De Buurvrouw – heerlijk lekker!
Grilled meat skewers, ribs, pizza, and more
De Buurvrouw has been among the top addresses on Tripadvisor & Co. for years for good reason! De Buurvrouw is Dutch and translates as “the neighbor.” The restaurant (“Eetcafé”) is located in the largest palapa on the island. It’s hard to miss when you’re on your way from Willemstad to Westpunt: Shortly after “Grote Berg” on the left-hand side, the palapa shines brightly in the dark and the neighbor invites you to an unforgettable evening.
A warm welcome
After parking your rental car, you make your way to the entrance of the palapa, dressed up and hungry, under swaying and rustling palm trees. That’s what a vacation should be like! You will be welcomed warmly and with a honest smile without having to wait. Hopefully you made a reservation? You should have, because the neighbor has many fans and is regularly booked up, especially on weekends.
Check out our detailed tour on YouTube:
The best seating place to be
There is no one best place to sit in the Palapa, which is open on almost all sides. On the outside, you will find comfortable benches with cushions and pillows. In the middle, there are tables and chairs. The outdoor areas are designed more for couples and up to 4 people, while the indoor area can also accommodate larger groups. Thanks to the open design, there is always a pleasant breeze everywhere. Our tip: simply drop by in person to make your reservation and let the friendly staff know your dream spot when you book. This has always worked for us.
De Buurvrouw – round bench with cushions on the right in the palapa
Wine at the right temperature for Curacao
Wine in Curacao can be a bit of a shock for Europeans or Americans at first. This is because the wine bottles are usually kept outside and the wine is served at the ambient temperature (81 F or more). Not so at Buurvrouw: here, the fine wines are served cooled. They warm up on their own anyway. Even the red wine is served cooled, and you’ll appreciate it! The wine selection is good, and there is even “branded” wine. I opted for the red Merlot several times and was happy with it.
De Buurvrouw – friendly beverage service
To skew or not to skew?
The absolute specialty are the skewers, i.e. with grilled meat or shrimp. These are served with a small salad and the typical “Antillean rice” (delicious, spicy rice with pieces of vegetables, Antillean style). These skewers are the highlight and you should try them. In addition to the standard skewers on the menu, you can order individual ones, such as “Tenderloin and King Prawns”. Just ask! I enjoy this “Surf & Turf” on a skewer every time I visit Curacao. The quality has been constant over the years, and both the beef tenderloin and the prawns are grilled to perfection. Definitely my recommendation!
The menu for Lunch and Dinner can be found on the website of De Buurvrouw.
De Buurvrouw – Stefan looks through the menu
Smoking? Only in the outdoor lounge!
If you are a non-smoker, I have good news for you: smoking is now only allowed in the new smoking lounge outside the palapa. Previously, smoking was allowed on the side of the palapa facing away from the wind. This meant that no one was really bothered, as the wind carried the smoke directly out of the open palapa. Nevertheless, “smoke-free” is becoming increasingly popular in Curacao. If you are a smoker, the smoking lounge deserves its name, and you can relax and enjoy a cigarette under the starry sky in comfortable lounge furniture. Just take your drink or coffee with you. It is always warm and it hardly ever rains in Curacao.
Event catering
Back to the food. When the huge meat skewers are brought to your table, it’s pretty impressive. Marja, Sanne, and the other girls in service (all-female staff) celebrate bringing the almost 40 cm long skewer, filled to the ends, to your table. Anticipation is the greatest joy!
De Buurvrouw – skewers are served
The bar now has a tap (“draught beer”) for fresh Heineken beer. Somewhat hidden away at the bar, you’ll find a coffee grinder and the accompanying sieve-holder coffee machine. There’s a touch of Italy in the air when the fresh beans are ground and your espresso slowly flows into your cup, filling the air with its wonderful aroma.
Unfortunately, I can’t tell you anything about the other dishes on the menu (see picture gallery). Since our first visit to Buurvrouw, we have made it a ritual to order only the skewers. But we can report that other guests around us have eaten their plates clean and we have only seen happy faces around us. Added to our bucket list: trying something different for you.
Update: We have since tried the also excellent spare ribs. Read our article “The best ribs on Curacao” for more information.
Great crew
We have been frequent guests at Buurvrouw for years and always enjoy being welcomed and served by the same friendly people. Marja, Sjors, Gerard, and Sanne have been working here for more than a decade now, implementing a great concept that is very appreciated by guests and long-standing staff alike. Please say hello to Sanne & Marja, who take care of the service. We are definitely looking forward to our next visit!
De Buurvrouw – looking at the palapa from the air
What else?
