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Is The West Deck worth it? If you want an easy, sociable meal by the sea close to downtown Oranjestad, our The West Deck Aruba review says yes. The menu is built around small plates for sharing, the deck overlooks the water just outside downtown Oranjestad, and The Infatuation picks it as the most relaxed choice for a no-fuss dinner. Order a few plates, add a frozen cocktail and keep adding plates as the evening goes. The airport is less than ten minutes away, so it also works as a last island meal before a flight home.

The West Deck at a glance

  • Cuisine: Caribbean small plates and full dinners
  • Area: Oranjestad, on the waterfront
  • Best for: sunset drinks, groups and shared plates
  • What to order: garlic shrimp, jerk chicken wings, Balashi-battered grouper fingers, keshi yena
  • Price gauge: $$$ (our estimate)

A beach deck with room to linger

The setting does a lot of the work here. aruba.com describes a casual, fun spot on the beach, full of bright colors and Caribbean flavors. You can sit on the main deck or out in a tropical garden set with picnic tables. My Aruba Guide notes that the covered deck has the better water view.

Timing matters. With good timing, a cruise ship may slide past while you sit on the deck, and guides suggest arriving early so you can eat while the sun goes down. The bar pours tropical cocktails, frozen drinks, cold beer, wine and fresh local juices, and aruba.com names the Beer Rita as its signature drink.

What guests keep coming back for

Read through guest feedback and a few patterns show up. Guests often describe the setting as laid-back, with the sea right beside the tables. Reviewers also single out the water views from the deck. On the food side, coconut shrimp also comes up in guest feedback.

Press coverage points the same way. The Infatuation picks out the garlic shrimp, the slightly spicy jerk chicken wings and crispy grouper fingers battered in Balashi beer, and says the food is better than anything you will find in the airport terminal. aruba.com describes it as a favorite with locals as well as visitors. A local newspaper reviewed it as a new restaurant in December 2013, so it is no newcomer.

What to order: build a table of small plates

aruba.com calls small plates the restaurant’s original concept: order several to share, or go for a full main course. Sharing is the better way in, because it lets everyone taste more of the menu. A good spread, drawn from what critics and guests mention:

  • Garlic shrimp, the dish that critics and guests both mention.
  • Slightly spicy jerk chicken wings.
  • Crispy grouper fingers in a Balashi beer batter.
  • Keshi yena, the Aruban classic of chicken baked with Gouda.
  • Coconut shrimp for the table.

For sides, My Aruba Guide recommends pan bati, Aruba’s corn pancake, and johnny cake. If you like fish, ask about the catch of the day before you commit to the rest of the order. Our list of Aruban local dishes to try explains keshi yena and pan bati.

When The West Deck makes the most sense

Sunset is the obvious moment. Ask for a deck table, order a first round of plates as the light changes, then add more as the evening goes on. It suits couples who like to graze, and it suits friends who want an easy, unfussy night out.

It is also a group place. aruba.com lists it as a popular spot for casual welcome events, rehearsal dinners and family gatherings, and the small-plates format means nobody has to agree on one main course. If you are planning a first-night dinner for a wedding party or a family trip, the garden area is worth asking about.

And for the last day of a trip, the short hop to the airport makes The West Deck an easy final stop before you fly. For more ideas nearby, see our guide to the best restaurants in Aruba.

Price level

Price level: $$$. Price level is our estimate, not exact pricing. It is based on the dinner prices on the restaurant’s current menu, checked November 2026.

FAQ

Is The West Deck worth it?

Yes, if you want a relaxed meal on the water with food made for sharing. The Infatuation sees it as the top pick for a relaxed, easy dinner, and the deck is the place to be around sunset.

What should I eat at The West Deck?

Build a table of small plates from the dishes critics and guests mention: garlic shrimp, jerk chicken wings, the Balashi-battered grouper fingers and keshi yena. Ask about the catch of the day if your group is hungry.

Is The West Deck good for groups?

Yes. aruba.com lists it for welcome events, rehearsal dinners and family gatherings, the garden area has picnic tables, and the shareable menu makes ordering simple for a crowd.

Can I watch the sunset from The West Deck?

The deck overlooks the water, and guides suggest arriving early so you can eat as the sun goes down. Ask for a deck table when you book.

How does booking a table at The West Deck through The Table Desk work?

The Table Desk is an independent reservation service by All Tours Aruba, not affiliated with the restaurant. You choose your date, time and party size, we book your table at The West Deck and send your confirmation by email. If we can’t book it, your full $20 comes back.

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