Savaneta●○○○#2 of 4 Places to Eat in Pos Chiquito

Happy Appy's Shoarma & Patat

Name: Happy Appy's Shoarma & Patat
Address: Spaans Lagoenweg 10, Pos Chiquito Aruba, AW
Price range: $
Rating: 4.8

★★★★½4.8 out of 5 · 16 reviews

casual

middle_eastern

dutch

Photo: © k0schmiddaaa via TripAdvisor

Happy Appy's Shoarma & Patat is a $ middle_eastern & dutch casual restaurant in Savaneta rated 4.8/5 by 16 TripAdvisor reviewers; walk-ins welcome.

About

Happy Appy's sits on the main road near Pos Chiquito, close to Savaneta, and it's the kind of spot locals hit when they want shawarma done right. The #2 ranking in the area tracks with the 5.0 value score—this is budget-tier pricing without the usual shortcuts. Middle Eastern staples share the menu with Dutch comfort food like patat, which makes sense once you know Aruba's history. Both the food and service clear 4.8, and the 4.8 overall rating holds even with a small sample. It's casual, kid-friendly, and doesn't take reservations, which means you show up and order at the counter. The kitchen keeps things straightforward: proteins cooked on the vertical spit, fries done properly, sauces that matter. If you're staying anywhere on the southern coast and want something filling that costs less than a cocktail, this works.

At a glance

Area: Savaneta
Vibe: casual
Price: ●○○○
Reservation required: –
Kid friendly: ✓
Cuisine: middle_eastern
dutch
european
Dietary options: —

Make a day of it

Tours & things to do nearby

Aruba Bob Snorkel & Scuba

Aruba Bob Snorkel & Scuba runs out of Savaneta, on the quieter south coast, and the #8 ranking among 200-plus water sports operators tells you they're doing something right. This is a half-day operation — four hours on the water — hitting both snorkel sites and dive spots depending on the group. The intensity sits at a 3 out of 5, so it's not beginner handholding, but you don't need to be a pro either. Expect to move between sites, not drift in one shallow cove all morning. The 2,160 reviews skew almost universally positive, and a perfect 5-out-of-5 average is rare for any outfit this active. Pricing lands around $75, which is middle-of-the-pack for a structured tour. If you're staying near the high-rises and want a change of scenery, the pickup logistics usually work out. Book direct through their system.

Book on Viator →

EL Tours

EL Tours runs land-based excursions out of Barcadera, just southeast of Oranjestad, and the #6 ranking among transportation options in the capital tells you it's doing something right. With over 1,700 reviews holding a 4.7, that's volume with consistency — not easy when you're shuttling tourists through a four-hour tour at moderate intensity. The $75 price point puts it in the accessible middle, and the direct booking setup means you're dealing straight with the operator, not a reseller. Expect to be outside the whole time, likely hitting a mix of natural sites and viewpoints around the island. Four hours is enough to cover meaningful ground without turning into an endurance test, and the moderate intensity suggests some walking or light activity without requiring serious fitness. If you want a structured way to see Aruba's interior without renting a car, this is a credible option that handles the logistics for you.

Book on Viator →

Donkey Sanctuary Aruba

The Donkey Sanctuary sits inland near Santa Cruz, a 20-minute drive from the resorts, and it's exactly what it sounds like—a working refuge for rescued and retired donkeys. Over a hundred of them roam the property, and they're friendly in the way animals that see people every day tend to be. You can walk around, feed them carrots (they'll sell you a bag), and learn a bit about how they ended up here. It's free to visit, though donations keep the place running. The #1 ranking in Santa Cruz and back-to-back Travelers Choice awards suggest people find it more engaging than expected. The setting is dusty and open, not manicured, which fits the operation. Kids can get close without much fuss, and the intensity level is about as low as it gets—plan on an hour or so unless you're staying to volunteer. Bring water and wear shoes that handle dirt.

Book on Viator →

We earn a commission when you book through links on this page — picks don't change based on payouts. How this works

Photos

Trip planner

Not sure how this fits your trip?

Answer a few quick questions and get a full Aruba plan — resorts, restaurants, beaches, and bookable activities matched to your budget and vibe.

Build my plan →

Recent Pulse

We're still listening.

We'll show you what travelers are saying about this spot as soon as enough recent reviews come in. Check back shortly.

