A restaurant and bar in the daytime and cocktail bar and live music venue in the evening, Bournemouth’s Aruba is a multi-faceted venue that pulls in the crowds.
Aruba benefits from sitting right on Bournemouth pier, overlooking the city’s beach, which is often considered to be among the prettiest in the UK. Inside, Aruba’s dining room is a spacious, high-ceilinged affair, boasting a large central bar in the middle of the room and simple wooden tables and chairs set up for those looking to dine.
Naturally, Aruba makes the most of its location, offering up an outdoor terrace overlooking the beach which is perfect for a spot of alfresco dining. The kitchen here is open all day, taking diners from breakfast through to lunch and dinner. The menu takes its inspiration from the sun-soaked shores of the Caribbean, but the theming doesn’t really kick in until the evening. That means that for breakfast, you can expect to tuck into the traditional likes of a full English breakfast, buttermilk pancakes topped with crispy cured bacon and maple syrup, or banana French toast with coconut cream.
Later in the day, expect to find a range of sharing dishes, alongside stacked burgers and handmade pizzas. Kick-start your meal with chicken satay skewers or duck spring rolls, before moving on to the more substantial likes of a southern fried chicken burger or jerk chicken. There are a few options for vegetarian diners too, while if you’re in a group you can choose one of Aruba’s sharing options – loaded nachos perhaps, or maybe fish tacos topped with sour cream and spring onion.
To round off your meal, take your pick from Aruba’s indulgent selection of desserts. We’re intrigued by the brownie ice cream sundae topped with warm chocolate sauce and whipped cream, but those looking for something lighter can opt for a slice of Buck’s Fizz cheesecake.