Aruba is the best Caribbean travel destination. The weather is always a constant 82 degrees Fahrenheit  with a nice breeze and the island is generally missed by bad weather including hurricanes. The people are very friendly, speak English and the dollar is widely accepted. The beaches are fantastic and the food is always delicious. Aruba’s biggest industry is tourism and the locals really seem to appreciate you visiting their island and they want you to enjoy your stay.

The food scene in Aruba has a wide selection to suit your passion and cravings from fine dining to bar food, from Italian, Sushi,  Seafood, Steak to pancakes houses (from the Dutch influence). So when you are on vacation what makes a great restaurant? To me there are three metrics namely food, service and ambiance. Think a little bit about vacation mode  for second. You are relaxing on vacation. You want great tasting food, you want to be pampered or taken care of so high service levels are expected and you want a dining experience so ambiance matters a lot. I did not include price because I think when you are on vacation price becomes less of an issue. The taste of the food always matters. Why pick Italian restaurants? According to TripAdvisor, Italian is third largest restaurant category in Aruba after Caribbean and Seafood with 38 Italian restaurant on the island. Also, I am a self proclaimed “pastavore” so check out my recipes for Penne in Pink Vodka Sauce , Simple Red Sauce and Pasta and Pot Roast Spaghetti here on the blog.

So here is my picks for the top three Italian restaurants on Aruba:

1. Gianni’s Ristorante Italiano. The must order dish here is the Spaghetti al Formaggio Parmigiana which literally translates to something like spaghetti in a Parmesan cheese form which pretty much describes how the dish is prepared. When you order the server brings a cart table side with a giant wheel of Parmesan Reggiono (the undisputed king of cheese!)  and scrapes the center of the wheel. They he adds whiskey and lights it on fire to melt the loose cheese. Then pasta dressed with light tomato sauce and basil is added and stirred until is coated with the melted cheese. This is awesome presentation and a very delicious, creamy smooth dish. Having a dish prepared table side I think is the highest level of service possible. The ambiance is a street side restaurant in Europe so it has a nice, open feeling.
2. Faro Blanco. This place wins on ambiance. Faro Blanco is on the north end of the island on the hill near the California Light House. Nothing beats the romance setting of the beautiful scenic view watching a beautiful sunset, the soft live music and eating a delicious dinner with loved ones and friends. The menu is very extensive and the food is fantastic. This place is a little out of the beaten path so waiting on a taxi and the ride back seems a little grueling. But hey, you are on vacation, remember?
3. Casa Tau. This little place is in the Renaissance Marketplace in downtown Oranjestad near the marina. It has the feel of an street side restaurant and most nights during the week there is music on the little stage. While they specialize in brick oven pizza, I love their Beef Bolognese. The flavor is very deep and complex from the slow cooked beef in tomato sauce.

Honorable mention: Papagayo Bar & Grill on the Renaissance Aruba private island. This visit we ate a lot of pizza for lunch, especially the Margherita Pizza has a thin crisp crust with tomatoes and Parmesean and basil. It was a perfect lunch while relaxing on the beach.

Bonus Travel Guide for Aruba

1. We love staying at the Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino. This is interesting hotel property with something for everyone. It features a downtown location with a trendy, high energy lobby/poolside bar overlooking the marina and the cruise ship docks. It features an attached mall of high end shopping, a casino, a spa and a steak house and buffet style restaurant. Across the street is an oceanfront complex featuring another casino, more shopping and restaurants and a ocean front building with more suites and a large outdoor pool. The best part however is that you can take a 15 minute ride on water taxi from the hotel to Renaissance Aruba private Island which is only available to hotel guests or those who purchase a day pass. The island boasts two beaches, a spa, a casual restaurant and two bars. This place is like a quite sanctuary where you can just relax and soak up the sun while enjoying the watching the waves roll in.

   

 

2. Sunrises and Sunsets. We love watching both sunrises and sunsets. We love catching the sunrise at Renaissance Ocean side while we eat breakfast which is typically a granola bar, or yogurt and fruit and a coffee. Sunset from a catamaran while skimming along the coast is fun and romantic. Most cruises are around $50 US per person and include unlimited drinks and light snacks.

 

3. Tours- Go on a tour so you can experience the wild side island. Aruba is a small desert island, only about 20 miles long and 6 miles wide and so much more to offer than beautiful beaches. There is a a lot of history dating back to 1499 to take in too. Most tours are about $100 per person for 4 hours of guided exploration.

 

5. Sun Protection. I strongly recommend Aruba Aloe. You can bring something or buy some other brand, but I think these products are awesome and they work. One trip I got a bad sunburn which I was able to recover from after two days using Aruba Aloe products. With 16 store locations in Aruba, you are never very far from safety form the sun. Also they ship to the US often with free shipping promotions.
6. Wild life. Iguanas roam around Aruba. They are probably more afraid of you than you are of them.

6. Navigating the Airport
   • If you are traveling to the US directly from Aruba then you clear US customs in Aruba. This is great for arriving back in the US but it will cut into your beach time on the day of departure. If you are traveling during the week then plan on being at the airport at least two hours in advance. If you are traveling out on a weekend, then plan on at least 3 hours. The lines are long and move rather slow. You have to clear Aruba security then US security and then US passport control. This will take some time.
   • There are fixed taxi prices on Aruba. And there are plenty of taxis. I am on vacation so I don’t want to bother with a car so it is super easy to find a taxis or walk around. There is no Uber or Lyft on Aruba.
   • The Wine Port (near Gate 4)  is a nice spot where you can grab a glass of wine or beer and recharge your phone for the flight home. Don’t let the name fool you, they also have beer and tasty meat and cheese trays.