Address and phone number ( the number is a +297)

Oranjestad●○○○#154 of 316 Places to Eat in Oranjestad

Amistad Takeaway

Name: Amistad Takeaway
Address: Santa Cruz 71b, Oranjestad Aruba, AW
Price range: $
Rating: 4.8

★★★★½4.8 out of 5 · 5 reviews

local

caribbean

Photo: © Management via TripAdvisor

About

Amistad Takeaway is a budget Caribbean spot in Santa Cruz, tucked into Oranjestad's local grid. It ranks #154 out of 316 restaurants in town, and the five reviewers gave it a 4.8 — which, on that small a sample, signals either very good consistency or very good luck with who walked in. The atmosphere subrating is perfect, the food and value both land at 4.5, so you're paying little and getting more than you'd expect. This is takeaway-focused Caribbean cooking, not a sit-down experience. The place is kid-friendly and takes walk-ins, so it's geared toward locals grabbing lunch or an early dinner on the way home. The vibe is low-key, the portions are honest, and the price tier is as low as it gets on the island. If you want to eat where Arubans actually eat and you're fine with plastic forks, it's worth the detour into Santa Cruz.

At a glance

Area: Oranjestad
Vibe: local
Price: ●○○○
Reservation required: –
Kid friendly: ✓
Cuisine: caribbean
Dietary options: —

Photos

Well it speaks for itself! The infamous chicken wings, sometimes we have 4 different varieties and all of them delicious! To find out more check our Facebook!

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Beautiful view from the deck, on cruise ship nights.

Oranjestad●●○○© Management via TripAdvisor

The West Deck

The West Deck sits right on the water at Governor's Bay Linear Park in Oranjestad, a casual spot where the harbor breeze does most of the work. The #15 ranking among Oranjestad restaurants tracks with what the subratings say — the atmosphere (4.8) pulls slightly ahead of the food (4.6), which tells you the location isn't just backdrop. The menu splits between American, Caribbean, and seafood, so you can go fried snapper or a burger depending on the mood. It earned Travelers Choice in 2025, and over 5,500 reviews have landed on 4.6 overall. Service runs at 4.7, which means you're not waiting forever for a refill, and the mid-range price tier keeps it accessible without feeling like a tourist trap. It's kid-friendly if you need that, though plenty of adults stop in solo for a beer and conch fritters at sunset. No reservations required — walk up, grab a table if one's open, and you're set.

casual

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Oranjestad●●○○© Management via TripAdvisor

Aquarius

Aquarius sits on L.G Smith Boulevard in Oranjestad, a few blocks from the cruise terminal. It's the #5 restaurant in town out of 316, which puts it ahead of most of the waterfront spots tourists default to. The 4.8 across service, food, and atmosphere all land in the same range — consistent execution, not one strong suit covering for weak links. The menu is international, leaning casual, and the kitchen handles variety without spreading too thin. Travelers' Choice 2025 and a 4.5 value rating suggest you're not paying resort premiums for the location. It's kid-friendly if you're traveling with family, but the vibe skips the loud-and-bright theme restaurant feel. No reservation required. Walk-ins work most nights, though weekends near cruise ship days can fill up the front tables.

casual

international

Poffertjes deluxe - Poffertjes (14pc) with vanilla ice-cream, whipped cream & chocolate sauce

Oranjestad●●○○© Management via TripAdvisor

The Dutch Pancakehouse

The Dutch Pancakehouse sits in Renaissance Marketplace on the harbor in Oranjestad, and the concept is exactly what the name suggests. Dutch-style pancakes — thinner than American, thicker than crêpes — arrive savory or sweet, and they can hold a meal. The #34 ranking out of 316 restaurants in the capital and a 2025 Travelers Choice nod reflect steady execution: food and service both score 4.5 and 4.4 respectively, and value lands at 4.4 as well, which matters at this price tier. The atmosphere is casual, families show up often, and the harbor location means you can sit outside if the timing works. It's not reinventing anything, but nearly 3,000 reviews suggest they've nailed the basics. If you want pancakes that aren't breakfast-only and a spot that doesn't require a reservation, this does the job.

casual

american

Stay nearby

Santa Cruz

Mammaloe's B&B

Mammaloe's sits inland in Santa Cruz, a fifteen-minute drive from the coast, which keeps the price honest and the crowds elsewhere. The #1 ranking among Santa Cruz B&Bs comes down to service and value — both subratings hit 4.7 and 4.8 respectively, and the owner clearly runs a tight operation. Rooms are simple but well-kept, and the 4.6 room score reflects that. The 4.2 sleep quality rating is a half-point below everything else, so light sleepers might want to ask about room placement. This isn't a beach resort. You're here for a quiet base, a personal welcome, and a breakfast worth waking up for. The location rating of 4.5 makes sense — you'll need a car to reach Eagle Beach or the high-rises, but you're also closer to the Arikok trails and the windward coast. If you want less polish and more neighborhood, Mammaloe's delivers.

Santa Cruz

Fuego Mio Bed & Breakfast

Fuego Mio is a small bed and breakfast tucked into Santa Cruz, Aruba's central plateau—inland, away from the beaches and hotel strips. With just ten rooms, it's the kind of place where the owner probably knows your name by breakfast on day two. That 5.0 service rating isn't a fluke. The subratings tell the story: rooms and cleanliness both hit 4.8, and value comes in at the same mark, which makes sense at $350 a night in a part of the island where you're paying for intimacy over ocean views. Beach access is by shuttle, so you're trading walkability for quiet and a lower party score. If you want to wake up on sand, stay on the coast. If you want to wake up somewhere that feels more like a neighborhood and less like a resort compound, this works. It's ranked #2 of two B&Bs in Santa Cruz, which mostly means there aren't many options like this on the island at all.

Oranjestad

Juanedu Boutique Hotel

Juanedu Boutique Hotel sits inland in Oranjestad, a few blocks from the cruise terminals and downtown shopping—convenient for walking around town, less so for the beach, which requires a shuttle. The #13 ranking among specialty lodging in the capital tracks with its mid-tier price point and solid ratings across the board. Cleanliness and value both score 4.5 out of 5, which matters when you're paying around $350 a night but not staying at a beachfront resort. The 100 rooms keep things smaller than the high-rise properties, and the vibe leans quieter and family-friendly without being restrictive—no casino, no all-inclusive upsell, no kids' club. Sleep quality and service both land at 4.3, which suggests consistent upkeep and attentive staff. The location rating of 3.4 is honest: you're in the capital, not on the sand, so plan accordingly. If you want to base near Oranjestad's restaurants and shops and shuttle to Eagle Beach when you feel like it, this works.

Similar tables

Oranjestad

The West Deck

Oranjestad

Barefoot Restaurant

Barefoot sits right on L.G. Smith Boulevard in Oranjestad, claiming the #37 spot among local restaurants and a 2025 Travelers Choice award. The upscale Caribbean-seafood-international menu runs at the top price tier, but unlike Madame Janette or The Flying Fishbone, you can walk in without a reservation — which is the entire appeal if you're staying in Palm Beach and want something nicer without the planning. The catch: noise. A neighboring club sends music across the dining area often enough that conversation becomes work, and beachside tables don't always deliver the views you'd expect at this price point. The 4.6 food rating tells part of the story — experiences vary more than they should. Service and atmosphere both score higher, so execution on those fronts is steadier. If spontaneity matters more than guaranteed quiet or sightlines, Barefoot works. If you're after the romantic beachfront meal without interruptions, Passions On The Beach handles that better without the sound bleed.

Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

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Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.