The Ultimate Vegan-Friendly Hotel Guide to Aruba
Choosing between Aruba’s boutique eco-resorts or high-rise hotels? Here is how to find your perfect stay.
We have all been there: the "breakfast buffet anxiety." You arrive at a stunning resort, ready to relax, only to find that your dining options are limited to potatoes and fruit salad. But in Aruba, hospitality means hosting everyone.
Aruba’s hotel sector is undergoing a green revolution. From boutique eco-hotels to major global chains, the island is setting a new standard for vegan hospitality. Whether you prefer a wellness-focused retreat or the excitement of the high-rise strip, here is how to navigate your stay.
Vegan Hospitality Certified Hotels
To make your trip completely worry-free, you can stay at one of the four hotels that are Vegan Hospitality Certified. This means the hotel has been officially audited to meet global vegan-inclusive menu standards and the staff has been trained to help vegan guests. At these hotels, you don't have to explain what "vegan" means because they already know, and they are happy to serve you.
1. Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa (Eagle Beach) Located on a wide section of Eagle Beach, Manchebo is the best spot for wellness. They focus on yoga and health, so their food matches that vibe perfectly.
The Must-Try Dish: At their fine-dining restaurant, Ike's Bistro, ask for the vegan menu and order the "Vegan Fish," for a shockingly realistic seafood experience. It is grilled to perfection and served alongside a cauliflower steak and "funchi fries," which is a traditional local polenta crisp that you have to try.
Breakfast: Start your day at Ike’s with an a la carte vegan breakfast menu featuring everything from chia pudding and cinnamon french toast to savory tofu scrambles.
2. JOIA by Iberostar: This stunning property focuses heavily on sustainability and ocean protection, which extends to their impressive menu options.
Poolside Bites: You don't have to leave your lounge chair for great food. Order the Nachos, loaded with black beans, cauliflower, and a creamy house-made cashew cheese.
Dinner at Marea: The menu here is full of vibrant options. The Impossible Kebabs are beautifully plated with a cool yogurt sauce and pomegranate seeds, while the Mushroom Curry offers a rich taste of local fungi.
The Buffet: Breakfast at the Bucatini Buffet is a treat, featuring rotating options like tofu scramble, savory mushroom croquettes, and fresh tropical juices.
3. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort (Eagle Beach) Bucuti & Tara is famous for being the Caribbean’s first Carbon Neutral resort. It is an adults-only hotel that is very popular with travelers who care about sustainability.
Sunset Dining: Their beachfront restaurant, Elements, offers fine dining with a view. You must try their unique Palmito Ceviche (Hearts of Palm), served in a rich, savory sauce with corn chips. For something comforting, their Roasted Tomato & Basil Soup is a crowd favorite.
Breakfast: Mornings here are easy. The breakfast buffet features clearly labeled, whole-food plant-based options, so you can build a healthy, energizing plate without having to guess the ingredients.
4. Boardwalk Boutique Hotel (Palm Beach) If you prefer a boutique, environmentally conscious, instagrammable hotel, Boardwalk is amazing. It is made up of "casitas" (private cottages) set in a lush garden.
Coco Café: Dining here feels like stumbling into a bohemian secret garden. Although it is just steps from the ocean and the excitement of the Palm Beach strip, this outdoor oasis feels completely off the beaten path. With incredibly welcoming staff and a menu driven by fresh, sustainable ingredients, it is the perfect hidden gem for a restorative vacation meal.
Your Own Grill & Kitchen Compost Bin: Each casita comes with a kitchenette and BBQ, so if you want to grill your own veggies on the patio, the concierge can direct you to the best local markets. The hotel will even compost your veggie scraps!
A Plant-Forward Innovator
While not yet officially certified, Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort is working toward offering some of the most extensive vegan menu options on the island, and your vegan vacation won’t be complete without giving their restaurants a try! This Dutch-style resort is across from Eagle Beach and is known for its inclusive atmosphere.
Sunset & Dining: At Horizons Lounge, you can enjoy the sunset with a menu where many items, including nachos and bitterballen, are vegan by default. Down on the sand at Passions on the Beach, they offer fantastic plant-based dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They continuously update their menus to be even more inclusive, ensuring you always have a fresh, delicious choice.
Tips for Staying at the "Big" Hotels
If you are staying at a major chain like the Marriott, Renaissance, or Holiday Inn, you can still eat well. These hotels have world-class culinary teams that are able to offer vegan dishes upon request where their standard menus aren’t as inclusive.
Marriott: If you are staying here, head to Mercat. They have on-menu options like a hearty Vegetable Paella and a crispy Falafel Platter that make for a perfect dinner.
Ask for the Chef: At any large hotel restaurant, don’t be shy about asking to speak to the chef. They are often happy to whip up something special using fresh ingredients they have in the kitchen.
Location is Key: The high-rise hotels are in a great spot on the Palm Beach strip. You are walking distance to Eduardo’s Beach Shack for acai bowls and many vegan-friendly lunch and dinner spots. Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Oranjestad has fabulous vegan options on-site at their Blu Bar, and they are also located directly across the street from Renaissance Marketplace where you’ll find several vegan friendly restaurants such as Cuba’s Cookin’ and Poke Ono.
Why You Won’t Find a "Vegan Hotel"
If you are searching for a 100% vegan resort or restaurant in Aruba, you won’t find one, and we actually see this as an asset.
Our island thrives on inclusivity, and we have embedded plant-based dining into the mainstream. This means you can travel with your steak-loving partner or your picky kids and still enjoy a world-class plant-based meal at the same table.
This approach creates a powerful cycle of positive change. When vegans are secluded in all-vegan resorts, mainstream restaurants never feel the pressure, or the inspiration, to evolve. By integrating, we force the industry to catch up.
Every time you order a plant-based dish at a major hotel, you are proving that the demand is real. You are exposing non-vegan chefs and diners to incredible food they might never have encountered otherwise. In Aruba, your vacation becomes a form of activism: you are showing the hospitality world that plant-based options aren't just a trend, but a profitable, celebrated part of the mainstream dining and travel experience that everyone can enjoy.
Aruba is a very welcoming island for vegans. Whether you pick a certified vegan-friendly resort or a big high-rise hotel, you will be able to find great food. For a full list of vegan-friendly restaurants near your hotel, you can always visit VeganAruba.com.
