Old Market — Restaurant in Curaçao

An unforgettable feast at Old Market - Plasa Bieu, specifically at the legendary Zus Di Plaza, will make you question everything you thought you knew about comfort food.

If culinary ecstasy exists, it’s tucked inside a Styrofoam container bursting with their falling-off-the-bone ox tails, nestled atop a glorious mound of red beans & rice. Each bite is pure savory luxury – rich, deeply marinated, studded with islands of caramelized onion, and so melt-in-your-mouth tender they barely require chewing. The rice and beans—fragrant, seasoned to a transcendent perfection—soak up every luscious drop of gravy, becoming more than a side; they’re a revelation.

But wait, the plate is crowned with a jewel: a fresh tomato & cucumber salad, crisp and cooling, bathed in a tangy-sweet dressing that sparkles with every forkful. It’s the palate cleanser you never knew you desperately needed, perfectly balancing the sumptuousness of the ox tails.

And then—oh, the garlic and spinach mashed potatoes. How do they turn simple mash into a buttery, herby, almost ethereal cloud? The garlic is assertive but never overpowering, swirling harmoniously through the spinach for bite after bite of green-garlicy, nourishing comfort.

If you think it can’t get better, Zus Di Plaza’s Salty-Fish over red beans & rice is a masterstroke of Caribbean soul—umami-packed, flaky, perfectly salty, and expertly portioned so every bite is a rush of flavor and tradition.

And finally, brace yourself for the finale—those pumpkin pancakes with raisins. If angels baked breakfast, this would be it. Warm, moist, and impossibly tender, each pancake hums with the natural sweetness of pumpkin, punctuated by juicy bites of raisin, all melting together in a symphony of cozy spice.

From the gracious service to the feeling that you’ve just inherited a long-lost grandmother’s secret recipes, dining at Zus Di Plaza is nothing short of an island pilgrimage for the tastebuds. If you’re anywhere near Plasa Bieu, cancel your other plans—this is the meal you’ll dream about long after...

Just got back from a fantastic trip in Curacao. I'm giving this review based on an encounter with a vendor within the market. Over all I found that they were all nice, until you turned them down on their product. At that point their attitude towards you became quite rude. I get it...it's not easy to be out there selling day after day. Anyhow, I decided to purchase a towel from a lady who had a store front inside the building. The deal was $7 US. I gave her $10 USD and followed her into her shop for my change. She pulled out their local currency, and I told her I wanted my change back in US (this was common for all the other transactions I made) She argued that she had none, but I saw that she had some in her hand and was lying. I felt like she was trying to scam me, so I told her to give me back my $10 and I tried to give her back the towel. I'm not kidding you...she started screaming at me in her language and stomping her feet as if she was running on the spot! Then she took $3 USD and threw it down on the floor! I told her to pick it up. She picked it up and stuffed it into my bag and chased me out. She continued to carry on out side the shop. I saw a man that worked there who looked like he could help. I explained to him what happened ( he spoke english )and he went over and defended me. At the end, she refused to give me back my money, but that guy made me leave feeling much better. The reason I'm writing this is to warn travelers, to make sure they have your change before you give them the money. They like to take advantage of people who may not know the...

If you're looking for a truly authentic eating experience, skip the touristy restaurants in town and come eat with the locals. The Plaza Bieu is more of a food court, divided into 5 separate eateries with color-coded table cloths. You can either go up to one of the counters to order take out food or sit at one of the communal tables and someone will come over and take your order. All the menus are in Papiamento, but they speak enough English to take your order. We started at the first restaurant, which was serving various stews as well as fresh fried fish. We got a delicious goat stew, which was sweet and sour and delicious (although we did have to pick out the bones). It cost about $10US for a huge portion of stew, seasoned rice, potatoes, and plantains. We then stopped at a stand in the middle for a curried iguana stew, which was served with polenta, two different kinds of plantains, potatoes, and vegetables (about $12US). We picked the tender iguana meat from the bones, which tasted similar to swordfish, but didn't have room for more than a taste of the sides and we wanted to save room for dessert. Dessert was at the last stand, where they sold delicious pumpkin pancakes, freshly fried over hot coals, for 2/$1US. They were fluffy and sweet with pieces of pumpkin scattered throughout, and absolutely delicious. Even if you don't plan on eating a meal here, it's worth stopping in just for...