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Restaurants · Grill · Seafood · Oranjestad

The West Deck Aruba: Beachfront Grill in Oranjestad

West Deck, Lloyd G. Smith Boulevard, Oranjestad, Aruba

CuisineGrillSeafood, Aruban

Price per personAWG 20 to 100About US$ 11 to 56

Opening hoursDaily from 10:30 AM

ReservationsBy phoneCall ahead for groups

About The West Deck

Order like a local: skip the main menu and build a meal from the appetizers. They are large, so a couple of small plates plus a side of pang bati or a johnny cake is plenty. The ribs fall off the bone. Grab a deck table at the right hour and you can watch a cruise ship glide out as you eat.

The West Deck sits right on the beach in Oranjestad, on Governors Bay Beach just along L.G. Smith Boulevard, and it is one of those places you end up returning to. It is run by locals, and the food is proudly local too. We first went to try it out and ended up going back again and again, often with the family. That is usually the sign of a good one.

The style is pure island beach shack in the best way, beachy and a little mermaid-and-fisherman, with lots of color and seashells everywhere. You come for the setting, the small plates, and a cocktail with your feet more or less in the sand.

Marcella
Tip from MarcellaMy Aruba Guide team
Order like a local and build your meal from the appetizers, they're generous! Reserve if you want a deck table with the view.

The essentials

ReservationsThey take walk-ins, but the best seats are usually reserved, especially for bigger groups. Book ahead if you want a good table.
Best forLunch or dinner, local food, a relaxed beachy vibe, cruise-ship watching.
Plan your visit

Opening hours & location

Opening hours

  • Monday10:30 AM to 10:30 PM
  • Tuesday10:30 AM to 10:30 PM
  • Wednesday10:30 AM to 10:30 PM
  • Thursday10:30 AM to 10:30 PM
  • Friday10:30 AM to 10:30 PM
  • Saturday10:30 AM to 10:30 PM
  • Sunday10:30 AM to 10:30 PM

AddressWest Deck, Lloyd G. Smith Boulevard, Oranjestad, Aruba

Before you go

Good to know

Outdoor seating
Takeaway
Vegetarian options
Kids welcome
Good for groups
Cocktails at the bar
Live music
Parking close by

The West Deck reviews

Aggregated from Google4.4 Tripadvisor4.6
4.4 ★★★★★★★★★★ 2124 Google reviews
5★
66%
4★
20%
3★
7%
2★
4%
1★
4%
4.6 on Tripadvisor
S
Sabrina Ivory★★★★★a month ago
Google

The service, food and atmosphere were all fantastic. Rozii was our waitress and she was amazing. She really made our experience here great. Very attentive and helpful. The food was fantastic as well. We enjoyed a variety of food. Fish sandwich, chicken sandwich, red snapper, coconut shrimp, fries and chicken and pineapple. It all was very good. The atmosphere was laid back and the view was amazing. We highly recommend you visiting here on your trip to Aruba. The place is tucked down in along the water, be sure not to miss it! Good amount of parking. There were 4 of us who ate here…. 2 adults, 20 year old and a 12 year old. We all enjoyed it.

C
Claudia Dorego★★★★★a week ago
Google

We visited The West Deck several times during our stay in Aruba, and every visit was fantastic! We went for cocktails, for Taco Tuesday, and for the views, and we left happy each time. We had Sergio as our server one evening, and he was awesome, but honestly, everyone on the team was so welcoming and kind. It’s also a beautiful place to watch the sun set, and people watch. This is now one of our favourite spots on the island, and it’s the first place we’ll head back to on our next trip. Highly recommend!

R
Ryan Morahan★★★★★3 weeks ago
Google

Came a few times during our trip. Got local dishes and jerk shrimp and meat. Was delish. Jojo is a great server and so fun and bubbly. Will be back!

N
Nelda Rabens★★★★★a month ago
Google

My husband and I ate here a couple of years ago, and he specifically asked to come back for his birthday dinner. West Deck didn’t disappoint. The food, the drinks and the service were all excellent, and we watched the sunset from our table. Tip: I reserved six weeks ahead, and they confirmed two days before. If you want a sunset table, book early. Easy walk from the cruise port, too

T
Tammy Broxson Realtor - Gainesville FL★★★★★5 months ago
Google

We arrived without reservations. The hostess said the wait would be 30 mins. We asked to get drinks at the bar. She said we can wait standing along the railing and someone would come take our drink order. Other dinners arrived after us and were told the same thing. No one ever came to take our drink order. Thankfully the wait was only 20 mins. I ordered the whole fried snapper. It was good but not worth the cost. I’ve had better for less. My husband ordered the fish sandwich and it was better than my dish. We were seated in a lower level dining area so there wasn’t a view of the water or sunset. Our server was nice.

Who The West Deck is perfect for

Anyone who wants real local food with their feet near the sand rather than another polished hotel dining room. It is great for a relaxed lunch, an easy dinner, and for cruise passengers with an evening in Oranjestad. Families do well here too, which is partly why we keep coming back with ours.

Who it might not be for

If you need air conditioning to enjoy a meal, the deck is open-air, so a hot, still day can be warm. And if you are a big group turning up on spec at peak time, you may not get the good seats, since those tend to be reserved. Book ahead and that problem disappears.

What it actually feels like

There are two ways to sit. Up on the deck, under the roof, you get the better view of the water. There is no air conditioning, but the sea breeze does the job and the view is worth it. Or you can drop down to the lower level and put your feet in the sand, shaded by the trees. That spot is cozier but has a bit less of a view. Either way it is colorful, easygoing, and unmistakably local.

If you time it right, you can watch a cruise ship glide by from the deck. Ships often leave in the early evening, sometimes around 5 or 6, and sometimes late at night, so check the cruise schedule and plan your visit around it if that is your kind of view.

One memory

The reason we know this place so well is a simple one. It is run by one of our own neighbors, just down the street, so we went to support it, liked it, and never really stopped going. Now it is a regular family spot. That is the West Deck in a sentence.

Should it be one of your meals on Aruba?

If you want a genuinely local, unfussy beach meal in the heart of Oranjestad, with the option of toes in the sand or a deck view of the water, the West Deck earns its spot. Book a good table, order the appetizers big, and settle in.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about The West Deck

Do I need a reservation at The West Deck?

They accept walk-ins, but the best seats, especially the deck tables with the view, are usually reserved. For a good table or a larger group, it is worth booking ahead.

What should I order at The West Deck?

The food is local and Caribbean, built around generous small plates. The ribs are a standout, falling off the bone. The appetizers are large, so many locals order an appetizer as a main plus a side like pang bati or a johnny cake.

Where do I sit, the deck or the sand?

Both are good. The upper deck, under the roof, has the better water view but no air conditioning, though the sea breeze helps. The lower level puts your feet in the sand under the trees, cozier but with a bit less of a view.

What are the hours at The West Deck?

It is open seven days a week from 10:30 in the morning through lunch and dinner into the evening. Closing time can vary, so check their website for the current hours before you go.

Is parking easy at The West Deck?

It can be limited when busy. Try the stretch of sand by the restaurant, across the street, or near the Renaissance Marketplace, but be aware that some nearby spots are paid parking.

Can I watch cruise ships from The West Deck?

Yes, from the deck you can often see cruise ships pass. They tend to leave in the early evening, sometimes around 5 or 6, so check the cruise schedule and time your visit if that is the view you want.

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