Spa and Beach Vacation Guru

Aruba has many fine restaurants, so you can expect outstanding meals and international cuisine. Although most resorts offer above-average dining, don't be afraid to try one of the many excellent, reasonably priced independent restaurants.

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Ask locals about their favorite spots; some of the lesser-known eateries offer food that's definitely worth sampling. Be sure to try such Aruban specialties as pan bati (a mildly sweet bread that resembles a pancake) and keshi yena (a baked concoction of Gouda cheese, spices, and meat or seafood in a rich brown sauce). On Sunday you may have a hard time finding a restaurant outside a hotel that's open for lunch, and many restaurants are closed for dinner on Sunday or Monday. Reservations are essential for dinner in high season.

Chez Mathilde

Opulence and first-rate French cuisine make Chez Mathilde a superb choice for special occasions. The restaurant's ambience is classically elegant, and although the service is formal, it's never intimidating. The glorious front dining room features black-and-white tile floors and bentwood chairs with brocade upholstery; a stunning Art Nouveau stained-glass window serves as the front room's focal point. The much larger back room has a sultry, luxurious feel and exuberant foliage. Enclosed by a Belle Epoque glass ceiling, it smells of old money. The food is equally evocative. Appetizers include Beluga caviar, pâté de foie gras, and paper-thin prosciutto with roasted potatoes. Delicious pan-fried trout rests on a bed of peppers, curly endive, and buttons of haricots verts in a heady lobster vinaigrette. Bathed in curry-infused mushroom sauce, the succulent grilled chicken breasts come with sautéed spinach and puréed potatoes. Or you can feast on chateaubriand, veal, wild boar, or ostrich. For dessert, the custardy crème brûlée or strawberries marinated in strawberry and lemon juice are unbeatable. Finish with an espresso (send it back if it's too weak), dark chocolates, and cognac. What a shame that the service, though usually stellar, can sometimes be distracted, imprecise, or slow.

Although this old house -- Aruba's last 19th-century dwelling preserved in its original state -- is not haunted, beware: the divine food, wine, and service may cast a spell on you. Ask to sit in the greenhouse atrium, with its whimsical Parisian-café-style decor. The outstanding French menu highlights the chef's deft touch with sauces, as in the ostrich fillet with five spices or coq au vin -- braised hen cooked in red wine. The chocolate or Grand Marnier soufflé is intoxicating, as is the soothing piano music. The restaurant -- run by descendants of the home's last inhabitant -- is a VIP member of the AGA. www.chezmathilde.com. Reservations essential.

Address: Havenstraat 23, Oranjestad, Aruba
Phone: 297/583-4968

L'Escale

There are many contenders, but L'Escale may be Aruba's most romantic restaurant. Beyond a wall of windows, the sun descends and the lights of Oranjestad harbor emerge as a saxophonist plays cool jazz. The gold-damask tablecloths, chandeliers, and voluptuous botanical drawings are traditionally elegant, but for all the refinement, there's nothing stuffy about L'Escale. And the cuisine can be inventive and adventurous. Consider the avocado and shrimp salad to start. Arranged as a whimsical pinwheel, it is served with a fine cilantro and orange dressing. The Aruban vol au vent (puff pastry with curried chicken and sautéed mushrooms) is succulent and complex. Meditating on a frosted-glass lily, mango sorbet ushers in the main courses. The dramatic mahimahi filet, grilled with thyme and served with puréed red pepper, is garnished with flavorful julienned vegetables and a dome of rice. An architectural wonder, the rack of lamb balanced on roasted potatoes is peerless. Save room for the Grand Marnier soufflé. The restaurant offers a special deal for diners who also want to take in the show at the Crystal Palace. This package offers value, but L'Escale's best dishes aren't on the theater menu. To fully appreciate the cuisine, come early and order off the main menu.

L. G. Smith's Steak & Chop House

A study in teak, cream, and black, this fine steak house replaced the highly regarded L'Escale. Subdued lighting and cascading water create a pleasing atmosphere. The menu features mainly steaks and other quality cuts of meat, all superbly prepared. The view over L. G. Smith Boulevard to the harbor makes for an exceptional dining experience. The casino is steps away if you fancy a few slots after dinner. AGA VIP member. Reservations essential.

