We create a good ambiance with painting which are also for sale

Oranjestad●●●○#16 of 316 Places to Eat in Oranjestad

Restaurant Anno 1877

Name: Restaurant Anno 1877
Address: Wilhelminastraat 27, Oranjestad 0000 Aruba, AW
Price range: $$ - $$$
Rating: 4.9

★★★★½4.9 out of 5 · 359 reviews

upscale

french

international

Photo: © Management via TripAdvisor

Restaurant Anno 1877 is a $$$ french & international upscale restaurant in Oranjestad rated 4.9/5 by 359 TripAdvisor reviewers; walk-ins welcome.

About

Restaurant Anno 1877 occupies a restored colonial building on Wilhelminastraat in the center of Oranjestad, and the French-leaning European menu matches the setting. The #16 ranking among Oranjestad restaurants and near-perfect subratings across food, atmosphere, and service reflect what happens when a kitchen takes its time and the staff knows the menu cold. This is upscale without being stiff — the kind of place that works for an anniversary or just a night when you want to sit down and eat something that required actual technique. The Travelers Choice award and 4.9 overall rating suggest consistency, which matters when you're spending mid-to-upper-tier money. Value scores a 4.8, so portions and execution line up with what you're paying. Not a spot for toddlers or walk-ins when it's busy, but if you want a proper dinner in the capital without resort prices, it's a solid move.

At a glance

Area: Oranjestad
Vibe: upscale
Price: ●●●○
Reservation required: –
Kid friendly: –
Cuisine: french
international
european
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.

Book on Viator →

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.

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

What travelers are saying.

Steady

Low confidence

Travelers say Restaurant Anno 1877 delivers refined French technique in a colonial-era townhouse downtown, where Chef Linda and partner Annie create an unhurried two-hour experience that repeat visitors schedule into every Aruba trip. The kitchen executes classic preparations—escargot in shells with garlic butter, duck breast with mushroom risotto, soufflés ordered at the start of the meal—and both owners circulate to check tables personally. Reviews consistently note the meal unfolds slowly by design, with courses timed for conversation, not turnover, making this a destination for anniversary dinners or travelers who want technique-driven food without resort markup.

Standing out

Escargot prepared in shells with garlic butter sauce, consistently called best reviewers have had including in France
18 mentions
“Cleanest escargot in the history of escargot, traditional preparation with shells lets you soak up garlic butter”
Chocolate and Grand Marnier soufflés ordered at meal start, worth the 30+ minute wait according to repeat diners
21 mentions
“Fluffiest of fluffiness, must order when ordering entree but absolutely worth the preparation time”
Chef Linda and Annie greet tables personally, create family-like atmosphere that turns first-timers into annual regulars
26 mentions
“Chef serves your food herself, Annie greets with hugs, both check in multiple times to ensure you're happy”
Duck breast and unicorn fish appear most often, with duck cooked perfectly pink and fish praised over resort competitors
15 mentions
“Duck with mushroom risotto in truffle sauce beat the fish I had at Wilhemena three nights before”
House-made bread and olive bread mentioned specifically, with reviewers ordering extra portions mid-meal
7 mentions
“The olive bread is the best I've ever had, definitely order the bread and butter”

Watch-outs

One service lapse reported: forgotten soufflé order after requesting at meal start, multiple requests needed for bread
1 mention
“After finishing entrees told 'I forgot to put the order in' for soufflé, asked three times for bread”

Tips from travelers

Order soufflé when placing entree order—it requires 30+ minutes preparation time and servers confirm at meal start
Reserve ahead for groups of six to eight; the restaurant seats maybe ten tables and fills on peak nights
Don't rely solely on Google Maps—downtown roads have changed to one-way and rerouting adds time
Plan two full hours for dinner; the kitchen paces courses deliberately and rushing defeats the experience

Maybe skip if: Travelers with toddlers or anyone looking for quick casual dining will find the two-hour pacing and quiet refined atmosphere better suited to adults seeking an unhurried evening.

Similar restaurants

Beautiful view from the deck, on cruise ship nights.

