Naturally, if you're in Aruba on a beach vacation, you need to get yourself some tropical dranks 🍹. On this page, I'll document some common food and drinks we encountered on the island. After that, I'll list all the establishments we visited during our trip.
2. Pastechi
Fried pastry w/ cheese or meat or veg inside. It reminds me of a light empanada--not too crunchy, dough like the Brazilian cheese bread Pao de Queijo.
3. Pan Bati
Pretty much a pancake. But... not served w/ maple syrup.
4. FISH! (and other seafood)
If you don't like fish, I am sorry for you. Aruba has some delicious, fresh fish. Take advantage of this here!!!
5.Rum-based Cocktails
Being in the Caribbean, quality rum abounds. We enjoyed a number of rum-based beverages, such as piña coladas, daiquiris, and mojitos.
6. Cigars
Dominican and Cuban cigars both can be purchased here. We went to Lindan Cigars, which is a small store, but well run operation. The lady proprietor was very helpful with selecting cigars based on our preferences and answering questions. I enjoyed looking at the cigar farm photos that surround the store.
2. Kouzina 🇬🇷
Not Aruban food, Greek food! For a quick meal before our fishing expedition, we grabbed their $10 lunch, which consists of a yummy gyro and a drank of your choice. It's right on the beach, so you can dine in your bikini and stare into the ocean. Here is their Facebook page.
3. Driftwood
Another restaurant famed for their freshly caught fish. If you fish w/ their charter service by the same name (as we did), you can get a major discount on a meal prepared from the fish you catch. (Not literally the exact fish you caught, but the same species of fish anyway.) The food, starting from the garlic bread to the plantains to the fish entrees was fantastic. A white table cloth kind of place, but we didn't feel out of place with our fishing clothes on. Here is a link to their menu.
4. Craft
We had a nice light breakfast here. For $5, you can get a wonderful Belgian waffle and a coffee. They have a selection of waffles and bowls w/ different toppings that are fresh and tasty. We never got around to it, but there's also a happy hour (7-10 PM), when all their mixed drinks and beer are 50% off. Being called Craft, they proudly serve more than just Balashi. Check out their menu here.
5. Chicken and Lobster🐔
If you're tired of seafood, this place has some other protein options. Like their namesake would suggest, chicken is a thing here. Perfectly crispy skin and a moist interior. The lobster tails and shrimp were also quite tasty. For sides, I would just stick with their truffle mac and cheese. Here is a link to their website.
6. Salt and Pepper
So named for their collection of salt and pepper shakers inside the restaurant. If you bring them a set of shakers, they will give you a free drink. They serve a pretty good brunch in addition to a solid lunch/dinner menu. Pretty varied menu, so another great place if you're tired of fresh fish. We got sandwiches and various tapas. Here is a link to their menu.