Lunch in Curaçao ended up being the part of the day that tied everything together—usually somewhere between getting out of the water, drying off in the sun, and figuring out where we were headed next. Most of the best lunch spots in Curaçao are either right near the beaches or easy to work into your route.
We were usually coming straight from a beach, slightly salty, slightly hungry, and ready to sit down somewhere with a view (and food that felt worth stopping for). Planning lunch around where you already are keeps the day from feeling scattered—and it gave us some of our favorite moments of the trip.
If you’re mapping out your full week, check out my guide on Curaçao 7 Day Itinerary: How to Spend One Week in Curaçao—it helps connect where these stops fit into each day. And if you’re figuring out logistics ahead of time, renting a car makes this whole plan work a lot better—you can look into options here.
We pulled in here after a morning on the west side, parked, and walked straight toward the edge where you can see the water below. The restaurant sits right on the cliffs, so by the time you sit down, you already know you picked a good stop.
You’re here for the view as much as the food. It’s where lunch turns into a full break—sitting, cooling off, watching people line up for the cliff jump (and either commit or back out at the last second). If you’re getting in the water here, I was glad I had water shoes—the rocks can be a little rough getting in and out. Even if you’re not jumping, it’s entertaining enough to keep you there longer than planned.
The food was good, especially if you want to try something new and more local, and it’s exactly what you want in the middle of a beach day. We were already on the west side, and this fit right in without changing anything.
If you want more details on what to expect here, see my full review of Playa Forti Curaçao Restaurant Review: Cliff Jumping, Views & What to Expect.
We walked in here midday, ordered quickly, and had food in front of us without waiting around. After a few heavier meals, this felt like a reset. Fresh ingredients, lighter portions, and something that didn’t leave you ready for a nap immediately after. It’s a good option if you’re spending the day around Willemstad or just want something quick before heading back out. We loved it so much we ate here twice!
We ended up here around midday, sitting outside with a breeze coming through and views stretching out in front of us. It’s open-air, relaxed, and feels different from the beach restaurants—it leans more local and less built around tourism.
The menu gives you a chance to try something more traditional, and the setting makes it feel like you stepped slightly off the main route for a bit. The food was great, and this is one of those stops where the experience matches what you came for.
If you’re pairing lunch with a west side beach day, this fits in well without adding much extra driving.
We took a short drive up here from Willemstad, and the shift in perspective is immediate. You’re above the city looking out over the water, with the colorful buildings spread out below.
This isn’t a quick lunch stop—it feels more like turning lunch into part of the experience. The food is really good, but this is more about the view and the setting than just grabbing something to eat.
If you’re staying in Willemstad, you can browse hotels nearby here, and it’s an easy taxi ride (or drive if you rented a car) up from the city.
We ended up here because of where we were that day, and the location worked well for that moment.
The food was okay—but nothing special. If it’s convenient, it’s fine, but I wouldn’t build a plan around it when there are better options on the island.
We came here while spending time near Coral Estate, and it naturally turned into a longer stop than expected.
It has more of a beach club setup, so you’re not just eating and leaving. You can sit by the water, order lunch, and stay for a while without needing to shift somewhere else after.
The food was good, the setting is comfortable, and this is a good option if you want lunch to feel like part of your beach time instead of a separate stop.
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There were a few places that kept coming up that we didn’t make it to but would absolutely try next time.
This one comes up a lot for fresh seafood. It’s more casual and known for letting you pick your fish, which makes it feel a little more like an experience than a typical lunch.
Closer to Willemstad, with a view, so it works well if you want something scenic without driving all the way to the west side.
One of the most popular west side lunch spots. It’s casual, consistent, and an easy stop while beach hopping—this is the kind of place people go back to more than once.
More of a local, traditional experience. It’s not about the setting—it’s about trying local food in a place that’s been around for years.
Most days, lunch wasn’t something we planned separately—it was tied directly to where we already were.
On west side beach days, places like Playa Forti or Landhuis Dokterstuin fit naturally between stops.
Around Willemstad, something quick like Poke Food Station made more sense so we could keep moving through the city without sitting too long.
If we were near Coral Estate, Karakter worked because it blended right into the beach time.
And if we happened to already be near Marfa’s, it worked for convenience—but that was more about location than the food.
If you’re mapping out beach stops alongside this, check out my guide on Best Beaches in Curaçao (with Map + Tips)—it helps connect everything so your day flows better.
Where you eat changes how your day feels—whether you’re sitting on a cliff watching people jump, grabbing something quick before heading back out, or settling into a beach club for a while. Planning this part just enough to match your location makes everything feel smoother.
If you’re deciding what to prioritize across the island, learn more in my post about Best Restaurants in Curaçao (Where to Eat + What to Order)—it pulls everything together beyond just lunch.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
I do not like seafood. 🐟 So when I booked a tasting menu at a restaurant built around aquarium walls at Atlantis The Palm, I was nervous.
Ossiano sits underwater fish gliding past the whole meal, moody lighting, the kind of room that makes you lower your voice without meaning to. It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. You’re paying for the entire experience.
Here’s the honest part: they have a vegetarian tasting menu, and I assumed it would be an afterthought. It ended up in my top five meals of all time. Course after course, the same care and precision as the seafood-forward menu everyone comes for. They even swapped in a steak for the main and it still felt cohesive with everything around it.
By course four you’re full. They bring out three more breads anyway. I ate all of it. No regrets.
Small detail that stuck with me my dress was black, so they swapped my napkin from white to black without me asking. That’s the kind of thing that tells you everything about a place.
Full breakdown of the menu, the vegetarian option, and what to expect linked in bio.
Dubai is all skyline until you drive an hour into the dunes and it goes completely silent. Bab Al Shams was that shift for us: slower, quieter, more intentional than anything we did in the city.
If you want nightlife or walkable everything, this isn’t your stop. But if you want a night that feels like a reset, it delivers, polished service, food I’m still thinking about, and a setting that never tries too hard.
Full review (and whether it’s worth adding to your Dubai itinerary) is linked in bio. 🏜️
I flew @emirates economy to Dubai fully expecting to just survive the flight. We booked seats by the exit row — @bradplummer1 got the legroom (he’s 6’7”), I got a normal seat right next to him, and it saved us money over booking two extra-legroom seats. Smart trick if you’re traveling with someone who needs the extra space and you don’t.
The food alone earned this post. Warm chicken, a Waldorf salad that actually tasted fresh, real butter on the roll, and a breakfast spread that put most airport brunches to shame. Add in the twinkling-star cabin lighting once dinner wrapped, and it felt less like a flight and more like the trip had already started.
Not everything was perfect — the wifi didn’t work for me at all, so if you’re planning to get work done in the air, download what you need beforehand. But that was the only miss in an otherwise excellent long haul.
If you’ve got Emirates lounge access in Dubai, use it. Showers, buffets, quiet corners to nap it makes the layover feel like a reset instead of a slog.
Full review seats, food, lounge, and the wifi situation is on the blog. Link in bio. ✈️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