Address: Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Casino, L. G. Smith Blvd. 82, Oranjestad, Aruba
Phone: 297/523-6115

The exterior of this funky eatery is lemon yellow and the interior serves as something of an art gallery. Despite the name, there isn't a Mexican dish to be seen: the menu includes everything from sashimi to ribs, but everything is done with Aruban flair. The fish dishes are especially good. The bar area is lively and friendly.

Address: Wilheminastraat 2, Oranjestad, Aruba
Phone: 297/583-4888

Marandi

Spa-Beach-Vacation.com is the resource and guide for planning your spa and beach vacation. Through our spa resort reviews, beach destinations information, island resort reviews and beach resorts reviews, you will be able to plan your spa and beach vacation knowing that the reviews provided here are experienced first hand by our writers.

With a name that means "on the water" in Malaysian, this seaside restaurant is at once cozy and chic. Everything is seductive, from the tables tucked under a giant thatched roof by the water's edge to the dining room that's unencumbered by a ceiling. There are even couches set in a sandbox where you can enjoy a cocktail before your meal. Stellar entrées include the grouper fillet with a tapenade of sundried tomatoes or the pork tenderloin stuffed with prunes, coriander, and scallions. Be sure to save room for the amazing chocolate mousse. Reserve ahead, and you can dine at the chef's table, which is right in the kitchen.

Address: L. G. Smith Blvd. 1, Oranjestad, Aruba
Phone: 297/582-0157

Pago Pago

The elegant South Sea fantasy of Pago Pago begins with hibiscus-print tablecloths and Polynesia-inspired oil paintings that blaze through subdued but dramatic lighting. The piano and bass combo adds sophistication, while the restaurant's multi-tiered spaciousness whispers luxury. Expectancy and promise hang in the air, fueled by the dramatic first course: fried plantain chips, 6 inches long, served with a subtle sauce of orange, ginger, honey, and chile. The firecracker lobster spring roll (served fresh in a nest of fried rice noodles) and tropical shrimp cocktail (seasoned with a refreshingly tart mango relish) score. But they can barely hint at the perfection of the main courses: Twice-cooked pork roast with lime-honey glaze is tender and succulent; macadamia-crusted grouper with papaya-lime-cilantro salsa is flawless down to the jasmine rice and julienned vegetable side dishes. The climax? Will it be delectable coconut mousse that's as dense as cheesecake, or lighter chocolate mousse cake? Or both?

Address:Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort and Casino, J.E . Irausquin Blvd. 77
Phone:297/586-4466

Sunset Grille

This chic restaurant's bold Art Deco design and 21st century color palette honor the architectural splendor of Miami's South Beach. Many diners rave about the outside terrace with its view overlooking a garden and lagoon, but the gorgeous interior dining room deserves attention, too. The hammered-copper surfaces, illuminated blue-glass partitions, and reflective mosaic pillars are richly modern. The pale mustard, salmon, and olive accents are cool and muted, and the daringly asymmetrical banquettes are dramatic. The stunning decor could overwhelm the food, but the Sunset's Angus beef and succulent seafood are outstanding. The refrigerated case in front displays main course options: choose your cut or filet. The generously portioned sushi is a good start, as is the mountain of iced shrimp, scallops, mussels, lobster tail, and crab legs with mango sauce. If it's beef you came for -- there's no better steak on the island -- savor filet mignon or New York sirloin strip. A delicious seafood choice, pan-seared ruby-red sushi-grade tuna, is encrusted with peppercorns and flavored with wasabi-soy sauce. To end the evening on a perfect note, moan over the tropical citrus cannoli.

Address: Raddison Aruba Resort and Casino, J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 81
Phone: 297/586-6555

Brisas del Mar

A meal at this friendly place overlooking the sea is like dining in a private home. Old family recipes use such indigenous ingredients as the aromatic yerbiholé leaf (with a minty basil flavor). Try the steamy fish soup, keri keri (shredded fish kissed with annatto, also known as achiote), or some of the island's best pan bati. The catch of the day cooked Aruban-style (panfried and covered with creole sauce, or in garlic butter on request) has drawn a crowd for more than 20 years. Reserve early for sunset gazing on the breezy terrace. The restaurant is bus-accessible from hotels.

Address: Savaneta 222A, Savaneta, Aruba
Phone: 297/584-7718