Must-see restaurants in Rarotonga, Samoa & Tonga

  • Vaima Restaurant & Bar

    Rarotonga

    Perched near a sandy beach on the island’s south coast, Vaima is one of Rarotonga’s best eateries and bookings are essential. The stylish dining room…

  • Palusami

    Apia

    This wonderful place uses organic, locally sourced produce to create incredible meals that combine Samoan flavours with international favourites (coconut…

  • Taefu T Matafeo Store

    Savai'i

    If you're driving between Salelologa and the north coast, do yourself a favour and stop at this absolute gem of a place. It doesn't look like much, but…

  • Mooring

    Rarotonga

    Tuck into tuna and mahi mahi sandwiches on grilled Turkish bread at this funky blue shipping container on the edge of Avana Lagoon. Variations include…

  • Friends Cafe

    Tongatapu

    With a breezy charm, conversation, laughter and dependably good food, Friends is an irresistible social and culinary magnet for visitors and locals alike…

  • Mariner’s Cafe

    Tonga

    Pangai's prime dining option, cheery Mariner’s is just off the main street. The menu, chalked up on little blackboards, features burgers, soups, stews and…

  • Tiger Inn

    Tongatapu

    One of four quick-fire, perennially busy eateries on the ocean side of the Tonga Post building, Tiger Inn eschews the Western sausage-and-chips offerings…

  • Amoa Restaurant

    Savai'i

    This place is a true gem, and unlike anywhere else you'll find on Savai'i: it's a foodie destination unto itself. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients are…

  • Bistro Tatau

    Apia

    This upmarket spot ranks as one of Samoa's best and most innovative restaurants, fusing local favourites such as palusami into soufflé and ravioli…

  • DDW Beach Cafe

    American Samoa

    This bright waterfront cafe is a local favourite. Its huge breakfasts are legendary; lunches are equally gargantuan and span everything from well-cooked…

  • Tauono’s Garden Cafe

    Aitutaki

    Tauono’s is a delight, a tiny garden cafe run by one-time Canadian-Austrian Sonja and her occasional team of travellers and WWOOFers (Willing Workers on…

  • LBV

    Rarotonga

    Come for a morning combo of an espresso and a cinnamon doughnut or chocolate brioche – LBV is the best bakery for many miles – and then return for a more…

  • Saltwater Cafe

    Rarotonga

    This roadside eatery on the south coast at Titikaveka is a great place for lunch or a cold drink. The menu includes pad Thai and garlic prawns, and there…

  • Flying Boat Beach Bar & Grill

    Aitutaki

    Open to outside diners, the daytime restaurant at the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort has quite possibly the most stunning location in all of the Cooks. Lagoon…

  • Blue Lagoon

    Aitutaki

    With a sandy floor and a thatched roof, this easygoing eatery at the Aitutaki Village resort is a cool and rustic place for a beer, lunch by the lagoon,…

  • Tamarind House

    Rarotonga

    The most elegant place to dine on Rarotonga is this colonial building on the island’s north shore. Book a table on the grand verandah and enjoy the cool…

  • Koru Café

    Aitutaki

    Koru is a spacious and breezy Aitutaki spin on a trendy New Zealand cafe. All-day cooked breakfasts and lunches – including Caesar salad, steak sandwiches…

  • Progressive Dining

    Rarotonga

    Eat your way around the island during this progressive dinner held in locals’ homes. The relaxed, easygoing occasions run to three courses across four to…

  • Boatshed Bar & Grill

    Aitutaki

    A sprawling array of maritime memorabilia and classic country music makes the Boatshed a very laid-back spot. Try to secure a space on the deck for reef…

  • Café Tupuna

    Aitutaki

    In a lovely rural setting in the hills behind Arutanga, Café Tupuna is Aitutaki's only independent restaurant offering fine dining. The menu features…

  • Sails Restaurant

    Rarotonga

    Overlooking the sands and sea of Muri Lagoon, breezy Sails is an open-air bistro-bar serving light breakfast and lunchtime fare, and heartier evening…

  • Lupe's Cocktail Bar & Restaurant

    'Upolu

    For a down-to-earth, filling and home-cooked meal by the sea, check this little place out. They whip up anything and everything here, from pasta to…

  • Goat Island Cafe

    American Samoa

    This popular restaurant has an incredibly extensive menu, offering everything from pizza and American-style sandwiches (its Philly 'steak bomb' is to die…

  • Edge

    Apia

    An excellent addition to Apia's up-and-coming dining-entertainment precinct at the marina, this laid-back spot is a top choice for a lazy lunch or dinner…

  • Evalani's Cantina

    American Samoa

    Attached to the flamboyant Evalani's Motel, this Mexican restaurant is no less gaudy, with over-the-top furnishings and flashing neon lights. The food is…

  • Tisa’s Barefoot Bar

    American Samoa

    This social beachside restaurant specialises in super-fresh seafood with a Samoan twist. Opening hours can be sporadic, so it pays to call ahead. On…

  • Rickshaw

    Rarotonga

    Variations on dishes you enjoyed in Bangkok and Hanoi feature at this pan-Asian eatery. Reserve a spot on the breezy deck and feast on beef rendang,…

  • Tamanu Beachfront

    Aitutaki

    The breezy, thatched-roof, open-sided restaurant of the Tamanu Beach hotel is also open to outside guests. Here’s your chance to dine at sunset on Pacific…

  • Leilina's Pizza

    Savai'i

    If you're hankering for pizza – especially crunchy, super-thin-crust pizza – this place is a godsend. The smell emanating forth from the kitchen is enough…

  • Seabreeze Restaurant

    'Upolu

    Beautifully appointed and idyllically situated on the edge of the bay, this restaurant offers the best food by far at this end of the island. The slow…

  • Charlie's Cafe & Beach Hire

    Rarotonga

    The biggest fish sandwiches on the island, fruit smoothies, and freshly baked muffins are all available at this family-run beachside shipping container…

  • Kura’s Kitchen

    The Cook Islands

    Kura at Atiu Villas cooks up evening vittles whenever there’s a quorum, and sometimes there’s an informal Island Night that kicks off in the thatched…

  • Da Tamalelei Seaside Grill

    American Samoa

    This humble seaside place dishes up gigantic serves of belt-busting grub for pocket change. Its burgers are legendary (even ravenous carnivores will…

  • Coconut Shack

    Aitutaki

    With a circular bar built around a coconut tree, and plenty of absolute beachfront tables and chairs, the Coconut Shack at Paradise Cove fulfills every…

  • Fruits of Rarotonga

    Rarotonga

    Homemade jams and tropical chutneys are divine at this shop opposite Tikioki beach, but it’s good for cakes and fruit juices too. Kayaks are available for…

  • Vili's

    Rarotonga

    Colourful outdoor tables, winning smiles from the kitchen team, and rocking Pacific ukulele beats combine at this humble spot on Muri's main drag. The…

  • Flying Boat Fish & Chips

    Rarotonga

    Tuck into Raro’s best fish and chips at this funky reconfigured fishing boat. The lagoon’s waters are just metres away, and cheap-as-chips drinks are…

  • Tuoro Cafe

    Rarotonga

    Asian-inspired tapas – try the steamed pork dumplings – combine with fish, chicken and steak lunch dishes at this welcoming elevated spot on Raro's…

  • Waterline Bar & Grill

    Rarotonga

    Welcome to the South Pacific restaurant of your dreams with a rustic beachfront pavilion and absolute waterfront tables and chairs. Book in for around 30…