15 Best Restaurants in Curacao For Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Are you looking for the best restaurants in Curacao? Then I got you covered!
The cuisine on the Caribbean island of Curacao is, just like its population, very diverse and internationally oriented. The Spanish, Dutch, and South American influences on the island resulted in a huge variety of restaurants and food spots to choose from.
Finding a great restaurant for a romantic sunset dinner or an instagrammable brunch in Curacao is far from easy. The endless possibilities of restaurant choices in Curacao can make the task of picking sheer overwhelming.
I have stayed for almost 4 months in Curacao in the last year! Luckily for you, my partner and I have tried the most great restaurants on the island.
To make the choice easier for you, I have created this foodies guide to Curacao featuring the best restaurants on the island!
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Best Restaurants in Curacao – at a Glance
Best Fine Dining: Karakter Curacao
Best Restaurant in Curacao With a Sunset View: Fort Nassau, Gouverneur de Rouville
Best Breakfast: Bij Blauw, Bliss the Berry
Best Lunch: Saint Tropez Ocean Club
Best Willemstad Restaurant: Gouverneur de Rouville
1. Karakter Curacao
Price: $$$
Notes: amazing sunset spot, bring ID (necessary to get into the estate)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Karakter Curacao is by far my favorite Curacao dining restaurant spot in Curacao. This place is for many reasons one of the best Curacao restaurants.
If you are looking for the most romantic spot for a date night or a special occasion, you simply have to try this place.
We went there for our anniversary dinner and were both in agreement: this was the best restaurant experience on the island.
Karakter is a cozy seafront restaurant with possibly the best sunset view of the island.
Every one of the dishes was lovingly decorated and cooked to perfection. Simple ingredients combined in a great manner made for an amazing meal.
2. Fort Nassau
Price: $$$$
Meals: Dinner
Notes: Select special sunset view for two options when making reservations, great historical building
A close second place in my Curacao dining restaurant ranking was awarded to Fort Nassau
The historical fort is a pretty unique restaurant, with a 360-degree view of the island. You can see the beautiful capital city of Willemstad from above as the sun sets over the sea.
The restaurant offers fine dining in a chic, renovated historical fort. If you make your reservations early, you can snatch one of the 4 tables that are out on a private terrace
3. Mosa/Cana – Willemstad
Price: $$$
Meals: Dinner
Notes: reservations are a must!
Mosa/Cana is a Spanish-Latin American-style fusion restaurant right in the capital city of Willemstad.
The restaurant is known for its nice atmosphere and tapas-style dishes. For two people, they recommend ordering 3 to 4 different tapas to share.
The service is quite good and the atmosphere is really upbeat. However, we sometimes felt like the courses came a bit quickly and we were rushed.
The food is a bit pricey but the quality is amazing!
4. Bahia Beach Bar & Restaurant (Playa Lagun)
Price: $
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Notes: reservations in the evening are recommended
Bahia Restaurant in Playa Lagun is definitely one of our favorite food spots in Curacao. The place is pretty casual but is amazing in its own way.
Playa Lagun is quite the drive from Willemstad, but in my opinion, it is well worth it. The restaurant in Lagun is lovingly decorated with fairy lights and you have an amazing view over the bay and the sunset.
Another reason why this is a great Curacao restaurant you need to see is the friendly iguanas that stroll around the premises (not in the famous Curacao iguana soup)
The food is incredibly delicious and comes at a great price point.
5. Eetcafe de Buurvrouw
Price: $$
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Notes: reservations in the evening are recommended
Eetcafe de Buurvrouw is a super nice restaurant in Curacao off the beaten track. It is located right on the Weg naar Westpunt and inside a huge straw hut.
The restaurant is very charming and the service is great!
I recommend eating one of their famous steaks with one of their selected wines. The restaurant is also family-friendly with some children’s menus.
Compared to most restaurants in Curacao, the food at the Buurvrouw is relatively cheap.
