Charlie's Bar is a one of a kind old bar in San Nicholas which has catered to Refinery workers for over 60 years; it is an institution; its a good 30 minute drive from the capital and a 20 mintues drive from the airport; very good simple seafood and cold beer / mixed drinks, you will still find a few refinery workers and tourists and older locals in there---
NOTE most of the posts on this thread at Travelocity are misfiled about "Carlos and Charlies" a loud tourist trap franchise mexican theme bar downtown Oranjestad,--they claim there is one in Cancun too-- near the cruise ships--for the cruise shills--[A mexican Bar in Aruba?? I don't get it??] you will hear it before you see it--best gone to late at night for a drink not the food--& after a few [ then again Carlos and Charlies was Natalie's last bar too??]
On the other hand--"Charlies Bar" in San Nicholas is quiet, quaint, and a great memory maker; I highly recommend you stop going or coming from a snorkling trip to Baby Beach, bring your camera inside, eat the garlic shrimp or my favorite the seafood stew. drink a couple of Balashi [local] beers look at the 1000s of things on the walls and ceiling, talk to the friendly folks in there, buy some of their famous hot HoneyMoon relish; If you have the kids Burger King and KFC are across the street 2 blocks away; I also highly recommend tourist go in daylight hours as the streets are narrow and crowded at night. We went in July 2006, no one said anything about a Brothel upstairs-- no one said anything rude to any of the women--or the men, no one was smoking or selling dope of any type in eyesight or earshot, we did see a dog walk by on the sidewalk

Good Food Good Service Go to their website for the menu and photos at 'charliesbararuba.com'

WE were traveling to Baby beach to enjoy a day of snorkeling.All the way there we kept seeing signs for Charlies bar & grill. If you have ever driven to Myrtle Beach South Carolina you've seen the signs "Pedro says" visit South of the Border.well you know what a disaster that place is ----but you just have to stop and see it. same goes with Charlies signs every couple of miles it got our curiosity up so on the way back we stopped to get something to eat and a cold beer. It 's a small place but clean lots of memorabilia we're taking something to hang up when we go back.......then the owner asked if we would like to go upstairs I looked at him like why?????? He then informed us that it's a brothel We were with another couple and he only wanted the two women to go . the place gives you a lot to talk about when you return home but the owner is definitely a dirty old man. the food is good and the beer is cold