Bonaire Travel Guide - Going Out

The restaurants serve predominantly Creole cooking, particularly seafood dishes, including conch shell meat, grilled spicy fish and lobster. A variety of Chinese, French, Indonesian, Italian and international cooking can also be found. There are several hotels, restaurants and bars in Kralendijk to choose from.

Things to know: Restaurants and bars are usually closed by midnight.

National specialities:
• Iguana soup.
• Kabrito stoba (goat stew).
• Pika Siboyo is a popular sauce made with onions marinated in vinegar and hot peppers.
• Pastechis are plump pastries filled with spicy meat, shrimp or fish, and are a favoured snack.
• Cocada is an ideal treat - sweet cocunut candy never tasted so good.

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: There is normally a 10% service charge in restaurants and a 6% tax.

This is centred on both the main hotels and restaurants. Having eaten, evening entertainment includes dancing or listening to reggae groups or calypso steel bands at the many oceanside bars and cafes. The island has two discos and two casinos.

The reductions on duty-free imports make the purchase of some perfume, jewellery or alcohol worthwhile. Bonaire prides itself on its unique, specialist stores. Watches, Dutch cheese, fine China and Cuban cigars are usually sold.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800/0900-1200 and 1400-1800. Larger supermarkets are open Mon-Sat 0730/0800-1900, with some open Sun 1100-1400. Hours vary widely and those stated above must be treated simply as guidelines.