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 (107)

$50 and over

International

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Innovative
Good for groups

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!

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What 107 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
Best Food
Caribbean
International
Aruba
Best Overall
Aruba
Best Food
Aruba
Best Service
Aruba
Best Value
Aruba
Innovative
Aruba
Good for groups
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 is celebrated for its "unbelievable experience" with "amazing food" and "thoughtfully matched wine pairings." Guests praise Chef Patrick and his team's "meticulously prepared" dishes and "welcoming" atmosphere, creating a "once in a lifetime experience" that is "highly recommended" for anyone visiting Aruba.

107 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner VIP
New York City2 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing experience from start to finiish. One of the finest meals you will ever have.
Is this helpful?
J
Jim
Atlanta1 review
5.0
Dined on July 4, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was truly an amazing journey and definitely culinary excellence. Everything was so well thought out from the decor to the food selections to the wines. Highly recommended.
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B
Becky
Houston3 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 27, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It was an amazing and personalized experience! I would recommend to anyone to try!
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on July 1, 2025
Dear Becky, Thank you so much for sharing your experience! Your recommendation means a great deal, and we’d be honored to welcome you again anytime. Team The Journey
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C
Christine VIP
Philadelphia County1 review
5.0
Dined on June 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved it. Amazing food cute ambiance- very special
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on July 1, 2025
Dear Christine, Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re delighted that you enjoyed the food and found the ambiance charming. It's wonderful to know it felt special to you. We’d love to welcome you back again soon. Team The Journey
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J
Jonathan VIP
Houston2 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 25, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Unbelievable experience. Food - AMAZING , atmosphere -AMAZING, chef interaction - unparalleled!! Our best meal while in Auba by far. Highly recommend- especially the wine pairing!!
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on July 1, 2025
Dear Jonathan, Thank you so much for your incredible feedback! We’re overjoyed that your experience was such a highlight of your time in Aruba. It’s wonderful to hear that the food, atmosphere, and especially the chef interaction made such a strong impression. We truly appreciate your recommendation and would love to welcome you again! Team The Journey
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D
Deborah
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on June 5, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
How do you measure perfection? You felt like you were in your friends home whom happens to be an extraordinary cook! Then he also has Jeremy who helps to make your evening one of true perfection!
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on June 16, 2025
Dear Deborah, Thank you for this heartwarming review! Chef Patrick’s culinary mastery, combined with Jeremy’s attentive support, creates a seamless, intimate journey where every detail is tuned to perfection. Hearing that you felt this warmth and precision makes our efforts incredibly rewarding. We look forward to welcoming you back for another evening of true perfection! Kind regards, Team the Journey
Is this helpful?
A
Anne-Marie VIP
San Antonio9 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always a wonderful experience. If you love a culinary treat this is the place for you
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on June 16, 2025
Dear Anne-Marie, Thank you for your kind words. We really appreciate you taking your time to write us a review. We would love to host your again during your next visit. Kind regards, Team the Journey
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J
Jonathan VIP
Houston13 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 21, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We ended our trip here. What an incredible ending. To be able to eat Michelin star level food while hanging out with the chef was amazing. Each step of the journey is exquisitely planned to make your palate explore new tastes. The champagne and converstaoin then leads to the first few dishes that can be paired with a wine. During the intermission we are giving a drink to cleanse our palate and we end with the main course and dessert. Having a seat up close and watching the chef work and explain his process was priceless. We are grateful to have ended our trip here and we look forward to returning next time we are on the island. And we can't forget that Jeremy did a great job asisting chef.
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on June 16, 2025
Dear Jonathan, Thank you so much for sharing your incredible experience with us. We’re love that you appreciated the personal touch of watching the chef work up close and even learning about his process. Detailed explanations and a warm, conversational atmosphere are what we strive for in every service. Knowing that Jeremy made a great impression on you too truly uplifts our entire team. We can’t wait to welcome you back the next time you're on the island. Your kind words inspire us to keep pushing the boundaries of culinary excellence and exceptional guest experiences. Thank you once again for allowing us to be a memorable part of your journey. Kind regards, Team The Journey
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P
Paul VIP
Southwest Florida37 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 21, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Truly a culinary experience! The wine pairings were amazing and thoughtfully matched with each course. Chef Patrick is a master. It is expensive however it is worth the price!
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on June 16, 2025
Dear Paul, Thank you for leaving such a glowing review! It’s wonderful to hear that the wine pairings resonated with you and that you noticed the thoughtful curation that accompanies each course. Chef Patrick truly dedicates himself to crafting each dish with precision and passion. We appreciate you recognizing the value of the experience—even if it comes at a premium—because we believe in offering an exceptional journey that is worth every moment. We look forward to hosting you again on your next visit. Your feedback inspires us to keep pushing the boundaries of culinary artistry! Kind regards, Team The Journey
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S
Sharon
San Antonio1 review
5.0
Dined on May 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved the experience of each course served . The presentation and story behind each preparation was excellent. Chef even wrote up a preparation for me for the salmon which I brought home and tried last night. Very great experience that I was able to share with my daughter. One suggestion for future consideration, many folks were too reserved to go up front to see what the chef was doing and how he prepared things. A cool idea might be a small camera pointing down to the plating area that broadcasts to a few small screens on the walls. Having a birds birds eye view of the level of preparation would be awesome.
THE JOURNEY - To Culinary ExcellenceResponded on May 22, 2025
Dear Sharon, Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed each course and the stories behind the preparations. It’s wonderful that you were able to share this experience with your daughter—those moments make everything we do even more special. We’re also delighted that the chef’s salmon preparation inspired you to try it at home! That’s exactly the kind of connection to food and creativity we hope to spark. Your suggestion about adding a camera for a birds-eye view of the plating area is fantastic. We love hearing innovative ideas that enhance the experience for our guests, and we’ll certainly take it into consideration for future improvements. Thank you again for joining us. We hope to welcome you back soon for another memorable dining experience!
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FAQs

THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence is rated 4.9 stars by 107 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

Jul 16, 2025

7:00 PM

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

Ask Concierge
AI Beta

Menu

Chefs tasting Menu

Chef's tasting Menu$130.00

What 107 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