Elizabeth Bar & Restaurant
About
Elizabeth Bar & Restaurant is on a corner in San Nicolas, the island's second-largest town on the southeast coast. It holds the #18 spot among 21 restaurants in the area, but the single review on file gave it a perfect 5 across food, service, and value — so the ranking says more about limited online visibility than actual quality. The kitchen runs Caribbean pub fare at a mid-range price, and the vibe skews local rather than tourist-facing. It's marked kid-friendly, so it's more neighborhood canteen than cocktail scene. San Nicolas itself is the old refinery town and now Aruba's art district, meaning you're likely here after visiting the murals or the Aruba Rum Distillery down the road. One review isn't much to lean on, but perfect subratings and a local regulars crowd usually mean the kitchen knows what it's doing. If you're exploring the south end and want something off the Palm Beach circuit, it's worth a look.
At a glance
- Area
- San Nicolas
- Vibe
- local
- Price
- ●●○○
- Reservation required
- –
- Kid friendly
- ✓
- Cuisine
- caribbeanbarpub
- Dietary options
- —
Photos
© briangrif via TripAdvisor© briangrif via TripAdvisor
© briangrif via TripAdvisor© briangrif via TripAdvisor
© briangrif via TripAdvisor© briangrif via TripAdvisor
© briangrif via TripAdvisor© briangrif via TripAdvisor
Similar restaurants
San Nicolas●●○○© W6961WWpaull via TripAdvisorKamini's Kitchen
Kamini's Kitchen sits in San Nicolas, the island's southeast art district, and it ranks #1 among restaurants in the area for a reason. The food rating is 4.8 out of 5, and that tracks with what you're getting: Caribbean cooking that doesn't feel touristy. The space has a local vibe, and the service and value ratings both hit 4.7, which is the kind of consistency that earns a Travelers' Choice award. The menu is straightforward Caribbean, portions are generous, and the price sits in the mid-range without the resort markup. Families show up here, which tells you something about the atmosphere and the flexibility of the menu. You don't need a reservation, but with over 1,700 reviews holding that rating, expect a wait if you come at peak hours. San Nicolas is a 20-minute drive from the hotel strip, so this is the kind of place you seek out on purpose, not stumble into.
San Nicolas●●○○© llamabubblegum via TripAdvisorO'Niel Caribbean Kitchen
O'Niel Caribbean Kitchen sits in San Nicolas, the island's south-side arts district, and it holds the #2 spot for a reason — it's where locals actually eat. The menu is straightforward Caribbean: what you'd cook at home if you grew up here, done right. The 4.4 food rating and 4.4 value rating line up with the mid-tier pricing, which means you're getting portions that make sense and flavor that doesn't compromise for tourists. The room is casual, the service is steady, and the kitchen doesn't cut corners. Travelers' Choice 2025 confirms what the review count already suggested: people come back. Families show up without hesitation, which tells you something about the welcome and the noise tolerance. If you're spending time in San Nicolas anyway — street art, history, Red Anchor — this is the place to eat lunch or an early dinner. It's not trying to be anything other than what it is.
San Nicolas●●○○© alfabase via TripAdvisorCharlie's Bar & Restaurant
Charlie's Bar sits in the middle of San Nicolas, and if you've seen photos of Aruba bars plastered floor-to-ceiling with license plates, dollar bills, and business cards from fifty years of tourists, this is the original. The décor is the draw as much as the menu — locals and cruise-day visitors both pack in for the spectacle. The food leans Caribbean and seafood, with pub standards filling out the rest. Service scores highest among the subratings, which tracks with the steady turnover at the bar and tables. It's ranked #6 in San Nicolas, in the middle-price range, and the atmosphere rating matches the chaos of the interior — it's loud, crowded, and deliberately over-the-top. Families show up during the day when the vibe softens. No reservations, so plan on a wait if you're there during a ship stop. Cash helps move things along.
Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →
Photos by individual contributors as credited above.
Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.