Headed to Curacao soon? Curious about the food scene? Look no further than your guide to the best restaurants and food in Curacao!
Curacao is not one of the first places that comes to mind when you think of a foodie’s paradise. Most of the food is imported, making fresh produce expensive and a little difficult to come by. However, there are many delicious restaurants serving up amazing food in Curacao – you just need to know where to look!
This guide to food and restaurants in Curacao will highlight some of the best restaurants and cuisine that you must try while on the island. It will also tell you exactly which restaurants (popular tourist traps) to skip!
Ready to discover best food in Curacao and where to eat for the best local dishes?
Let’s get right into the Curacao food and restaurant guide!
The Best Restaurants and Food in Curacao
Curacao Cuisine
The cuisine in Curacao is a mix of Dutch, Caribbean, Latin American and North American dishes. Due to the island’s location, and history as a Dutch colony, the island’s food scene is a melting pot of dishes across cultures and countries.
Being an island, there is of course a bustling fishing industry in Curacao, and while on the island it is essential to try dishes with local seafood. The fish will be fresh and it is one of the only foods served that will be local.
Fresh Produce
Curacao used to receive boatloads (literally) of fresh produce from Venezuela. Curacao and Venezuela are only 37 miles apart, making produce delivery a great partnership. However, for the past few years there has been an embargo, and there are no longer any produce deliveries from Venezuela to Curacao. This greatly limits the island’s access to fresh produce.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of agriculture on the island – partially due to the fact that it is very difficult to grow crops. Some produce does grow well though, such as eggplant, papaya and cucumbers – so these you can find fresh in stores and at restaurants.
Imported Ingredients
Because Curacao has to rely so heavily on imported food, food prices can be quite high. Additionally, the quality of produce, specifically, can be low – as it is traveling long distances.
The best food I had in Curacao were simple dishes made with local ingredients.
Must Try Dishes
- Arepitas – a popular Venezuelan dish. Think a thick corn tortilla stuffed with cheese, meat, veggies, etc.
- Bitterballen – a Dutch meatball that is often served as a “snack” or bar food.
- Smoothies – there are tons of smoothie stands all over the island. Make sure to get smoothies made with fresh fruits and not mixes.
- Seafood (specifically Lionfish) – Lionfish is an invasive species of poisonous, white fish that is served in many restaurants around the island.
The Best Restaurants in Curacao
Breakfast/Brunch/Early Lunch
- Reina Cafe
- This coffee shop is adorable and has great vegan and gluten free pastry options!
- I recommend the iced americanos and the banana bread.
- Bonchi Coffeehouse
- Delicious coffee and tea and a great selection of breakfast dishes. The decor is also so cute.
- I recommend an iced americano and the avocado & egg toast!
- Cafe Copacabana
- This spot is very casual and only has outdoor seating. But the coffee is great and the owner is so kind!
- Van Gogh Coffee
- Delicious food and coffee in an adorable old mansion.
- I recommend the peach iced tea, croissants and hummus & avocado toast.
- BijBlauw
- Beautiful views of the water and a great selection of breakfast dishes and coffee drinks.
- I recommend the tropical smoothie bowl, farmers omelet, croissants and iced coffee.
- Mistral Bistro
- This place is great any time of day, but I specifically like it for breakfast because it’s calm, quiet and not filled with tourists yet.
- I recommend the americanos and the granola bowl.
Lunch
- Hofi Cas Cora
- A farm to table restaurant serving local dishes!! This place is great for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Be sure to make a reservation though, because this popular spot is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am-3pm. The prices are also very, very reasonable for local, fresh food.
- La Boheme
- This eclectic little restaurant has great outdoor seating in the heart of Punda. Their food is good and very affordable, so this quickly became our go-to spot.
- I recommend the arepas, all of the smoothies and the veggie sandwich.
- Altijd in de Buurt (good vegetarian options)
- This is a great place to have lunch on a shaded outdoor patio! They have wonderful vegetarian options and everything tasted very fresh.
- I recommend the vega loaded fries and the chicken and waffles.
Dinner
- Maira’s Kitchen
- Maira’s Kitchen in Otrobanda serves Mediterranean style food in a beautiful, boho style setting. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. This is my favorite restaurant in Curacao!
- I especially recommend the Israeli pita and pasta carbonara.
- Grand Cafe ‘t Klooster
- Located inside Boutique Hotel ‘t Klooster you’ll find a restaurant and bar serving up great food. They are closed on the weekends, so be sure to visit during the week.
- We visited for pizza night (and it was very good!), but the menu is filled with tons of delicious offerings.
- Roast Cannibal Rumbar
- Roast Cannibal Rumbar is really a fine dining experience, but in a casual setting. The menu is very thoughtful and everything is so well prepared. This does come with a high price tag though, so definitely save it for a special occasion.
- I recommend the burrata, cannelloni, baby back ribs, and whatever the fish of the day is!
- De Heeren @ Sea
- De Heeren @ Sea offers beautiful ocean views! Be sure to make a reservation, as they are often very busy. Go at sunset for the best views!
- I recommend the bread with dips, and while I didn’t really enjoy the quinoa salad, other salads and entrees looked delicious.
- Kome
- Kome came highly recommend by many locals, but unfortunately we didn’t have time to visit. They’re closed Sundays and Mondays, and we didn’t plan accordingly.