Since 2023, there have been brand new sanitary facilities located outside the large palapa in a small building (next to the smoking lounge). Everything is clean—just as it should be! In addition to a double sink with soap and towels, there is a changing table for the little ones on the wall. In general, Buurvrouw is very child-friendly. The restaurant’s own small playground is a great place to pass the time until your food arrives.
The parking lot and therefore your car is (was?) monitored by a security service. Admittedly, we didn’t see any security guards during our last visits. Our photo of the security guard was taken in 2021, so it was taken during the pandemic. Perhaps this was a measure taken during the Covid-19 pandemic? We don’t know!
Conclusion
A visit to De Buurvrouw, along with other great restaurants, is one of our absolute recommendations during your vacation in Curacao. The only downside: smokers can no longer enjoy their cigarette with their coffee or cognac at the table. But we are familiar with this from numerous countries where it’s been customary for years for smokers to go outside, even in wind and cold weather.
Do you know the answer? We collected 100+ entertaining questions about Curacao. Have fun!
Quiz Question
Is it true that there are ostriches on Curacao?Answer
Yes, the largest bird in the world, the ostrich.
Some of these flightless ratites, whose original home is Africa, live on Curacao, but not in the wild. You can visit and marvel at them at the Ostrich Farm in the east of Curacao.
If you’re lucky, ostrich chicks will have just hatched.
Do you like more? Here is another post you might be interested in:
If you enjoyed this article, we would be very happy if you share it with your friends on social media. Thank you very much!
Planning your next vacation day? Join us on an exploration tour and take a closer look at our other sections. Whether it’s beaches, nature, shopping or lifestyle – there’s much more to discover! We have bundled tips for your relaxed and comfortable trip to your vacation paradise in our Relaxed Travelling section.
De Buurvrouw – heerlijk lekker!
Grilled meat skewers, ribs, pizza, and more
De Buurvrouw has been among the top addresses on Tripadvisor & Co. for years for good reason! De Buurvrouw is Dutch and translates as “the neighbor.” The restaurant (“Eetcafé”) is located in the largest palapa on the island. It’s hard to miss when you’re on your way from Willemstad to Westpunt: Shortly after “Grote Berg” on the left-hand side, the palapa shines brightly in the dark and the neighbor invites you to an unforgettable evening.
A warm welcome
After parking your rental car, you make your way to the entrance of the palapa, dressed up and hungry, under swaying and rustling palm trees. That’s what a vacation should be like! You will be welcomed warmly and with a honest smile without having to wait. Hopefully you made a reservation? You should have, because the neighbor has many fans and is regularly booked up, especially on weekends.
Check out our detailed tour on YouTube:
The best seating place to be
There is no one best place to sit in the Palapa, which is open on almost all sides. On the outside, you will find comfortable benches with cushions and pillows. In the middle, there are tables and chairs. The outdoor areas are designed more for couples and up to 4 people, while the indoor area can also accommodate larger groups. Thanks to the open design, there is always a pleasant breeze everywhere. Our tip: simply drop by in person to make your reservation and let the friendly staff know your dream spot when you book. This has always worked for us.
De Buurvrouw – round bench with cushions on the right in the palapa
Wine at the right temperature for Curacao
Wine in Curacao can be a bit of a shock for Europeans or Americans at first. This is because the wine bottles are usually kept outside and the wine is served at the ambient temperature (81 F or more). Not so at Buurvrouw: here, the fine wines are served cooled. They warm up on their own anyway. Even the red wine is served cooled, and you’ll appreciate it! The wine selection is good, and there is even “branded” wine. I opted for the red Merlot several times and was happy with it.
De Buurvrouw – friendly beverage service
To skew or not to skew?
The absolute specialty are the skewers, i.e. with grilled meat or shrimp. These are served with a small salad and the typical “Antillean rice” (delicious, spicy rice with pieces of vegetables, Antillean style). These skewers are the highlight and you should try them. In addition to the standard skewers on the menu, you can order individual ones, such as “Tenderloin and King Prawns”. Just ask! I enjoy this “Surf & Turf” on a skewer every time I visit Curacao. The quality has been constant over the years, and both the beef tenderloin and the prawns are grilled to perfection. Definitely my recommendation!
The menu for Lunch and Dinner can be found on the website of De Buurvrouw.
De Buurvrouw – Stefan looks through the menu
Smoking? Only in the outdoor lounge!
If you are a non-smoker, I have good news for you: smoking is now only allowed in the new smoking lounge outside the palapa. Previously, smoking was allowed on the side of the palapa facing away from the wind. This meant that no one was really bothered, as the wind carried the smoke directly out of the open palapa. Nevertheless, “smoke-free” is becoming increasingly popular in Curacao. If you are a smoker, the smoking lounge deserves its name, and you can relax and enjoy a cigarette under the starry sky in comfortable lounge furniture. Just take your drink or coffee with you. It is always warm and it hardly ever rains in Curacao.
