About Piscadera
Just ten minutes from downtown Willemstad and nestled along Curaçao’s tranquil southwestern coastline, sits Piscadera, one of the island’s most versatile and visitor-friendly areas. Home to a mix of resorts, eateries and a growing expat community, this neighborhood offers the best of a calm residential feel, and immediate access to some of Curaçao’s most beloved seaside hangouts.
The Royal Palm Resort, where your apartment is located, sits atop a gentle slope overlooking the Caribbean Sea. From here, you can catch sunsets from your balcony, walk down to the beach, or be in the heart of the action downtown in under ten minutes. Whether you’re here to recharge, explore, or celebrate, Piscadera makes a perfect base.
Piscadera's name comes from its fishing heritage. The word roughly translates to “fishing place” and even today, that legacy is felt in the area’s casual, unhurried pace and deep connection to the sea. Over the past decade, it’s become a hub for both tourism and cruise visitors, anchored by major hotels like the Marriott Beach Resort and Dreams Curaçao, as well as by private developments like Royal Palm.
Unlike some of the island’s more commercialized zones, Piscadera has managed to retain a certain understated charm. It’s not about flash, it’s about flow. Ocean breezes, quiet paths, locals fishing off the pier, and families gathering at beach bars on Sunday afternoon.
Local Dining & Where to Go
Below Royal Palm and along the beach, you’ll find an exceptional cluster of casual restaurants, beach bars, and seafood spots, all just a short walk away:
De Visserij – Possibly the most famous seafood shack on the island. Fresh catch, paper menus, picnic tables. Lines form early and for good reason!
Piskarush – A new local establishment with a rotating menu of Caribbean seafood dishes served with creative flair and laid-back island vibes.
Pirate Bay – Great for lunch, drinks, or Sunday beach lounging. Live music and BBQ most weekends.
Que Tapa – Small but stylish Spanish-Caribbean tapas bar, perfect for a romantic date night or casual hang.
Tomatoes – Solid Italian pizza and pasta spot right on the beach. Very family-friendly and always busy at dinner.
Frente al Mar – Overlooking the water, this relaxed restaurant blends Latin and Caribbean flavors with great cocktails.
Just a few minutes' walk in the other direction brings you to the Marriott Curaçao Resort, where you’ll find upscale dining and polished ambiance at:
C-Spice – International cuisine with Caribbean accents, perfect for a refined evening.
Izakaya Sushi Bar – Fresh sashimi, Japanese-inspired bites and a sleek setting.
Salty Iguana Grill – Casual poolside fare with tropical drinks and ocean views.
For Families:
Royal Palm is gated and quiet, with wide walking paths and lots of space for kids to roam safely. Many families enjoy starting their day with breakfast on the balcony before heading down to the beach. Tomatoes and Pirate Bay are great kid-friendly dining options, and you're only a 15-minute drive from the Curaçao Sea Aquarium, Dolphin Academy, or the flamingos at Sint Willibrordus. Additionally, you’re only minutes from the Aqua Park at Mangrove Beach Corendon Resort. They have 6 water slides and a family friendly pool and offer day passes.
For Couples:
Start your morning with a slow coffee and a sea breeze. Book a massage at the Marriott. Spend golden hour with a cocktail at Pirate Bay, and finish the night with beachfront tapas at Que Tapa. The whole neighborhood lends itself to connection. Long walks, candlelight and a calm that gives you time to talk, listen, and dream together.
For Retirees or Long-Stay Guests:
Royal Palm is beloved by snowbirds and long-stay visitors for a reason. It’s quiet but not remote, peaceful but not boring. You can walk to everything you need and if you do want to go farther, most places, including supermarkets and medical services, are just minutes away. The views from the balcony alone make the days feel longer in the best possible way.
