Curaçao Restaurants: 12 Unique Spots in Willemstad

Curaçao is a fantastic Caribbean island that is crammed with journey. This Dutch-speaking isle is part of the ABC island chain that features Aruba and Bonaire. Curaçao is situated in the Lesser Antilles, east of Aruba and 40 miles north of Venezuela. This island is known for many things together with its wonderful delicacies and eating places.

Image: Gatsu Gatsu at all-inclusive resort Sandals Royal Curaçao. Visitors can get pleasure from limitless sushi and signature cocktails close to the seashore.

Whereas vacationing in Curaçao, between having fun with one of the best seashores on the island (Mambo Beach, Curaçao!), viewing world heritage websites like Handelshade, and exploring nationwide parks, you’ll have the ability to indulge in a few of this island’s distinctive delicacies. The native fare on this island, krioyo, is a mixture of Caribbean, Dutch, and Latin American flavors. A number of the finest eating in Curaçao may be discovered in the capital of Willemstad, and we’ve listed a few of our favourite eating places beneath!

The 12 best possible eating places in Curaçao

1. The Wine Cellar

The Wine Cellar is a French-inspired seafood restaurant in the district of Pietermaai. For those who search up evaluations on The Wine Cellar, you’ll discover loads of evaluations from previous friends about how this was one among their finest experiences in Curaçao. Their reasoning largely has to do with the nice meals, service, and ambiance at this location.

The Wine Cellar is good in case you’re on the lookout for someplace to have a tasty lunch or a romantic dinner. The menu right here is numerous and contains vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices. A number of the in style menu choices at The Wine Cellar embrace contemporary seafood akin to pink snapper, salmon fillet, shrimp, and scallops. There are loads of non-seafood choices as effectively just like the filet mignon, tenderloin filet, rack of lamb, truffle pasta, and stuffed mushrooms.

A big a part of the enchantment at The Wine Cellar is expectedly the wines. Choices embrace glowing, reds and whites from Spain and Italy, French white wines, French pink wines, tremendous pink wines from Chile and Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, and American Premium Wines. The Wine Cellar is excellent for an intimate and romantic {couples} date night time.

Professional tip: For those who love South American meals, you have to go to Zuka.

This restaurant specializes in delicacies from Central America and South America, but additionally gives worldwide delicacies like lobster, skirt steak, and pink snapper fillet. Our favourite dishes embrace the shrimp ceviche, the swordfish, and the tres leches truffles for dessert. This restaurant is just out there for friends of Sandals Royal Curaçao.

The very best half? Zuka’s distinctive meals is included and limitless as a part of Sandals’ all-inclusive vacation package. Have as many glasses of wine as you want with the dish of your selection as a result of (alcoholic) drinks are included and limitless throughout your total keep!

2. Kome

Picture credit score: Kome

‘Kome’ means eat in Papiamentu, a language extensively spoken in Curaçao. At Kome restaurant in Pietermaai (Willemstad), you’ll be impressed to just do that. You may have a la carte dinner at this restaurant on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday whereas on this island. On Saturdays, Kome is open for brunch and their menu contains savory and candy choices in addition to classics. Wednesdays are put aside for Tapas and Copas with a wide array of things out there for sharable parts. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices are additionally on supply right here.

The menu at Kome primarily consists of Caribbean-inspired dishes made with contemporary elements. Fusion choices can be found together with rooster and waffles, pepper steak, burgers, and Thai rooster. On the dessert menu: chocolate cake, sorbet, creme brûlée, and extra. Whilst you’re deciding what to order at Kome, you may settle in with some chilly beers or cocktails and benefit from the ambiance.

Dinner is obtainable at Kome from Tuesday to Saturday from 12 pm to 10 pm. There’s seating indoors and out on the terrace at this restaurant. The open-air eating part at this restaurant tends to be extra serene. Kome is situated in an space that’s lovely and accessible, so that you would possibly need to go for a stroll earlier than or after your meal.

Professional tip: Wish to get aware of Curaçao’s capital forward of your trip? Learn our Willemstad city guide for travelers to get began!

3. Gouverneur de Rouville

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Picture credit score: Gouverneur de Rouville

Enter the courtyard of Gouverneur de Rouville, a restaurant that serves each native and worldwide delicacies. The whole lot at this restaurant has a Caribbean twist, which is simply a part of the rationale friends like it a lot. Gouverneur de Rouville is a best choice in Curaçao for eating in case you love eating places that take note of element with their decor and supply nice meals and views.

