MarCo Canteen - Finally Made it!

I’ve been to Marco Canteen a few times now, but somehow never got around to actually posting about it, so when @wheninaruba asked if I wanted to go check it out together, it was the perfect excuse to finally put something down.

Marco Canteen is set up on the side patio of the new Bodegas Papiamento Distillery in downtown Oranjestad, really close to the cruise ship terminal 🛳️, and parking is super easy, literally right out front 🅿️. The whole setup is built around a custom Airstream trailer, with picnic tables, string lights, and a casual, open-air vibe that makes it a great hangout spot at night.

We decided to order some of the most talked-about items and share them with you — here’s the tea 🍵:

🥩 BEEF & SHIITAKE – $15

Brushed beef with aged miso-seaweed butter.

💬 The tea:

It was tender and well-seasoned, but at the end of the day, a beef skewer is a beef skewer. Good, just not mind-blowing.

⭐ 5/10

🍗 KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN SANDO – $15

💬 The tea:

They toned down the heat (finally!), so it's much more balanced now. Don’t be scared of the kimchi — it plays well with the rest. Classic crispy chicken + slaw combo, done right.

⭐ 8/10 – A must-try!

🍔 CANTEEN SMASH BURGER – $15

💬 The tea:

A new supreme has risen! Sorry to all the pub/hotel burgers, this one is the best of American-style burgers out there. Bun is soft, cheese is plenty, all flavors blend well, it is a well-rounded bite til the end. It could seem simple but it is all you need and honestly it is barely over the price of a fast food chain burger.

⭐ 10/10

🍫 CHILLED MOCHI BROWNIE – $7

💬 The tea:

Tea: That chewy, moist mochi texture is the star. Coffee enhances the chocolate, sea salt is brilliant here. I couldn’t really tell the difference with the soy caramel, but it worked.

⭐ 8/10

Drinks + Tips

🍸 You can grab drinks from the Distillery bar — cocktails, premium beers, and more. Just a heads-up: this isn’t fast food pricing. A few drinks can definitely add up. 

Hours & Extra Info

Marco is also open for lunch! No need to worry about the heat, there’s an A/C dining space inside the distillery.🕰️ Lunch: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM Dinner: Until 10 PM (11 PM Fri/Sat)

As a plus plus: MarCo is pet friendly! Next time, Ramón is going with me! 

Menu.

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