Avarua
Head here for fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and seafood, barbecued snacks, and stalls selling fresh bread and traditional Polynesian food. Foodie…
Must-see restaurants in Rarotonga, Samoa & Tonga
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…
Apia
This wonderful place uses organic, locally sourced produce to create incredible meals that combine Samoan flavours with international favourites (coconut…
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…
Vava'u Group
Quiz a local about their favourite Neiafu eatery, and they'll most likely point you towards Bellavista – a romantic, top-floor Italian restaurant,…
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…
Tongatapu
With a breezy charm, conversation, laughter and dependably good food, Friends is an irresistible social and culinary magnet for visitors and locals alike…
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…
Avarua
Trader Jacks is one of Rarotonga’s iconic watering holes, and panoramic sea views and good food also make it a great place to eat. The front bar has top…
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…
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…
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…
Vava'u Group
You can get it all at airy Aquarium: generous meals, fully stocked bar, free wi-fi, switched-on service, classic rock soundtrack, even the occasional live…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Laumo’osi Fale Restaurant & Ava i Toga Pier Restaurant
'Upolu
Sinalei alternates evening meals between its two restaurants. The pier restaurant is the pick of the two, offering an eclectic menu of Samoan dishes,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
Vava'u Group
This curvy-roofed, clubby cafe is right on the water (literally – you can see the sea through floorboards!) and is a fave with yachties who tie up their…
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…
Avarua
In downtown Avarua, Café Salsa is more Auckland-chic than Polynesian-rustic. The diverse menu combines Mediterranean and Asian flavours with local produce…
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…
'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…
Rarotonga
The biggest fish sandwiches on the island, fruit smoothies, and freshly baked muffins are all available at this family-run beachside shipping container…
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…
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…
