The Food Is Half the Trip
Most people come to Curaçao for the beaches and leave talking about the food. The island's cuisine is a mix of Dutch, Caribbean, Latin American, and African influences — and the result is unlike anywhere else in the region.
Here are the 10 things you have to eat in Curaçao before you go home, from someone who lives here.
1. Keshi Yena
The national dish of Curaçao. A whole edam cheese shell stuffed with spiced chicken, raisins, olives, and capers, then baked until melting. It sounds unusual and tastes incredible — sweet, savory, and completely unique to this island. If you eat one local dish, make it this one.
2. Stoba
A hearty Caribbean stew, usually made with goat, beef, or chicken, slow-cooked with vegetables and island spices. This is comfort food the way locals make it at home. Best found at the old market in Willemstad.
3. Funchi
The island's version of polenta — a cornmeal side dish that comes with almost every traditional meal. Fried funchi is the way to try it: crispy on the outside, soft inside.
4. Pastechi
The ultimate Curaçao breakfast or snack. A deep-fried pastry filled with cheese, meat, or fish. You'll find them everywhere, and locals eat them in the morning with coffee.
5. Fresh Fish at a Beach Shack
Wahoo, mahi-mahi, and red snapper, caught that morning and grilled simply with lime. The best versions aren't in restaurants — they're at the small beach shacks on the west coast.
6. Pumpkin Pancakes (Pannekoek di Pampuna)
A local twist on the Dutch pancake, made with island pumpkin. Slightly sweet, soft, and usually eaten as a snack or light meal.
7. Sopi di Piska
A rich, flavorful fish soup that locals swear by — especially at lunch at Marshe Bieu, the old covered market in Willemstad.
8. Blue Curaçao Cocktail — at the Source
The famous blue liqueur is made right here on the island at the historic Landhuis Chobolobo distillery. Tasting it where it's actually made — in flavors you can't get abroad — is a fun half-day activity.
I did the distillery tour myself and it was an easy, fun couple of hours — especially good on a hotter day or if you need a break from the beach.
9. Batido
A fresh tropical fruit smoothie sold at roadside stands and beach bars. Order one with local fruit — mango, soursop, or passion fruit — on a hot beach day.
10. Bolo Pretu (Black Cake)
A dense, dark rum cake traditionally served at celebrations. Rich, boozy, and full of dried fruit — a proper taste of the island's Dutch-Caribbean heritage.
Where to Eat Like a Local
The single best place to try traditional Curaçao food is Marshe Bieu — the old market in Willemstad, where local cooks serve keshi yena, stoba, funchi, and fish soup every weekday for lunch. Go before 1pm, the best dishes sell out.
If you want to explore the food scene properly, a guided food or city tour of Willemstad takes you to spots most tourists walk right past.
I'd done a few walking tours before this one, but having a local point out where to actually eat made all the difference.
Getting Around to the Best Food Spots
The best beach shacks and local restaurants are spread across the island, mostly outside Willemstad. To reach them you'll want a rental car — most include free delivery to your hotel.
Final Word
Curaçao's food is one of the most underrated things about the island. Try keshi yena at least once, eat fresh fish at a beach shack, and don't leave without tasting blue curaçao where it's actually made.
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