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Is El Patio Tacos & Tequila worth it? If tacos, shared plates and a long agave list are what you want from a night out, this El Patio Tacos & Tequila Aruba review says yes. By the restaurant’s own account, its tequila and mezcal list ranks among the biggest in the Caribbean, and its corn tortillas are made fresh daily from nixtamalized heirloom corn flour. Below: the dishes to share, the tacos to pick, the drinks to ask about, and who El Patio suits best.

El Patio Tacos & Tequila at a glance

  • Cuisine: Mexican tacos and plates to share
  • Area: Manchebo & Druif
  • Best for: groups, families and anyone curious about mezcal
  • What to order: street corn ribs, queso fundido, quesabirria tacos, pulpo tacos
  • Price gauge: $$$ (our estimate)

A hacienda-style setting with a patio and garden

The restaurant describes its look as a nod to a coastal Mexican hacienda. You can sit indoors, out on a breezy patio and a garden, or at the spacious bar and lounge area.

Tequila, mezcal and the MezTeq sommelier

Drinks are half of the name, and the menu treats them that way. It introduces a “MezTeq Sommelier” who will walk you through the agave spirits, and a detailed tequila and mezcal listing is available if you ask. If you are new to mezcal, this is the place to ask questions.

The signature cocktails lean on both spirits. The El Patio Margarita blends tequila and mezcal with hibiscus, passion fruit, lime, agave and triple sec, and La Negrona is a mezcal take on the negroni. Rims can be sugar, sea salt, tajín, gusano or a combination. There are Mexican beers too, plus Balashi or Chill from Aruba.

Not drinking? The non-alcoholic cocktails get real attention, such as the Shishito Mojito with limes, lemons, mint and shishito peppers, and the Paloma Picante with grapefruit soda, lime, agave and jalapeño.

What to order: share first, then tacos

The menu opens with a section for sharing, and that is the right way to start. Corn-tortilla chips are made fresh daily and come with a fire-roasted salsa. From there, our picks:

  • Street corn ribs: corn cut into “ribs” and coated in chili lime and cotija.
  • Queso fundido: melted cheese and chorizo, scooped up with fresh corn tortillas.
  • Blistered shishito peppers: glazed with soy, a Japanese and Mexican crossover.
  • Ceviche: fish and shrimp cured in citrus, with corn chips.

Each taco order is a plate of three, with a sauce, a salsa-style salad and a side of either Mexican rice or charro beans, so one order makes a full meal. The ones we would steer you toward:

  • Quesabirria: beef braised slowly with spices, plus the cooking jus for dipping.
  • Al pastor: seared pork and charred pineapple, finished with lime.
  • Pulpo: grilled octopus served with charred pineapple and a creamy chipotle sauce.
  • Baja fish: crisp-fried mahi-mahi with a mango and pineapple salsa and a chipotle mayo, on flour tortillas.

To finish, there are churros with ice cream or a chocolate mousse with brownie brittle, and a Mexican coffee with Kahlúa and tequila if the night calls for one more.

Vegetarian and gluten-free options

The menu marks vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. Vegetarians can order Yucatan portobello tacos, with mushrooms marinated in achiote, or black bean tacos with sweet potato crisps and roasted peppers, along with dips such as guacamole and black bean dip. Some tacos come on flour tortillas, and gluten-free flour tortillas are available if you ask.

When El Patio fits your trip

The share-first menu makes El Patio a strong pick for groups: order a spread of dips, corn ribs and queso fundido, then let everyone choose a taco plate. Families can keep it simple with the quesadilla or chips and guacamole, plus the non-alcoholic cocktails. And if you have been wanting to understand the difference between tequila and mezcal, an evening at the bar with the agave list is a fun way to learn.

For the beach side of your trip, see our Eagle Beach guide, and our list of the best restaurants in Aruba has more ideas for the week.

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 El Patio Tacos & Tequila worth it?

If you want tacos, shared plates and a deep agave list, yes. Tortillas are made fresh daily, every taco order is a full plate, and a MezTeq sommelier can guide you through the tequila and mezcal.

What should I order at El Patio?

Share the street corn ribs and queso fundido, then order the quesabirria or pulpo tacos. Pair them with the El Patio Margarita, or the Paloma Picante if you are not drinking.

Does El Patio have vegetarian or gluten-free options?

Yes. The menu marks vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, there are Yucatan portobello and black bean tacos, and gluten-free flour tortillas are available if you ask.

Is El Patio good for groups?

Yes. The menu starts with a section built for sharing, and taco plates of three make it easy for everyone to order their own.

How does booking a table at El Patio Tacos & Tequila 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 El Patio Tacos & Tequila and send your confirmation by email. If we can’t book it, your full $20 comes back.