The culinary scene on this little island is always changing. I had been traveling for most of February, and when I returned I found out that several new dining locations had opened and I had to try as many as possible.

This isn’t even everything new! On my to-do list is trying the new Mondi Beach Club, aRoma, and more. For now, keep reading to see my thoughts on 5 of the newest restaurants/dining concepts on Curacao. I’d love to know what you think!

1. Viva Pizza e Pasta

Being that I’m part Italian, the opening of any Italian restaurant is music to my ears. Viva is located in the bustling Kura Hulanda Village, nearby fan-favorites Brgr Haus and It’s Better with Chocolate. The location is excellent if you want to walk around Otrobanda and cross the Queen Emma Bridge into Punda before or after. The village is lively on the weekends with live music and string lights warming the cobblestone walkways.

The owner of Viva Pizza e Pasta is the same as the now-closed Nultwintig, a former favorite date night restaurant. Being that Nultwintig was well-loved and high quality dining and service, I was excited to see how the vision transferred to this new Italian concept.

I immediately loved the ambiance of Viva, especially after the sun had set. The dining area is outdoors underneath a beautiful tree and string lights, and we could hear the live performances happening in the middle of the village. The vibe is casual, and there were plenty of families enjoying dinner. The menu focuses on Italian staples: pasta and pizza. Since our visit, they’ve already updated and streamlined the menu, adding a separate salad section and increasing the number of pasta options. They also increased the prices of a lot of dishes by 1 to 3 guilders.

Viva Dinner Experience

For our dinner, we started by ordering two appetizers: the bruschetta alla pomodoro and the antipasto misto. The bruschetta was nice with a hearty focaccia, though a little messy to eat as the tomatoes kept falling off. The antipasto misto was a collection of cold cuts, Italian cheeses, and more focaccia. The portions were generous but we were given gorgonzola (Italian) and brie (French) cheese. We would’ve loved to have seen a nutty parmesan or something instead of brie.

For our main course we ordered the spaghetti bolognese and the capricciosa pizza. The spaghetti bolognese was decent, and again generous portions. Was it anything special? Not quite, but it’s a safe pasta option. Keep in mind that we went closer to their grand opening so they didn’t have as many pasta options on the menu yet. The capricciosa pizza was the star, and we absolutely loved it. The dough was a tangy sourdough-like base with that classic pizza oven char. The sauce was bright, the cheese distribution was excellent, and there were enough toppings in every bite. It’s a shame they got rid of this flavor – it’s my favorite!

For dessert – this is where they lose some stars. I am such a huge tiramisu fan that our actual wedding cake was tiramisu flavored. It’s one of my favorite desserts ever. The tiramisu that we had here was not great, and I don’t know if that’s because they were still figuring out the recipe or that’s just their take, but I did not like it. It was pretty much a cake with thin layers of cream and the slightest hint of liqueur and no coffee flavor whatsoever. In fact, after we paid for dinner we walked a few feet to Il Gelato and I got a scoop of tiramisu gelato so I could remind myself what tiramisu should taste like.

Overall thoughts: Viva Pizza e Pasta is a solid Italian restaurant in a lively area downtown. It’s great for a date night and even families with picky eaters. The ambiance is cozy and casual like Italian mixed with a Caribbean flair. I’d love to see their tiramisu improved, and it’d be nice to see some substantial meat options. It’s typical in Italy for pasta to be your first course (primi) followed by a meat course (secondi), however this restaurant focuses on it’s namesake: pizza e pasta. Expect to pay around $16-25 USD per pasta dish and $19-22 USD for a pizza here. Free parking at Kura Hula Village.

2. Agave Bar y Taqueria

A new Mexican restaurant right on the beach? Sign me up! I actually got the inside scoop about this restaurant from a colleague of mine who is friends with the chef, and I was extremely excited when this restaurant finally opened. Located right on Jan Thiel Beach, Agave Bar y Taqueria is a chic tapas-style restaurant with views of the beach and the beach tennis area. There’s indoor seating, bar seating, and outdoor patio seating surrounded by multicolored string lights and live entertainment (music performances on the Zanzibar stage) on the weekends.

It’s about time Jan Thiel Beach introduced a new dining concept to the area since their other restaurants (Tinto, Zanzibar, Zest Beach Club, Zest, and Papagayo Beach Club) all have similar-ish menus. Agave is totally different, and I love it. The vibe is lively, and since the restaurant is tapas style it’s often full of tables with friends and couples sharing food and enjoying the upbeat atmosphere. The menu is purely Mexican focused with sections for tacos, tostadas, bocadillos de bar, and postres. I was impressed with their extensive cocktail menu as well, and their margaritas were delicious.

Interestingly, the tapas are served via a 2 or 3-tier afternoon tea plating set. I’m guessing this is to save room because the table is small, but hey it works. We tried birria tacos, carne asada tacos, chicharron tacos, tuna tostadas, sopes, chips with salsa verde, and pastel de elote to finish. We ordered chicken enchiladas but they never came since they were swamped. Out of all of these menu items, the birria tacos were probably the most memorable. Everything else was fairly tasty but nothing I’m dying to try again. They just opened, so we’ll see how their menu and recipes evolve after a few more months.

