Eagle Beach●●●○#50 of 316 Places to Eat in Oranjestad

Matthew's Beachside Restaurant

Name: Matthew's Beachside Restaurant
Address: J.E. Irausquin Boulevard # 51 Casa del Mar Beach Resort, Oranjestad 00000 Aruba, AW
Price range: $$ - $$$
Rating: 4.3

★★★★☆4.3 out of 5 · 3,128 reviews

beachfront

caribbean

seafood

Photo: © Management via TripAdvisor

Matthew's Beachside Restaurant is a $$$ caribbean & seafood beachfront restaurant in Eagle Beach rated 4.3/5 by 3,128 TripAdvisor reviewers; walk-ins welcome.

About

Matthew's sits right on Eagle Beach at the Casa del Mar resort, and it does what a lot of beachfront places try and fail to do — deliver solid food without leaning on the view. The kitchen runs Caribbean, seafood, and international standards, and the #50 ranking among Oranjestad restaurants is backed by consistently high marks across food, service, and atmosphere. That 4.5 atmosphere score isn't surprising given the beachfront setting, but the food rating matches it, which matters more. It's kid-friendly and doesn't require reservations, so it works for walk-ups and families looking for something a little more polished than a beach shack without the formality of a tasting menu. The mid-range pricing fits — expect to spend but not commit to a splurge. If you're staying on Eagle Beach or just planted there for the day, it's a straightforward lunch or dinner option that doesn't overthink itself.

At a glance

Area: Eagle Beach
Vibe: beachfront
Price: ●●●○
Reservation required: –
Kid friendly: ✓
Cuisine: caribbean
seafood
international
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.

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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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Recent Pulse

What travelers are saying.

Trending up

Low confidence

Travelers say Matthew's beachfront location at Eagle Beach remains its strongest asset, with sunset views and attentive service from specific staff members standing out. Recent visitors report significant inconsistency: while special events and individual servers like Nancy and Valentina earn high marks for personalized care and execution, walk-in diners describe disappointing food quality compared to previous years and billing confusion around advertised breakfast specials that left guests feeling misled about what items were included.

Standing out

Staff go above and beyond for planned events, coordinating months ahead via WhatsApp
1 mention
“Valentina coordinated a vow renewal dinner over six months through messaging, nailing budget and setup”
Sunset viewing setup delivers on the beachfront promise
1 mention
“Setup works perfectly for catching sunset with drinks”

Watch-outs

Food quality declined noticeably from prior years, possibly due to chef change
1 mention
“Returning guests since 2012 report both food and drinks now very disappointing”
Breakfast special advertised at AFL 32 per person caused billing shock when omelets rang up separately without server disclosure
1 mention
“Three-person bill hit over AFL 200 when omelet wasn't included in special as expected”

Tips from travelers

Confirm exactly what items are included in advertised specials before ordering
Consider booking a private event rather than walking in for more consistent service

Maybe skip if: Walk-in diners seeking reliable mid-range quality should reconsider until the kitchen stabilizes, especially if you're returning after positive past visits.

Similar restaurants

Eagle Beach●●●●© Management via TripAdvisor

Madame Janette

Madame Janette sits just inland from Eagle Beach on Cunucu Abao, and it's been a fixture in Aruba's upscale dining scene for years. The #33 ranking among Palm-Eagle Beach restaurants tells part of the story — the 4.5 food rating and 4.4 atmosphere score show it still has defenders, but the 4.1 value rating and volume of feedback suggest the experience doesn't always land. Travelers consistently mention two things: no air conditioning in a tropical climate, and bugs. The outdoor setting is part of the concept, but humidity and insects are real factors if you're sensitive to either. The international menu aims for special-occasion polish, and the restaurant handles large groups, which matters if you're planning a celebration dinner and need a guaranteed table. But standards have slipped enough that regulars now point to Passions On The Beach for romance on the sand or Barefoot for more consistent upscale cooking. Reservations required. Expect top-tier prices.

