Papiamento Restaurant is the romantic garden destination set inside a 100+ year-old Aruban “cunucu” house in Noord — family-owned by the Ellis family since 1983, with poolside dining under string lights in a lush tropical garden, hot-stone presentations brought tableside, and one of the largest wine cellars in the Caribbean (1,800+ bottles). Member of the prestigious Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. Aruba’s most acclaimed romantic dinner.
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About Papiamento
Papiamento was founded in 1983 by Eduardo and Lenie Ellis in downtown Oranjestad and moved later to its current home: an authentic 1886 Aruban cunucu house in Noord. The historic property has been carefully restored and decorated with European antiques, the oldest dating to the early 1800s. The four Ellis children grew up here — they helped dig the pool and plant the now-extensive tropical garden.
Today the restaurant is run by their European-trained chef-owner son Eduardo Jr. (Edward) Ellis, with parents Eduardo and Lenie still very involved. Many staff members have been at Papiamento for over 15 years. The vibe is unmistakable: dine al fresco around the sparkling pool surrounded by mature weeping fig trees and string lights, in elegant air-conditioned dining rooms inside the historic house, or in the new PAPPA’s Cigar Lounge (Chesterfield sofas and a curated cigar/whiskey selection in the former Ellis living room).
What’s on the Papiamento menu — checked October 2026
Everything below is transcribed from the menus Papiamento itself publishes on its own website (the entrée menu there was last updated in August 2026). Notice what is missing: prices. Papiamento does not print them on its published menus. At the table everything is priced in U.S. dollars, and the menu states that no service charge is added to your check — the gratuity is left to you (“appreciated by all staff members,” as the menu puts it). Budget for a special-occasion dinner, and see our Aruba tipping guide for how tipping works island-wide.
The famous starter:
- Keeshi Yena — “Our Family Recipe” (that is the menu’s own spelling) — minced tenderloin and chicken stewed with prunes, golden raisins, olives and cashew, flame-broiled with Dutch cheese. It sits on the menu as a hot appetizer, and it is the dish Papiamento is best known for. Other starters run from chilled shrimp and tuna tartare to scampi and blue-cheese shrimp.
Fish specials (fillet of fish, pan-fried or oven-baked):
- Limon — lime and caper cream sauce.
- Almondine — with lots of toasted almonds.
- Rôti — oven-baked, topped with shrimp and scallop.
- Romanesco — pan-broiled with fresh and sundried tomatoes, basil, garlic, olive oil and a little cream.
Fruits of the Sea:
- West Indies — Caribbean shrimp in curried coconut milk sauce.
- Champagne Casserole — fish, scallops and crab poached in a creamy ‘brut’ sauce, Dutch Gouda au gratin.
- Cazuela — Caribbean shrimp and rock lobster stewed in an Aruban-style chowder with coconut milk and sweet island spice.
- Caribbean Creole — grilled mahi and shrimp with Creole sauce, and Aruban-style stewed fish with local polenta.
Kitchen specials:
- Moroccan Lamb — bone-in simmered lamb with spices and apricots, couscous with almonds and pistachios. Frequently called out as exceptional in reviews.
- Rendang — Indonesian-style stewed beef with fresh ginger, cinnamon, star anise and sweet soy, pickled cabbage, toasted coconut and peanut.
- Braised Porc — bone-in pork shank with spices and pineapple, served with a puree of cassave.
From the grill: Classic Tournedos (grilled tenderloin with fresh mushrooms and demi-glace), Grilled Pork Chop (dry-rubbed with Caribbean spices, malt whiskey sauce and pink peppercorns), Entrecôte Maitre d’Hôtel (grilled sirloin with sweet and smokey herb butter), and a Rib Eye grilled with its “own fat”, presented with coarse-grain mustard.
Stone Specials — the signature. Lightly seasoned, presented at your table sizzling hot on lava stone and cooked “to just the point”, so you finish each piece to your liking:
- Shrimp on the Stone — Caribbean shrimp with basil tartar sauce.
- Mermaid — filet of wahoo and Caribbean shrimp with mild papaya pepper sauce.
- Neptune — Caribbean rock lobster, mahi-mahi and shrimp with lemon butter.
- New Zealand Lamb Chops — marinated in red wine and dried herbs, presented with chimichurri.
- Madame Butterfly — “butterfly cut” beef tenderloin steak with green peppercorn sauce.
- Surf & Turf — 6-oz beef tenderloin and 8-oz Caribbean rock lobster with charred butter.
Dessert:
- Pan Bollo — local bread pudding with Ponche Crema (Aruban liqueur), the signature dessert.
- Dark Rum Cake — with dates, prunes, walnuts, served with Ponche Crema and vanilla ice cream.
Cas di Biña Wine Cellar — over 1,800 bottles from France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the Americas. Bottles range $22 to $200+. Guests are welcome to choose personally or ask staff for pairings. Tour the cellar and the historic house before or after dinner.
Practical info
- Address: Washington 61, Noord, Aruba
- Phone: +297 586 4544
- Website: www.papiamentoaruba.com
- Google rating: 4.5★ across 1130+ reviews.
- Price level: expensive.
What guests are saying
Reviews consistently praise the magical garden setting (“most beautiful garden restaurant in Aruba”), the hot stone dining experience, the extensive wine list, and warm professional service. Multiple guests describe it as the most romantic dinner of their entire trip. Named servers like Alex get repeat mentions. The historic house tour after dinner is a highlight.
Honest caveats: fine-dining prices (the published menus print no prices; at the table the menu is in U.S. dollars); hot stone dishes can overcook if servers are slow with the transfer plate — speak up early; music selection occasionally jarring with the historic vibe; reservations essential — book via bookings@papiamentoaruba.com or +297 586 4544 / +297 594 5504. Dinner only Mon-Sat, 6 PM to 10:30 PM. Elegantly casual dress.
Our verdict
Book it for an anniversary or a proposal, the hot-stone theatre, and the wine cellar — this is the island’s classic romantic splurge, in a real 1886 cunucu house rather than a resort dining room. Think twice if you are watching the budget (no prices on the published menu is the tell), if you want a beachfront sunset table (Papiamento is inland in Noord, in a garden), or if you are deciding on the night itself — it is dinner only, Monday to Saturday from 6 PM, and reservations are essential. The closest comparison on the island is Madame Janette, also in Noord: Papiamento wins on setting and theatre, while Madame Janette publishes its prices.
While you’re planning your Aruba trip
For more dining options, see our best restaurants in Aruba guide, our romantic restaurants guide, our fine dining guide, or our local Caribbean restaurants guide. Browse our best hotels in Aruba.
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