- BKLYN
- BKLYN also came highly recommend, but again, we were unable to visit. They are also closed on Sundays and Mondays. The restaurant specializes in Asian and North American fusion dishes.
The Best Bars in Curacao
- Bario Urban Street Food
- Bario Urban Street Food is an indoor/outdoor food hall and bar with great live music in the evenings! You can come for dinner, or just for drinks, and it’s such a fun experience!
- Iguana Cafe
- This is a great place for daytime drinks, specifically, because it has an amazing view of the Queen Emma Bridge. The Queen Emma Bridge swings open to let boats in and out, and it is very cool to see.
- Mr Porter
- Mr Porter a fun bar with great outdoor seating! The drinks are good and it’s a fun place to hangout.
- Mundo Bizarro
- I have mixed feelings about Mundo Bizarro. This bar is the most photographed on the whole island, and it’s a unique place! That being said, the service and food were both really bad. I recommend having a drink at Mundo Bizarro in the evening, but definitely not ordering dinner.
- Mambo Beach
- As I mentioned in my Curacao Vacation Guide, I don’t think Mambo Beach is one of the best beaches on the island. However, they do have a good bar scene and if you’re looking for a place to have evening cocktails on the beach, this is a fantastic option! There are multiple bars to choose from, and you can easily move from one to another.
Popular Restaurants to Skip
- Hemingway
- Located in the Lions Dive Resort, Hemingway somehow has great reviews. However, although the view is nice, they serve some of the worst food I’ve ever eaten. Nothing tasted fresh and it was almost inedible. Definitely skip this restaurant.
- Mundo Bizarro
- Like I mentioned above, Mundo Bizarro is a nice place to have a drink, but the food is really bad. It’s picturesque and makes a nice spot to sit, but trust me on this one and skip the food.
Curacao Food and Restaurants – Things to Know
- Many restaurants are closed on Sundays and Mondays.
- Those that are open are often very busy. If you have a kitchen at your AirBnb/hotel, Sundays and Mondays are great days to cook at home!
- Restaurants are generally expensive.
- Because so much of the food is imported, from the US and Europe specifically, food prices are quite high. In many restaurants you’ll be paying similar prices to major US cities like NYC and Boston.
- The coffee is very good!
- I didn’t have a bad cup of coffee the entire time I was in Curacao. The coffee is delicious!
- Is Curacao a good island for foodies?
- Yes and no. Restaurants in Curacao are pretty hit or miss, in my opinion. However, there are restaurants that serve really delicious dishes – just make sure you read reviews, look at the menus, and follow this guide to food and restaurants in Curacao!
- Can I drink the tap water?
- The tap water is very good quality and totally safe to drink. You don’t need to order bottled water at restaurants or buy it at supermarkets.
- How much do I tip in Curacao?
- Tipping was a little confusing because sometimes there would be an option to add a tip while paying with a credit card, and other times I’d have to leave cash. Some places supposedly add a 12% service charge to the bill (perhaps at resorts), but I didn’t see this at any restaurants on the island. I recommend tipping 15%, assuming there is no service charge (tip) already added.
Hungry yet? I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best restaurants and food in Curacao!
Curacao’s food scene is very unique and many restaurants serve delicious food. Be on the lookout for fresh, local ingredients – those will really make the dish delicious.
If you have any questions, or any other restaurants to add to this post, let me know in the comments!
Lastly, I appreciate you sharing this post with someone you know who’d love a trip to Curacao!
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More Curacao guides to check out!
♡Kate
Note: This guide to food in Curacao includes affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.
Love this guide to all the best food and restaurants in Curacao. Everything looks so good!
I’ve only been to Curacao by cruise ship and I loved wandering around checking out all of the little shops. I didn’t realize that there were so many restaurants though. They all look so quaint, colourful and yummy. I will check some of them out next time I visit.
Very comprehensive. I feel as though I could make some great restaurant choices based on your recommendations. The pita (possibly filled with falafel) looks delicious!
We were headed to Curaçao the summer the pandemic hit and never made it. It’s still on our list of places to visit. I had no idea about the embargo on Venezuela. Thanks for all the tips on where to eat when we do go!
Great food guide for the island. I love your candid opinions. much appreciated. I was surprised to read of Lionfish. I never have heard of that on a menu. Intriguing. I always love to try the fresh seafood at such locales.
Thanks for the tips on the best local cuisine! The arepitas sound delicious.
Yum! Everything sounds delish! I never heard of a Bitterballen until your article. I definitely want to try it. Curaçao looks like such a great place from your articles.
ooooh Curacao wasn’t even on my list and now I want to go so bad! I’m in the Caribbean now but it seems I picked the wrong island – the architecture and little cafes look so cute! great article
We were set to go to Curaçao before the pandemic but never got there. Looking forward to getting there one day. Thanks for all the suggestions.
I’ve been looking into a trip to Curacao and didn’t even realize all the food options! The coffeehouses, smoothie options, and Maira’s Kitchen all sound amazing. I’ll definitely be saving this guide for later.
This is definitely THE guide to eating in Curacao. I like that you suggest where and where not to eat. What an interesting mix of cultures that influence their food.
Thanks for this great guide! While traveling I love trying something new from the local cuisine – my first choice would be Lionfish!!! I’ve only seen it in pictures.