The inside of this restaurant is gorgeous and rustic. The peaceable view of the harbor invitations you to a couple moments of calm when you revel in choices from the lunch, dinner, or dessert menus. There are just a few completely different consuming areas to select from together with the balcony, a romantic backyard, a personal air-conditioned assembly room, and the Motown-themed bar. From Gouverneur de Rouville, you may get pleasure from views of the Punda district, in specific the well-known UNESCO world heritage website, Handelskade.

The service at Gouverneur de Rouville is highly-rated and a number of the visitor favorites on the menu embrace ceviche, salmon cannelloni, salmon fillet, Caribbean rooster, and carpaccio. Cocktails and beers can be found. Gouvernear de Rouville opens from 9 am to 10:30 pm Monday to Sunday.

4. BijBlauw

Picture credit score: BijBlauw

Sunrises, sunsets, and each time of day in between may be merely breathtaking when seen from the shaded courtyard at BijBlauw. The enchantment of this scenic oceanfront restaurant lies in each its distinctive ambiance and assuredly ready dishes. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days every week, BijBlauw gives ample alternative so that you can stroll down and indulge in a incredible culinary expertise. This family-owned and operated institution makes it some extent to make use of contemporary, in-season elements from across the island. Their menus change sometimes to include new flavors and components as they turn into out there.

Since nearly every thing at this venue is made in-house, the restaurant can work round most meals allergy symptoms and dietary wants (simply allow them to know in advance) whereas nonetheless offering a luxurious meal, paired with an incredible glass of wine in case you want!

5. Shelterrock Paradise

Shelterrock Paradise is a Caribbean-style seafood restaurant that presents a novel eating expertise. A lot in order that on Friday evenings, meals are cooked in coconuts! That is an expertise that should be booked in advance for exact preparation to be carried out for the meal of your selection. Choices for the coconut eating expertise embrace rooster, beef, shrimp, fish, seafood combine, vegetarian, and goat. Fridays are additionally karaoke nights.

Aside from that, this restaurant opens repeatedly for lunch, brunch, dinner, and late-night meals and drinks. You’ll really feel such as you’re away from all of it right here, in a great way, with fairly unbelievable views of Christoffel Mountain. There are hammocks out on the balcony, thatched-style roofs, and most significantly, scrumptious meals and refreshing drinks. This restaurant has a number of the finest native meals in Curaçao full with a romantic and comfy ambiance.

Good to know: There’s a mountaineering park close to the Shelterrock Paradise restaurant the place you will discover a little bit of journey in case you want!

6. MosaCaña Bar & Kitchen

Picture credit score: Affect By way of The Lens

Eclectic and upbeat, MosaCaña Bar & Kitchen serves up scrumptious meals. This European/Latin/Caribbean fusion restaurant is in style with each locals and guests to Curaçao. As this spot can get crowded, making a reservation forward of time is mostly vital, much more so if you wish to safe seating for dinner.

On the menu at MosaCaña Bar & Kitchen, you’ll discover a vary of choices together with fish, tacos, ceviche, and steak. This restaurant can be vegetarian-friendly and gives gluten-free choices. A number of the issues friends love most about MosaCaña Bar & Kitchen are the nice music and repair, in addition to the tapas-style bar. Cocktails and beers constituted of domestically sourced alcohol can be found.

7. Restaurant Nultwintig

Picture credit score: Bronwyn Knight

Restaurant Nultwintig is close to the seaside and opens each day with lunch and dinner alternatives. This restaurant focuses on serving up high-quality dishes made with the freshest elements. On the menu at Nultwintig, you’ll discover a vary of worldwide fare together with contemporary fish, veal, steak, and lobster. Primarily based on evaluations from previous friends, this is among the finest eating places to dine at in Curaçao.

By way of what to anticipate throughout a eating expertise right here, effectively… for certain an completely lovely setting, an environment so welcoming it is going to draw you proper in, pleasant and useful workers, and loads of choices for eating and cocktails. As Nultwintig is sort of in style, make a reservation in advance.

8. Baoase Culinary Seashore Restaurant

Picture credit score: Baoase

Baoase Culinary Seashore Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is a romantic beachside location on a personal seashore. This restaurant’s menu contains European, Asian, and Caribbean-inspired delicacies. You may dine right here with some fairly standout views. For those who’re into seafood, you may strive some nice choices right here each Thursday. On Sundays, Asian delicacies takes middle stage whereas on Saturdays you may benefit from the culinary barbecue.

At Baoase, strive some buyer favorites together with the breakfast crepes, the spicy yellow curry, the burrata salad, tuna tartar, and the tenderloin carpaccio. There’s additionally a variety of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices out there. Forward of your plans to dine right here, it’s best to order a desk. Seating choices embrace ocean views, personal gazebos, and tables on the seashore.

