A gleaming disco ball under a neon canopy greets you at Cabana Beach along with a “friendly” beach person. After all this is a beach restaurant and guards are down. Groovy retro sounds from the sixties, seventies and eighties se the mood and the lounge atmosphere fits perfectly with the laid-back attitude of the island of Curacao. This is “the” nocturnal destination it seems with cozy conversation pits arranged for a relaxing island cocktail and cool breezes wafting off the Caribbean. Add that thrilling sound track and you may just forget you came for dinner and decide to get up and perfect your calypso. But let’s get to the marvelous wine list and food.
The extensive menu of liquid libations features no less than 3 sparkling wines and 2 champagnes ranging in price from $30 U.S to $300 U.S.! Reds and roses take center stage with selections from Italy, France, Argentina and even South Africa. The cocktail menu is inventive too with a comprehensive selection of frozen daiquiris and real mojitos (not exactly the norm in the Caribbean, outside of Cuba).
But dinner is where the kitchen shines with an out of the ordinary Mediterranean salad with a sweet mango dressing and unique appetizers like a Japanese seaweed salad with crab, tuna and avocado. Entrees like an exceptional catch of the day, prepared fish and chips style, the fish so crispy and fresh and a 7 ounce tournedos of beef done stir-fry with mushrooms and onions take this island meal pretty far out of the box. A surprising Tarte tatin puts an unexpected finish on the meal, its puff pastry made fresh earlier in the day and a cool scoop of vanilla ice cream crowning it.
Stick around after dinner and enjoy the lively scene at the long bar in the lounge then plan to return by day so you can experience the dazzling beauty of Cabana’s star beach. With plush white lounging beds hugging the lapping waves along the secluded cove of Willemstad’s famous Seaquarium Beach, you’ll want to linger here until sunset The fantastic lunch menu offers way more than just burgers and fries (although the burger is top notch) like an excellent linguine with clams.
There are a handful of beach clubs lining the beautiful Seaquarium Beach, located in the Pinda area of Willemstad, but Cabana Beach by far is the best of them.
Cabana Beach
Sequarium Beach
Pinda, Willemstad, Curacao
5999-465-1589
www.cabanabeachcuracao.com