Oranjestad has a decent restaurant scene for a city its size, shaped by the mix of Dutch Caribbean tradition, Venezuelan influence, and a steady stream of international visitors. The waterfront restaurants along the Renaissance Marketplace cater mainly to cruise-ship crowds and charge accordingly. Better value and more character are found a few streets back from the harbour.
Local Aruban food — keshi yena (stuffed Gouda cheese), stoba (goat or fish stew), and pan bati (cornmeal flatbread) — is worth seeking out. A few restaurants serve it, though the island's dining scene has become largely international over the decades.