Oranjestad●●○○© Management via TripAdvisor

The West Deck

The West Deck sits right on the water at Governor's Bay Linear Park in Oranjestad, a casual spot where the harbor breeze does most of the work. The #15 ranking among Oranjestad restaurants tracks with what the subratings say — the atmosphere (4.8) pulls slightly ahead of the food (4.6), which tells you the location isn't just backdrop. The menu splits between American, Caribbean, and seafood, so you can go fried snapper or a burger depending on the mood. It earned Travelers Choice in 2025, and over 5,500 reviews have landed on 4.6 overall. Service runs at 4.7, which means you're not waiting forever for a refill, and the mid-range price tier keeps it accessible without feeling like a tourist trap. It's kid-friendly if you need that, though plenty of adults stop in solo for a beer and conch fritters at sunset. No reservations required — walk up, grab a table if one's open, and you're set.

casual

american

Oranjestad●●●●© Management via TripAdvisor

Barefoot Restaurant

Barefoot sits right on L.G. Smith Boulevard in Oranjestad, claiming the #37 spot among local restaurants and a 2025 Travelers Choice award. The upscale Caribbean-seafood-international menu runs at the top price tier, but unlike Madame Janette or The Flying Fishbone, you can walk in without a reservation — which is the entire appeal if you're staying in Palm Beach and want something nicer without the planning. The catch: noise. A neighboring club sends music across the dining area often enough that conversation becomes work, and beachside tables don't always deliver the views you'd expect at this price point. The 4.6 food rating tells part of the story — experiences vary more than they should. Service and atmosphere both score higher, so execution on those fronts is steadier. If spontaneity matters more than guaranteed quiet or sightlines, Barefoot works. If you're after the romantic beachfront meal without interruptions, Passions On The Beach handles that better without the sound bleed.

upscale

caribbean

Tomahawk 42oz. for 2, sliced at your table.

L.G. Smith's Steak & Chop House

L.G. Smith's sits inside the Renaissance Mall in downtown Oranjestad — you take the elevator up, which sounds odd until you walk out onto the waterfront terrace. It's been the upscale steakhouse anchor on the island for years, and the #14 ranking among 316 restaurants in town reflects consistency more than flash. The menu is straightforward American steakhouse fare done at a four-dollar-sign level. Service scores highest in the subratings, which tracks with the formal-but-not-stuffy approach. Food and atmosphere both land at 4.6, and the Travelers' Choice nod for 2025 suggests they're holding the line. The value subrating sits at 4.4 — fair given the price tier and the setting. It's not a kids' spot, by design. If you want a proper steak dinner with a water view and you're staying at the Renaissance or walking around Oranjestad after dark, it works. Reservations help but aren't mandatory.

upscale

steakhouse

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.

Oranjestad

Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort

Renaissance Wind Creek is the only resort in downtown Oranjestad, which means you're walking distance to restaurants and shops instead of being marooned on a beach strip. The real draw is Renaissance Island, the resort's private cay — flamingos included — which you reach by complimentary boat shuttle. It's a genuine differentiator and shows up in the 4.4 location subrating. The #2 spot among Oranjestad hotels reflects consistent execution across the board: service, cleanliness, and sleep quality all hover around 4.3. Two consecutive Travelers Choice awards suggest the formula holds. The room rating sits a notch lower at 4.0, which tracks for a property this size in an urban footprint — you're trading space for location and island access. If you want a resort experience but also want to be in the capital, this is the only option that does both. The flamingo thing is real, not a gimmick, and day passes for non-guests sell out fast.

Similar tables

Oranjestad

Barefoot Restaurant

Oranjestad

Aquarius

Aquarius sits on L.G Smith Boulevard in Oranjestad, a few blocks from the cruise terminal. It's the #5 restaurant in town out of 316, which puts it ahead of most of the waterfront spots tourists default to. The 4.8 across service, food, and atmosphere all land in the same range — consistent execution, not one strong suit covering for weak links. The menu is international, leaning casual, and the kitchen handles variety without spreading too thin. Travelers' Choice 2025 and a 4.5 value rating suggest you're not paying resort premiums for the location. It's kid-friendly if you're traveling with family, but the vibe skips the loud-and-bright theme restaurant feel. No reservation required. Walk-ins work most nights, though weekends near cruise ship days can fill up the front tables.

Oranjestad

Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

Photos by individual contributors as credited above.

Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.

Restaurant Anno 1877