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Is Ocean Z Restaurant worth it? For a sunset dinner on Aruba’s northwest coast, our Ocean Z Restaurant Aruba review says yes: the dining room looks out over the ocean toward the sunset, the menu mixes seafood, Italian pastas and steaks, and it belongs to a boutique hotel that Caribbean Journal singled out among Aruba’s small hotels. Plan the meal around the seafood paella, a signature dish cooked to order. Here is what the evening is like, what to order and when it fits your trip.

Ocean Z Restaurant at a glance

  • Cuisine: seafood, Italian and international
  • Area: Malmok, just across the road from the water
  • Best for: couples, a sunset dinner, family celebrations
  • What to order: tuna tartare, Coquille St. Jacques, Chilean sea bass, seafood paella
  • Price gauge: $$$$ (our estimate)

A boutique hotel dining room on the Malmok coast

Ocean Z Restaurant is the restaurant of Ocean Z, a boutique hotel of 13 rooms and suites in Malmok. In 2022 Caribbean Journal called it the standout among the island’s boutique hotels, noted that only a road separates it from the sea, and praised its calm, polished feel. The modernist design is the work of Venezuelan architect Oscar Enrique Bracho Malpica, and Lonely Planet, quoted on TripExpert, notes that the hotel faces Malmok Beach.

The restaurant has an ocean view that lets you watch the sun go down, and it offers live violin music.

The coast is part of the draw. Caribbean Journal points to Malmok’s clear water and rocky shore, and an earlier Caribbean Journal visit found snorkeling right across the street, so an afternoon in the water and a sunset dinner fit neatly into one day. Our guide to the best sunset spots in Aruba covers more of this side of the island.

What to order at Ocean Z Restaurant

The menu, as listed in April 2026, marks several signature dishes, and they are the place to start. Our picks, in our own words:

  • Tuna tartare, a signature: diced sushi-grade tuna with ginger and chives, set on avocado.
  • Coquille St. Jacques, another signature: shrimp and scallops baked in a white wine cream sauce with Emmental on top.
  • French onion soup, the signature soup, finished with melted Emmental.
  • Chilean sea bass, pan-seared and laid on a cheese risotto with a little truffle oil.
  • Jumbo shrimp OZ, on grilled pineapple with herb butter.
  • Filet mignon, an 8-ounce tenderloin with three sauces served alongside: mushroom, a wine reduction and a house barbecue sauce.

The signature seafood paella is the dish to plan around. The Spanish classic comes with shrimp, mussels, clams and squid, flavored with saffron, and the kitchen makes it fresh for each order. Caribbean Journal also named paella and Coquille St. Jacques among the dishes on the restaurant’s international menu. Each main course comes with two side dishes of your choice, and the pasta list runs from angel hair aglio e olio to a lobster and shrimp linguine. For vegetarians, the menu has a vegetarian section with a pasta primavera.

The right occasion for Ocean Z

This is a dinner for couples and celebrations. Book around sunset, when the ocean view does the most work, and let the paella set the pace of the meal. It also suits a family dinner, since the menu covers seafood, pasta, steak and a chicken parmesan, so most people at the table will find something they like.

Caribbean Journal noted in 2017 that the hotel sits in a quiet residential corner at the island’s northwest tip, well away from the main resort strip. Book a table at Ocean Z Restaurant for the evening you have in mind, and for more ideas, 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 Ocean Z Restaurant worth it?

Yes, if you want a sunset dinner with an ocean view and a menu that covers seafood, pasta and steak. Caribbean Journal singled out the boutique hotel it belongs to as a standout in Aruba.

What should I order at Ocean Z Restaurant?

Start with the tuna tartare or the Coquille St. Jacques, then share the seafood paella or choose the Chilean sea bass.

Is there live music at Ocean Z Restaurant?

Yes. The restaurant offers live music by a violinist.

Does Ocean Z Restaurant have vegetarian dishes?

Yes. The menu’s vegetarian section lists a pasta primavera, and the pastas can be made with your choice of Alfredo, marinara, blush vodka or aglio e olio sauce.

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

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