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Is Pinchos worth it? Our Pinchos Grill & Bar Aruba review says yes, above all for a sunset dinner: every table sits on the pier, directly over the water. Pinchos Grill & Bar is a relaxed but stylish restaurant and bar set entirely over the water in Oranjestad, with a menu of fresh seafood, daily fish, grilled meats on skewers and a daily vegan or vegetarian choice. Below we cover the setting, what to order, how to time the evening and the occasions it suits.

Pinchos at a glance

  • Cuisine: seafood and grill, with skewers and daily fish
  • Area: the Oranjestad waterfront
  • Best for: sunset dinners, couples and celebrations
  • What to order: Aruban fish cakes, the surf and turf pincho, the pan-fried Aruban mahi
  • Price gauge: $$$ (our estimate)

Dinner on a pier

The whole restaurant stands on a pier over the sea, and all tables are right by the water’s edge with a full view of the ocean. Aruba’s tourism board describes a main deck that holds the bar and dining tables, plus a newer south pier where every table has an open view of the ocean. The mood is intimate and romantic, with a casual feel, and My Aruba Guide mentions the twinkling of candle lights.

What the guides say

Travel writers have praised the setting for years. Time Out described a romantic, torchlit pier with great sunset views and a casual feel. Islands.com counted it among Aruba’s most romantic restaurants and suggested booking for the time just before sunset, starting with a cocktail on the outdoor patio. Afar notes that it has appeared on The Bachelor and suggests sticking around late for live music and some light bites.

What to order at Pinchos

The menu mixes grilled skewers, called pinchos, with fish and seafood plates. These are the dishes we would steer you toward.

  • Aruban fish cakes. The starter to begin with: Afar calls them a must, and the menu serves the mild spicy, hand-formed fish cakes with a pineapple-curry mayo and tomato salsa.
  • A pincho. The surf and turf pincho pairs a beef tenderloin skewer and a shrimp skewer with a spicy lemon butter sauce, and the maple bourbon BBQ cowboy pincho threads chorizo, Black Angus tenderloin, pork tenderloin and chicken breast on one skewer.
  • Fish from the market list. The pan-fried Aruban mahi fillet comes with coconut rice, plantain purée and a Creole sauce, and the pan-seared grouper comes with forbidden black rice and a saffron seafood stew. There is also a fish of the day; your server has the details.
  • Plant-based. The vegetarian and vegan section includes a vegan Mediterranean couscous with oven-roasted root vegetables, plus cauliflower steak and coconut-curry chickpeas.
  • Drinks. A full-service bar and a wine list with a house sangria make the bar a good place to start before you sit down.

Older guide write-ups show how the kitchen likes to play with fish. Afar has praised a pan-seared grouper in a ginger-apricot sauce and a blue cheese tenderloin infused with dark rum, while Islands.com picked out grilled mahi-mahi in a tomato, basil and rosemary sauce. Treat those as a sense of the style rather than a promise of tonight’s menu.

How to time your evening

Time Out and Islands.com both point to the sunset views. Plan your table for a little before sunset so you can settle in with a drink while the sky changes color, then move on to dinner as night falls. If you want to make an evening of it, Afar’s tip of staying on for the live music turns dinner into a full night out.

Weddings, proposals and sunset dates

Aruba’s tourism board says Pinchos is popular for special celebrations, from weddings and rehearsal events to corporate dinners. For couples, it is a natural place for an anniversary, a proposal or the last dinner of the trip.

Pinchos is one of several waterfront dinners in our guide to the best restaurants in Aruba. If you want to make a day of it in town, our Oranjestad guide covers what to do before dinner.

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 Pinchos Grill & Bar worth it?

Yes, especially at sunset. The tables sit over the sea, the mood is romantic with a casual feel, and the menu covers seafood, daily fish and grilled skewers.

What should I order at Pinchos?

Start with the Aruban fish cakes, then pick the surf and turf pincho or the pan-fried Aruban mahi. Ask your server about the fish of the day.

Is Pinchos good for a romantic dinner?

Islands.com counted it among Aruba’s most romantic restaurants, Time Out called it romantic and torch-lit, and Aruba’s tourism board lists it as a favorite for weddings and rehearsal events.

Does Pinchos have vegan options?

Yes. Aruba’s tourism board lists a daily vegan or vegetarian choice, and the menu includes a vegan Mediterranean couscous.

How does booking a table at Pinchos 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 Pinchos Grill & Bar and send your confirmation by email. If we can’t book it, your full $20 comes back.

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