The real scoop on whether Aruba’s Instagram-famous “feet in the water” restaurant deserves a spot on your vacation itinerary
When I started planning my 40th birthday celebration in Aruba (yes, I’ve officially entered my fabulous forties!), Flying Fishbone was literally at the top of my must-visit list. I mean, who wouldn’t want to celebrate with toes in the sand, waves at your feet, and Caribbean sunset views? This famous overwater dining spot has been all over my Instagram feed, Reddit threads, and every Aruba travel group I’m in.
But let’s get real. Is Flying Fishbone actually worth all the hype, or is it just another pretty-for-the-gram tourist trap? After experiencing it firsthand with my family during our recent Aruba getaway, I’ve got thoughts. Many thoughts.
The Booking Process: Plan Way Ahead
First things first, if you want to dine at Flying Fishbone, especially during high season, you need to book well in advance. I tried getting our hotel concierge at the [Radisson Blu](https://beautyandthebumpnyc.com/2025/04/where-to-stay-in-aruba-radisson-blu-family-review.html) to handle it, but Flying Fishbone was one of the restaurants they couldn’t book for us.
I secured our reservation about a month before our trip through their website. Within 24 hours, I received a confirmation email with some key details:
- Reservations are processed between 9:30 AM and 7:00 PM Aruba time
- For parties of 4+ people, there’s a credit card authorization of $25 per person (up to $300 max)
- And most importantly, those famous “feet in the water” tables can only be reserved for the 4 PM dining time
We opted for a 6:30 PM reservation to catch the sunset, which meant sacrificing the feet-in-water experience. In retrospect, this was a total blessing.
The Reality of “Feet in the Water” Dining
During our dinner, we witnessed exactly why those water tables are only available at 4 PM; the tide comes in. And it comes in STRONG.
Several couples who had snagged the coveted water tables were dealing with significantly more “water experience” than they bargained for. The highlight was watching a mom with her toddler (maybe 2 years old) who kept splashing into the rising water throughout dinner. By dessert, they were both completely soaked! The mom handled it like a champ, but I couldn’t help thinking about the soggy ride back to their hotel.
Let’s just say I was perfectly content with our regular beachside table where my heels stayed firmly planted in dry sand.
The Food Experience: Pretty But Lacking Flavor
Now to the main event—the food. Was it worth the journey to Savaneta (a good 30-minute drive from the hotel zone)?
Drinks: The kids went for virgin daiquiris (strawberry and piña colada), which they loved. I treated myself to a lychee martini that was actually pretty good, while my husband stuck with ginger ale.
Appetizers: My tuna tataki was the highlight of the meal—beautifully presented and genuinely delicious. My husband’s French onion soup, however, was way too salty, which unfortunately set the tone for his entire meal experience.
Kids’ Meals: Standard chicken fingers and fries that our girls barely touched. Nothing special here.
Main Course: I ordered the seafood pasta, which looked stunning on the plate but was surprisingly bland despite being oversalted. The cream sauce needed something. Anything. More herbs, more depth, more flavor complexity…just more.
The service was friendly, attentive, and patient with my indecisive children, which I always appreciate. But good service can only compensate so much for underwhelming food.
Ambiance: The One True Selling Point
I’ll give Flying Fishbone this: the setting is undeniably gorgeous. Dining directly on the beach as the sun sets over the Caribbean creates a magical atmosphere. It’s definitely romantic, though there were plenty of families like ours mixed in with the honeymooners.
Instagram potential? Absolutely, as long as you angle your shots to avoid the other diners. (Nobody wants strangers chewing in the background of their sunset photos.)
A few quirks to mention:
- There’s a little white dog that roams between tables that absolutely terrified my kids
- They provide small table fans to keep mosquitoes away (and they actually work!)
- There’s a foot-washing station for when you leave, which is essential after my kids spent dinner kicking sand all over our feet
Value Proposition: Is Flying Fishbone Worth It?
Here’s the bottom line: You’re paying premium prices primarily for the setting and “experience,” not the food. Our dinner for two adults and two kids came to over $250, and the food quality simply didn’t justify that price point.
Considering how many amazing restaurants Aruba has to offer (check out my Best Restaurants in Aruba guide), I would recommend allocating your dining budget elsewhere unless you’re absolutely set on the novelty factor.
Final Verdict
For couples: If you’re on a romantic getaway and want that quintessential “dinner on the beach” photo op, Flying Fishbone might be worth a visit, just keep your expectations realistic about the food.
For families: I wouldn’t recommend it. The long drive, mediocre kids’ options, and high prices make it a tough sell when there are more family-friendly spots closer to the resort areas.
For my 40th birthday dinner? While I don’t regret the experience (it’s all part of the adventure!), it wasn’t the culinary highlight of our [Aruba birthday celebration](https://beautyandthebumpnyc.com/2025/04/aruba-40th-birthday-celebration.html) that I hoped it would be.
Have you been to Flying Fishbone? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments! Was it better than mine, or did you also find it overhyped?
Travel Tip: If you do decide to visit Flying Fishbone, consider renting a car for your Aruba stay rather than relying on taxis. The restaurant is in a remote location, and the taxi fare would add significantly to an already expensive evening.
Planning an Aruba getaway? Check out my other Aruba guides: