6 Best Restaurants in Bonaire

Owners of the critically acclaimed De Librije restaurant in the Netherlands and longtime Bonaire visitors, Dutch master chef Jonnie Boer and his wife, Therese, operate this hip restaurant in Delfins Beach Resort. Enjoy some of the island's most exciting and creative fusion fare (miso-cured monkfish, sweetbreads with peanut, coconut, and pineapple)—prepared in an open kitchen—in a gorgeous seaside setting with glassed-in banquettes. This beachfront spot is also open for breakfast and lunch. Reserve the private palapa over the sea, called Table 14, for a special occasion.

This splendid, family-run Italian eatery offers casual à la carte dining on a terrace or meals in a more romantic setting in a tonier, air-conditioned dining room. Choose from 50 regular offerings—including thin-crust prosciutto pizzas, caprese salads, linguini with scallops, and red wine–braised lamb shank—or go for the five-course prix-fixe menu.

This aptly named, eclectic eatery serves everything from pasta and risotto to ribs and skewers to schnitzels and shareables in a labyrinth of dining nooks, decks, and gardens. At lunch, it attracts hungry crowds with inventive burgers and sandwiches; at night, two bars draw folks for cocktails and tapas, and the chef’s surprise dinners pack in those looking for a full meal. There's live music some weekend evenings.

Overlooking Lac Bay, the training ground for the famous Bonaire Windsurf Team, this breezy bar offers libations and tasty sandwiches, salads, and daily specials in a lively surfside setting until 6 pm most days, with the exception of Thursday, when there's a famous barbecue and live music well into the evening, and Sunday. Lounge beds, sofas in the sand, and lots of shady nooks make this a wonderful place to chill and party on the beach.

This urban-chic establishment housed in a century-old traditional home with a magical seafront setting provides impeccable service and a creative, diverse menu that emphasizes grilled local fish—the restaurant even has its own little seafood market just outside. Open for lunch weekdays with a diverse menu of Dutch-style sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and fish-and-chips, too, it's a wonderful downtown spot for watching the boats on the water. There's a great kids' menu, too.

Though the massive overwater palapa beside Karel’s Beach Bar is connected to it by a wooden boardwalk and so similar in design you would assume it is part of the same establishment, Pier Dos is worlds apart in vibe, ambience, and offerings. The atmosphere is upscale and avant garde with interesting foodie-forward specialties. The atmosphere at night is seriously romantic with mood lighting and soft music.