The Aruba Restaurant and Bar in Bournemouth offers delicious dining, tempting tropical cocktails and entertainment in a prime location right on the mouth of the town’s famous Pier. Whether you’re here for a big breakfast, a business lunch or coming for the long-haul with a night of drinks and dancing, you’ll love the blissful views of Bournemouth Bay from the windows along the length of this popular venue.
Beachside venue
Aruba is situated in the Pier’s 1979 leisure complex formerly known as The Showbar, a popular venue which hosted classic club nights like 70s spectacular Jazz Juice, screened live sport and hosted summer shows for families during the day. It has retained this dual purpose and remains popular with families, locals, holiday makers, theatre-goers and party animals alike!
You head up the steps over the vast pier amusement arcade and are transported into a tropical haven such is the venue’s namesake. With its bright colours, tropical palm trees and fruity cocktail line-up once you step inside Aruba you won’t care what the weather’s doing outside!
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
By day, Aruba is a bright, yet cosy hideaway, family-friendly but with plenty of space to simultaneously accommodate groups of all kinds, from hen and stag parties to informal business meetings and pre-show gatherings. There is a large central bar surrounded by comfy seating, snuggly nooks, more formal tables and group gathering areas.
Aruba’s kitchens are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serve up “contemporary classics with an Aruban twist.” If you’re here bright and early you have a choice of hot or cold breakfast – a full English, eggs any which way, a pancake stack etc, toast, granola or cereal. Wake yourself up with a strong coffee or give your day a vitamin boost with a fun smoothie or “Aruba juice.”
The main menu is served all day from 12pm through to 10pm and features a tempting assortment of burgers, pizzas, salads, sharers and sides. Mains include the classic seaside favourite fish and chips, Aruba paella, Biriyani or noodles, Cornish mussels, mac and cheese, ribs and more.
Flexible dining
If you’ve got the kids in tow, the children’s menu includes a build-your-own pizza, build-your-own-wraps, fish and chips, pasta, pizza and salad with a delicious variety of bribes (puddings!) to follow. If you need to keep them at the table while you plough through your own platter, Aruba also has some board games and toys tucked away to keep everyone out of mischief.
Aruba also offers takeaway options if you love the food but don’t want to hang about for the party! There is a variety of pizza favourites to order straight off the main menu including the Caribbean, the Goat’s Cheese and the Italian Job and juicy burgers like the spiced-up Texican, the vegetarian Black Betty and the monster Big Kahoona with double burger stuffed with bacon and onion rings.
Lights off, party on
While Aruba is a calm and peaceful dining venue by day it certainly knows how to party when the sun goes down. The extensive bar holds the treasure to many a fine cocktail and Aruba keeps its own top 20 which includes classics like the Strawberry Daiquiri, the Mojito and the Pina Colada, Cosmopolitans, the Grey Goose Le Fizz and the refreshingly tropical Lychee and Mango Cooler. The bar also stocks the South’s largest selection of rum outside of London so if there’s a particular drink you’re after there’s a good chance Aruba’s talented mixologists can create it for you.
The seats are pushed to one side to reveal an extensive dancefloor with live DJ playing out club classics and the latest anthems with a mix of garage, house, funk, soul, R&B and more. Aruba also loves to throw a party, so keep an eye on the calendar on their website for bank holiday and other themed events complete with special menus, music, competitions and drinks offers.
Something for everyone
If you’re celebrating a special occasion you can reserve a booth for up to ten people and enjoy one of Aruba’s drinks packages complete with waitress table service so you don’t have to break up the party to stock up from the bar. Alternatively you can get your hands on that colourful back shelf in a fun cocktail making or spirit tasting masterclass.
Come rain or shine, breakfast or midnight Aruba is waiting with a warm welcome. Whether you want somewhere to hide from the rain or somewhere less sandy to watch the waves, a quick bite on a beach day or a one-stop venue for your whole party, anything goes in Aruba.