The national dish of the ABC islands, keshi yena (stuffed cheese), comes in many different varieties—and every Aruban family has a closely guarded recipe of their own. It began as the hollowed rind of Edam or Gouda cheese, stuffed with beef, chicken, or seafood as well as onions, peppers, tomato sauce, olives, capers, raisins, and cashews, but it now qualifies as any type of casserole topped with melted Dutch cheese. One of the best versions is available at Papiamento in Noord, where the Ellis family combines shredded tenderloin, chicken, and some secret ingredients and cooks them to thick, bubbly perfection.

The restaurant, located on the property of a vintage cottage home and wine cellar, provides an upscale dining experience like no other. As you sit poolside, enjoying the sounds of the night’s live music, feast on the restaurant’s popular dishes including its “Stone Specials” where fare is cooked on the open-air terrace and served to the table sizzling hot so guests can allow it to cook to their liking. If you aren’t starving, opt for a casual nightcap at the property’s hidden outdoor bar.

Part museum, part restaurant, Papiamento operates out of a cunucu house that’s over 175 years old. The best spot for this fancy date-night dinner is the outdoor tables set around an illuminated pool and under enormous trees with lights hung from their branches. The menu highlights Aruban standbys, like oyster soup and keshi yena, and entrées served on hot stones.

The Ellis family converted its 126-year-old manor into a bistro with an atmosphere that is elegant, intimate, and always romantic. You can feast in the small dining room, which is filled with antiques, or outdoors on the terrace by the pool. The chef mixes Continental and Caribbean cuisines to produce sumptuous seafood and meat dishes.

What is it: A fancy restaurant in a 19th-century mansion with a gigantic wine vault. Why go: Did we mention the vault has 1,800 bottles?. If that’s not enough, Papiamento’s food presentation will blow you away.

Papiamento is the most upscale restaurant on this list and a romantic address for fine dining in a lush courtyard overlooking the pool of a century-old traditional Aruban cunucu house. This is a place to visit for a special night out or when you have something to celebrate (in our case, our first return trip to Aruba after living here for 15 years). The fare is international with touches of Aruban cuisine; try the local keshi yena, a stuffed-cheese appetizer dish.

The Ellis family has been providing an authentic experience at Papiamento restaurant since 1983. Today, they continue to enhance the Papiamento experience by incorporating different concepts for local and international guests, such as, their popular wine cellar and their newest addition; PAPPA’s Cigar Lounge. Wine vault- The wine cellar at Papiamento Restaurant was a storeroom and cheese factory in the older days as an extension of the 126-year-old manor house.

Papiamento Restaurant encapsulates the essence of dining in Aruba with its unique blend of history, culture, and local flavors, all within the enchanting setting of a historic Aruban house. Surrounded by lush gardens and a captivating pool, families are treated to an unforgettable dining experience. The menu, carefully crafted to appeal to all ages, features dishes that introduce children to Aruban cuisine in a fun and accessible manner.

Finally, to Papiamento, the name of the island’s creole language given to a charming restaurant located in the former home of its owner, Eduardo Ellis. His business card proudly proclaims some of the establishment’s attributes: a premium bar; a wine library with a Wine Spectator award for its list (two glasses!); international cuisine; local specialities; a cigar lounge; and all of this with a tropical ambience.

Owned and operated by a local family, Papiamento Restaurant has been in business since 1983 and the current head chef is the son of the founders. Located about a mile from Palm Beach, the restaurant has tables outdoors around a pool and inside an 1880s house stuffed with European antiques from the era. The menu is heavy on Caribbean seafood but also offers steaks and Aruban favorites like keshi yena.

Papiamento, a gorgeous century-old heritage house, is where the Ellis family has been providing a special brand of hospitality for over 30 years. The restaurant has a stellar wine cellar, a mini-museum room full of European antiques, a cozy lounge, and an outdoor tropical plant-adorned dining area that surrounds a pool. Just don't expect to take a swim — the pool is only for aesthetic enjoyment.

Papiamento, a gorgeous century-old heritage house, is where the Ellis family has been providing a special brand of hospitality for over 30 years. The restaurant has a stellar wine cellar, a mini-museum room full of European antiques, a cozy lounge, and an outdoor tropical plant-adorned dining area that surrounds a pool; Just don't expect to take a swim — the pool is only for aesthetic enjoyment.

Open from Monday - Saturday from 6 - 10.30 pm, closes at midnight and on Sundays. This historic restaurant offers a unique combination of upscale dining and a museum. Located in a traditional Aruban house dating back to 1886, filled with antiques, a wine vault with 1,800 international vintage wine bottles, as well as Pappa’s cigar lounge for a truly authentic experience.

‍Set in a 126-year-old Aruban manor house, Papiamento Restaurant offers a unique blend of history and exquisite cuisine. The lush garden setting, complete with a sparkling pool, creates a magical ambiance. Known for its upscale take on traditional Aruban dishes, the restaurant uses local ingredients to create flavorful meals that celebrate the island’s culinary heritage.

