Questions About Aruba Dining & Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club

[JIMinNC]

My wife and I will be going to Aruba Ocean Club for the first time in early March. We've been to Aruba once before - back in 1998 for a total solar eclipse - but this is our first time at a Marriott property there.

The first half of the trip, our 26-year-old daughter and her boyfriend are joining us for three nights, but the second part of the week will be just the two of us. We were wondering what are the "Can't Miss" restaurants on the island? Great dining is a big part of all of our trips, so we want to know the best of the best - both for food and atmosphere. Not really all that concerned about the cost, as dining is a focus for us. If it's really good, we'll pay the price. We don't have to have fine dining every night though, so any tips on really good casual places would be great too. Recommendations from TUGgers?

We have already booked a Snorkel/Lunch cruise with Red Sail Sports for all four of us early in the week. We may also book a parasail for our two twenty-somethings and me. My wife swears she will never parasail again after I convinced her to join me on a tandem while on the Big Island of Hawaii a few years ago! Any recommendations on parasail providers?

Finally, I've searched the forum here to try to learn about the palapa reservation process at Ocean Club. Not sure I totally understand it, but it sounds like it's an online process at 7am a few days in advance? Does Marriott send us a link before arrival or is it after arrival only? If the latter, how do you handle the early part of the trip? We arrive on Saturday, and might want one on Sunday. Monday is the morning snorkel cruise, so we would skip that day, but we may be interested in Tuesday-Friday or some portion of those days. Any advice?

Finally, we won't be doing a lot of cooking, but was wondering if there is a small grocery or convenience store within an easy walk where we could get a few basics for breakfast, snacks, or for wine/drinks?

 

[klpenny]

Faro Blanco Restaurant. It is awesome! It is next to the lighthouse and is on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Food is good too.​

 

[dioxide45]

I agree about the restaurant by the lighthouse. It doesn't get the love it deserves. Make a reservation for sunset.

Here is a video where I go over the process to make a palapa reservation. There is even a link in the description to their iPoolside site where you can check out the palapa map and get a feel for things before your trip. The good thing is, no more lines but you do need to reserve, either the day before or in the morning. But no more chugging down to line up at the beach hut. You do need a room number to make a reservation, so you can't really book anything prior to checkin.

While I haven't looked, there should be some convenience stores in the Palm Beach area where all the restaurants and bars are located. Not too far of a walk though the Surf Club then beyond. Most people make the trek to Superfood, but that would require a drive.

 

[Red elephant]

My wife and I will be going to Aruba Ocean Club for the first time in early March. We've been to Aruba once before - back in 1998 for a total solar eclipse - but this is our first time at a Marriott property there.

The first half of the trip, our 26-year-old daughter and her boyfriend are joining us for three nights, but the second part of the week will be just the two of us. We were wondering what are the "Can't Miss" restaurants on the island? Great dining is a big part of all of our trips, so we want to know the best of the best - both for food and atmosphere. Not really all that concerned about the cost, as dining is a focus for us. If it's really good, we'll pay the price. We don't have to have fine dining every night though, so any tips on really good casual places would be great too. Recommendations from TUGgers?

We have already booked a Snorkel/Lunch cruise with Red Sail Sports for all four of us early in the week. We may also book a parasail for our two twenty-somethings and me. My wife swears she will never parasail again after I convinced her to join me on a tandem while on the Big Island of Hawaii a few years ago! Any recommendations on parasail providers?

Finally, I've searched the forum here to try to learn about the palapa reservation process at Ocean Club. Not sure I totally understand it, but it sounds like it's an online process at 7am a few days in advance? Does Marriott send us a link before arrival or is it after arrival only? If the latter, how do you handle the early part of the trip? We arrive on Saturday, and might want one on Sunday. Monday is the morning snorkel cruise, so we would skip that day, but we may be interested in Tuesday-Friday or some portion of those days. Any advice?

Finally, we won't be doing a lot of cooking, but was wondering if there is a small grocery or convenience store within an easy walk where we could get a few basics for breakfast, snacks, or for wine/drinks?

We love good food too!!
Lucca Trattoria good pizza not far from Ocean club
Gianni’s
Wacky Wahoo's seafood get there early no ressies
Redfish, have not tried but heard it’s good
Linda's Dutch Pancake
El Gaucho Argentinian really good downtown
Cuba’s cookin downtown