Not much food is grown locally, but the variety in the local cuisine is extensive. There is a very wide range of international cuisine and several of the more famous fast-food chains have premises on the island.
National specialities:
• Grouper sandwich: this fish inhabits shallow to mid-range reefs and is a white, sweet, mild-tasting fish. Fried in a proper batter, grouper is the main ingredient of many a lunch sandwich.
• Keshi Yena has its roots in Aruba’s Dutch influence: cooks take a wheel of Gouda cheese, pack the hollowed-out center with a spicy meat mixture of either chicken or beef, and then bake the whole concoction to be eaten year-round but particularly at Christmas.
• Lamb or goat stew (stobŕ).
• Cala (bean fritters).
• Pastechi are meat- or cheese-stuffed turnovers.
• Take a bite of ayacas, which are leaf-wrapped meat rolls.
• The delicious sopi di pisca (fish chowder) makes the most of the elements.
National drinks:
• There is no national drink as such but, as ever in the Caribbean, all alcoholic punches and cocktails will usually be given a ‘kick’ with a liberal dose of rum.
Legal drinking age: 18 but it should be considered that such age restrictions are not usually endorsed.
Tipping: Hotels add a 15 per cent service charge to any food or beverage bill. Restaurants may add 15 per cent service to the bill; if not, 10 to 15 per cent is normal. Taxi fares do not include tips, but there may be charges for luggage and tips are well appreciated.

There is one drive-in and one indoor cinema screening current American, European and Latin American films. The highlight of Aruba’s nightlife, however, is the casinos, of which there are 11, open from 1100 until the early morning. It is possible to take a dinner cruise. There are several bars and discos in Oranjestad, as well as nightclubs offering revues and live music. Themed nights and limbo dancing are a local speciality.

As a ‘free zone’, duty on most items in Aruba is so low that shopping here can have obvious advantages. Stores carry goods from all parts of the world and there are some excellent buys, including perfume, linens, jewellery, watches, cameras, crystal, china and other luxury items plus a range of locally made handicrafts. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1800; some shops close for lunch between 1200-1400. Shops in malls and shopping centres may open 0930-1800 and may open Sundays when cruise ships are in port.