RESTAURANT REVIEW: Great Values and Vibes at Bingo Cafe & Restaurant Aruba
- Aruba Austin
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
Aruba has a reputation of being expensive to visit, especially given the rapidly escalating prices of flights to and hotels on the One Happy Island.
However, if you are on a budget in Aruba or are simply looking for more of a locals vibe in the tourist area, then you must visit Bingo Cafe & Restaurant.
Located in the Noord area, only five minutes away from the main tourist area of Palm Beach, this outstanding Dutch cafe pairs friendly service with excellent food at a reasonable price.
Bingo reminds me of what the TV bar Cheers must have felt like - its cozy atmosphere and convivial staff are like a warm embrace.
Furthermore, Bingo is home to THE BEST dinner special on the island of Aruba: The $12 daily Barhap Special.
Here is an example of a typical weekly Barhap Special menu (this was the week of May 19th, 2025):
One Saturday evening recently, I parked in Bingo's free parking lot on a mission for the $12 daily Barhap Special - a generous plate of salmon pasta with vegetables.
The pasta was prepared with a comforting cream sauce, and the chunks of salmon were plentiful, especially given the price. The dish was elevated with cauliflower and broccoli florets, which provided a healthy crunch to the creamy pasta and salmon.
Thursday nights are BBQ Rib night - MY FAVORITE.
The pork rib meat falls off the bone and the barbecue sauce is both sweet and savory. Paired with fries and a side salad, it is hard to fathom eating better for the price in Aruba.
If you want more options besides the Barhap Special, Bingo's extensive regular menu ingeniously offers both large and small plates of each entree.
Do yourself a favor and ask at the bar for Jimmy or Thomas when you visit. You will not be disappointed.
I will continue to search out the best budget restaurants and local hotspots for you in Aruba, so stay tuned and ENJOY YOUR VACATION on The One Happy Island!
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