Rita's Bar & Restaurant
An unfussy neighborhood hangout on a quiet Statia backstreet
Why Go
On an island where dining choices are counted on one hand and everybody eventually knows your name, Rita's is the kind of low-key bar-restaurant that keeps Oranjestad's after-dive and after-work crowd fed and watered without ceremony. Tucked onto Stinging Thyme Road just uphill from the Aquarium dive site, it trades on the two things that matter most on Statia: a cold drink at the end of a hot day and a plate of home-style Caribbean cooking that tastes like it was made by someone's aunt — because on an island of roughly 3,000 people, it probably was.
The Experience
There is nothing polished about a good Statia bar, and Rita's leans into that in the best way. Expect a small, straightforward room (or a breezy outdoor perch, depending on the night), a handful of tables, a bar that anchors the space, and a soundtrack that skims between soca, reggae and whatever the regulars have requested. Service moves at island pace, which is to say: order a drink first, then think about food. Because Statia sees more scientists, oil-terminal workers and divers than tourists, the crowd is a mix of locals catching up in Papiamentu, English and Dutch, plus the occasional visitor who has been tipped off by their guesthouse host. It is not a scene — it is a hangout, which on an island this quiet is exactly the point.
What to Try
Because Rita's operates like most Statian kitchens, the smart move is to ask what's fresh that day rather than lock into a menu. Local staples worth requesting when they appear: goat stew or oxtail with rice and peas and fried plantain, snapper or wahoo pulled off a local line and grilled whole, johnnycakes and saltfish for a lighter bite, and a proper rum punch or an ice-cold Carib or Heineken to wash it down. If they're running a daily special board, trust it — the specials are usually whatever the cook felt like doing that morning, which is usually the best thing in the kitchen.
Insider Tip
On Statia, opening hours are more of a suggestion than a schedule, especially at neighborhood spots. Call ahead the same day (or have your hotel or dive shop call for you) to confirm the kitchen is open and, if you're a group of more than four, to give the cook a heads-up. And bring cash — cards work at bigger island venues, but small bar-restaurants here often prefer bills, and the nearest ATM is back in central Oranjestad.
The Practical Stuff
Location: F2HF+467, Stinging Thyme Road, Oranjestad — a short walk or two-minute drive from the Aquarium dive site and a handful of small guesthouses. Getting there: the whole of Oranjestad is walkable in daylight, though the road up from Lower Town is steep; a rental car or a quick taxi is easier after dark, when street lighting on the side roads is minimal. Budget: expect casual Caribbean pricing — mains in the mid-range, drinks noticeably cheaper than at hotel bars. Hours vary, so confirm before you go, and don't be surprised if the kitchen closes earlier than the bar.
Pair It With
- Aquarium Dive Site — One of Statia's signature shore dives sits practically next door — surface, rinse off, and walk up the road for a cold beer and a plate of food without changing out of your flip-flops.
- Alvin V. Courtar Park — A quiet green space nearby that's good for a pre-dinner stroll or letting kids burn off energy before you settle in at the bar.
- A Quiet Getaway – One-Bedroom Apartment — If you're staying at this or another small guesthouse in the neighborhood, Rita's is your closest walk-home dinner option — no driving, no taxi, just roll home under the stars.
