THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence

4.9

76 Reviews

$50 and over

International

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 17, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 5 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Innovative
Charming

Next to the 'Old Mill' in Aruba you'll find a unique new restaurant, 'The Journey'. Michelin star trained chef Patrick van der Donk (Amuse Sunset restaurant) has made a very intimate chef's table concept.

Credit card information will be required in order to hold reservation as well confirmation by phone.

Not your usual bar seating set-up! Here you are able to dine at you own separate tables and still have a view of the chef creating your 5 1/2 course meal for a max of 20 guests per evening.
Price $130 per dinner and $80 for the optional wine paring, small bar available.
The evening starts at our cozy lounge with delicious hors d'oeuvres and bubbles, inside at a small and stylish set-up the chef will prepare every dish in front of his guests taking time to invite his guests over for a chat, he might even ask to help plating his dishes which gives a truly extraordinary dining experience. The menu changes frequently, classic dishes with a twist prepared with the best ingredients.

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
International, Contemporary American, French
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 7:00 pm–7:15 pm
Phone number
565 0535
Website
http://www.thejourneychefstablearuba.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Patrick van der Donk
Catering
The Journey has its own catering company, Amuse Catering, with many years of experience. We have served many, from a big group of loyal locals to big events for the government, the Royal Dutch family and many other stars coming to the Island. Weddings events on the beach we also cater, set-up and organize.
Private party facilities
The Journey is a unique spot for small events. Small Weddings parties, birthday parties or business events.

Location
330 L.G. Smith Blvd, next to the old Windmill, Oranjestad, Palm Beach 00000
Neighborhood
Aruba
Cross street
opposite of Riu hotel
Parking details
Private Lot
Additional
Beer, Chef's Table, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Chef's Table
$130.00 per person
Multiple dates available
The stand-alone tables which seats only 20 patrons the five-course chef’s choice pre-fixed menu will take your taste buds on a world tour. Once you arrive at your destination, the exciting expedition begins with a toast of bubbles and an amuse bouche on the terrace. You can opt to pair your courses with the sommelier’s expertly curated choice of fine wines by the glass or order a bottle from the impressive wine list. With the open kitchen, you will witness the chef work on his eye-pleasing creations. By the end of the evening, you will have made many new friends as you have all enjoyed such an excellent shared experience of culinary bliss. Bon Voyage!

What 76 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9

4.9 based on recent ratings

4.9Food
4.9Service
4.9Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Caribbean
International
Aruba
Best Overall
Aruba
Best Food
Aruba
Best Service
Aruba
Best Ambiance
Aruba
Best Value
Aruba
Innovative
Aruba
Good for special occasions
Aruba
International

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Discover "THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence" in Aruba, where Chef Patrick's "outstanding" creations and Jeremy's "awesome service" make for an "unforgettable" dining adventure. Guests rave about "amazing" food, "incredible" wine pairings, and the warmly welcoming ambiance. A "must-try" for food enthusiasts seeking a unique, intimate experience.

76 Reviews

F
Felix
VIP
Atlantic City
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Chef Patrick and his staff were personable as well as professional. Chef's creations were delicious and food preparation was flawless. An fun and interesting evening to share with friends and family! Note: We purchased the wine pairing and to chef's credit, the quality of the food far exceeded the quality of the wines. Consider purchasing wine off of the wine menu. Felix
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J
Jaron
Denver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The Journey was easily our favorite restaurant during our week stay in Aruba. It was such a fantastic experience, you have to try it for yourself!
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A
Anita
Nashville
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The meal was absolutely delicious. We were greeted with a glass of champagne, which set the stage for a delightful evening. The restaurant itself was beautifully appointed, with soft music playing in the background. The staff was friendly and attentive, and Chef Patrick invited people to watch, take pictures, and ask questions as he worked. Each course was introduced with an explanation of the ingredients and the manner of preparation. The restaurant only seats twenty patrons at a time, which makes for a very pleasant evening. We highly recommend The Journey to Culinary Excellence.
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C
Craig
Manitoba
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Outstanding food, service and a great time Was had by all.
Is this helpful?
G
Grace
New York City
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This experience at Journey was the absolute best experience of my life in food! We felt welcomed by Jeremy when we first arrived. As guests continued to arrive all were welcomed and appreciated for our presence. Jeremy was our greeter, concierge and sommelier....personable, showed genuine appreciation that we were there. Chef Patrick, amazing in his greetings, our conversations, his expression of his love of cooking. Overall the best meal in this setting , (chef's table) that I've ever had in my life. I will be back!
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T
Terry
Omaha
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is a must do in Aruba. Chef Patrick and team provided a wonderful culinary experience with a personal touch.
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P
Pam
Hawaii
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Worth every penny. A must try for those who enjoy great food and ambience. Best dinner ever!
1 person found this helpful
G
G
Greater Boston
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely excellent experience, ambience and food. I thoroughly enjoyed the wine pairings and the journey through the various flavors of each of the five courses. I have been visiting Aruba for 25+ years and this is the best meal I have had in Aruba. Thank you very much Chef Patrick! We will be back next year.
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M
Michael
Tampa
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 30, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was maybe the best dinner I’ve ever had. Patrick is an unbelievable chef. His attention to detail and food is so unique and unreal. Need to check out. The service was fantastic and very welcoming.
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P
Paul
Connecticut
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 27, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The experience was out of this world from the moment we arrived. The staff greeted us with champagne. Shortly after, it was followed by a small appetizer, which was delicious. Then we met chef Patrick, an awesome human being. His ability to combine flavors and textures is unbelievable. He's so passionate about culinary and his customer experience. Everything was top-notch. All people in my group were impressed with the experience. If you're visiting Aruba, it's a must visit place, by reservation only.
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FAQs

THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence is rated 4.9 stars by 76 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 17, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 5 times today

Experiences are available.

Google Map for THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence

330 L.G. Smith Blvd, next to the old Windmill, Oranjestad, Palm Beach 00000

Additional information

Cross street
opposite of Riu hotel
Neighborhood
Aruba
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 7:00 pm–7:15 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
International, Contemporary American, French
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Patrick van der Donk
Additional
Beer, Chef's Table, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.thejourneychefstablearuba.com/
Phone number
565 0535
Catering
The Journey has its own catering company, Amuse Catering, with many years of experience. We have served many, from a big group of loyal locals to big events for the government, the Royal Dutch family and many other stars coming to the Island. Weddings events on the beach we also cater, set-up and organize.
Private party facilities
The Journey is a unique spot for small events. Small Weddings parties, birthday parties or business events.

THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence

Make a reservation

Additional information

Experiences

Chef's Table

Menu

Chefs tasting Menu

Chef's tasting Menu$130.00

What 76 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence restaurant rated?

Is THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information