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Aruba's adults-only boutique hideaway remains the first and only hotel in the Dutch Caribbean's ABC Islands to receive Two MICHELIN Keys.
Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba has once again been awarded Two MICHELIN Keys in the MICHELIN Guide Hotel Selection 2026, confirming its place among a select global group of hotels recognized for exceptional stays. For Aruba, the award is also a point of pride: a locally rooted, family-run boutique hotel delivering guest experiences distinctive enough to stand beside the world's leading properties.
MICHELIN described the recognition as a celebration of the “hard work, passion and dedication” of Boardwalk's team in delivering outstanding guest experiences. In 2026, the Guide's hotel selection spans more than 9,000 hotels worldwide; 2,832 hotels received Keys, and 657 received Two Keys, the distinction MICHELIN defines as “an exceptional stay.”
A Two Key stay, Aruba-style
Boardwalk is an adults-only hotel with 49 private casitas set in tropical gardens on a former coconut plantation near Palm Beach. At Boardwalk, colorful casita design, lush gardens, original local art, reserved Palm Beach palapas, The Coco Bistro, analog guest rituals and thoughtful service come together to create a stay that feels personal and unmistakably Aruban.
The hotel keeps deepening its commitment to the island through experiences rooted in Aruba's culture, nature and pace. Boardwalk's Slow Summer program frames Aruba at its calmest: quieter beaches, an easier island rhythm, complimentary weekly wellness experiences and thoughtful in-room touches that invite guests to slow down and reconnect. One vivid example is the floating ocean sound baths, where guests drift at sunset in the Caribbean Sea as sound bowls guide deep relaxation.
Boardwalk's year-round Moments Library brings analog discovery into the guest journey with Aruban dominoes, locally curated music, Papiamento phrase cards, art materials, binoculars and Polaroids guests can leave behind as recommendations for the next traveler.
That connection to place also extends through art. Through its Artist in Residence program and Twin Art projects — a nod to Boardwalk's twin-sister founders — the hotel works with local artists and welcomes visiting creatives to interpret Aruba's nature, heritage and contrasts through their own lens. The resulting work becomes part of the property and the guest experience, creating a cultural exchange that brings the world to Aruba while carrying new perspectives of Aruba back into the world.
Together, these experiences reflect Boardwalk's belief in the power of pause: that genuine happiness often begins when guests have space to look up, notice the island and carry the feeling home.
Because of the team
“Being honored with Two MICHELIN Keys for a second year is especially meaningful because this recognition belongs to our team,” says Stephanie Rooijakkers, co-founder of Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba. “It is in the care they bring to the smallest things — beds made with a smile, sharing the garden with passion, coconuts opened like small island rituals, and quietly making sure everything works exactly as it should. That care is what guests feel, even when they don't see it. They are the reason Boardwalk feels like Aruba.”
Her twin sister and fellow co-founder, Kimberly Rooijakkers, adds: “For us, the guest experience is not about adding more. It is about creating room for what matters: nature, culture, connection, rest and small moments of joy. We want guests to slow down enough to really experience Aruba — and to carry a little of that feeling home with them.”
What do Two MICHELIN Keys mean?
The MICHELIN Key is the Guide's hotel distinction, awarded to hotels that stand out within its inspected selection.
Two MICHELIN Keys recognize an exceptional stay: a memorable experience in a hotel of character and charm, run with pride and considerable care.
About Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba is a colorful, adults-only boutique hotel nestled in a lush former coconut plantation near Palm Beach. The hotel offers 49 private casitas with patios, hammocks, BBQs and kitchenettes or full kitchens, surrounded by tropical gardens and vibrant island design. Boardwalk combines privacy, thoughtful service, warm hospitality and meaningful moments in an intimate Caribbean setting. Guests can also enjoy all-day dining, fresh juices and handcrafted cocktails at The Coco Bistro.
Explore Boardwalk on the MICHELIN Guide:
https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/noord/boardwalk-boutique-hotel-aruba-11992
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