Whether you dine inside the historic mansion dating back to the early 1800s, in the garden or poolside, the vibe at Papiamento is elegant. A wine vault stores around 1,800 bottles, a mix of affordable and splurge-worthy selections from around the world. Even the bread service has flair: rolls are stacked on a skewer and presented on a rustic, tree-bark-inspired charger.

Dit restaurant vond zijn oorsprong in 1983 en is een echte verborgen parel middenin de stad. Papiamento Restaurant is een betoverende plek waar je vanaf maandag t/m zaterdag vanaf 18:00-22:30 terecht kunt voor een onvergetelijke dineerervaring. Het restaurant is gespecialiseerd in een hybride mix van Caribische en internationale smaken met een toefje Nederlandse keuken.

Papiamento Restaurant is an especially fun restaurant in Oranjestad to visit with kids. Housed in a historic manor, you can enjoy a magical dinner in a lush garden next to a pool, surrounded by twinkling lights. Specializing in authentic Aruban food with a modern twist, your kids will love this place because their meals can be served on a hot stone for them to “cook.

For top gourmet Caribbean cuisine in a romantic high-end Aruban setting, it has to be Papiamento owned by the Ellis family. Set in a beautiful Aruban century-old manor house known as a cunucu, we could have had a table in a dining room but this evening we chose to sit on the expansive terrace by the pool in their lush garden. It felt as if we were at a wedding.

Over at the Screaming Eagle Restaurant, they’re serving up delicious Caribbean and French food. Make sure you try the Blackened King Clip, with its champagne sauce to die for. Or grab some authentic Mexican food right on Palm Beach at Lola Taqueria or Kalins , and you might guess that the Baja Fish Tacos go perfectly with the Cadillac Margarita.

For delicious local cuisine in an unforgettable setting, Papiamento Restaurant is a must-visit. This restaurant is renowned as a captivating fusion of a museum and a tropical paradise. Located on a plantation with over a 100-year-old Aruban cunucu house, you can dine on the terrace by the pool under a sparkling starlit sky.

Papiamento is a 126-year-old cunucu house that has been turned into a tropical dining oasis!. Here, you will dine in the lush garden under beautiful twinkling lights (be sure to get a reservation for after sunset for the best experience!). The surf and turf at Papiamento is to die for — it comes out on a searing hot block!

Family-run Papiamento in Oranjestad and The Old Cunucu House in Palm Beach serve home-style signature Aruban favorites like cabrito (goat stew) and keeshi yena (Gouda cheese and chicken baked with onions, peppers, celery, green olives, raisins, and cashews). These dishes will have you coming back to Aruba for more.

Papiamento is the native language of Aruba, and an authentic, Aruban villa built in 1886. Transformed into one of the island's most cherished restaurants and run by the dedicated, local family Ellis. This historical cunucu house, filled with Dutch antiques and hand-carved furniture, is ideal for romantic dinners.

Dinner at Papiamento Restaurant is an experience you will never forget. You can enjoy an exquisite dining experience surrounded by a lush garden, a turquoise pool, and rare Dutch-style antiques. Chef Edward Ellis created a menu with a selection of fresh seafood and delicious meats with a touch of Aruba.

Today we recommend having a romantic dinner at the really elegant Papiamento Restaurant. You’ll be seated next to the pool and can enjoy the wonderful atmosphere. Unfortunately there aren’t too many vegetarian options, but for meat and especially fish eaters this is a great place.

Papiamento started in downtown Oranjestad before relocating to this old cunucu ("countryside") house and former riding school, in the area where the founder's four children grew up. Family-run restaurants are known for having members in the kitchen or managing the house, but the…

Located on the grounds of an old mansion, Papiamento— which is also the spoken language of the island—has an unforgettable ambiance. Daily specials are for the dare-devil type, while the regular menu pleases the less adventurous without sacrificing any flavor or quality.

Papiamento – Enjoy Aruban and international cuisine in an Aruban country house. Pinchos Bar and Grill – If over-water dining is your thing, you'll probably enjoy the romantic Pinchos, where you dine on a pier over the water at Surfside Beach.

If you’re looking for an intimate dinner surrounded by tropical foliage and twinkling lights, Papiamento is the perfect choice. This charming restaurant is located in an old Aruban house and offers Aruban and international cuisine.

Indulge in an exclusive dining experience at the Papiamento Restaurant. The restaurant is inside a 175-year-old authentic Aruban manor house. Don’t miss the impressive tour of the wine cellar.

Papiamento’s historic buildings, pool and garden make this a couple’s dream. Request a table for two alongside the beautifully lit pool, and the memories of your evening will last a lifetime.

Price Range: $$$, $25 - $35 Cuisine type: Aruban, Caribbean, International. Dinner at Papiamento Restaurant is an experience you will never forget.

Some of the best Aruba eateries on this list are Linda’s Dutch Pancakes and Pizza, Yemanja Woodfire Grill and Papiamento Restaurant.