Restaurants in Aruba

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While on the happy island of Aruba, we enjoyed some of the amazing food they had to offer as well. We decided to do our own research beforehand and found some restaurants that were not commercialized and more authentic. These places we went to eat in Aruba had to be my favorite out of any of the trips we have taken since the places we ate were not just located at the hotel. Now I know with a lot of inclusive resorts you have to eat at certain places to get your moneys worth, but that is what made this trip stick out since we had to find our own. Pictured above are two restaurants that we ate at with the one pictured on the left being Madame Janette, and the picture on the right being from Anna Maria’s. We also went to three other places that are not pictured above and they are called the Barefoot Restaurant, West Deck, and our favorite breakfast spot, Bugaloe. To start off my mom found a lot of these restaurants for us based on reviews and other friends that have gone and visited the island, but I actually was able to find one of the hidden gems for us and it might have been my favorite one out of them all. After some research I was able to find Anna Maria’s and this tiny restaurant maybe held a total of three parties at once which is what made it so nice. When going to eat there the Uber took us to an actual house and we were very nervous when we first got dropped off, but someone came out of the front door once we rung the door bell and walked us to our table in the backyard. Everything was made fresh to order and it really blew me away. As you can tell from the photo on the right it was literally in someone’s back yard and we could see them making the food. From this restaurant I got the penne alla vodka which was pasta in a pink sauce with mushrooms, and for dessert I got the cannolo siciliano which was just a regular chocolate chip cannoli, but it was delicious. The next restaurant pictured on the left was Madame Janette’s and this restaurant was packed, but the food we got was still very good. What was the best part about this meal was the dessert and this place had the best fried orero’s paired with gelato. My family said they didn’t want to share it with me either until the food came and then they were trying to beat me to eat it. The next restaurant was Barefoot and this one was recommended to us before we went and it did not disappoint. It was located on the beach so you were able to eat at a table in the sand, and we booked our reservation right for the time of the sunset so we got a pretty view. At this restaurant I got the sautéed beef tips which was beef tips cooked with mushrooms, onions, and a red wine sauce. It was so good and we finished off the meal with dessert. My sister and I split the chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream while my parents split the snickers cheesecake. The last restaurant we ate at for dinner was called West Deck and this one at first really caught us by surprise based on the way it looked. But, to our surprise the food was amazing and it also had a view of the ocean which was pretty at night with the hanging lights. At this restaurant the dessert didn’t stick out to me as much, but the meal that I got sure did which was the sticky glazed BBQ ribs. We were able to stay after our meal and take some photos as well which turned out so nice with the background of the ocean. The last place to go over from my trip here was Buglaoe’s and I think we ate here the most from breakfast a few times, to even their happy hour with a local cover band. This breakfast that we all got was massive to say the least under the name the American Breakfast. It came with eggs, toast, bacon, sausage, pancakes, hash browns, and coffee, tea, or juice. My family was obsessed with not only this breakfast, but with the view as well since you were sitting in a shack over the ocean. You could see the fish swimming below you and could see the crystal clear waters from a mile away. As for their night time happy hour it was interesting as well. It got pretty crowded so we went on the earlier side and got their half priced drinks while listening to music and watching the crazy people having the time of their lives dancing around. Overall, you can see why these restaurants stuck out as much as they did, and if I got the chance to go back I would definitely go to these places again. I can’t recommend them enough to anyone who is planning a trip here, and I hope if you are able to go you can try out one of these dishes as well.