6. Saint Tropez Ocean Club (Willemstad)
Price: $$
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Notes: reservations are recommended in the evening
Saint Tropez is one of my favorite Curacao restaurants for lunch in the city.
Located in the beautiful Pietermaai district of Curacao, Saint Tropez Ocean Club offers a wide selection of food throughout the day. You can lounge by the pool or sit right next to the ocean while you eat your food.
The quality of the food and drinks is amazing and we absolutely love the view.
However, I do not recommend this place for dinner, since the atmosphere turns more club-like in the evening.
The service is polite but not super warm.
7. Mood Beach
Price: $$$$
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Notes: reservations are required
Mood Beach is a restaurant located on Curacao’s famous Mambo Beach.
This restaurant is decorated in boho-chic and is located right on the beach. You can dine right by the ocean or a bit more tucked away in a bigger hut.
Mood Beach is especially great for fine dining in a very chic environment. The food is exquisite, but also quite pricey.
8. Bij Blauw
Price: $$$
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Notes: reservations are a must for dinner
Bij Blauw is another fabulous restaurant in Willemstad’s famous Pietermaai district.
BijBlauw is located right on the ocean and offers great views of the sunset. We have been there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and I have loved all my meals there.
The location is amazing and the service is super friendly. Especially the dinner menu is more in a fine dining manner, and a bit more expensive, but worth it.
This is one of my favorite all-round restaurants in Curacao – they do every single meal really well!
9. SuViche
Price: $$
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Notes: reservations are not necessary, Monday and Thursday are All-You-Can-Eat Sushi
SuViche is the best sushi and Asian-fusion restaurant in Curacao.
It is located right on Mambo Beach Boulevard, so you have an amazing view of the ocean while you eat.
Mondays and Thursdays they offer all-you-can-eat sushi (but it’s fancy, I promise) and they serve it on cute little wooden boats.
A must-visit restaurant on Mambo beach!
10. Playa Forti
Price: $
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Notes: reservations are a must around sunset time
Playa Forti is the place to be if you want to eat authentic seafood in Curacao.
With an amazing view over the ocean and the Playa Forti beach, this restaurant is a true hidden gem in Curacao.
The seafood stew is divine and prepared with traditional Caribbean rice and plantains (fried bananas).
Fun fact: right behind the restaurant is a cliff jumping point, so you can jump 20 m deep into the ocean.
Do you need travel insurance in Curacao? Yes, travel insurance in Curacao is highly recommended. Unsafe roads, water sports accidents, and food poisoning are only a few examples of when travel insurance could come in handy. EKTA offers worldwide travel insurance with 24/7 service and no hidden fees or restrictions.
11. Koraal Rooftop
Price: $$
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Notes: reservations are recommended in the evening
Koraal Rooftop Restaurant is right above the Karakter Beach Restaurant and is just as great. I totally love it.
The food and the atmosphere are slightly more casual, but the quality is just as good. There are many fabulous seafood dishes to try, such as the flatbread pizza with barracuda!
This spot is definitely on my list of favorite seafood restaurants in Curacao.
You can have a great view over the ocean for sunset if you reserve your table early. On certain days you can enjoy live music or eat from the special BBQ. They even have a sushi night (Saturdays).
12. Restaurant & Café de Gouverneur de Rouville
Price: $$
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Notes: make reservations to sit on the terrace with a view over Sint Anna Bay
Restaurant & Café de Gouverneur de Rouville is one of the best restaurants in Willemstad, Curacao.
Not only the food is amazing – but the view over the Sint Anna Bay and the Handelskade is amazing. You have some skyline views that will remind you of New York for sure.
They serve both local dishes and international cuisine and decorate them lovingly. Additionally, I loved all the fun cocktails they offered (Espresso Martinis :D)
They also have some great vegetarian options – I had amazing asparagus in this restaurant.
13. El Mexicano – Mambo Beach
Price: $$
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Notes: make reservations in the evening, it can get busy
El Mexicano is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Curacao.
