foodie page

Chef Koen will cook and pair a five-star meal for you at the villa. Cook the local fish you bought that morning on the beach 5 mins from the villa. Contact @ +599 9 523 0677

Chef Brandon runs a fantastic team that often services the villa. Contact @ +599 9 671 3131

Boris the Bartender: Have an amazing night at the villa with two of the best bartenders on the island. +599 9 511 8581

The villa kitchen is professional-grade from top of the line refrigerators, ovens to plateware and cutlery.

Chef + Bartender

Shopping @ Centrum

On the way from the airport, Centrum Supermarket is the best place to shop. Map The only thing to please NOT buy is fresh fish as this you will have daily at the local beach off the fishing boats. One thing that is handy for quick fry in the kitchen is a bag of frozen shimps. See shopping list for some more ideas …

So many great Gouda options. Also dutch goat cheese is great. You can find them in large wedges in the dairy aisle.

Select some bread - put it in the freezer until you need it.

Sprinkle paprika and some slices of tomato.
Use the Panini Griller - please switch it off when finished.
The meats on the island are very good.

Goat is local and makes for a wonderful curry stew. Pick meatly cubes. Cook slowly and with love.

Black Angus tenderloin and tomahawks are also yummy. Usually imported from Texas. Marinate in olive oil, pepper, peperoncino.

Make a separate slow-cook pan of lots of garlic, salt, peperoncino and rosemary. Use for meat, vegatable and potatoe drizzle.

Remember to boil the potatoes first and then fry slowly in olive oil.
Vegetables and herbs are mostly hydroponically grown on the island. Super yummy.

Eggs are all local, free range.

Fresh squeezed orange juice is also a must. Buy lots of limes and bagged or frozen fruit for drinks. (See cocktails)
Buy fresh mint, big bag of brown sugar, a bag or two of fresh passion fruit and a lot of fresh limes … Passion Mojito

See some cocktails here.
Fish is always fresh down at Playa Piskadó See fish here

Buy fish directly from the fishing boats. Barracuda, Mahi Mahi, Blacktail Tuna, Yellowtail Tuna, Red Snapper, Queen Snapper, Yellowtail Snapper, Wahoo, Sailfish, Amberjack, Bluejack, Black Grouper, Lobster, Octopus, Lion Fish and many more.

You can get them to fillet the fish but for the tuna tell them not to chop the fish into steaks but rather fillet out the belly and top cut this way. Link here
Curacao has wonderful white potatoes that have a sweet undertone. Buy artichokes and asparagus to steam with virgin olive oil. For guacamole buy large avocados, red onions, lime and cayenne pepper.
Tuna is a great fish for soup but you must remove the bloodline and clean the fish before putting it in the pot.

Click to see filleting

After boiling and straining the fish bones, fry separately lots of white onion, leaks, garlic, paprika with sea salt and fresh pepper.

When everything is boiled. add vegetables to lightly cook before serving - okra, etc. whatever is yummy.

Click to see making soup

Playa + Punta Kalki

AROUND THE CORNER: Down at the beach, within the gated community, there is a beach club on the cliff called Punta Kalki and also a restaurant and bar on the public beach, Playa Kalki

The new Punta Kalki boasts one of the most beautiful bar and restaurants on the island. Just behind the security gate on the way to Cliff Villa stop for a cold beer or glass of frosted Magarita overlooking Playa Kalki.

Kunuku Pachi Colá

LOCAL: 3 mins from the villa. Kunuku Pachi Colá is a hidden local family run local spot. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Try the delicious goat stew (kabritu stoba) one of the most famous dishes of the ABC islands. Yummy.

Turn right at the gate and then left when the pass the beach.

Isabelle Off The Beach

LOCAL: 3 mins from the villa. This is lovely American style restaurant in a beautiful old-Dutch house with an inspired el fresco garden.

Sol Food

LOCAL: 5 mins from the villa. Turn right at the gate and continue down the seaside road. Known as the best pizza on the island. Their brownies are great. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 12 - 9. Tell Sunshine (the owner) that we sent you!

LOCAL: The next town is called Barber. Every Sunday they have a food market. Try the pumpkin raisin pancakes. (put Marshe Barber, Kaya Emiterio F. Doran, Barber in your map.)

If you are adventurous, another dish to try is "Sopi di Sangue" or "Blood Soup" in English. It is a traditional soup that is made from pork blood, vegetables, and spices. Blood is mixed with onions, garlic, tomatoes, celery, and other vegetables, and simmered in a pot with broth, herbs, and spices. The resulting soup is thick and hearty, with a slightly sweet and sour taste from the vinegar.

Barber Market

Head down to Willemstad …

Blue Bay Area

If you are heading down to Blue Bay book an evening at Brass Boer.

It is a collaboration between Dutch Michelin-starred chef Jonnie Boer and restaurateur and entrepreneur Willem Alberts. Jonnie Boer has three Michelin stars. Jonnie Boer Boer was awarded his third star in 2004.

Jonnie Boer is the head chef and co-owner of De Librije, a restaurant located in Zwolle, Netherlands, that has held three Michelin stars since 2004. +599 9 869 7215

Below are pictures from the tasting menu, $160 per head.

