Aruba Lounge & Restaurant — Restaurant in Clifton

The best part about this place is that it has a poppin' DJ on Saturday Night and is a good local scene for dancing and drinks. Bring your dancing shoes!

Drinks seem a little bit expensive for a local lounge in Botany Village, Clifton. The prices seem to be closer to Hoboken prices. Food is tasty in small plates. I did not try Hookah stuff, but I think it counts as "bottle service". More on that, below.

There's a $10 cover charge to come into the place, but it seems to be waived for women.

One new (good) thing I noticed is that if your serious a simple mixed drink cocktail, they being you the liquor in one cup and the "mix" in another, I guess to let you know you're not being shorted on liquor. I appreciated this, plus I got to control how heavy my cocktail was. Still a little weird but good.

Lately, however, some rules have been implemented that have switched it from a bar/lounge to a club style setting. This is what I was told by a waitress at 11:30pm on a Saturday night:

-besides the cover charge, you have to buy drinks if you're at a table (you can't just go dance and ocassionally sit - though we were going to buy drinks anyway, so moot point to be told this ). The bar section was full so we had to get a table anyway.

-your table services if you do get a table, will be forfeit if someone comes in and wants to order "a bottle service".

So, basically, your table may get taken away from you and used by a higher-paying "bottle" patron. And in order to even sit at a table you need to order drinks or food to be allowed to use one. Ordering an expensive bottle (unless they meant "hookah bottle"?) is the only way to get permanent table privileges. While I understand these rules, it doesn't seem to be the most welcoming set of lounge rules.

When we were just about done, they came to tell us "we need this table". Awkward and annoying, but we were leaving anyway, so whatever.

These seem like recent changes. It used to be more welcoming. Too bad, as the place is nice and loud and fun, otherwise. Last year I would've given this place 5 stars. But as of recently (2019), I have had to drop it to 3 (if I could rate it a...

On October 6, I went to this place with some friends. I ordered Hookah from the girl there, who typed in a phone number for Zelle payment on my bank application, I sent the 35$ for this service.. she “waited” confirmation funds were received then said “mami el pago no paso” soo I said ok, how else can I pay you if not Zelle she said “cashapp” , proceeded to find her cashapp and send herself 35$ , then she said ok this payment came through thank you. Next morning I check my bank & realized that Zelle payment did indeed go through, as well as the cashapp & I only received one hookah service. I requested the 35$ back from “Jose Martinez” the person who’s information she typed into my phone initially, well Jose read my text message requesting the funds back with the explanation for funds request & decided not to send my funds back, I requested the funds back from the cashapp and also did not receive it back. It’s really disgusting an establishment that’s been running for years employs individuals like these. We go here regularly and always spend a decent amount, no need to steal 35$ from a group that spends money at your establishment. Losing business over 35$ is unprofessional to...

First of all. The owner literally confused me with someone else and danced on me. Second. We ordered drinks and a hookah 30 mins ago. But as soon as we got up to dip cause they took FOREVER. The server/bartender whatever she was came running out. And I told her no thanks sis I’m out and sis ain’t even know how to speak English. Now I’m blessed to speak both English and Spanish but you need to at least understand it to work in a lounge where you’re gonna get all types of demographics and apparently the owners don’t know what that’s about. Don’t get me wrong I’ve been here and had a good time prior and they prob would have gotten 5 stars if it wasn’t for today. But nah bro fix your lounge. And make sure your employees paying attention. It seems like they pick to only serve parties or 8+ I get that but FOH. Don’t have a business if you not really down to...