Curacao has a vibrant culinary scene with over 300 restaurants offering an abundance of unique breakfast, lunch and dinner spots, that you'll easily find all around Curacao with this restaurant guide.
Ranging from affordable local cuisine at truk’i pan’s (food trucks), cozy terraces, gardens and beachfront restaurants, to more high-end international and fine dining experiences in a stylish or historic setting.
The island's diverse cuisine reflects its multicultural heritage, influenced by Dutch, African, Caribbean, and Latin American flavors.
This is also showcased in the variety of restaurants, from casual beachside shacks, and food stalls along the road, to upscale dining. Local eateries often use fresh, high-quality ingredients like seafood, tropical fruits, and locally grown produce and spices, with signature dishes like keshi yena (stuffed cheese), stoba (meat stews), and pastechi (savory pastries).
These creative flavor combinations and the scenic settings, often by the beach with stunning ocean views or with a more local vibe in authentic homes and picturesque gardens, make the culinary experiences even better.
Something I highly value about the Caribbean and this island in particular.
Start February I had the honor to revisit Curaçao and sample several new restaurant additions, as well as old time favourites. In this blog I will add 13 more restaurant options to my previous top 15 restaurant list of Curaçao, almost all tried and tested by myself or recommended to me by friends or locals!
Curacao Restaurant Guide - my top 28
Find all of them on this custom-Google map for your convenience and find a short review including many of my own pictures here below, with everything you need to know per restaurant:
Local cuisine
Komedor Krioyo at Landhuis Dokterstuin
Location: Road to Westpunt, Barber, Bandabou
Price level: $
Open every day from 10 am - 5 pm, closed on Mondays.
Open-aired, yet covered restaurant, located in the garden of Landhuis Dokterstuin on the road to Westpunt. In this historic plantation house you can still see the original interior and decoration.
Delicious authentic dishes and home-made lemonades for a good price are served here in a cozy and basic setting.
Do note that it's quite popular with locals and can get very busy in the weekends.
Serka Tanchi
Location: 10 Rooi Catootjeweg, Willemstad
Price level: $$
Open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday to Friday from 7 am - 2.30 pm, on Saturday & Sunday from 9 am - 1.30 pm.
Website: SerkaTanchi.com
Cozy restaurant for local soul food, combined with international dishes served in a homely setting. Recommended to me by a local! Also possible to take-out food here.
Mondi Beach Club
Location: 31 Pater Euwensweg, Willemstad
Price level: $$
Open daily from 10 am - 10 pm for lunch, drinks & dinner. In the weekends until 11 pm.
Website: MondiCuracao.com
The newest addition to the popular Mondi Caribbean-fusion restaurants. At this recently opened beach club in Otrabanda, Willemstad, next to the cruise terminal, you can sample the unique dishes of Curaçaoan chef Justin Niessen since December 2024, in a photogenic setting.
Enjoy Caribbean food with a twist and the best cocktails on their beach beds for a barefoot experience or sit down in the stylish restaurant with outdoor terrace.
They host regular live events and DJ performances here as well. Find more info about the beach club in my previous blog too.
Equus Curaçao
Location: 338 Caracasbaaiweg, Jan Thiel
Price level: $$
Only open for dinner on Friday from 5 pm - 12 am.
Local hotspot with the best skewers prepared before your eyes on the BBQ, ranging from meat to shrimps and vegetables. Very low-key and casual in a garden setting.
Recommend to me by a friend who has been here several times.
Beachfront restaurants
BijBlauw
Location: 82-84 Kaya Wilson Godett, Pietermaai, Willemstad
Price level: $$
Open daily from 8 am to 10 pm for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Website: BijBlauw.com
Laid-back, yet trendy oceanfront restaurant, with stylish seating, international cuisine, and also a boutique hotel and concept store/boutique café adjacent to it.
All are located along the coast, right next to the newly-opened The Lemon Beach with The Lemon Tree restaurant. More info about these will follow below under fine dining restaurants.
Koraal Rooftop Terrace
Location: Rif St Marie, Coral Estate, Sint Willibrordus
Price level: $$
Open every day from 10 am - 10 pm for lunch and dinner from 12 - 10 pm.
Website: KoraalCuracao.com
Stunning restaurant on the west coast, located on Coral Estate, with the atmospheric Karakter at the beach below it.
Do note that you have to show your ID at the entrance, before being allowed to enter the Estate. Walk on past the reception all the way to the end to get to this scenic restaurant and beach club by the sea.
Open for cocktails, lunch and dinner with theme nights like Green Egg Friday, Sushi Saturday and Sparkling Sunset Sunday. It also has a pool, bar and large ocean view terrace.
Atmospheric & unique outdoor settings
Fort Nassau
Location: Fort Nassauweg, Willemstad
Price level: $$
Open for lunch Monday to Friday 12 - 2 pm, for dinner & bar every day from 6 - 11 pm.
Website: FortNassau.com
This was one of my absolute favourites during this trip. Not only because of the delicious international cuisine with a Caribbean touch and setting of this authentic fort from the 18th century. But moreover, for the incredible 360º sunset views from this historic semi-open aired spot.
