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Is Taste My Aruba worth it? If you want to taste what an Aruban kitchen does with the local catch, our Taste My Aruba review says yes, and the critics agree: The Infatuation includes it in its guide to the best restaurants in Aruba, and Lonely Planet lists it as a top choice. It is family owned, the menu changes daily with what is fresh and local, and since its recent move it serves dinner in a restored house from 1936, still in downtown Oranjestad. Here is what the critics say, how to order from a menu that changes every day, and which nights it suits.

Taste My Aruba at a glance

  • Cuisine: local seafood and island cooking, farm to table and sea to table
  • Area: downtown Oranjestad
  • Best for: date nights, food lovers, cocktails, private groups
  • What to order: the catch of the day, seafood or goat, a house cocktail
  • Price gauge: $$$$ (our estimate)

A family kitchen with a new home

Taste My Aruba is a family-owned restaurant, and the family is part of the story. aruba.com sums up the approach as farm-to-table and sea-to-table, using fresh, local ingredients, and the owner writes on the restaurant’s site that seafood and goat, the food she grew up on, are always part of her menu.

The restaurant has recently moved. Its official site says it now occupies a restored house from 1936, a short walk from its earlier spot and still in downtown Oranjestad. The new building adds a rooftop lounge, where cocktails and small plates are served as the sun goes down over the town.

What the critics say

The press coverage is warm and consistent. The Infatuation tags it for date nights and for great cocktails, and includes it in its guide to the best restaurants in Aruba. Lonely Planet, quoted on TripExpert, lists it as a top choice, and Fodor’s, on the same page, also praises the daily-changing menu.

TTG featured it in a December 2025 report on Aruba for travel agents, noting that the owner picks fish and produce by season. All of this coverage was written before the move; the restaurant’s site presents the new house as the same kitchen at a different table.

How to order when the menu changes daily

There is no fixed list to memorize here. The menu changes daily with the catch and what is in season, so the smart move is to ask what came in that day. Coverage from before the move named dishes like these as examples; the daily menu may differ:

  • The catch of the day, which The Infatuation recommends, served the Aruban way with local sides.
  • Ceviche, a starter The Infatuation picked out.
  • Local fish such as barracuda, grouper, snapper or mahi-mahi, named by The Infatuation and TTG, depending on the day.
  • Tuna tataki, local wahoo or filet mignon, which Lonely Planet highlights, with cashew cake to finish.

Leave room for a cocktail. In its 2024 review, The Infatuation singled out a spicy passionfruit margarita with pink peppercorn and the Lorenzo, made with hibiscus syrup and chamoy. If you enjoy the drinks, the restaurant also runs cooking and mixology experiences in the afternoon. Our guide to Aruban food explains the local dishes you may see on the day’s menu.

When to book Taste My Aruba

This is a dinner for nights when the food is the point. The Infatuation’s date-night tag fits: a cocktail on the rooftop and a few courses of local fish make an easy evening for two. It also suits travelers who want to taste local cooking made from island produce and fish.

Groups have options too. The restaurant hosts private events, and its Mesa Secreta is an eight-seat table that larger groups can book as a private experience. If you are celebrating, mention it when you book a table at Taste My Aruba. For more downtown ideas, see our Oranjestad guide and our list of the best restaurants in Aruba.

Price level

Price level: $$$$. Price level is our estimate, not exact pricing. It is based on Fodor’s price category for the restaurant.

FAQ

Is Taste My Aruba worth it?

Yes, if you want local seafood cooked from what is fresh that day. The Infatuation includes it in its guide to the best restaurants in Aruba, and Lonely Planet lists it as a top choice.

What should I order at Taste My Aruba?

Ask for the catch of the day, and look for the seafood and goat dishes the owner says are always on her menu. The menu changes daily, so let your server tell you what came in.

Is Taste My Aruba good for a date night?

Yes. The Infatuation tags it for date nights, and the rooftop lounge suits a sunset drink first.

Where is Taste My Aruba now?

Still in downtown Oranjestad. The restaurant moved a short walk from its earlier spot into a restored house from 1936, which now also holds a rooftop lounge.

Does Taste My Aruba offer cooking or cocktail classes?

Yes. The restaurant runs cooking and mixology experiences in the afternoon.

How does booking a table at Taste My Aruba 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 Taste My Aruba and send your confirmation by email. If we can’t book it, your full $20 comes back.

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