Aruba restaurants and must do's?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I can't find a thread on this... please direct me if there is one, I don't want to duplicate...

but if not, I have friends leaving on 1/31 for five days, I would love to send them with a good 'great stuff/restaurant' list since their trip is so short... I already pulled Sunset Grill and Madam Janet's from Angela's trip report, as well as the De Palm snorkel trip...

tia

Pat, you still in Aruba?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...ighlight=cigar

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Nope, I am here....
Madame Jeanettes Madame Janette

Flying Fishbone Flying Fishbone - our table was the second one from the right in the opening picture

Pinchos Bar & Grill - Pinchos Grill & Bar in Aruba - on a dock in the water. Great for sunset drinks and casual dinner - our table was the one in the corner farthest to the right.....

For a truely fun afternoon - Jolly Pirate - 3pm-6pm cruise Jolly Pirates Aruba There is a 15% off coupon if you book online at the bttom of this page

Not my fav but very popular fpr MEAT eaters! - El gaucho El Gaucho Restaurant Aruba - HOME

Another goody - Papiemento - Papiamento Restaurant

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

The light house was the most romantic on Aruba. Do tell them to make reservations early. Madam Janette's was excellent, I enjoyed El Gaucho because of the cigar bar across the street.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Avery.....We also did a lot of touring while in Aruba.....We thought that the 'Natural Pool' was fun, and worth going to. What ever your friends decide to do, tell them NOT to go to 'The Tunnel of Love'....It's really a Tunnel of Torture.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

The light house was the most romantic on Aruba. Do tell them to make reservations early.

You can make all your resies via email.

La Trattoria El Faro Blanco aruba-latrattoria.com

New York Times review
La Trattoria El Faro Blanco - Reviews and Ratings of Restaurants in Aruba - New York Times Travel

[m61376 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close m61376]

A couple of other ones we enjoyed that weren't mentioned above are:

Chef's Table (the chef was formerly the chef at Mirandi's), http://www.chefstablesaruba.com/

Aqua Grill welcome at Aqua Grill

and Sole Mare. (No direct link but here are reviews) Restaurants Aruba - review Sole Mare

All three were terrific.

[the_bosun_mate Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close the_bosun_mate]

Aruba

Two good WEB sites with a wealth of information for Aruba are: www.aruba-bb.com and www.visitaruba.com. Note: The resturant at the Lighthouse, has been known to add a Sales Tax to your bill. There is no consumer sales tax in Aruba. Most reaturants add 15% to the bill for a tip. This 15% is shared by all employees. If you get a great water/waitress, slipping them a little extra can bring on a great big smile and a BIG thank you.

[Chanook729 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chanook729]

Footprints

We were back to Aruba for our 10 year anniverary last year and really enjoyed "Footprints" offered by the Hyatt.
You dine right on the beach, watch the sunset and finish the meal and a bottle of wine or two by torchlight with nothing but quiet conversation and the lapping of the waves.

Hyatt Aruba - Footprints
Foot Prints Beach Grill offers memorable Ocean Front Dining | Official Travel News from Aruba

[2hokies Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 2hokies]

In addition to Flying Fishbone and Madame Janette, we would recommend Marina Pirata Restaurants Aruba - review Marina Pirata .

At Flying Fishbone and Marina Pirata, tell your friends to make reservations that will allow them to watch the sunset while they're dining!

Salt & Pepper Salt & Pepper
and Smokey Joes Smokey Joe's Island Grill
have more casual dining. The sangria at Salt & Pepper is our favorite!

Linda's Pancakes (Linda's Pannenkoeken & Pizza) and The Dutch Pancake House have amazing dutch pancakes (more like a plate sized crepe than our American pancakes).

Our favorite snorkel sails are on the Tranquilo and the Octopus.

Can you tell we're anxious to plan another trip??

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

In addition to Flying Fishbone and Madame Janette, we would recommend Marina Pirata. At Flying Fishbone and Marina Pirata, tell your friends to make reservations that will allow them to watch the sunset while they're dining!

Salt & Pepper Salt & Pepper and Smokey Joes have more casual dining. The sangria at Salt & Pepper is our favorite!

Linda's Pancakes (Linda's Pannenkoeken & Pizza) and The Dutch Pancake House have amazing dutch pancakes (more like a plate sized crepe than our American pancakes).