Event catering
Back to the food. When the huge meat skewers are brought to your table, it’s pretty impressive. Marja, Sanne, and the other girls in service (all-female staff) celebrate bringing the almost 40 cm long skewer, filled to the ends, to your table. Anticipation is the greatest joy!
De Buurvrouw – skewers are served
The bar now has a tap (“draught beer”) for fresh Heineken beer. Somewhat hidden away at the bar, you’ll find a coffee grinder and the accompanying sieve-holder coffee machine. There’s a touch of Italy in the air when the fresh beans are ground and your espresso slowly flows into your cup, filling the air with its wonderful aroma.
Unfortunately, I can’t tell you anything about the other dishes on the menu (see picture gallery). Since our first visit to Buurvrouw, we have made it a ritual to order only the skewers. But we can report that other guests around us have eaten their plates clean and we have only seen happy faces around us. Added to our bucket list: trying something different for you.
Update: We have since tried the also excellent spare ribs. Read our article “The best ribs on Curacao” for more information.
Great crew
We have been frequent guests at Buurvrouw for years and always enjoy being welcomed and served by the same friendly people. Marja, Sjors, Gerard, and Sanne have been working here for more than a decade now, implementing a great concept that is very appreciated by guests and long-standing staff alike. Please say hello to Sanne & Marja, who take care of the service. We are definitely looking forward to our next visit!
De Buurvrouw – looking at the palapa from the air
What else?
Since 2023, there have been brand new sanitary facilities located outside the large palapa in a small building (next to the smoking lounge). Everything is clean—just as it should be! In addition to a double sink with soap and towels, there is a changing table for the little ones on the wall. In general, Buurvrouw is very child-friendly. The restaurant’s own small playground is a great place to pass the time until your food arrives.
The parking lot and therefore your car is (was?) monitored by a security service. Admittedly, we didn’t see any security guards during our last visits. Our photo of the security guard was taken in 2021, so it was taken during the pandemic. Perhaps this was a measure taken during the Covid-19 pandemic? We don’t know!
Conclusion
A visit to De Buurvrouw, along with other great restaurants, is one of our absolute recommendations during your vacation in Curacao. The only downside: smokers can no longer enjoy their cigarette with their coffee or cognac at the table. But we are familiar with this from numerous countries where it’s been customary for years for smokers to go outside, even in wind and cold weather.
Other articles from the “Bars & Restaurants” category that might interest you:
If you enjoyed this article, we would be very happy if you share it with your friends on social media. Thank you very much!
Leave A Comment
Recommended readings from other categories:
Quiz Question
Is it true that there are ostriches on Curacao?Answer
Yes, the largest bird in the world, the ostrich.
Some of these flightless ratites, whose original home is Africa, live on Curacao, but not in the wild. You can visit and marvel at them at the Ostrich Farm in the east of Curacao.
If you’re lucky, ostrich chicks will have just hatched.
#withus - our articles at your fingertips on a common map - try it!
De Buurvrouw – heerlijk lekker!
Grilled meat skewers, ribs, pizza, and more
De Buurvrouw has been among the top addresses on Tripadvisor & Co. for years for good reason! De Buurvrouw is Dutch and translates as “the neighbor.” The restaurant (“Eetcafé”) is located in the largest palapa on the island. It’s hard to miss when you’re on your way from Willemstad to Westpunt: Shortly after “Grote Berg” on the left-hand side, the palapa shines brightly in the dark and the neighbor invites you to an unforgettable evening.
A warm welcome
After parking your rental car, you make your way to the entrance of the palapa, dressed up and hungry, under swaying and rustling palm trees. That’s what a vacation should be like! You will be welcomed warmly and with a honest smile without having to wait. Hopefully you made a reservation? You should have, because the neighbor has many fans and is regularly booked up, especially on weekends.
Check out our detailed tour on YouTube:
The best seating place to be
There is no one best place to sit in the Palapa, which is open on almost all sides. On the outside, you will find comfortable benches with cushions and pillows. In the middle, there are tables and chairs. The outdoor areas are designed more for couples and up to 4 people, while the indoor area can also accommodate larger groups. Thanks to the open design, there is always a pleasant breeze everywhere. Our tip: simply drop by in person to make your reservation and let the friendly staff know your dream spot when you book. This has always worked for us.
