Local guide · Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Aruba: The Neighbourhood That Feeds Itself
0 spots · updated May 27, 2026
Santa Cruz sits in the heart of Aruba, well off the tourist corridor of Palm Beach and Eagle Beach. It is where many working Arubans live, and consequently where some of the island's most genuine local food can be found — no beach view, no resort pricing, just real food.
- When
- Weekday lunch when the neighbourhood is working and snekkies are at their freshest. Avoid late evenings when options thin out.
- Try
- Aruban home cooking at New well well bar & restaurantQuick take-away at Mi BeaPizza at Itza Pizza in Siribana
- Good for
- Off-the-beaten-path Aruban food experiencesValue-for-money local meals away from resortsUnderstanding how working Arubans actually eat
Where to get them?
Order: most good reviews from locals first.
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The central area around Santa Cruz is dotted with take-away spots and neighbourhood snekkies that have loyal local followings. New well well bar & restaurant on Hooiberg Ser Biento is one of the most-talked about local spots in the area, known for generous portions and Aruban home cooking that does not compromise for outside tastes. Mi Bea Take Away on Kibaima 25 is a neighbourhood fixture for quick, satisfying meals.
Bamboo Takeaway at the G2C7+R3X plus code is a food truck serving the Santa Cruz area that locals return to consistently. Grape Leaf Aruba at Sabana Grandi 34 L extends the neighbourhood's food scene in an interesting direction. Chef Ruben Dario Hernandez & catering on Piedra Plat 11 brings professional cooking to a local context.
Iza Pizza at Siribana 6 provides the reliable pizza option for the neighbourhood. Noe Snack Take Away in Santa Cruz is the kind of spot that fills up at lunchtime with local workers — a good sign anywhere. Santa Cruz Bar Restaurant is the neighbourhood anchor that handles everything from breakfast through late drinks.
Reaching Santa Cruz means leaving the tourist strip behind entirely. Head inland from Oranjestad on the main road and you will find a Aruba that most visitors never see — quieter, more genuine, and better value for the food.