The Cruise Port of Curaçao is home to many good restaurants where you can enjoy lunch or dinner during your one-day stay on the island. Each restaurant has its own style and menu, influenced by the many cultures and movements of Curaçao.
In preparation for your trip to the island, we have put together a list of the 10 best restaurants near the Cruise Port in Curaçao. Each of these excellent establishments are within walking distance of the cruise ship in the capital Willemstad.
Curaçao restaurants near the Cruise Port
Your Cruise ship will dock at the Mega Pier in the Otrobanda district. The center of Willemstad is a relatively small area, so all sights and restaurants are within walking distance and near the cruise ship.
The maximum walking time for the furthest restaurant is 20 minutes. Because of all the impressions, you gain along the way, you won’t even notice the distance.
Perla Del Mar
Dining at the waterfront? Perla Del Mar is the place to be! This charming restaurant is tucked away in Punda’s Waterfront Boogjes (Water fort arches). If you’re visiting Willemstad for the first time, you’ll probably walk past it, but if you know where to look, you’ll find one of Willemstad’s hidden gems.
The menu is mainly seafood, the red snapper and ceviche are their signature dishes. They also serve meat and some vegetarian dishes. From their terrace, you have a view of the cruise ship. Perla Del Mar is a beautiful place to dine at sunset.
De Gouverneur
Let’s talk about Restaurant & Café Gouverneur De Rouville, popularly known as ‘De Gouverneur’. This charming restaurant is located in Otrobanda, just a 10-minute walk from the Curacao cruise port.
De Gouverneur is known for its excellent menu, but the real secret is the breathtaking view over the famous Handelskade. These two factors are the foundation of De Gouverneur’s success formula.
There’s indoor and outdoor seating. If you have the opportunity, make a reservation for a table at the scenic veranda. From there you will have a magnificent view of the Willemstad waterfront.
In terms of the menu, I would like to give you a personal recommendation: Try the banana soup! It is the restaurant’s specialty and one of the most requested dishes.
Mundo Bizarro
Step into Little Havana by visiting Mundo Bizarro. This restaurant is located in the neighborhood of Pietermaai which is a 15-minute walk from the Curaçao Cruise Port.
The eclectic and vintage Cuban vibe is what attracts most people to have lunch or dinner at this place. The food is good and the cocktails are delicious.
Although the place looks like the epitome of the Caribbean, Mundo Bizarro serves a European-intercontinental style menu. The menu mainly consists of meat and fish dishes. There are few options for vegetarians.
p.s. There’s a salsa event every Thursday night!
Café Old Dutch
When I visit this place it feels like I’m with family, and recently I read in the reviews that other visitors experience this too.
Café Old Dutch, as the name implies, is a Dutch cafe where you can enjoy drinks and Dutch snacks. The restaurant has an international lunch and dinner menu, so you are not necessarily limited to Dutch dishes.
The restaurant with the recognizable blue facade is about a 15-minute walk from the Cruise Ship. If you walk straight ahead at Wilhelminaplein, the restaurant is on your left.
La Bohème
In the heart of downtown Punda, you will find La Bohème, a picturesque laid-back café open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you’re looking for a place with a vibrant and friendly atmosphere, this is it.
The menu is extensive and they also have a great choice of vegetarian dishes. The arepas and smoothies are a must-try! La Bohème offers a balanced blend of local, Dutch, and Venezuelan dishes, all of them prepared with fresh ingredients.
La Bohème is located on Columbusstraat, one of the city centre’s main streets. From the cruise ship,p it is about a 10-minute walk to this charming quaint cafe.
Plein Café Wilhelmina
Plein Café Wilhelmina is conveniently located at the main square in Punda and has a delightful outdoor seating area. This cozy Dutch restaurant is just a 10-minute walk from the Curaçao Cruise Port.
This is the restaurant I visited most often in Curacao, and I’ll explain why. The food is good, nothing spectacular but solid. The staff is friendly and punctual. Food moves fast and I never had to wait long for my order to arrive.
This is just one of those places where you know what to expect. Nothing complicated and a good price/quality ratio. Choose this place if you don’t want to make a big activity out of lunch or dinner.
Plasa Bieu
Local food in a casual atmosphere. That is the perfect description of the Plasa Bieu. Anyone who wants to try the typical Curaçao specialties is welcome in the plasa’s indoor canteen.
This is the place where locals and tourists come together to have a meal at the same table.
The concept is simple: You take a seat at the long table at one of the 6 open kitchens. Each kitchen serves daily specials from which you can choose.
The friendly hosts, often the owners of the mini-restaurants, are happy to help you with the menu. They explain the various dishes and love to introduce you to the Curaçao food culture.
This is my go-to place for affordable and nutritious food. Curaçao cuisine consists of natural and pure ingredients and is therefore often Paleo-friendly.
Kome
The reviews don’t lie: Kome is an excellent restaurant where both the waiting staff and the chef go the extra mile. The restaurant has many repeaters and satisfied guests who like to come back. I am one of them.
The ambiance is great. Beautiful murals and stylish furniture. The string lights make the restaurant extra cozy and the decoration is detailed. Fun fact: Kome means ‘Eat’ in the Papiamentu language.
Kome mainly works with fresh local ingredients. The kitchen is very varied, there are fish, meat, vegetarian, and pasta dishes. The combinations of ingredients are creative, but they work. A lot of attention is paid to small details and you can taste that in the dishes. I don’t know anyone who has had a bad experience at this restaurant.
Saint Tropez Ocean Club
Would like to take it easy during your day at shore? Let me introduce you to Saint Tropez Ocean Club, the place where you can laze around all day. You can spend the whole day here, swimming and relaxing at the pool. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily in the restaurant area.
What to expect at Saint Tropez Ocean Club? Nice ambiance, a great ocean view, and good food. The cocktail menu is very extensive and there’s a happy hour from 18.00 – 19.00 daily.
The pool is open daily from 10 am. There is free WIFI, and pool service and you can use the changing rooms, toilets, and shower at no extra cost. prices for sunbeds start at 14.00 USD.
Saint Tropez Ocean Club is a 20-minute walk from the Curaçao Cruise Port. At Saint Tropez, you don’t have access to the beach. Would you like to visit a beach during your one-day stay in Curaçao? Read our blog:
10 Best Curaçao Beaches Near the Cruise Port
Iguana Café
You have the most beautiful view of the colorful buildings of Otrobanda from the Handelskade in Punda. The well-known Iguana Café is located here, where I often stop for a delicious iced coffee.
From here you can keep a close eye on everything. This is the place where you can put everyday life in the capital into perspective.
They have a simple, but the solid menu. People come here mainly to enjoy drinks and small bites. Iguana Café is a place you go for the location. The sunset from the terrace is phenomenal.