Insider tip: Contemplating a seashore trip that features eating at wonderful eating places? There are fairly just a few all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, Curaçao included, that you could take into account on your subsequent getaway!

9. Fort Nassau

Picture credit score: Kurt Peterson

You’ll see Curaçao in a completely new method at Fort Nassau, particularly since this restaurant is ready excessive on prime of a hill that overlooks the capital Willemstad. The area the place this restaurant exists right now was as soon as a fort (constructed in 1796), and it has been used as a restaurant since 1959. Fort Nassau opens for lunch and dinner with a numerous menu that includes worldwide delicacies.

Fort Nassau prides itself on utilizing contemporary, high-quality elements for all of its dishes. High-rated menu gadgets right here embrace the grilled lamb chops, mahi-mahi, scallops, and the coconut chia seed panna cotta for dessert. Aside from that, you may strive the pasta, salads, soup, sandwiches in addition to tasty entrees and desserts when eating right here.

The views from Fort Nassau restaurant are distinctive! When reserving a reservation right here, choices embrace lunch with a view or late dinner (additionally with a view!). By way of seating, you may select between a eating expertise with a 180-degree island view, a Willemstad and sea view, or a sundown view for 2 on the terrace across the bar.

10. Sal The Kitchen

Picture credit score: Sal The Kitchen

Sal The Kitchen actually is aware of combine flavors in a method that retains clients coming again. That maybe is the rationale that you just would possibly end up right here greater than as soon as throughout your trip in Curaçao. Sal The Kitchen is a tremendous eating restaurant with an off-the-cuff ambiance that serves up Caribbean, Mediterranean, and French-style delicacies.

This restaurant is situated in the Pietermaai district of Willemstad. The menu right here contains choices of ‘small bites’: steak tartare, marinated tuna, salmon gravlax, and so on., and ‘not-so-small bites’: tenderloin, veggie carbonara, poussin caesar, and extra. There are alternatives for sides, desserts, and nightcaps. A number of the buyer favorites at Sal The Kitchen embrace the pink snapper, fried goat cheese, rib-eye steak, tuna tartar, and the eagerness fruit sorbet for dessert.

Except for the distinctive flavors, at Sal The Kitchen, you’ll love the standard of the meals and the incredible views. The service can be nice and the ambiance is welcoming and intimate.

11. SOi95

Evaluations counsel that SOi95 gives top-of-the-line eating experiences in Curaçao however why not go there to resolve for your self? The title alone could be sufficient to attract you in with intrigue! When you get there, you may get pleasure from a number of the finest Asian cuisines in Willemstad. This restaurant is an efficient choice for dinner, dessert, and cocktails.

Whenever you arrive at SOi95, the funky and trendy decor will instantly seize your consideration. The menu you’ll be handed when you’re seated contains choices like pangsit prawns, pink snapper, goat arepita, and tres leches cake for dessert. There are a lot of different scrumptious choices so that you’ll actually need to make up your thoughts about what you’re in the temper for, or ask for suggestions from the chef.

The menu at SOi95 modifications pretty typically – largely as a result of availability of contemporary elements on the island. This restaurant gives shared eating, and servings are barely bigger than you’d anticipate with tapas type. There’s an intriguing cocktail menu at SOi95 too that features choices just like the 24k Mojito, Midnight Martini, and Asian Saoco. Reservations for SOi95 may be made on-line whether or not you need to safe seating in the indoor eating space or the rooftop terrace.

12. BKLYN

Picture credit score: BKLYN

Put together to be spoiled at BKLYN, a gastro-bar in Willemstad recognized and beloved for its stylish and modern type. Positioned in the Pen Sq. space, this hotspot opened in March 2021. BKLYN is tremendous cozy and romantic, which makes it an incredible place for date night time in your {couples}’ trip. Meals at BKLYN are served tapas type.

BKLYN is enjoyable and vigorous. Buyer favourite menu gadgets right here embrace the oysters with a facet of caviar, flank steak with chimichurri, and the millionaire shortbread. Another attention-grabbing gadgets to strive embrace the lentil, pumpkin coconut curry, bao buns, the sundown park salad, honey soy glazed rooster drum sticks, crispy coconut prawns, and extra.

An ideal eating expertise at BKLYN is incomplete with out getting one thing scrumptious to sip on. The liquors served listed here are infused in-house and have tantalizing unique flavors. Attempt the in-house basic “Hanging Grapes”, made with lemongrass-infused gin, contemporary passionfruit juice, selfmade ginger beer, and Angostura bitters. BKLYN opens from Tuesday to Saturday from 5 pm to midnight.

