Where do you find the best cheap eats in Curaçao? Curaçao Shakes. Hands down. In 10 days on the island, we ate here 3 times. And we have no regrets.

What makes Curaçao Shakes the best cheap eats in Curaçao? The freshly made arepas and homemade sauces deliver unbelievable tastes while the delicious fruit juices and milkshakes make you feel like you’re floating on a cloud. Both are worth the drive. No matter where you’re staying on the island, you’ll arrive in central Tera Kora in less than 45 minutes.

The family who owns the joint is pretty awesome, too. In November 2015, Bert and Alaida decided to open a little food stand in front of their house. Behold: Curaçao Shakes. In 3 short years, they’ve done an incredible job of bringing a warm, familial feel to what would otherwise be just another roadside food stop.

In this post:

Getting to Curaçao Shakes
What’s on the menu
Hours & ambience
Other Curaçao dining options

▾ Complete reviews of where we stayed on Curaçao ▾

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Getting to Curaçao Shakes

To find the best cheap eats in Curaçao, you’re in luck: you don’t need to look hard. Curaçao Shakes is located right on the side of the island’s main drag: Weg Naar Westpunt (aka the highway to goodness).

From northern Curaçao down to Smoothie-Heaven

It’s an easy 20-minute drive from Sabana Westpunt, northern Curaçao’s sleepy, almost forgotten, gem of a town. There are two routes you can take, both of which will get you there within 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic.

If you choose the slightly longer western route along Kaminda Serapio A. Pinedo, you’ll enjoy a more scenic route through lush greenery with sporadic ocean views.

From southern Curaçao up to Arepa-Paradise

From the more popular & touristic Jan Thiel, the drive north to Curaçao Shakes should take less than 45 minutes. If you’re starting your drive in Willemstad, it’ll be a bit shorter.

If you’re having trouble with (or don’t have) GPS, just follow the signs to “Westpunt.” This is basically saying “take me north!” and you’ll eventually end up on the Weg Naar Westpunt.

If it seems crazy to drive 45 for an arepa or 6, then create an excuse: plan a one-day road trip to the sleepy northern side of the island, and make a pit stop at Curaçao Shakes on the way. Ultimately, a visit to Curaçao isn’t complete without a trip up north! Although we stayed for a week, you can still explore the northern beaches, swim with sea turtles on Playa Grandi, and even visit Christoffel National Park…all in one day.

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What’s on the menu

Arepas

Arepas come served with tomato, cucumber, avocado & cheese, plus mayo & ketchup. Make sure to tell them if you don’t want…any of that.

Ask for the homemade pepper sauce (hot!) & garlic sauce. Mouthwateringly delicious!

Filling options:

Beef (did not have)
Chicken (yum)
Cheese (yum)
Vegetarian (yum)

Tostones

A side of these bad boys + the homemade garlic & pepper sauce = OMG.

Milkshakes & smoothies

Curaçao Shakes offers coffee for you caffeine fiends out there…but if you wanna do it right, treat yourself to a customized milkshake (contains…milk) or smoothie (no milk).

Flavor lineup:

Apple
Mango (yum)
Melon
Níspero (→ loquat)
Pear
Papaya (yum)
Banana
Pineapple
Passion fruit (yum)
Soursop (serious yum; if you don’t have it in your home country…give it a shot)
Strawberry (yum)
Watermelon
Natural Juices

The real winner was the mango / passion fruit / soursop smoothie that Aron ordered during our last visit.

They have a few other items on the menu, but we were too lost in the arepitas y jugos to remember to take a picture or write anything down.

Best Cheap Eats in Curacao: Curacao Shakes — Our first adventure at Curaçao Shakes.

And of course: as with any food article on our website…you can expect a photo of a partially-eaten meal or half-sipped drink. Luckily, I was able to intercept Aron’s first bite and snag a quick shot of these beauties.

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Hours & ambience

Curaçao Shakes is open from 10am to 6pm, everyday, according to their Instagram.

Enjoy a few moments outdoors under the hospitality of Bert and Alaida, at one of the three picnic tables, or ask for your food to-go (para llevar). We did both.

And don’t forget to order a side of tostones. Makes for great car-snacking material.

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Other Curaçao dining options

Still hungry? Here are a few more Curaçao restaurants to check out:

Sol Food
Cactus Cafe
Restaurant Playa Forti
Ginger
Mundo Bizarro
Miles Jazz Cafe
Surf & Turf
Jaanchie’s Restaurant (didn’t eat here but heard great things! recommended by many locals)

Cheers!

-DnA