Noord●●○○#121 of 160 Places to Eat in Noord

Lily's Empanada Aruba

Name: Lily's Empanada Aruba
Address: Boegoeroei 24b, Noord Aruba, AW
Rating: 5

★★★★★5.0 out of 5 · 1 reviews

local

caribbean

Photo: © francisn831 via TripAdvisor

Lily's Empanada Aruba is a $$ caribbean local restaurant in Noord rated 5.0/5 by 1 TripAdvisor reviewers; walk-ins welcome.

About

Lily's Empanada is tucked into Noord, away from the high-rise strip, and runs like a family operation—because it probably is. The menu centers on empanadas, which here means hand-folded Caribbean pastries filled with local flavors. It's budget-friendly and clearly built for regulars who know what they want. The single review on file gave it straight fives across food, atmosphere, service, and value, which is a clean sweep but also just one data point. What you can bet on: this is a local spot, not a tourist factory. The vibe skews casual, kids are welcome, and you don't need a reservation. It ranks #121 out of 160 eateries in Noord, which puts it in the middle of a crowded field—plenty of competition, but it's holding a spot. If you're hunting for empanadas specifically or want to eat where Arubans actually go for a quick, cheap bite, it's worth the detour. Expect counter service and a straightforward menu.

At a glance

Area: Noord
Vibe: local
Price: ●●○○
Reservation required: –
Kid friendly: ✓
Cuisine: caribbean
Dietary options: —

Make a day of it

Tours & things to do nearby

ABC Tours Aruba

From $130 per person

ABC Tours Aruba operates out of Oranjestad and has held the #3 spot among outdoor activities in the capital for a reason — it's a full-day commitment. The standard safari runs seven hours, which is longer than most competitors, and covers Arikok National Park, the natural pool, caves, and a handful of beaches in one loop. That scope explains the $150 price point, which is about double what shorter half-day land tours charge elsewhere on the island. The back-to-back Travelers Choice awards and the volume of reviews point to consistent execution, and the guides get mentioned often — not just for driving, but for pacing the day so it doesn't feel like a forced march. Families book this because the private routes skip the roughest terrain and can accommodate infants, which matters if you're trying to see the interior without bounce-testing a car seat. If you're on a cruise, ABC coordinates timing around port schedules. If you'd rather spend half the day at a beach club, this isn't that.

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De Palm Tours

From $108 per person

De Palm Tours runs a private beach club on the west coast near Oranjestad, and it's built around water activities — think slides, banana boats, snorkeling gear, and a roped-off swimming area. The #5 ranking among Oranjestad transportation reflects that this isn't just a shuttle service; most visitors book the half-day beach package that includes cabanas, towels, and food service. The back-to-back Travelers Choice awards suggest consistency, and the 4.8 rating across 26,000+ reviews backs that up. The setup skews family-friendly. Kids get underwater activities in shallow zones, parents get palapas with shade and beverage service. It's beach entertainment, not wilderness — no natural pools or cave hikes like the UTV tours that head into Arikok. Duration runs around four hours, which is enough for the slides and a meal without burning the whole day. Note that the flamingo interactions cost extra, and cabana rentals are mandatory with the package. If you want inland exploration, this isn't it. If you want a contained beach day with activities included, it does the job.

Book on Viator →

RockaBeach Tours

From $162 per person

RockaBeach Tours runs out of Oranjestad and consistently pulls top marks — #7 among all outdoor activities in the area, with back-to-back Travelers Choice awards and a 4.9 from nearly 10,000 reviews. That's not a fluke. The four-hour water tour format gives you enough time to move around the coast without burning a whole day, and the intensity level lands somewhere in the middle — expect some sun and activity, but it's not an expedition. The price sits around $75, which is competitive for a half-day boat experience in Aruba. Most routes hit snorkeling spots and coastal sights that bigger operators skip, and the crew tends to keep group sizes manageable. Direct booking is available, so you skip the markup. If you want a water day that's more structured than renting gear on your own but less anonymous than the cruise-ship charters, this is the window.

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Lily's Empanada Aruba