After exploring around the island, we liked to end our day with a delicious dinner. We found that most of our favorite dinners ended up being in Willemstad.
By the time we sat down for dinner, I was already thinking about what we were ordering and whether we accidentally needed two appetizers (we did).
It helped that we already had reservations and had our spots picked out ahead of time, because these are popular restaurants and fill up fast. Renting a car also made it easy since we could go where we wanted and weren’t stuck in one spot on the island—I usually find the best deals with Discover Cars.
If you want a full day in Willemstad, check out my blog Willemstad Walking Guide: What to See, Do, and Eat—it makes it easier to picture where you’ll actually be throughout the day.
We sat down here already hungry (as I usually am), ordered a mix of dishes to share, and everything that came out just worked.
MosaCaña Bar & Kitchen ended up being my favorite dinner of the entire trip. The menu is creative, and every plate felt like it belonged together.
This is the one I would go back to first without even thinking about it. If you’re picking one dinner in Willemstad, this is the easiest decision.
If you want more details on what we ordered, see my full review of MosaCaña Curaçao Review (Dinner + Atmosphere).
We went here for dinner wanting something a little nicer, and it felt like a step up right away—from the space to how everything came out.
Kome is more of a fine dining spot, but it doesn’t feel formal or uncomfortable, and the space has a more artsy feel to it. The menu changes frequently, which I liked, and everything we ordered had a lot of flavor and came out looking polished without feeling over the top.
This is a good option if you want a nicer dinner that still feels easy to sit down and enjoy, casual dining meets creative food.
The drive up here sets the tone—you’re heading uphill, away from the city, and then suddenly you’re looking out over all of Willemstad.
Fort Nassau is where you go for the view. It overlooks the city, and once you’re seated, it’s hard not to keep looking out instead of at your plate.
The food was really good, but the setting is what makes this one stand out. The dishes and drinks felt a little more playful (I stuck with mocktails), and it’s one of those dinners that feels more like an experience than just a meal.
It’s a short taxi or drive from Willemstad, which makes it easy to work into your plans without rearranging your whole day.
If you’re planning this as a sunset dinner make sure to get reservations in advance.
We ended up here wanting something different from a traditional sit-down dinner, and the format makes that easy.
SOi95 leans into Asian-inspired dishes with a shared dining setup, so everything comes out in smaller portions. It gives you room to try a few things without committing to one main (which I always prefer because I want to try everything).
Everything we ordered had a lot of flavor and came out looking just as good as it tasted. This feels more like a fun night out than a standard dinner reservation.
After getting into town, checking in, and walking around a bit, this is the kind of place that works without requiring any planning.
De Gouverneur sits right in the middle of everything, which makes it easy to find when you’re still figuring out the layout of the city.
It’s a solid, straightforward dinner option that doesn’t require a reservation strategy (although I am type A so I did have a reservation)—just a good place to land on your first night.
These came up constantly while planning and researching, and they’re the ones I’d prioritize next time.
Rozendaels Original Cuisine focuses on Caribbean flavors with a more elevated approach. This would be a good option if you want something a little more traditional but still refined.
The Wine Cellar leans into classic fine dining with a strong wine focus. This feels like more of a date-night dinner.
Ginger blends Caribbean and Asian flavors. If you liked the idea of SOi95, this looks like a similar direction with a different take.
BijBlauw sits right along the water. This would be a good option for lunch or dinner if you want something scenic without it feeling too formal.
Plein Café Wilhelmina felt limited in options (for breakfast), and there are better places nearby that are more worth your time.
If you’re planning breakfast in Willemstad, I’d look elsewhere.
Dinner ended up being the main event each day, so this is how I’d structure it based on what we did.
One night at MosaCaña or Kome gives you a strong starting point for dinner. Adding Fort Nassau as your one “experience” dinner brings in something different with the view and setting.
Breakfast in Willemstad didn’t feel as strong overall, so grabbing something quick nearby or planning a bigger breakfast elsewhere on the island worked better for us.
If you want more ideas outside the city, check out my guide on Best Restaurants in Curaçao (Where to Eat + What to Order).
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
Willemstad ended up being one of the best areas to eat on the island. The variety is there, the quality is there, and once you have a plan, it takes the guesswork out of deciding where to go at the end of the day.
If you’re figuring out where to stay nearby, you can find hotels in the area here—it helps to be close enough to walk or take a quick taxi to dinner.
And if you want to see how this all fits into your trip, learn more in my post about Curaçao 7 Day Itinerary: How to Spend One Week in Curaçao.
I walked down what looked like a regular hillside entrance and came out into a room that could almost fit a football stadium. 🪨 Tuckaleechee Caverns is the highest-rated cavern in the Eastern US and until you’re standing inside it, that’s just a fact. When you’re actually there, it feels earned.
Stalagmites 24 feet tall. A 210-foot underground waterfall. Formations that took 20 to 30 million years to build. A family that still runs the whole thing.
Bring a jacket. Wear good shoes. Don’t Google how it was discovered before you go hearing it on the tour is so much better.
#townsend #visittennessee #travel #travelling #travelvlog
If you’ve only ever seen the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge side of the Smokies, Townsend is going to feel like a completely different state. 🌲 No neon signs. No traffic. No crowds fighting for the same overlook.
🥾 Middle Prong Trail | River views, small waterfalls & fresh air the whole way. Hike as little or as much as you want.
⛰️ Tuckaleechee Caverns | Start underground with massive cave rooms, waterfalls & guided tours. Go early, beat the rush.
🍕 Peaceful Side Social | Made-from-scratch food, craft beer & mountain views. Fair warning: you’ll stay longer than planned.
🚗 Scenic Drive to Tremont | Slow down. Stop. Take it in. The drive itself is part of the experience.
Summer swap? Ditch the hike for River Rat Tubing — same vibe, more splash.
Townsend calls itself the Peaceful Side of the Smokies. After one full day there, I completely understood why. Entire itinerary linked in bio.
@peacefulsidesocial is what happens when someone builds exactly the restaurant a mountain town deserves. Made-from-scratch food. Craft beer brewed on site. A kids’ play area outside, & mountain views from the patio. ⛰️
It’s casual in the best way, the kind of place where you sit down for lunch and suddenly it’s two hours later and you don’t care.
@cityoftownsend | 📍Townsend, TN
I walked through the gates and immediately understood why people fly back to Curaçao just for this place. 🌴
23 rooms. Private beach. A Balinese-inspired resort built stone by stone by the owners themselves. Buddha statues next to conch shells. Candles lit everywhere at night. Beachfront dining that eats like fine dining but feels like you’re just having dinner on the sand.
It’s currently the #1 resort in the Caribbean and after spending time there, I get it completely.
Full review linked in bio
#travelling #curaçao #visitcuraçao #luxuryresort #travelvlog
I walked down to the beach and immediately noticed how calm the water was. 🐚
It sits in a small cove, so there’s really no waves pushing in. You just walk right in without thinking about it. I grabbed my snorkel (they actually rent them for free at the resort, which I didn’t expect) and went out near the pier and stayed way longer than I planned, because the water was that clear.
Honest caveat: if you need a lot of energy and activity at a beach, this probably isn’t it. It’s quiet, it’s calm, and you’re mostly just... sitting there. Which for me was exactly the point.☀️
Full Baoase review linked in bio. 🔗
#curaçao #travel #luxuryresort #privatebeach #visitcuraçao
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