Similar restaurants

Savaneta●○○○© 50lesliew via TripAdvisor

Zeerovers

Zeerovers is a fisherman's shack on the water in Savaneta, and it's about as straightforward as eating gets. You order fried fish by the pound from whatever came off the boat that morning, grab a picnic table on the pier, and eat. The 4.6 value rating makes sense — prices are low, portions are generous, and the seafood is fresh because the boats are right there. The #4 ranking in Savaneta and the 2025 Travelers' Choice award reflect consistent execution more than anything fancy. The atmosphere is open-air Caribbean casual, which means plastic chairs, ceiling fans, and pelicans circling overhead. Service is quick once your order's up, though weekends can stretch the wait. Families do fine here — it's loud, relaxed, and kids can watch the fishing boats come in. Bring cash if you can. The line moves, but it moves at island speed. If you want tablecloths or a wine list, this isn't it. If you want good fried fish without the markup, it is.

beachfront

seafood

Savaneta●●●●© JamesO131 via TripAdvisor

The Flying Fishbone

The Flying Fishbone is on the beach in Savaneta, and the setup is adults-only French-Caribbean fusion with tables literally in the water at high tide. That #2 ranking among Savaneta restaurants comes with the second-highest review count in the area, and the 4.9 atmosphere score reflects the whole point of coming here — it's romantic in a way that feels less engineered than the high-rise strip options. The food is seafood-forward, competently done, though the 4.3 value score tells you what you need to know: people debate whether the setting justifies the tier-4 pricing. Service scores well, the French influence shows up in the preparations, and the Caribbean ingredients keep it from feeling like imported fine dining. Reservations are required. If you're booking sunset, know that earlier seatings before 7pm can mean harsh direct light — the magic hour matters here more than at indoor spots.

romantic

seafood

Reserve

G&G Pizza Co.

G&G Pizza Co. sits in Savaneta, the fishing village on Aruba's south coast, and it's exactly what the name suggests: a casual pizza spot where locals actually eat. The #8 ranking among Savaneta restaurants and a 4.7 food score suggest they've dialed in the basics — dough, sauce, toppings that work. The dollar-sign price tier and high value rating mean you're not paying resort markup for a pie. The vibe is laid-back and kid-friendly, the kind of place where you can show up sandy from Baby Beach and nobody minds. Service scores match the food, which matters when you're feeding a group and timing counts. If you're staying south or driving back from the windward side, it's a reliable stop that doesn't try to be more than it is.

casual

pizza

Torn between this and somewhere else? Settle it →

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.

Savaneta

EVA Resort Aruba

EVA Resort sits on the quieter south coast in Savaneta, away from the high-rise strip. It's a small property — #2 among B&Bs and inns in the area — but the 40 reviews land it at a perfect 5.0, with service and cleanliness both maxed out. That's the kind of consistency you get when a place is small enough to actually care. The subratings tell the story: location, sleep quality, and rooms all sit at 4.9, with service hitting perfect marks. Value comes in at 4.9 too, which suggests you're paying for the attention and not inflated resort fees. Savaneta itself is a fishing village with a few local spots and easy access to the less-trampled beaches on this side of the island. If you want something intimate and well-run without the Palm Beach scene, this is the direction to look. Just know it's small-scale by design — don't expect a sprawling pool complex or nightly entertainment.

Savaneta

Paradise Found

Paradise Found sits at Pos Chiquito on the south-east end of the island, away from the high-rise strip. It's a small operation — eleven reviews all handing out perfect or near-perfect scores across sleep quality, service, value, and cleanliness. The #9 ranking among Oranjestad B&Bs undersells what those subratings suggest: when every category lands above 4.8, something's working. The location rating of 4.9 makes sense given the address. Pos Chiquito isn't walking distance to the main beaches or the nightlife zone, but it's quiet, and guests who want that seem to find it. The 5.0 for value tells you the price isn't scaring anyone off relative to what they're getting. Eleven reviews is a limited sample, but when sleep quality and service both hit 5.0, it's worth noting. This isn't a place trying to be everything to everyone.

Similar tables

Savaneta

Makamba Style Snacks

Makamba Style Snacks is a small Dutch-European spot in Pos Chiquito, just up the coast from Savaneta. One perfect review and a #3 ranking out of four in the area doesn't tell you much, but the vibe is clearly local — this is the kind of place where you order at the counter and sit down with whoever else wandered in. The mid-tier pricing and kid-friendly setup suggest snack-bar staples done right, probably bitterballen and kroket alongside whatever else the kitchen feels like running that day. It's not reservation territory. Show up, see what's on, and eat.

Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

Photos by individual contributors as credited above.

Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.