A few weeks ago marked my one year anniversary of moving from Boston to the island of Curacao. I detail my journey in my 2023 reflection blog post, but let me reiterate that it was both stressful and exciting. Reflecting back on a year of living on Curacao, I can confidently say I’ve tried A LOT of restaurants and eaten my fair share of food. The food on the island is excellent if you go to the right places. Don’t believe the articles telling you the produce is all bad quality because it’s imported!
Stay up to date with the latest luxury travel trends!
We do have a number of local farms who grow produce for the best restaurants on the island. Sure, if you hit up a local mom and pop joint there’s less of a chance you’ll find salads on the menu, but you’ll still get great quality veggies in the soups, stews, and in pickled form.
Unlike other travel bloggers who visit here for a few days and write up a guide about the best restaurants (that they undoubtedly asked their concierge or local tourism board about), I actually live here and have been to all of these restaurants! I’m excited to share my list of the 5 BEST restaurants in Curacao:
Table of Contents
Kome
Located in the heart of Pietermaai just one street over from the ocean lies the restaurant locals, expats, and tourists alike rave about, Kome. The name of the restaurant means “eat” in the local language, Papiamentu, and eating is what I do well here. The restaurant partners with six different farms on the island to provide the freshest produce for their dishes.
Their menu showcases an eclectic mix of dishes from American classic chicken and waffles (which they’re famous for on the island), French oven baked escargots, to Asian pork belly sliders. Kome is a true fusion restaurant with the emphasis on fresh ingredients. My favorite dishes to order are the chicken and waffles, crunchy thai chicken, fish of the day, and truffled mac and cheese. Honestly though, I could eat their whole menu- it’s that good.
One of the things that makes Kome stand out is that they typically offer special menus for western holidays. On Thanksgiving last year, I spent dinner at Kome eating a thoughtfully prepared turkey dinner with homemade stuffing and cranberry sauce to boot. I didn’t think I would have traditional Thanksgiving food on the island, but there’s a reason Kome is so popular with the expats!
Soi95
This Asian tapas restaurant is one of my favorite go-to places for dinner. Soi95 is also located in Pietermaai across from Avila Beach Hotel, and there’s plenty of parking with a dedicated lot if you arrive with your own car. This restaurant is a new player in the game on Curacao, having opened in 2022. There is indoor dining and rooftop dining with city views instead of sea views.
The food at Soi95 is to die for if you love Asian food. The menu features a wide variety of creative tapas from fried tofu in a kombu miso beurre blanc and wakame chimichurri to a unique take on butter chicken. In my opinion, each dish is an experience that you’ll be tempted to order one of everything from the menu. Their cocktail game is on another level being one of the few places on the island offering fun drink options – think torched cinnamon sticks, cotton candy, and passion fruit bubbles.
Diners will pay a pretty penny to eat here, but it is absolutely worth it. There is no other place on the island where you can get such a variety of Asian cuisine with unique flavor profiles done well on the island. I highly recommend not missing out on this one!
Restaurant Gouverneur De Rouville
You’ll likely have heard of Gouverneur if you’ve asked around for a nice restaurant in the city with local dishes on the menu. That is exactly what Gouverneur is, and they do it well. This is the very first restaurant we had dinner at when we visited Curacao on our exploration trip in 2022. Located in Otrobanda just steps from the colorful swinging bridge is a red terraced building that you can’t miss. Book in advance to secure a seat on the terrace overlooking the water, otherwise you’ll be placed in the backside garden courtyard.
The menu at Gouverneur is on the smaller side but that’s only because every dish offered is done well. You’ll find local classics such as keshi yena (a stuffed cheese dish), karni stoba (beef stew), and their fresh fish of the day. I highly recommend the Cuban Banana Soup and Keshi Yena. Make sure to take a walk across the bridge after your dinner and enjoy the sights and sounds of Willemstad!