For Explorers & Adventurers:
You’re 10 minutes from downtown Willemstad and the UNESCO-protected neighborhoods of Punda and Otrobanda, ideal for wandering, shopping, and street photography. Thursday nights mean Punda Vibes, a local tradition with live music, pop-up art, and cultural flair. Snorkeling just off Pirate Bay can reveal sea turtles, parrotfish, and even the occasional octopus. And, you’re also well-positioned to drive west to discover beaches like Playa Porto Mari, Cas Abao, or Daaibooi.
Minutes to Otrobanda – Curaçao’s Cultural Crossroads
One of the best parts of staying in Piscadera is its proximity to the heart of it all. A quick 7–10 minute drive brings you to Otrobanda, one half of Willemstad’s iconic capital, opposite Punda on the West side of the famous Queen Emma Bridge. Here, colonial charm, local color, Caribbean rhythm and international flair come together in a neighborhood that feels both lived-in and alive. Artists, shopkeepers, café owners and storytellers all add to the energy that defines this part of town. Whether you're here for a morning wander and a visit to Starbucks, a sunset stroll, or a vibrant night out, Otrobanda never disappoints.
Rif Fort & The Waterfront
Rif Fort, a 19th-century fortress transformed into a modern open-air complex of shops, restaurants, and rooftop bars, was built in 1828 to defend the harbor. It now offers panoramic views of the waterfront, with the Queen Emma Bridge and Punda in the distance. The fort is home to numerous delicious dining spots (steak, sushi, Caribbean fusion and cocktails), boutiques and souvenir shops for local art, Curaçaoan-made gifts, and beachwear and live music on weekends, especially on the fort’s rooftop plaza, a great spot for a sunset drink.
The Renaissance & Cinema
Connected to Rif Fort is the Renaissance Mall & Rif Fort Hotel, a beautiful destination in its own right. The waterfront boardwalk leads to designer shops, a Starbucks, and Curaçao’s only IMAX theater. A great rainy-day option or a night out with the family. For guests craving a spa day or premium shopping, you’ll find international brands, air-conditioned interiors, and plenty of shaded seating to relax between stores. The infinity beach club at the Renaissance is also a nice way to unwind with a day pass.
Wander the Backstreets
Step outside the mall and into the real Otrobanda. The streets here are full of character: colonial-era buildings in various states of restoration, street art murals, and charming alleyways that beg to be explored.
Kura Hulanda Village – Tucked just a few blocks inland from Rif Fort lies one of Curaçao’s most meaningful and atmospheric spaces . Kura Hulanda, a cobbled square with shaded cafés, quiet seating areas and one of the island’s most meaningful museums was once a collection of crumbling colonial buildings. Today, it’s been beautifully restored into a quiet village filled with small cafés, art galleries, restaurants and the island’s most powerful museum. Kura Hulanda, which means "Dutch Yard," was once a central trading post during the transatlantic slave trade. It was here that enslaved people were processed, held, and sold, right on the island’s harbor. Today, the area stands as a place of remembrance, education, and reflection.
Museum Kurá Hulanda
At the heart of the courtyard is the Museum Kurá Hulanda, internationally respected for its powerful exhibits on African history, the African diaspora and the brutal legacy of slavery. This isn’t just a museum but an experience. Inside, you’ll find original shackles and trade artifacts unearthed right on the island, a replica of a slave ship hold, giving visitors a visceral sense of the conditions endured and expansive collections on pre-Columbian artifacts, West African kingdoms, and the story of emancipation across the Caribbean. It’s thoughtful, sobering and deeply moving. Guests often say they walk out changed.
Easy to Reach, Hard to Forget
What makes all of this even better is just how easy it is to get to from Piscadera. You’ll be downtown in under ten minutes, with straightforward parking options either in the Renaissance garage, the public lot behind the fort, or along Breedestraat, Otrobanda’s main commercial street. From there, you can walk to nearly everything. And don’t forget, you’re just a short stroll from the floating Queen Emma Bridge (a must-see in its own right) and the colorful facades of Punda. You can cross on foot, or even ride the ferry when the bridge swings open to let ships pass. There is so much to see, so many things to do and experience and nothing but good times to be had!