Our favorite snorkel sails are on the Tranquilo and the Octopus.

Can you tell we're anxious to plan another trip??

Lets go TODAY!

We also visited Smokey Joes Smokey Joe's Island Grill this trip..nice casual dining and GREAT ribs that DH just loved. What I loved was the people watching that we did as it is an open air restaurant right on the street - lots of shopping booths, little stores - it s right across from Play Linda TS. I should aslo add that my kids (21/23) found the drinks there VERY strong - just like they like them Happy hour was 5-6 and 10-11.

We did Jolly Pirates Snorkel that leaves from the beach at Moomba/Marriott surf

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

For drinks, we would save $$$ by making our drinks in our room, and bring them to the pool / beach. Went to the Supermarket (we love Ling & Sons) Ling & Sons Super Center and bought liquor, mixers and beer (don't forget to bring a soft-sided cooler with you)

Here are just a few suggestions:

Downtown (approx. 10 mins. by bus) $2.00 round trip

Rumba's (behind Rennaissance Marina Hotel) Rumba Bar & Grill - Welcome to Rumba Bar & Grill

Que Pasa (1 block from Rumba's) Que Pasa Bar Restaurant & Art Gallery

Iguana Joes (Fun place across from cruise ships) Iguana Joe's Caribbean Bar & Grill

Paddock (all-you-can-eat Ribs on Wednesday - $10.00) Eetcafe The Paddock - Aruba Restaurant in downtown Oranjestad - Menu

El Gaucho's El Gaucho Restaurant Aruba - HOME

New location past the airport: take taxi (no bus stop) Marandi's (great place at sunset) Marandi Restaurant and another restaurant by the same owners Yemanja Woodfired Grill

Next door at the Amsterdam Manor is Mango's Aruba Mango's Restaurant - Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort Aruba which I heard was very nice. The Amsterdam just started a week ago, dinner on the beach.

At the Hi-Rise area (5 minutes by bus), you have:

Tango: Tango Argentine Grill
Early Bird Special 5-7 p.m. Tango dance show inside. Singer outside. Next to Tango's you have Soprano's Piano Bar, and Salt and Pepper Restauant.

Rio Steakhouse http://www.riosteakhousearuba.com/

We loved Azzurro Italian Restaurant Azzurro Aruba :: Italian Restaurant :: 5 Stars :: Playa Linda Beach Resort :: Great Seafood and Dessert :: Dining, Deserts at the Playa Linda Resort.

More restaurant Links

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Why does it seem that the food in Aruba is better than here? I went there for my honeymoon some 20 years back and I never forgot some of the places. I just recently went back and again the food and atmosphere left a memory I will not forget.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Why does it seem that the food in Aruba is better than here? I went there for my honeymoon some 20 years back and I never forgot some of the places. I just recently went back and again the food and atmosphere left a memory I will not forget.

Next trip we'll get you a REALLY nice room, too!
I have stickied this so we can add addition restaurant tour suggestions and links....

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

1. Aqua Grille, yes !! We used our Marriott T/S Tour gift certificate here.
2. Radisson Hotel buffet - marginal, lots of food, most of it just baseline (on the evening I went). A bargain if you're not fussy. Many choices of lower quality food & prep.
3. The "Stone" something or other. Just okay. Many folks rave re: it. For me, adequate. Welcome at Le Petit Caf at Playa Linda Beach Resort ( edit: has several locations in Aruba)
4. There's a buffet in town, I'll think of the name. Mostly Dutch food, it's in hotel in Oranjestead. Borderline pricey, yet different/good.
5. Moomba beach. MooMba Beach Bar & Restaurant - Home Didn't like. (edit - GrayFal does like it not as a gourmet experinece so much as just a great casual spot with GREAT drinks...and right next to the Marriott - has a very nice buffet breakfast for $10)
6. The Dome - liked Le Dôme Restaurant Aruba, Belgian - French cuisine.
7. Iguana Joe's - I enjoyed it from what I can remember.........


Great overall link for Aruba: Aruba Tips & Information | Fodor's Travel Guides

Here's a good link: EnjoyAruba.com - Aruba Restaurants - Aruba Restaurant Information Site

Aruba Restaurants

Aruba Dining - A guide to Aruba's Restaurants, aruba restaurants, dining in aruba

Restaurants Aruba - review Moomba Beach Bar & Restaurant

B.