It is also located right on Mambo Beach Boulevard and has a great view over the ocean. They serve many different Mexican dishes as well as steaks.
My favorite meal there is definitely the Mexican Pasta with a nice fresh pitcher of Sangria.
14. Bliss the Berry
Price: $$
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Notes: no reservations needed
Bliss the Berry is an amazing, Instagram-worthy restaurant on Mambo Beach. They are famous for their colorful bowls.
They serve breakfast and lunch at Bliss the Berry.
You don’t need reservations, but it can get quite busy.
15. La Lagoon (Acoya Curacao)
Price: $$$
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Notes: fountain & light show around 08:00 pm
Acoya Curacao is a big Villa-style resort close to Willemstad.
Even if you don’t stay there, the restaurant is a reason to drop by. The kitchen is inspired by the Caribbean-Asian fusion style and is super delicious.
However, it can be a bit pricey, but the quality is great.
What is Authentic Curacao Food?
Many of the best restaurants in Curacao I suggested are fusion-style restaurants. That means, they serve a mixture of Caribbean dishes, but also feature other countries’ cuisine (for example Central America).
Curacao does have some special, authentic dishes from the island. Here are a couple of things you should try when in Curacao:
- Keshi Yena: This is a popular dish that consists of a hollowed-out Edam or Gouda cheese filled with some meat (typically chicken), vegetables, spices, and sometimes raisins. It is then baked until the cheese is melted and gooey. Keshi Yena is considered a signature dish of Curaçao, and I definitely liked it!
- Stobá: Stobá is a hearty stew made from beef, goat, or chicken. It is cooked with local herbs and spices, including annatto, garlic, and onions. The stew is usually served with funchi (a cornmeal side dish) or rice.
- Karkó: Karkó, also known as conch, is a popular seafood dish in Curaçao. The conch meat is marinated with lime juice and spices. It is often served as a ceviche or in a stew-like dish called “sopi di karkó.” We ate it at Playa Forti restaurant, and it was great!
- Iguana Soup: Iguana soup is a traditional Curacao soup made from cute little iguanas. I could not bear to try it because I like the animals so much.
- Ham di Pasku: around Christmas times, the people of Curacao eat traditional ham
The best place to find local dishes from Curacao is Plasa Bieu. It is a local food market in Punda, Willemstad. Make sure to check it out!
Conclusion: Best Restaurants in Curacao
In this post, you learn about my top 15 restaurants in Curacao. No matter which one you’ll end up at, they are all pretty amazing.
Curacao is one of the best places in the world for foodies! Make sure to check out Karakter Beach and Gouverneur de Rouville, two of my favorite restaurants in Curacao.
If you have the time, drive out to Playa Lagun for a special meal overlooking the ocean on the cliffs.
For breakfast, head over to Bliss the Berry on Mambo Beach for a perfect start to your vacation.
Read about the best time to go to Curacao to plan the perfect vacation.
FAQ: Best Restaurants in Curacao
The most popular restaurants in Curacao are BijBlauw, Karakter, and Fort Nassau. In Willemstad, people love De Gouverneur de Rouville and Kome, as well as Plasa Bieu for local cuisine.
Curaçao is known for its flavorful and diverse cuisine. Some popular dishes include Keshi Yena (stuffed cheese), Stobá (meat stew), Ayaka (cornmeal tamale), Karkó (conch), and Pastechi (savory turnovers). The island’s food combines influences from its African, Dutch, and Latin American heritage, resulting in a unique and delicious culinary experience.
Yes, you tip in restaurants in Curacao. Be careful, some restaurants already add a 10 % service charge to the bill by themselves. In that case, you are not required to tip anymore, but it is still appreciated. Tips between 5 and 15 % are considered normal in Curacao restaurants.
About the Author
Sabrina is a passionate travel blogger and content creator, based in the Netherlands. She spends most parts of the year abroad at various destinations with her husband.
She provides slow-paced itineraries that focus on quality over quantity. Sabrina wants to help her readers to get more out of their travel experiences – while doing less. Read more.
