Playa Forti Curaçao restaurant is an easy add when you’re already out on the west side. You pull up, grab a table overlooking the cliff, and suddenly you’ve got front-row seats to people jumping into the ocean while your food comes out. It’s the view, the energy, and a solid local meal all in one stop.
I pulled into Playa Forti on the way through Westpunt and parked right above the cliff, then walked straight toward the edge before even looking at the menu. The view is right there as soon as you walk up, and you’re looking straight down at the water with people lining up to jump, which is exactly why I added this into my Curaçao 7 Day Itinerary: How to Spend One Week in Curaçao.
I grabbed a table at the Playa Forti Curaçao restaurant facing the water so I could watch everything happening below. The whole place is open-air, and people were walking in straight from the beach in swimsuits and coverups. No one was dressed up, and no one cared, which made it easy to just sit down and order.
I rented a car before the trip, and driving out here made it easy to pair this with a few beaches in the same area.
I found out that the building actually goes back to the 1700s, when a fort stood here to protect merchant ships. Now I get to eat lunch on those same foundations, which made it feel a little more interesting than a typical beach stop.
I ordered lunch and immediately started watching the cliff jumpers because its part of the experience. People would walk up, stand there for a second, and then either go for it or back out (honestly relatable).
I used this stop to try more local food, and I’m glad I did. I ordered the keshi yena with rice and plantains, and Brad got the garlic shrimp with fried funchi topped with cheese.
Looking at the menu, I’d order the same way again. The Playa Forti Curaçao restaurant menu sticks closely to seafood and traditional dishes, which is exactly what worked best here.
I cut into the keshi yena first and saw the thick melted cheese wrapped around the filling, almost like a shell. Inside was seasoned ground beef with onions and a slight sweetness from the raisins. The cheese pulled everything together—it was rich, a little salty, and melted into each bite.
I mixed the rice in with it and used it to soak up everything on the plate. It balanced out the richness and made it feel less heavy, and the plantains added a softer sweetness that worked really well with the beef and cheese.
Brad tried the garlic shrimp next and got hit with that buttery garlic sauce right away. The shrimp were flavorful without anything complicated going on, and the fried funchi had a crispy outside with a soft center. The melted cheese on top made it even more indulgent, but the textures made it work.
This is not light food. Cliff jumping after this feels like a high-stakes decision (I’ll see myself out).
I looked through the rest of the Playa Forti Curaçao restaurant menu and saw some interesting dishes like Keshi yena, fresh fish like mahi mahi or wahoo depending on the catch, garlic shrimp, conch dishes, and goat stew (kabritu stoba).
I’d stick with those instead of ordering something like a burger. The local dishes are where this place feels the strongest.
I came here for lunch and used it as a break between beaches on the west side. It worked perfectly for that kind of day.
You’re not coming here for a polished, chef-driven meal like in Willemstad. You’re coming here for the view, the cliff jumping, and a casual lunch that fits into everything else you’re already doing.
If you’re planning out your days, check out my West Side Beach Hopping in Curaçao: Porto Mari & Grote Knip Guide so you can map this stop in naturally.
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
I looked back over at the cliff after eating and watched a few more people jump, and that’s when it really clicked how much this adds to the experience. You’re not just eating—you’re watching one of the most well-known jump spots on the island the entire time.
If you’re planning to jump, I’d do it before you eat. That meal sits heavy, and jumping right after doesn’t sound like the best idea unless you’re really committed.
I added Playa Forti Curaçao restaurant into my Westpunt day and didn’t have to go out of my way for it. It fit right in between beach stops and gave me a solid place to sit, eat, and take in the view.
I wouldn’t drive across the island just for this alone, but I would absolutely include it if you’re already exploring this side. It’s the combination of everything here that makes it work. I’d go back just for that view alone.
If you’re still planning your trip, my Curaçao Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors breaks down how to structure your days so stops like this actually make sense. Also, if you’re debating hotels, I stayed closer to Willemstad so I could still drive out here whenever I wanted.
Flying out of Frankfurt at the crack of dawn? Stay at the airport, not in the city!
The Hilton Frankfurt Airport is connected to Terminal 1 and the long-distance train station, so the walk to your gate takes a few minutes and no taxi. The rooms are soundproofed so well you barely hear the planes, some have runway views, there’s a sauna, and the bread and butter at Rise are dangerously good. It costs more than hotels farther out. On a budget, the Hilton Garden Inn next door gets you the same walk for less.
Save this for your next Frankfurt layover ✈️
No landmarks, no crowds, no souvenir shops. Otterberg is the everyday side of Germany 🇩🇪
It’s a small town just outside Kaiserslautern. Lunch at Putai inside the historic Das Blaue Haus means crispy chicken in coconut curry and spring rolls with homemade sweet chili sauce, then a slow walk past the old church and quiet streets. The Palatinate Forest and Humberg Tower views are close by. If you want a packed itinerary this isn’t your town, but if you like good food and nowhere to be, you’ll love it.
Save this for your Germany road trip!
Every 6 minutes a new round unlocks, and you can eat your way around the world for two hours. 🌍🍽️
Masons in Kaiserslautern: Korean BBQ, Jamaican jerk chicken, raclette potatoes, crispy baked ricotta from Monaco, and the Belgian cookie cheesecake you’ll still be talking about the next day. €39-45 per person. Bring a group and pace yourself, because they charge for leftovers.
Save this for your next trip to Germany
Sedona got me again 🌵
This was my second trip, and somehow I liked it even more. Every visit adds another trail, viewpoint, or restaurant to the list, and the list keeps getting longer. This time I stayed near Airport Mesa, with sunsets right outside my door and none of the crowds.
My Substack has everything I’d tell a first-time visitor: the lodge I’ve now stayed at twice, the experiences I’d do first, and the restaurants I’d plan my days around.
Subscribe for free so you don’t miss the next one. Link in bio ✨
YES is always the answer... ✈️
I’m Wendy, and yes, I travel for a living (still pinching myself). After 15 years teaching middle school math, I traded the whiteboard for a passport and never looked back. Knoxville is home base, but Arizona sunsets are on another level, and if it’s been sitting on your list, this is your sign to finally say yes and book it. City guides, hotel reviews, and foodie spots are all on the blog. So glad you’re here 🌵☀️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