Native dishes to strive in Curaçao

There’s a world of meals to strive in Curaçao and a few of this island’s conventional dishes can put even probably the most devoted foodie to the check. This daring listing contains issues like iguana soup, cactus soup, and lots of different choices. We’ll deal with a number of the hottest native dishes you merely should strive in Curaçao:

• Keshi Yena – That is thought-about the signature dish of Curaçao. Curiously, the preparation of this dish begins with a ball of cheese, often edam or gouda. Then, the cheese ball is full of beef, rooster, pork, or minced greens like onions, capers, tomatoes, pickles, and olives. The meat used in this dish is usually spiced.

• Fried Plantain – A favourite on this island that consists of thinly sliced plantains which might be fried till gloriously golden brown. This dish can be in style on different Caribbean islands.

• Pastechi – A well-liked fried pastry that may embrace rooster, beef, tuna, greens, ham, cheese, or tuna filling. That is often served as a breakfast dish but it surely can be eaten as a snack. Pastechi is most frequently crescent-shaped.

• Stoba – Hearty and scrumptious, stoba is a stew that’s made with papaya, beef, or goat. The kind of meat used in this dish varies, however papaya is the signature ingredient that provides sweetness to this dish. Carrots, peas, and different elements are sometimes added as effectively.

• Guiambo – This soup has a little bit of a slippery consistency as a result of okra and it features a medley of seafood. Generally, canned or contemporary oysters, cooked shrimp, and fish are added to Guiambo. Small items of funchi (listed beneath) are typically added to this soup as soon as it’s ready.

• Kadushi – Made out of cactus, kadushi is one other one among Curaçao’s conventional dishes. The spines of the cactus are eliminated, then the cactus is skinned, sliced, and ready. Usually inexperienced in coloration and barely slimy – you will discover this nutritious soup on the Outdated Market in Willemstad.

• Funchi – This savory dish is made out of cornmeal, and is similar to polenta. It’s also much like one other dish often called tutu, though black-eyed peas will not be used in the making of funchi. Funchi is often served as a facet dish, however it’s typically positioned into soups.

Bonus: Get eating credit score with Sandals’ Eating Out Program

Fingers down, Curaçao has a number of the finest eating places in the Caribbean. With an emphasis on guaranteeing the elements used are contemporary and the dishes interesting, many of those eating places go away friends eager to guide a flight again only for one other night time of dinner!

For those who’re a fan of consuming out, then you definitely’ll love Sandals’ Eating Out Program. By way of this initiative, friends of Sandals Royal Curaçao will obtain $250 in eating credit score (per room) that can be utilized at any restaurant that’s included in the curated listing of taking part institutions. That is the right alternative to dine at one of many top-rated eating places in Curaçao throughout your trip.

Credit score from the Sandals’ Eating Out Program can solely be used at one restaurant, and the remaining funds can’t be used to dine elsewhere. The credit score should be used throughout your keep as effectively. Visitors who’re eligible for the Eating Out Program embrace anybody who has booked seven or extra nights in a butler-level suite at Sandals Royal Curaçao. The voucher will likely be offered to friends as soon as they verify in on the resort. The voucher contains meals, drinks, and gratuity!

For extra data: https://www.sandals.com/royal-Curaçao/dine-out-Curaçao/

Discover one of the best eating places in Curaçao throughout your keep

Pictured: Visitors of Sandals Royal Curaçao have the chance to indulge in a eating expertise at any of the eight eating places and three beachside meals vans on the property. At all times limitless, the eating choices embrace European fusion, Italian, Mediterranean delicacies, seafood, sushi, and extra.

The Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao is sort of a gem. Embarking on a culinary or any sort of journey to this island is certain to be rewarded with distinctive experiences. Because the eating places listed in this put up are really traveler favorites, we’ve little question you’ll have the ability to discover not less than one that you could get pleasure from throughout your trip.

A trip in Curaçao may be made even higher with a keep at one of many all-inclusive resorts in Curaçao. There are a lot of perks to an all-inclusive trip on this island. Certainly one of these would be the high quality inclusions you will discover at resorts like Sandals Royal Curaçao and the truth that every thing you want will likely be offered in one place together with drinks, meals, leisure, and extra. Sandals Royal Curaçao gives luxurious lodging, a number of eating places and swimming pools, and every thing you’ll want for an unbelievable Caribbean trip!

Professional tip: Whenever you’re carried out experiencing one of the best eating places in Curaçao, you may take a while to take a look at a number of the most enjoyable things to do in Curaçao.