Aruba's Oldest Luxury Hotel Just Got a Boutique Tower — and a Rooftop Worth the Trip

Building on a legacy: a boutique experience within a resort

Photo: Michael Solender

Launched this spring, The Westerly joins the 15-acre Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, the island’s first high-rise luxury resort. Originally opened in 1959 as the Aruba Caribbean Hotel, it helped anchor Aruba’s shift from oil refining to tourism, claiming a prime stretch of Palm Beach’s wide, powdery sands.

Architect Morris Lapidus, of Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau and Eden Roc hotels fame, infused the property with his signature Miami modern style. His influence endures in dramatic lines, open walkways, and the original tower’s angular balconies with sweeping ocean views.

Over time, additional guest rooms expanded the resort, with the Bonaire and Curaçao towers completing a nod to the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles.

This legacy of stylish leisure is exactly what awaits at The Westerly.

Guest rooms with style

Photo: Hilton

Cap secured, I’m escorted to the 10-story Westerly, which sits discreetly near the adults-only South Pool on the resort’s southwest edge. A concierge greets me with a daily activities list and assistance securing dining, spa appointments, and prime beach setups. A pre-arrival team can also stock minibars to preference.

My sixth-floor Ocean View King is a generous 461-square-foot room that oozes cool, bathed in a soft palette of cerulean, cinnamon tan, and flashes of emerald. Fun, almost cheeky, ‘60s-style pop art prints lend colorful flair and make clear I’m somewhere far from anything too serious.

There’s a utilitarian workstation — not that I’m doing any of that — with ample power and USB ports and a wireless charging station. There’s also a 65-inch HDTV, a user-friendly espresso maker stocked with Italian coffee, and a chilly minifridge awaiting my drink order. I’m enamored with the curvy one-piece headboard, not simply for its stylish look but for its array of power ports, pinpoint reading lamps, and intuitive controls, including a single all-lights-off toggle I can reach from the prone position.

The bright bath features dual vanities and a separate rain shower with a marble bench. Royal Aruba Aloe amenities — soaps, lotions, and sunscreen — deliver a clean, earthy scent. A silky sleep mask with lavender mist completes the welcome.

Terrace on 10

Photo: Hilton

Exclusive to Westerly guests, Terrace on 10 is a rooftop lounge, restaurant, and sweeping overlook. Breakfast impresses with made-to-order omelets, Croque Monsieur, fresh fruit, pastries, and splurge-worthy mimosas.

By late afternoon, the space turns lively. Cocktails flow as a Sade-inspired vocalist delivers smooth jazz. I opt for the Aruba Ariba, a ‘60s classic of vodka, rum, banana liqueur, citrus juices, and grenadine.

Dinner at Sunset Grille is another highlight. A roaming gin cart sets the tone; we sip the “Paintings in the Sky,” blending Sir Edmund Gin, passion fruit, vermouth, lime, and ginger beer. Tableside carving of a porterhouse for two is expertly done, with indulgent sides of truffled risotto, lobster mac and cheese, and sautéed asparagus. Desserts — a trio of chocolate budino, crème brûlée, and baked Alaska — seal the deal.

For more casual daytime dining, Shore Club serves sushi, poke bowls, and beachside favorites.

Your choice of chill or thrill

Photos: Michael Solender

My toughest choice for my mini escape was whether to chill or hit the adventure options available to me at the Westerly. I settled on both.

A highlight is a half-day snorkeling sail aboard the 115-foot schooner, the Montforte III. Departing from Pelican Pier, we cruise to Malmok Beach, where sea turtles, coral, and tropical fish thrive along an active reef. The crew serves an Aruban-style lunch of barbecued chicken, Johnny cakes (fried dough snacks), ceviche, and grilled kebabs. I take over DJ duties with a yacht rock playlist that is well received by the crew and my pals alike.

Back on land, I bike to nearby Mythos for frozen yogurt, then unwind at the resort’s Eforea Spa with a ginger muscle-melt massage for 50 minutes of pure island calm.

On my final morning at Terrace on 10, the wind softens. At sunrise, a meditation and sound bath session brings a sense of clarity and focus. The same winds that carried me here now send me home. At ease, content, and fully sated.

Getting to The Westerly at Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort

Photo: Bruce Alan Bennett/Shutterstock

Nonstop US cities to Aruba include Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. As of early 2026, visitors need a valid passport and the mandatory online ED Card, which can be completed within seven days before travel and includes the $20 sustainability fee for air arrivals.

From the airport, the drive to The Westerly is about 20 minutes. When it’s time to head home, US-bound travelers clear US Customs and Border Protection in Aruba before departure, so they arrive in the United States as domestic passengers.

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