BijBlauw
BijBlauw (pronounced bay-bla-ow) reminds me of a chic low-key beach restaurant in St. Barths. Located in Pietermaai, steps away from Kome, and right on the water is this gem. As you walk in through the entrance of BijBlauw, you’ll find the most gorgeous ocean view ahead of you. The decor at the restaurant is beachy boho chic with white painted structures and rattan furniture.
What I love about this restaurant, aside from the incredible view, is that they’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Those living on the island know that it’s tough to find a nice restaurant that serves lunch past 3:00 PM. Most kitchens close for a midday break and to prepare for dinner from 3-6 PM, but BijBlauw is our go-to place if we wake up late and want a late lunch.
The menu at this restaurant is fresh, flavorful, and modern. Similar to other great restaurants on the island, there isn’t quite a theme to the menu because they focus on fresh ingredients in season. At BijBlauw, you’ll find on their menu steak tartare, sea bass with beurre blanc, lamb shank, and more. Do not skip out on the truffle risotto which you can order full size or as a side! This is one of the trendiest insta-friendly places to have brunch, and I highly recommend a reservation.
Pasawá
Pasawá Box Yard Eatery is the newest dining concept on this list having opened in 2023. Located off of one of the main roads on the island, Caracasbaaiweg, on the way to Jan Thiel Beach you’ll find this open-air eatery. Pasawá is comprised of several eateries in their own shipping containers – think outdoor food court except with a full service bar and waitstaff. This eatery is always bustling and is a great place to meet up with friends as your party can choose where they want to eat and bring their food to the table. There is also live music on most nights on the second balcony level so the vibes are great.
Pasawá has 7 unique eateries within their box yard, and each offer a different menu. Diners will be spoilt for choice here! Among the options you’ll find:
- Everything Between Buns: Delicious smashburgers (veggie patties are an option here!) and fries. Unique burger flavor combinations can be found here as well as the classics.
- BBQ Express: One of the most famous truki pans (food trucks) on the island has relocated to Pasawá and is now open for lunch and dinner. You’ll find delicious simply grilled meat options with a table full of various sauces nearby. You can’t go wrong here!
- Piská Swa: Small menu with hard hitting fresh seafood options. You’ll find ceviches, poke nachos, crispy calamari, and more on their menu.
- Pão e Carne: Grilled meat done Portuguese style. Meat is roasted espetada style on skewers over an open flame and served with grilled garlic bread and a fresh salad in keeping with the Portuguese tradition.
- Funchi Ku: Fried polenta sticks (funchi) with various toppings. The flavors are excellent and I find that this stall typically has the longest wait times. This is pure Curacao comfort food at its core, and on the menu are staple items such as: krioyo pulled goat, stew chicken, garlic shrimp, and more all on top of freshly fried funchi.
- Sweet Baby: A cute little dessert stand offering homemade cheesecakes, tres leches, tiramisu, and more. The sweet treats are delicious, and I particularly love their tiramisu. I am tempted every time I pass by this stall!
- Bo Kofi: A full-service sit down café with a brand new drive-thru option. Their coffee is so good, we actually get take out coffee every week from here. You’ll find non-daily milk options and Caribbean coffee beans here. If you’re lucky, you can make it in time to snag a pasteschi (like an empanada – savory and stuffed with meat or cheese) or homemade pastry.
Activities
If you’re a foodie, I highly recommend participating in food-related activities while on the island. There is no better way to enjoy food than with others! Here are a few recommended activities through Viator that will show you the true foodie nature of this island:
Disclaimer: the following are affiliate links which, when clicked and booked, generate a small income to maintain this blog. Thank you for your support!
Final Thoughts
These five restaurants are the ones I always recommend to friends and peers who are coming to the island to visit. They’re also the ones my partner and I frequent the most. The list is by no means exhaustive, and there are plenty of other great restaurants on the island. I haven’t even mentioned the restaurants in the northern part of the island! I’m excited to live on an island that continues to grow and evolve with a vibrant food culture. Stay tuned for more Curacao restaurant guides coming soon!
I am currently ACCEPTING new trip requests.
Have you ever been to any of these restaurants? What is your favorite restaurant on Curacao? Comment below!
Leave a Reply