Top Aruba Restaurants

One of Aruba's newest and hippest restaurants, Pinchos has a unique outdoor setting suspended above the Caribbean Sea; rattan furniture and huge overstuffed pillows add to the laid-back ambience. The menu consists almost entirely of "pinchos" or kabobs. Located on the pier of the Surfside Marina, Pinchos is of one of the most beautiful (and popular) spots to watch sunsets in Aruba.

This is a gorgeous open-air seafood restaurant situated under a huge palapa near downtown Oranjestad. The eclectic mix of Dutch, Aruban and Caribbean foods is unmatched, and the menu includes stuffed pastries and pasta dishes that will appeal to vegetarians. The barefoot casual atmosphere -- typified by the restaurant's white-sand floor -- is what Aruba is all about.

It's a bit of a misnomer to call Flying Fishbone a waterfront restaurant; depending on the tide, you might actually find your feet in the water while you dine. This Saveneta restaurant offers you the very best seafood on island, including multiple catch-of-the-day specials, as well as hearty beef tenderloin, sirloin, ribeyes, and other steaks and chops.

Many longtime visitors -- including my in-laws -- call this the best restaurant in Aruba. Papiamento is an island institution that offers international cuisine in a classic Aruban country house. The restaurant allows guests to dine in a lush outdoor garden or in one of the home's intimate and antique-filled rooms. Some dishes are grilled on hot stones; tenderloin topped with gorgonzola is a house specialty. Yes, this is where Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands eats when she visits!