It was a true delight to look out over Willemstad with the iconic bridges on one side and see Schottegat and the houses behind it light up at night on the other side.
Highly recommended to try the 3-course Chef’s Menu here, that offers great value for money too.
Caleo Crudos y Parrilla
Location: Kurá Hulanda Village, 56 IJzerstraat, Willemstad
Price level: $$$
Open for dinner and drinks Tuesday to Friday from 6 pm - 12 am.
Website: CaleoCur.com
International dishes with Latin American influences, shared dining options and quality meat from the grill.
Atmospheric indoor and outdoor seating on the terrace at the center of Kurá Hulanda village, almost next to Florès Otrabanda, where we ate last time. Also very atmospheric, but only with outdoor seating and a bit lower price level.
Maira's Kitchen
Location: 24 Hoogstraat, Otrabanda, Willemstad
Price level: $$
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday to Friday 7 am - 10 pm. And only for breakfast & lunch in the weekends from 7 am- 3 pm.
This quaint restaurant, recommended to me by locals and friends, has a locally-inspired menu with Caribbean and Mediterranean flavors combined in unique dishes served in a homely setting.
Situated in an authentic home complemented with lovely murals.
MosaCana
Location: 41 Penstraat, Pietermaai, Willemstad
Price level: $$
Open for dinner and drinks Tuesday to Saturday from 6 pm - 12 am.
This trendy restaurant, also recommended to me by locals, has a Latin-Caribbean fusion menu with shared dining dishes and delicious cocktails. Served in an airy setting surrounded by beautiful murals, with a trendy and extensive bar as well.
Fine dining experiences
The Lemon Tree Restaurant
Location: Kaya Wilson (Papa 88-92) Pietermaai, Willemstad
Price level: $$$
Open from Thursday to Monday from 6 - 11 pm.
Get ready for a true adults-only Caribbean haute cuisine experience with a unique story-telling concept. This exclusive restaurant is one of the few fine dining venues on the island and has just opened in December 2024.
Adjoining the Lemon Beach Club, located below the soon to be opened Art Hotel, designed by Piet Boon, and in between the trendy Saint Tropez Ocean Club and BijBlauw.
Find out more about the stylish Lemon Beach boutique ocean club in my previous Curacao blog.
A dinner at the Lemon Tree Curaçao, sister venue to the successful Lemon Tree restaurant in Deventer, is truly unique. Especially when you come for golden hour and witness the sunset while enjoying the 5-course chef’s menu, like we did.
Delicious and photogenic dishes, each with a unique story, all produced with locally-sourced ingredients. Get an impression through this gallery:
Brass Boer
Location: Blue Bay Curaçao Golf & Beach Resort, Sint Michiel
Price level: $$$
Open daily for lunch from 12 - 4 pm and for dinner Wednesday to Monday from 6 pm - 10 pm.
Website: BrassBoer.com/Curacao
Unfortunately, I did not have the pleasure to eat here myself yet, although I did have dinner at their location on Bonaire. That was a true culinary feast and a magical experience during sunset, with refined dishes created by the owners of the Michelin-star restaurant de Librije in Zwolle.
Next time this restaurant is certainly on my list, especially with its beautiful location right on the beach of the Blue Bay Resort, which makes barefoot culinary relaxation with their beach menu or casual fine dining with your feet in the sand possible here as well.
You can pick and choose from the menu, but the 5-course Chef’s Menu is a must-do too and a unique gastronomic experience!
Chef's Table Experience or Dinner in the Field
Location: 1 Djonoramarthaweg, Willemstad
Price level: $$-$$$
For availability check the events on the website for the monthly schedule.
Website: HelmiSmeulders.com
Another unique and personalized experience is a Chef’s Table or group dinner in the field with Caribbean Chef Helmi Smeulders.
Watch her prepare the most unique dishes with Caribbean-international flavor combinations right in front of you, served over several courses including wines.
Or have a casual 4-course dinner with wine-pairing outdoors, amidst the plantation of an authentic farm location, solely prepared with local products!
This renowned chef hosts these unique events once a month, with limited availability. And it’s even possible to book a private Chef’s Table Experience with a group of 8 - 18 people or book a cooking class with Helmi.
Curaçao’s restaurant offering is very diverse, ranging from a few fine dining experiences, to many casual foodie hotpots by the beach and cozy local eateries with outdoor seating. And new unique foodie experiences and stylish restaurants emerge every year.
This constant development, the unique atmosphere, nice settings, diversity of flavors and many cultural influences make both breakfast, lunch and dinner on Curaçao a dynamic experience that I can’t wait to come back for again!
I’ve been to the island 3 times now and keep discovering new authentic spots and hidden gems every time. Highly recommended for a wintersun trip between December - April, as the weather on Curaçao is consistently warm and sunny then. However, in December and January it can be a bit more expensive due to high season.
I hope this list of 28 unique foodie hotspots, including the 15 restaurants already mentioned in my previous restaurant guide, will inspire you and help you get to most out of your trip to this gastronomic tropical paradise!
Find even more Caribbean island tips on this Caribbean page. Or check Curacao.com for many more local, atmospheric, beachfront and fine dining restaurants and foodie hotspots all around Curacao.
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