De Buurvrouw – round bench with cushions on the right in the palapa
Wine at the right temperature for Curacao
Wine in Curacao can be a bit of a shock for Europeans or Americans at first. This is because the wine bottles are usually kept outside and the wine is served at the ambient temperature (81 F or more). Not so at Buurvrouw: here, the fine wines are served cooled. They warm up on their own anyway. Even the red wine is served cooled, and you’ll appreciate it! The wine selection is good, and there is even “branded” wine. I opted for the red Merlot several times and was happy with it.
De Buurvrouw – friendly beverage service
To skew or not to skew?
The absolute specialty are the skewers, i.e. with grilled meat or shrimp. These are served with a small salad and the typical “Antillean rice” (delicious, spicy rice with pieces of vegetables, Antillean style). These skewers are the highlight and you should try them. In addition to the standard skewers on the menu, you can order individual ones, such as “Tenderloin and King Prawns”. Just ask! I enjoy this “Surf & Turf” on a skewer every time I visit Curacao. The quality has been constant over the years, and both the beef tenderloin and the prawns are grilled to perfection. Definitely my recommendation!
The menu for Lunch and Dinner can be found on the website of De Buurvrouw.
De Buurvrouw – Stefan looks through the menu
Smoking? Only in the outdoor lounge!
If you are a non-smoker, I have good news for you: smoking is now only allowed in the new smoking lounge outside the palapa. Previously, smoking was allowed on the side of the palapa facing away from the wind. This meant that no one was really bothered, as the wind carried the smoke directly out of the open palapa. Nevertheless, “smoke-free” is becoming increasingly popular in Curacao. If you are a smoker, the smoking lounge deserves its name, and you can relax and enjoy a cigarette under the starry sky in comfortable lounge furniture. Just take your drink or coffee with you. It is always warm and it hardly ever rains in Curacao.
Event catering
Back to the food. When the huge meat skewers are brought to your table, it’s pretty impressive. Marja, Sanne, and the other girls in service (all-female staff) celebrate bringing the almost 40 cm long skewer, filled to the ends, to your table. Anticipation is the greatest joy!
De Buurvrouw – skewers are served
The bar now has a tap (“draught beer”) for fresh Heineken beer. Somewhat hidden away at the bar, you’ll find a coffee grinder and the accompanying sieve-holder coffee machine. There’s a touch of Italy in the air when the fresh beans are ground and your espresso slowly flows into your cup, filling the air with its wonderful aroma.
Unfortunately, I can’t tell you anything about the other dishes on the menu (see picture gallery). Since our first visit to Buurvrouw, we have made it a ritual to order only the skewers. But we can report that other guests around us have eaten their plates clean and we have only seen happy faces around us. Added to our bucket list: trying something different for you.
Update: We have since tried the also excellent spare ribs. Read our article “The best ribs on Curacao” for more information.
Great crew
We have been frequent guests at Buurvrouw for years and always enjoy being welcomed and served by the same friendly people. Marja, Sjors, Gerard, and Sanne have been working here for more than a decade now, implementing a great concept that is very appreciated by guests and long-standing staff alike. Please say hello to Sanne & Marja, who take care of the service. We are definitely looking forward to our next visit!
De Buurvrouw – looking at the palapa from the air
What else?
Since 2023, there have been brand new sanitary facilities located outside the large palapa in a small building (next to the smoking lounge). Everything is clean—just as it should be! In addition to a double sink with soap and towels, there is a changing table for the little ones on the wall. In general, Buurvrouw is very child-friendly. The restaurant’s own small playground is a great place to pass the time until your food arrives.
The parking lot and therefore your car is (was?) monitored by a security service. Admittedly, we didn’t see any security guards during our last visits. Our photo of the security guard was taken in 2021, so it was taken during the pandemic. Perhaps this was a measure taken during the Covid-19 pandemic? We don’t know!
Conclusion
A visit to De Buurvrouw, along with other great restaurants, is one of our absolute recommendations during your vacation in Curacao. The only downside: smokers can no longer enjoy their cigarette with their coffee or cognac at the table. But we are familiar with this from numerous countries where it’s been customary for years for smokers to go outside, even in wind and cold weather.
Other articles we recommend for you:
Curacao is alive and things are always changing. What has changed since our last visit? How is your experience? Would you please share your personal experiences with us? Feel free to write your comment under this article and follow us on our social media channels. There you can spontaneously share your personal impressions with us and our community - "sharing is caring". We look forward to your contribution and every new follower!
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Quiz Question
Is it true that there are ostriches on Curacao?Answer
Yes, the largest bird in the world, the ostrich.
Some of these flightless ratites, whose original home is Africa, live on Curacao, but not in the wild. You can visit and marvel at them at the Ostrich Farm in the east of Curacao.
If you’re lucky, ostrich chicks will have just hatched.
#withus - our articles at your fingertips on a common map - try it!
