Rise of New Kosher Restaurant on Aruba, Reflects Growth of Jewish Life

by Karen Schwartz – chabad.org

The opening of Piccolo marks a culinary milestone in the growth of Jewish life in Aruba.

The contemporary steakhouse, located at the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino, features an open-concept kitchen, all set against a backdrop of jewel-toned greens and soft white fabrics. It is also strictly kosher, under the supervision of Chabad-Lubavitch of Aruba.

This is the first time in the history of Aruba that a restaurant will provide a year-round, high-end kosher-dining option for Jewish residents and travelers, says Rabbi Ahron Blasberg, who directs Chabad Aruba together with his wife, Chaya.

“It’s a great restaurant that’s also kosher,” the rabbi tells Chabad.org. “The idea is to make people proud of being able to keep kosher. Just like anybody else can go out to a nice restaurant and have a nice dinner, a Jewish person should be able to experience the same quality and experience.”

He adds that now, when Jewish visitors tour Aruba, they won’t need to schlep along suitcases of kosher food.

Chabad Aruba got off to a modest start at the end of 2013, when the Blasbergs would gather together a handful of people on the island for Shabbat, holidays and special events . A little more than a decade later, they’ve built a Jewish community that numbers about 150 people. Today, Chabad Aruba has a Hebrew school, day camp, and offers daily services. Its mini-store stocks kosher food as well. In addition to the new Piccolo, Chabad Aruba provides kosher supervision to a kosher pizza stand near the beach at the Hyatt, which opened in January, expanding kosher-food options for the Jews living on the island and the many more that visit every year.

“Having this available is incredible, especially for people who didn’t think keeping kosher was viable while they were here,” says Blasberg. “We’ve seen visitors planning on finding alternative restaurants change their plans to come eat kosher at Piccolo when they found out it existed. That’s why we’re here: to help people perform mitzvahs even when they are far from home.”

“It’s also been amazing to help introduce people to the Jewish community here in Aruba,” says Rabbi Levi Bisk, who along with his wife, Mimi, is a member of the Chabad Aruba team. “For years, Jewish people didn’t have a place other than shul to gather, eat and spend time together—and for some people, that was overwhelming. Having a kosher restaurant where people are meeting fellow Jews in a warm and open environment helps build connections, relationships and our community.”

Somewhere Elegant to Dine

Aruba is a repeat destination for travelers, with families coming to timeshares and vacation homes for generations, says Blasberg. The need for kosher food and Jewish amenities existed before they arrived on the island, and so, the opening of Piccolo is a realization of a dream long in the making.

Even more, the community eagerly anticipates the upcoming grand opening of a fully operational mikvah in the coming months—another vital step forward in strengthening Jewish life on the island.

“We’re very honored that we’re able to fulfill the Jewish needs of any community, of kosher food, a mikvah and a shul for the local community for the snowbirds and repeat visitors,” Blasberg says. “It’s always exciting to welcome people back. We refresh every week with new friends that just got back onto the island and new people coming into our Chabad House and community.”

Maureen Bogoroch-Ditkofsky, who lives in Toronto and spends winters in Aruba, showed up to support the restaurant the first week it opened. A frequent traveler to the island since 2024, she says she’s glad to see culinary experiences expanding to include kosher diners in her winter home.

“I think that having a kosher restaurant includes people in the culinary scene who wouldn’t otherwise be able to participate—who would instead have to eat at home or travel with kosher food,” she says, adding that both longer-term visitors and those on shorter trips now have somewhere elegant to dine. “It gives them an opportunity to dine out—a regular experience like other people are enjoying.”

Having an upscale kosher restaurant in a major hotel will incentivize visitors, she adds, pointing out that having kosher restaurants in Aruba not only helps people who otherwise might have felt restricted, but also lets people know the island is open and welcoming to Jewish visitors.

“No one hides their Jewishness,” she says. “It’s very friendly.”