upscale

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Reserve

Eagle Beach●●●●© Management via TripAdvisor

Passions On The Beach

Passions sits right on Eagle Beach, tables in the sand, waves at your feet. It's the #25 restaurant in Palm–Eagle Beach and holds a 2025 Travelers Choice, which tracks with the 4.9 atmosphere rating — sunset here is the main event. The kitchen does Caribbean, seafood, and international plates at the high end of the price range, and the 4.5 food score suggests they mostly deliver. Unlike The Flying Fishbone down the coast, Passions doesn't require reservations and welcomes kids, so it's looser and more forgiving if your timing shifts. Service scores well, value less so, which is expected when you're paying for the location. The trade-off is you're not getting Flying Fishbone's precision or exclusivity, but you also skip the booking stress and the adults-only rule. If you want toes-in-the-sand dining on Eagle Beach without the formality, this is the move. Arrive before sunset if the table matters.

beachfront

caribbean

Elements Restaurant

Elements sits at Bucuti & Tara on Eagle Beach, which means adults-only and a dining room that opens straight onto the sand. The #4 ranking in Palm-Eagle Beach tracks with those subratings — atmosphere pulled a 4.9, and service isn't far behind. This is the kind of place where the staff knows your name by the second course. The menu leans international fine dining, and the kitchen takes it seriously enough to land back-to-back Travelers Choice awards. Four-dollar-sign pricing reflects both the setting and the execution, though the 4.5 value score suggests people don't feel gouged. Romantic is the operative word here; most tables are couples, and sunset reservations disappear early in high season. Worth noting: you don't have to stay at Bucuti to book a table, but calling ahead makes sense if you're planning around a specific night. The beachfront seating is the draw, and it fills.

romantic

international

Torn between this and somewhere else? Settle it →

Stay nearby

Eagle Beach

Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort Aruba

Bucuti & Tara sits on the quieter stretch of Eagle Beach, and it's adults-only by design. That #1 ranking among Palm-Eagle Beach hotels isn't decorative — the numbers back it up across location, service, and cleanliness, all sitting at 4.9 out of 5. Sleep quality and rooms both land at 4.8, which makes sense once you see the property: low-density, beachfront, built for the kind of guest who wants the sand without the pool party soundtrack. Back-to-back Travelers Choice Best of the Best awards in 2025 and 2026 confirm what the nearly 11,000 reviews suggest: people return, and they tell others to book. The price level is top-tier, and the value subrating reflects that — still solid at 4.6, but you're paying for the category it occupies. Service scores mirror the location and cleanliness ratings, meaning the staff-to-guest ratio shows. If you want Eagle Beach access without family chaos and you're willing to spend accordingly, this is the benchmark property.

Eagle Beach

Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa

Manchebo sits on a wide, quiet stretch of Eagle Beach, right where the sand gets softer and the crowds thin out. The #4 ranking among Palm - Eagle Beach hotels makes sense when you look at the subratings — location and service both clear 4.8, and guests consistently mention the beach itself as a reason to stay. The resort skews boutique rather than high-rise, and the vibe follows: low-key, adults-focused, with a spa that actually gets used. The price tier is top-end, but the value score holds at 4.5, which suggests people feel like they're getting what they paid for. Rooms are spacious and clean, though the 4.5 room rating means they're comfortable without being flashy. The Travelers Choice Best of the Best award for 2025 puts it in rare company — fewer than 1% of properties worldwide get that designation. If you want Eagle Beach access without the mega-resort apparatus, this is the pick.

Palm Beach

Barcelo Aruba - All Inclusive

Barceló Aruba sits on Palm Beach, the high-rise hotel strip on the northwest coast, and it's fully all-inclusive — drinks, meals, non-motorized watersports, the works. The 4.7 location score tells you what you're paying for: direct beach access and walking distance to the casinos, shops, and other resorts that make Palm Beach the busiest stretch of sand on the island. It ranks #5 among Noord hotels with over 12,000 reviews, so you're looking at volume and consistency more than boutique charm. Service and cleanliness both land above 4.3, which matters when you're dealing with buffet lines and pool crowds. Sleep quality and rooms sit at 4.2 and 4.1 — solid but not exceptional. The value subrating is the lowest at 3.9, which tracks for a top-tier all-inclusive on prime real estate. If you want to park yourself on Palm Beach and not think about meal planning or bar tabs, this does the job. Just know you're trading some refinement for convenience and location.

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Madame Janette

Eagle Beach

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Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

Photos by individual contributors as credited above.

Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.