals to vegans and gluten-free dieters who don’t want to scrimp on
flavor. Go for breakfast or lunch and dine in a garden setting at
communal tables with benches. The menu includes unique bites like “bliss
balls” (nut-based energy boosters with natural ingredients, such as
matcha or peanut butter), along with smoothie bowls, salads and avocado
toast. Pair with organic wine or fresh-pressed juices like the Yoga Girl Juice, a blend of seven fruits and vegetables.
Screaming Eagle
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| Screaming Eagle
Courtesy Screaming Eagle
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Among Aruba’s finest dining options is Screaming Eagle.
This is where you go for a skirt steak with truffle sauce or New
Zealand lamb (or a terrine, one of the chef’s specialties), along with
an extensive wine list with more than 300 options. Desserts are very
creative, and worth saving room for, ranging from upside-down pineapple
tart to chocolate-chip and matcha-tea-flavored ice cream.
[post_ads_2] Craft
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| Craft
Courtesy Craft
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Craft
is popular for breakfast (especially for its crispy Belgian-style
waffles and Samba Acai bowl), although the coffee bar also serves
alcohol, is open until 1 a.m. and hosts DJs a few nights throughout the
week. Desserts, such as key-lime cheesecake, are served in Mason jars,
and baristas like to play around with creative latte art.
