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Is Wilhelmina worth it? Our Wilhelmina Aruba review says yes for a polished dinner in Oranjestad: a garden setting that feels removed from the downtown traffic, a chef-driven menu and a critic’s endorsement from The Infatuation. Wilhelmina is run by Chef Dennis van Daatselaar and takes its name from Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. The menu covers fresh seafood, Certified Black Angus beef and pasta made in house. Below we cover the setting, what critics say, what to order and the nights it suits best.

Wilhelmina at a glance

  • Cuisine: international, with seafood, steak and homemade pasta
  • Area: downtown Oranjestad
  • Best for: date nights and relaxed celebration dinners
  • What to order: Wilhelmina’s ravioli, Aruban fish cakes with lobster, the funghi risotto, braised short ribs
  • Price gauge: $$$$ (our estimate)

A garden table in the capital

VisitAruba calls Wilhelmina casual yet elegant and notes that it is easy to miss from the street. The restaurant has a view over B.J. Arends City Park, and the real draw is its garden. Aruba’s tourism board describes a “speakeasy” city garden outside, with a cool inside setting as the alternative. The Infatuation describes a patio under tall palms and ferns, lit up after dark, that feels well removed from the downtown traffic.

The place had attention from the start. In October 2015, weeks after the opening, Caribbean Journal named Wilhelmina the top new restaurant in the whole region, and described how the chef restored an old art deco commercial building and hung his own paintings on many of its walls.

What the critics say

The Infatuation says the kitchen gives international dishes Caribbean touches, and it singles out the Caribbean rock lobster with Aruban-style fish cakes, the Indonesian roast pork served with papaya chutney and a risotto made with locally grown mushrooms. It includes Wilhelmina in its guide to the best restaurants in Aruba.

What to order at Wilhelmina

Here is how we would build a dinner from the official menu.

  • Start with the ravioli. Wilhelmina’s ravioli hold braised short rib, foie gras and mushroom, and come with spinach, roasted portobello, a truffle-balsamic dressing and a mushroom sauce.
  • Add a local starter. Balchi pisca are Aruban fish cakes paired with Caribbean rock lobster and a mayonnaise spiced with local Madame Jeanette pepper, a good way to taste the island in a fine-dining setting. Pair it with our guide to Aruban food and local dishes if you want to know what else to try.
  • Consider the risotto. The funghi risotto brings several kinds of mushroom, black truffle, mascarpone and Parmesan together with a porcini sauce.
  • For a main, go slow-cooked or seafood. The braised beef short ribs are cooked for five hours in red wine jus. Seafood fans can pick the gamberetti pasta, homemade pasta with pan-seared shrimp in a garlic and white wine sauce, or one of the catch of the day plates.
  • Meat lovers have options. The New Zealand rack of lamb and the Certified Angus filet mignon are on the meat list, and the Indonesian roasted pork with papaya chutney is the more unusual pick.
  • Vegetarian or vegan? There is a vegetarian truffle pasta and a vegan cabbage malfouf, cabbage cannelloni with portobello and spinach over couscous.
  • Save room. The lemon tart with limoncello ice cream and a white chocolate crème brûlée round out the dessert list.

Best nights for Wilhelmina

The Infatuation tags Wilhelmina as a date-night restaurant, and the garden, its evening lighting and a chef-driven menu make it a natural pick for an anniversary, a birthday dinner for two or a last night on the island. It also works for a small group of friends.

For more ideas in the area, see our Oranjestad guide or the wider list of 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 Wilhelmina worth it?

Yes, if you want a chef-driven dinner in a garden setting rather than a beach view. The Infatuation includes it in its guide to the best restaurants in Aruba, and Caribbean Journal named it the region’s top new restaurant when it opened in 2015.

What should I order at Wilhelmina?

Start with Wilhelmina’s ravioli of short rib, foie gras and mushroom, or the Aruban fish cakes with Caribbean rock lobster. For a main, the five-hour braised short ribs or the gamberetti pasta are good choices.

Is Wilhelmina good for a date night?

Yes. The Infatuation tags it for date nights, and the garden is lit up after sunset.

Anything to know before booking Wilhelmina?

Guests must be 12 or older; the restaurant may ask for proof of age.

How does booking with The Table Desk work?

The Table Desk is an independent reservation service by All Tours Aruba, not affiliated with the restaurant. We book your table at Wilhelmina and send your confirmation by email. If we can’t book it, your full $20 comes back.

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