Punda Area

Punda is the historic core of Willemstad and its most photographed face. The pastel façades along the Handelskade recall Dutch heritage, yet the mood is distinctly Caribbean. Founded in 1634, Punda remains the island’s main commercial hub, filled with small shops, cafés, and market stalls. Its narrow streets and the floating Queen Emma Bridge — the famous “Swinging Old Lady” that opens sideways to let ships pass — give it both energy and charm.

Tucked within its cobbled lanes stands Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, built in 1732 — the oldest still in use in the Americas — a reminder of Curaçao’s deep and diverse cultural roots.

One of many wonderful restaurants and bars along Nieuwstraat, in Willemstad (but in my book the most authentic and wonderful.) Don’t go for the food but the music and atmosphere.

Interestingly, the restaurant is housed in a historic building that was once a brothel, and some of the original architectural features, such as the wrought iron staircase, have been preserved.

Stroll down this street of colonial buildings and enjoy the food and atmosphere on an always perfect night. 12 Nieuwestraat, Willemstad, Curaçao - website

Live music every Thursday starting from 20:30

Saint Tropez Willemstad Cocktail Ocean Club — Saint Tropez Ocean Club

Saint Tropez Ocean Club is a slice of Miami’s South Beach. Just south of Punda in the restored Pietermaai area. Mohito at the Ocean front bar is a nice break when walking downtown.
152 Pietermaai, Willemstad, Curaçao

La Reina

Next to Saint Tropez Ocean Club is a quaint coffee and snack cafe. 86 Kaya Wilson Godett, Willemstad, Curaçao

Plasa Bieu

Visit the Plasa Bieu is the Old Market in Punda. Local fare includes Curaçao cuisine (Krioyo).

Try stewed salted pork tails, bòkel (salted mackerel), kabes ku higra (head and liver stew), kadushi (cactus soup), bonchi kòra (red kidney bean soup) goat stew (stoba), and, if you have any room left, try some yummy Iguana soup.

The history of Plasa Bieu dates back to the 1800s, during the time of slavery in Curacao. In those days, the market was known as Marshe Bieu, which means "old market" in Papiamentu, the local language. The market was a place where slaves could go to buy and sell goods, and it became an important center of commerce and culture in Willemstad. As slavery was abolished in 1863, the market evolved into a popular gathering place for people of all backgrounds.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Plasa Bieu became a hub for food vendors, who sold traditional dishes like kabritu stobá (stewed goat), karkó (conch), and sopi mondongo (tripe soup). Over the years, the market grew in popularity, and many of the vendors became famous for their unique recipes and flavors.

In the 1980s, the government of Curacao renovated the market and renamed it Plasa Bieu, which means "Old Square" in Dutch.

Otrobanda Area

West of Punda across the bridge is a wonderful old area of Willemstad called Otrabanda.

Otrobanda, meaning “the other side” in Papiamentu, is the soul of Willemstad. Once home to dockworkers and freed slaves, its pastel streets now pulse with murals, music, and Caribbean rhythm. The neighbourhood’s colonial facades, narrow alleys, and courtyards tell centuries of stories — from struggle to creativity — earning it a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
Cross the Queen Emma Bridge from Punda …
Try Caleo Crudos y Parrilla

De Gouverneur Willemstad Curacao Cliff Villa — De Gouverneur

Near the Harborfront street, lined with brightly painted 18th century buildings is a good watering hole called the De Gouverneur. This 200 year old building dates back to when the British captured Curaçao in the early 1800s.
Try Keshi yena, (cheese stuffed with spiced meat, olives, capers, pickled onions, and prunes)
De Rouvilleweg, Willemstad

Helmi Smeulders

Djonora Marthaweg 1 sits on one of Curaçao’s quiet hillsides, home to the historic Landhuis Bona Vista, an 18th-century plantation house. Just minutes from Willemstad, you can book an evening with Helmi, a wonderful island chef. Book ahead. She doesn’t cook at the villa but can cater and it is a fun city excursion.

Chef’s Table: Helmi’s famous dinners provide a chance to savor her artistry in stunning, handpicked island locations.
Cooking Classes: For those looking to bring a taste of the Caribbean to their kitchens, Helmi offers hands-on classes that showcase her innovative techniques.
Below are pictures from the cooking class. Book at helmismeulders.com

De Visserij Piscadera fish and chips — Piscadera Area

Just north of Willemstad is a streach where locals and visitors meet over grilled fish and live music.

At De Visserij you can enjoy all kinds of fish: from fruits de mer to fish & chips . You can end the evening with a drink in Het Kleine Café.

Coffee Rosteries

There are several coffee roasteries on Curacao, including Van Gogh Specialty Coffee & Roastery, The Coffee Roastery Carib-Bean, and Café Barista International. Van Gogh Specialty Coffee & Roastery is a city roastery located in the Pietermaai District, and it roasts its own coffee on-site. The Coffee Roastery Carib-Bean also roasts its own unique organic blend and is located in the Promenade Shopping Center.