SAN NICOLAS. It's off the beaten path, but the Astoria Hotel restaurant is well worth a visit. Although the dining room is air conditioned, for a romantic dinner with your sweetie you should opt for dinner on the candlelit terrace. The menu is American-Continental: dinner features steaks, fresh seafood and a fabulous rack of lamb. Sunday brunch is an amazing all-you-can-eat affair, with a bounty of fresh fruits, omelettes, baked goods and more. The staff is knowledgeable and accommodating, ensuring that a meal here will be one of your better dining experiences on Aruba.

NORTHWEST COAST. A resort restaurant specializing in the cuisines of Japan and China, Blossoms has truly made its mark on the Aruba dining scene. If you're craving sushi, this is the freshest and most attractive selection. In the teppan yaki room you can watch your food prepared at a grill in the center of your table ­ great fun, especially for kids. The Chinese part of the restaurant is a relaxing spot to enjoy traditional dishes such as spring rolls, barbecued spare ribs, crispy orange beef and Peking roast duck.

SAVANETA. This little open-air restaurant sells impeccably fresh seafood cooked with local ingredients like spicy Madame Janette peppers and yerbihole leaf, an herb very similar to basil. The fish soup is wonderful here as is the seafood platter with baby shark and broiled lobster. Tenderloin steaks and broiled chicken are available for the non-seafood eaters in your party. Plan ahead and call for reservations on the terrace ­ the view of the sunset is spectacular. Smart-casual attire. Reservations strongly suggested.

SAN NICOLAS. This bar has been an island legend for more than 50 years. Many people visit just to study the outrageous décor: banners, pennants, posters, stickers and bric-a-brac cover the ceiling and walls. Though many come the first time to gawk while they sip on a cold beer, Charlie's keeps them coming back with surprisingly good seafood, especially Creole squid and "shrimps jumbo and dumbo." (Dumbo because they got caught!) Charlie's also cooks a mean Argentine-style steak, and their trademark "honeymoon sauce" is fabulous, and hot, hot, hot!

GREATER ORANJESTAD. For a truly elegant meal try this traditional French restaurant. Situated in an old Aruban house from the 19th century, diners can sit indoors in the Pavilion Room amongst heavy draperies and brass gas lamps, or in the back greenhouse ­ an airy, atrium-style room. The menu features daily specials but many of your favorites such as escargot, Belgian endive salad, steak au poivre and crepes Suzette are always available. For a real treat try the bouillabaisse. It has more than a dozen different fishes and seafood, fresh from the oceans around Aruba.