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Curaçao’s culinary scene has become seriously cosmopolitan in the past few years. Though you can still find places to get traditional, local dishes like iguana soup, keshi yena (seasoned meat wrapped in cheese and baked), and goat stew, the emerging generation of chefs has really raised the bar. Caribbean meets international with a side of nouvelle cuisine or farm-to-fork organic offerings. All combine for a cornucopia of tastes and flavors that meet world-class standards. And the range of locations where you can enjoy these creations is as eclectic as the fare. You’ll find romantic toes-in-the-sand surf-side spots, family-friendly air-conditioned emporiums, lush countryside gardens, and unique historic sites like forts and plantation houses all hosting diners. For authentic local-style lunches drop by the Old Market in Punda; or after the nightclubs, seek out one of the late-night snack trucks (truki pan) for cheap, yet satisfying, eats. Many beach bars also have fabulous fare for less than you’d expect to pay. But for the most part, fine dining will cost you what it’s typically worth, especially since almost every kind of food on this island needs to be imported from elsewhere.
What to Wear. Dress in restaurants is almost always casual (though beachwear isn't acceptable). Some of the resort dining rooms and more elegant restaurants require that men wear jackets, especially in high season; ask when you make reservations.
Chef Jonnie Boer and his maître d' wife Thérèse of De Librije—a 3–Michelin star restaurant in the Netherlands—opened a surfside dining establishment in Bonaire in 2018, the popularity of which led to a second location in Curaçao. Set upon a stunning rock pier over the water at Blue Bay Golf & Beach Resort, Brass Boer specializes in small plates of international fusion fare made for sharing. They also offer a nightly chef’s special set menu for dinner at $145.
The owner of BBQ Express, one of the island’s most wildly popular food trucks, had the idea of gathering an entire slew of popular food truck operators and putting them all in one spot. Made from old shipping containers and decorated by the island’s most talented mural artists, Pasawa Box Eatery offers many different types of food to sample beyond local, including Asian, Mexican, and Italian---there’s even an ice-cream stand on-site. A huge island bar in the middle invites patrons to gather around and watch sports on big screen TVs. The music is always loud, but tasteful and sometimes live.
Set in a two-story palapa and over its own pier on the sea, this oceanfront oasis is the cornerstone of the Jan Thiel Beach collection of eateries and bars, specializing in Argentinean-style grilled meats and seafood served up in shareable plates. First Thursday of the month is live music night and salsa on the pier for all is always on the menu---prepare to get out of your chair and join the crowd.
If you’re seeking big fat burgers and bountiful boat drinks Jimmy Buffet–style, look no further than this seafront oasis beside the Windcreek Renaissance Resort’s infinity beach club. You need not be a resort guest to hang out there and enjoy lively music, great camaraderie, creative margaritas, and beer bucket specials. Though the menu is mostly American, they nod to Southern American influences by offering arepas, patacones, and ceviche. Grab a seat on the seafront terrace at happy hour for spectacular sunsets over the ocean and 3-litre towers of cocktails or beer.
This urban street food complex and bar is a perfect fit for the new creative vibe overtaking this historic neighborhood (bario) with all its new outdoor art and cultural attractions. Part of the Bario Boutique Hotel, it's a destination in its own right for trendy fusions of local and international eats served from kiosks made out of old shipping containers. Each kiosk has its own specialty and the barkeeps craft killer cocktails using as many local ingredients as they can---try an Otrobanda Colada! There is always live or DJ-driven music to snack by, and it's become the Friday Happy Hour hot spot for locals.
This little gem tucked away in the hip district of Pietermaai specializes in creative fusion shareables, small plates, and killer craft cocktails. Themed around the culinary melting pot that is Brooklyn, New York, it provides an excellent beginning to a night out.
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