THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence

Name: THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence
Address: 330 L.G. Smith Blvd, next to the old Windmill, Oranjestad, Palm Beach, Aruba, 00000
Telephone: 565 0535
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.9

4.9

92 Reviews

$50 and over

International

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Apr 26, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 1 time today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Fancy
Great for fine wines

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 92 people are saying

THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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
4.8Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Caribbean
International
Aruba
Best Overall
Aruba
Best Food
Aruba
Best Service
Aruba
Best Value
Aruba
Innovative
Aruba
Great for fine wines
Aruba
Good for special occasions
Aruba
International

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Journey - To Culinary Excellence offers a "unique culinary adventure" in Aruba, led by Chef Patrick. Known for "innovative and contemporary tastes," the restaurant provides an intimate setting with only a few tables, allowing for personal interaction with the chef. Guests rave about the "excellent experience" and "unbelievable flavors," making it a "must-visit" for food enthusiasts.

92 Reviews

R
Rich
Philadelphia7 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
What a great night! Five of of went to celebrate my wife’s birthday and it was exceptional. We did the wine pairing which is definitely recommended. Each course was better than the next
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F
Frank VIP
Dallas22 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 17, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
What a wonderful experience. Chef Patrick and his wonderful team present a memorable culinary experience. The food is thoughtfully, lovingly, and meticulously prepared with attention given to every detail. Delicious flavors and fresh ingredients combined in such creative ways. The wine pairings are simply perfect. We appreciated the special butterfly adornments to commemorate our anniversary. Chef and his staff are approachable, welcoming, and warm. The setting is so comfortable. We will be back!
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C
Christine VIP
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on April 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A wonderful evening enjoying Chef Patrick’s culinary vision! His passion for food is deftly expressed with each thoughtfully curated course. The intimate design of the evening- only a few tables are served each night- allowed Chef and his assistant, Jeremy, to engage with guests and share their experiences that have shaped this concept. Chef prepares 5 courses, with each harmoniously balancing depth and complexity. An optional wine pairing is a delightful complement to the meal. This was my first journey with Chef Patrick but am already looking forward to another when I return to Aruba next year. Aruba has many wonderful excursions but Chef Patrick’s “journey” is one you should put at the top of your list!
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on April 14, 2025
Dear Christine, Thank you so much for taking your time to write a review. We really appreciate this. We are thrilled that you enjoyed Chef Patrick’s culinary journey and appreciated the passion and care that go into each course. It’s wonderful to hear that the intimate setting allowed for meaningful connections and storytelling—this is precisely the experience we love to create. We are delighted that the balance of flavors and the optional wine pairing enhanced your evening, and even more excited to know that you plan to return next year! We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable journey. Until then, wishing you many more delicious adventures! Team The Journey
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M
Morgan VIP
Raleigh13 reviews
4.0
Dined on April 1, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The experience starts at 7 kind of. It actually started around 7:15 with sparkling wine and a small appetizer. This meal ended at 10:30, with an intermission at 9ish. This meal was way too long and late for our table. The food was good, but the time it took to have the meal ruined it for us. Would be much better if they started at 6:00 and got rid of the intermission. We were ready to go at the intermission. The chef was really nice and a delight to talk to. He is definitely a master of his art.
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on April 8, 2025
Dear Mrs Morgan, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet your expectations, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We always aim to provide the best experience, and we're disappointed to hear that we fell short during your visit. Kind regards, Team the Journey
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A
Alexis VIP
London27 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The Journey was the best meal we had all week in Aruba! We have loved the cooking of Chef Patrick van der Donk since we first discovered him 14 years ago at Amuse Bistro. With The Journey he has truly taken things to the next level. Delicious and interesting food paired perfectly with lovely wines along with friendly and helpful servers. It’s worth going to Aruba just so you can eat at The Journey!
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on April 8, 2025
Dear Mrs Alexis, Thank you for taking your time and write us a review. It was a pleasure hosting you again. Amuse Bistro were Chef Patrick and His wife Ivette started their restaurant Journey. Thank you for following us all these years. We love to see you back during your next visit. Kind regards, Team the Journey
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D
Dawn
New York City8 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 31, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
One of the best meals we ever had. Amazing flavor combinations, warm welcoming staff. Cannot recommend highly enough. Don’t miss.
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on April 8, 2025
Dear Dawn, Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with us. It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed your meal and the service. Our team works hard to create memorable experiences, and it means a lot to hear that we succeeded in doing so for you. We can’t wait to welcome you back again soon. Thanks for choosing the Journey chefs table! Kind regards, Team the Journey
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R
Robert
Atlantic City1 review
5.0
Dined on March 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best dining experience in Aruba! Culinary excellence right in front of our very eyes!
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on April 8, 2025
Dear Robert, I just wanted to personally thank you for your kind words! It means so much to hear that you enjoyed the meal we prepared. As the chef, it’s always my goal to create dishes that not only taste amazing but also make our guests feel special. I’m so glad we were able to do that for you. We’d love to have you back anytime, and I’ll be sure to share your feedback with the rest of the team. Thank you again for choosing the Journey! Best, Chef Patrick
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J
Jim VIP
Fort Lauderdale21 reviews
2.0
Dined on March 17, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Poor wine parings, soso food not worth the money - chef was more into selfies than food
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on March 28, 2025
Dear Mr Jim, Thank you for your time to write us a review. We appreciate all the feedback we can get. Unfortunately, we did not meet your expectations for the night and apologize for this. We do take our service and food serious. During the night we indeed do invite all our guests to come and have a look at the preparation of the dishes and have a possibility to ask some questions to Chef Patrick. This is part of our concept. We would like to invite you back during your next visit on us, to give us another chance to make it up to you.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on March 17, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely incredible meal experience. The quality and creativity of the menu was very elevated. The chef and staff made it very personal and relaxing. Definitely doing this again.
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on March 28, 2025
Thank you to take your time to write us a review. We really appreciate your feedback. We had just changed our menu and happy to hear you liked it. We would love to host you again.
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E
Eve VIP
San Francisco41 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
An amazing evening! So glad we had this experience. Every course is exquisitely prepared and each bite a sensation! Truly a special experience!
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on March 28, 2025
Dear Eve, Thank you so much for your review. We really appreciate your feedback. We were happy to have you as our guests. Great to hear you had a special night with us!
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FAQs

THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence is rated 4.9 stars by 92 OpenTable diners.

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

Home
United States
Caribbean
Aruba
Aruba

Make a reservation

2 people

Apr 26, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 1 time 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

About this restaurant

Additional information

Experiences

Chef's Table

Menu

Chefs tasting Menu

Chef's tasting Menu$130.00

What 92 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