Overall thoughts: I could see myself going to Agave for date night or to get drinks and light bites with a girlfriend. The ambiance is the star here – you’re right on the beach under beautiful string lighting. The drinks are tasty, the chips and salsa are fresh, and Jan Thiel Beach always has entertainment going on. Expect to spend around $8 to $15 USD per dish here, and $12.50 USD for a cocktail. Free parking/entry at Jan Thiel Beach after 5:00 PM and the lot gets crazy full on weekends.

3. Siciliana

I was walking through Sambil Mall one day trying to accomplish an errand when I passed through the food court and noticed there was a brand new dining concept: Siciliana. Who do I have to thank for the uptick in Italian restaurants on the island? I love it! Siciliana offers freshly made paninis and Sicilian pizza slices as big as my face. Since it’s in a food court, it’s quick service and no fuss, but trust me when I say it’s worth a visit.

The menu focuses primarily on paninis and square Sicilian pizzas, though you can customize your fixings in both. They also have a short pasta menu which I’ll have to go back and try next time. For this visit, we ordered the panini with mortadella, burrata cheese, olives, and pesto. We also ordered a classic siciliana slice with pepperoni. Both items came out piping hot and surprisingly quick, and let me tell you – they were so good! The panini was oozing cheese and the mortadella was so flavorful. The pizza slice seemed like it was on a homemade focaccia square with a bright tomato sauce and an adequate amount of cheese and pepperoni. Chefs kiss!

Overall thoughts: You’re not here for the ambiance, you’re here for the great tasting food. As both an Italian and someone who has traveled around Sicily (have you read my Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo blog in Taormina?) I cannot recommend this place enough, especially when you’re craving something quick and tasty at the mall. Expect to pay around $13 USD for a panini and $9 USD for a regular Sicilian slice. Their pastas are also in the $12 USD range with the ability to combo with fresh focaccia and a drink.

4. Arepas House

Arepas House isn’t technically new since they opened in November 2024, but I had been driving past their window on the way to Building Depot for a long time anxiously anticipating their opening. I finally had a chance to swing by and try them out a few weeks ago, and they did not disappoint! The restaurant is located in Zeelandia right by Boolchands, Kooyman, Building Depot, and that whole area.

You would think that seeing a restaurant called Arepas House means they only sell arepas, but I was quite shocked when I saw that they offered 100 smoothie options and 30 arepas options. In fact, they should be called Smoothie House! The restaurant is on the smaller side, and while the design is comfortable and modern, it feels like more of a place to eat a quick lunch and then dip out. I loved that there’s a little section of puzzles and activities for kids to remain engaged. My husband and I played pick up sticks while waiting for our food.

With 30 arepas options, it was difficult to choose which ones we wanted. I ended up going for the St. Michel arepa consisting of ham and cheese (simple and tasty) while my husband ordered the Westpunt with shredded beef and cheese (very dry). He also ordered the St. Croix smoothie with banana, protein, honey, and peanut butter. Full disclosure, we’ve only ever had arepas at Mr. Tequeno before so we’re not arepas experts, although we do like them a lot.

Overall thoughts: I could see myself coming back here regularly if I’m craving an arepa for lunch. I enjoyed my ham and cheese one and would totally get it again. I found the arepa to be tastier here compared to Mr. Tequeno, but the filling and sauces are tastier at Mr. Tequeno in my opinion. If they could somehow join forces, it’d be a match made in heaven. Arepas House is open until 7 PM on weekdays so it’s not a bad idea to swing by here and pick up some arepas for lunch or dinner. Expect to pay about $6.50 USD for an arepa and $5 for a smoothie here. Free parking right outside!

5. The Cookie Factory

Is a shop that sells cookies and has seating inside technically a restaurant or just a retail store? Let me know in the comments below. I wanted to write about The Cookie Factory because I have a huge sweet tooth and these large New York style cookies aren’t too common on the island. The Cookie Factory is located in the Sambil Mall, not in the food court but just a quick walk nearby. They have a large glass window with the beautiful looking cookies of the day on display – you can’t miss it!

I don’t know much about the background of The Cookie Factory, but it seems like the owner has been making cookies for a few years now but finally has their own storefront at the mall. This place specializes in thick “New York” style cookies, and they also sell a limited amount of cheesecakes and cupcakes. One thing to note, they don’t actually bake their cookies here, this is just a retail location. It’s a shame too, because the smell of cookies wafting through the mall would lead me to the store every time.

Do the cookies taste as good as they look? We bought four cookies: red velvet with white chocolate chips, lemon with white chocolate chips, classic chocolate chip walnut, and double chocolate with chocolate chips. Most of these cookies had the option to come garnished with an additional candy bar piece if we wanted. The cookies were placed in a way-too-large box which meant they slid around. They were also not warmed so unfortunately they were dry and crumbly instead of soft and gooey as a thick NYC cookie should be. That being said, the flavor was there! Our favorite was the lemon cookie as it had the most flavor.

Overall thoughts: This retail location is new and there are some growing pains, but I wouldn’t write them off. I’d love to see them install an oven to keep the cookies warm and let the smell entice customers. I prefer my cookies with more salt, personally, as these cookies were very sugar forward, but overall they were yummy cookies. Had I taken them home and warmed them up, these would’ve been killer. Expect to pay about $3.60 USD per cookie.

Have you been to any of these restaurants yet? Are there any others I should try? Let me know in the comments below!