Papiamento Restaurant

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Family Home That Became a Caribbean Institution

Papiamento Restaurant began in 1983, founded by Eduardo and Lenie Ellis in downtown Oranjestad before moving to something far more personal: the historic family home in Noord where their four children grew up. That house – a traditional Aruban cunucu dwelling built in 1886 – is now the beating heart of one of the island's most distinctive dining experiences. The children helped dig the pool and plant the garden. What was once a riding school with just two trees on the property has grown into a lush, light-strung outdoor setting that frames every dinner with quiet drama.

The Setting

Dining here means sitting under the stars, enclosed by tropical gardens, with lights threaded through the tree branches and a sparkling pool at the center of it all. The interior of the cunucu house is the work of Lenie Ellis-van Welzen, who filled the rooms with European antiques – the oldest pieces dating to the early 1800s – alongside art, flower arrangements, and polished copper cooking utensils that speak to a slower, more deliberate era. The restaurant describes itself as "a magical combination of museum and tropical paradise," and the detail on display makes that easy to believe.

The People Behind It

What gives Papiamento its particular warmth is continuity. Eduardo and Lenie remain involved in the restaurant's daily life, and most of the staff have been with the team for more than fifteen years. This is a genuine family business, not a concept – and that shows in the care with which food, wine, and hospitality are delivered.

Caribbean Cuisine with Character

The menu gives traditional Caribbean recipes what the kitchen calls couleur locale – local color. Standout dishes include Keeshi Yena, a family recipe of minced tenderloin and chicken stewed with prunes, golden raisins, olives, and cashew, flame-broiled under Dutch cheese. From the sea, the Cazuela brings Caribbean shrimp and rock lobster in an Aruban-style coconut milk chowder, while the Neptune plates Caribbean rock lobster, mahi-mahi, and shrimp with lemon butter. For something lighter, the Ceviche is marinated seafood with jalapeño, cilantro, fresh passion fruit, and lime – bright and precise.

The wine program earned Papiamento the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence in 2020, recognition that reflects the depth of the cellar and the seriousness with which the Ellis family approaches every aspect of the table. A dedicated wine vault and Pappa's Cigar Lounge round out an evening that is designed to linger over.