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Is Ike’s Bistro at Manchebo Beach Resort worth booking? For a relaxed dinner on a terrace by the pool with a menu that takes vegan guests seriously, our Ike’s Bistro Aruba review says yes. The kitchen mixes Mediterranean and Caribbean cooking, and plant-based diners can ask for a separate vegan and vegetarian menu rather than settling for one token pasta. This guide covers the setting, what reviewers praise, which dishes to order and when the table suits your trip best.

Ike’s Bistro at a glance

  • Cuisine: Mediterranean and Caribbean, with a separate vegan and vegetarian menu
  • Area: Manchebo and Druif
  • Best for: mixed groups with vegan or gluten-free diners, a relaxed resort dinner
  • What to order: grilled octopus, lemongrass carrot ginger soup, truffle porcini risotto, red snapper
  • Price gauge: $$$ (our estimate)

An open-air terrace by the pool

Ike’s Bistro is a recently renovated open-air restaurant, and its terrace overlooks the pool, swaying palm trees and a white sand beach. Aruba’s tourism board pitches it as a place for a romantic dinner under the stars, with a revamped bar and an open-air lounge where live piano music plays in the background.

If you are staying in Manchebo and Druif, Ike’s is an easy dinner close to your hotel. For the beaches around this part of the island, see our Eagle Beach guide.

What reviewers praise

Two themes come up on both HappyCow and Wanderlog. First, the vegan menu: reviewers praise how many plant-based options there are, and HappyCow notes that there are few vegan options in the area, which is part of why it lists the restaurant. Second, the staff: servers are regularly described as friendly and attentive, and several are praised by name.

The setting gets warm words too, with reviewers on both pages mentioning the garden seating and the romantic mood. When people name dishes, the buffalo cauliflower wings and the truffle risotto appear on both pages.

What to order at Ike’s Bistro

The current dinner menu marks vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes. Our picks, described in our own words:

  • Grilled octopus with squid-ink aioli, rucola, pickled onion and fresh herbs from the restaurant’s own garden.
  • Lemongrass carrot ginger soup, which the menu calls one of Ike’s all-time favorite soups. It is vegan and gluten-free.
  • Truffle porcini risotto with crispy tofu, made vegan with almond milk and vegan butter and served with mango salsa.
  • Caribbean red snapper, pan fried and served with tomato basil risotto and herb-mango salsa.
  • Bouillabaisse: fish, shrimp, mussels, calamari and scallops in a saffron seafood broth.
  • Tuna steak with sesame, rice noodles, spinach, green asparagus and a sesame ginger glaze.

For a vegan main that surprises meat eaters, look at the soy-based grilled fish fillet with roasted cauliflower and polenta fries. The restaurant’s own site also mentions an on-site greenhouse that grows produce such as Madam Janette pepper, basil, oregano, thyme and lemongrass. The kitchen is led by executive chef Jeffrey Wouters, according to the restaurant’s site.

When Ike’s Bistro fits your trip

This is a strong choice for a table with mixed diets. Seafood fans, meat eaters and plant-based diners can all order well from one menu, and the open-air terrace keeps the mood relaxed. It also works for a first night on the island when you want something easy near your hotel.

Couples marking an occasion can mention it when booking, then stay on for a drink in the lounge afterward. If anyone in your group has an allergy, tell the server, as the menu itself asks.

Comparing options across the island? Our best restaurants in Aruba guide groups dinners by area and style.

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 Ike’s Bistro worth it?

Yes, especially for groups with mixed diets. You get an open-air terrace by the pool, a Mediterranean and Caribbean menu and a separate vegan and vegetarian menu, and reviewers on HappyCow and Wanderlog praise both the plant-based choice and the staff.

What should I order at Ike’s Bistro?

Start with the grilled octopus or the lemongrass carrot ginger soup, then choose the red snapper, the bouillabaisse or the truffle porcini risotto with crispy tofu.

Does Ike’s Bistro have vegan options?

Yes. The menu marks vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, and HappyCow reports a separate vegan and vegetarian menu that you can ask for.

Anything to know before booking Ike’s Bistro (Manchebo Beach Resort)?

Card payments only; cash is not accepted.

How does booking through The Table Desk work?

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

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