Must-see restaurants in Tahiti

  • Place Vaiete Roulottes

    Tahiti

    The country’s famous roulottes (literally ‘caravans’ in French, these are mobile food vans) are a cultural and gastronomic delight. These little stalls…

  • Chez Loula & Remy

    Around Tahiti Nui

    This family-run, very old-school French place in Taravao on the Tautira road has continuously served some of the best French-style grilled meats and fish…

  • Le Lotus

    Pape'ete

    Inside the Intercontinental Resort Tahiti, this uber-romantic restaurant on the edge of the lagoon is perfect for a special night out; a good excuse to…

  • Blue Banana

    Around Tahiti Nui

    Success has done nothing to dull the buzz at Blue Banana, a hip lagoonside restaurant in Puna’auia. The food is as good as the ambience – feast on…

  • La Plage de Maui

    Tahiti

    Dine with your toes in the sand and a view just out the window of fish darting around in the clear blue water -- this is by far the best setting for a…

  • Cafe Maeva

    Tahiti

    An unexpectedly modern place on the 2nd floor of the Marche de Pape'ete that fills three needs: food, smoothies and coffee. For the first, chose from…

  • Place To’ata Snacks

    Pape'ete

    This cluster of open-air snacks (snack bars) with outdoor seating – Vaimiti, Chez Jimmy, Mado, Moeata, Toa Sushi – near Place To’ata are a great place to…

  • Mango Café

    Pape'ete

    As far as decor goes, this Miami-style white and bright restaurant is as stylish as Pape’ete gets. The Tahitian nouveau-style menu here changes regularly…

  • Les 3 Brasseurs

    Pape'ete

    You can’t miss the inviting and open facade of this lively brasserie in front of the Gare Maritime. It might feel weird to sit down for flammekueche (an…

  • Taumatai

    Around Tahiti Nui

    This delightful little place in Taravao serves fantastic French and Tahitian food in an elegant garden -- it's by far the most peaceful and beautiful…

  • O Belvédère

    Pape'ete

    One of Tahiti's most romantic dining destinations, with fantastic views over the city from 600m atop a hillside. It was being renovated and re-imagined as…

  • Vahine Vata Beach

    Around Tahiti Nui

    In a casual, yet beautiful and romantic setting on a verandah overlooking the black-sand beach of Papara, this place serves unique and tasty dishes…

  • Le J'Am

    Pape'ete

    This hip little spot serves sandwiches on gluten-free bread, and treats including fruit salads and vegan chocolate mousse. Also keep an eye out for daily…

  • Patachoux

    Pape'ete

    Takeaway sandwiches here are the deluxe version – fresh wholemeal or French bread stuffed with gourmet meats, fish and/or salads. Otherwise sit at the…

  • Le Kaimoana Cafe Restaurant

    Around Tahiti Nui

    Over the water in an out-of-the-way location outside of Papara, diners here can enjoy locally inspired specialties like korori (pearl oyster) carpaccio…

  • La Corbeille d’Eau

    Pape'ete

    There are no prices on the menu, but for the exceptional dining experience you get at this intimate French place you’ll be happy to pay whatever it costs…

  • Le Royal Tahitien

    Pape'ete

    Le Royal Tahitien (affectionately dubbed ‘RT’) is delightfully chilled-out – the vast, open-air dining room overlooks the lagoon and the decor is…

  • Le Carré

    Around Tahiti Nui

    Dining at this stylish eatery is a treat. At night it’s a romantic spot to enjoy a gastronomic extravaganza of finely prepared and unique dishes: from…

  • Morrison’s Café

    Pape'ete

    Long-running yet still remarkably trendy, this casually elegant eatery on a rooftop with a view over the city is a delightful escape from the main drag…

  • Vanira Lodge Restaurant

    Tahiti

    There are only a handful of small tables at this gardenside and very intimate open-air restaurant so you'll definitely want to reserve in advance to nab…

  • Le Rétro

    Pape'ete

    After an extensive renovation, this Pape’ete icon now features trendy furnishings and a hip outdoor terrace overlooking the busy boulevard. The wide…

  • New Port

    Pape'ete

    This place has the best sashimi in town. If you like or want to try raw fish in its many forms, order the assiette Newport (1800 CFP), which has a small…

  • Barrumundi

    Pape'ete

    You get two restaurants in one at this place: a trendy nouveau-style sushi restaurant downstairs and a swanky French place upstairs. The excellent and…

  • L’Api’zzeria

    Pape'ete

    This semi- outdoor venture is often packed, the service is efficient and it’s one of the few spots in town where you can get served an off-hour meal at…

  • L’Oasis

    Pape'ete

    In a busy, central location good for people-watching, across from the cathedral, this place is always busy, but you won’t have to wait long for a table on…

  • Casa Bianca

    Around Tahiti Nui

    If pasta offerings or pizzas make your stomach quiver with excitement, opt for this perky eatery with an outdoor dining area overlooking the marina. Come…

  • Snack du Bout de Monde

    Tahiti

    A wonderful little bright blue-painted cheapy with a serene view of the water. Get baguette sandwiches from 300 CFP or order simple but well-prepared…

  • Lou Pescadou

    Pape'ete

    A Pape’ete institution, this cheery restaurant has hearty pasta and wood-fired pizza dishes. It’s authentic Italian, right down to the red-and-white check…

  • Restaurant Jimmy

    Pape'ete

    Choose from Thai, Vietnamese or Chinese at this dimly lit local favourite. Thai mains are far from authentic but the rest of the menu is quite good. Try…

  • Snack du Jardin Botanique

    Tahiti

    This humble beachside snack (snack bar) is right in the Jardin Botanique parking lot. Dishes like grilled fish in vanilla coconut sauce, steaks and…

  • Le Club House

    Around Tahiti Nui

    At the Atimaono golf course, this is a good find and you don’t have to be a golfer to eat here. If you have a weakness for ultrafresh fish, Le Club House…

  • Hinerava

    Tahiti

    At the end of the road in Teahupoo, this place serves good food. You can dine outside or inside in the air-con. There’s a great selection of fish, meats…

  • Polyself

    Pape'ete

    You can get breakfasts here such as as-you-like-them eggs as well as quick lunches of cheap sandwiches or pretty good Chinese and French-Tahitian food. It…

  • Restaurant du Musée Gauguin

    Around Tahiti Nui

    The Restaurant du Musée Gauguin is actually not attached to the museum at all – it’s about 800m to the west, in a great setting on the lagoon. The menu is…

  • Western Grill

    Tahiti

    Tired of raw fish? Tie your pony up at this saloon, complete with a Native American statue by the door and Western kitsch a go-go, for a good ol’ American…

  • Coco’s Restaurant

    Around Tahiti Nui

    Dine in a gorgeous, open plantation–style house bordered by a tropical garden that’s framed by coconut trees and looks out to Mo’orea. The fine food is…

  • Marché de Pape’ete

    Pape'ete

    Grab one of the daily specials (usually couscous or a Tahitian-style stew) at the cafeteria-style counter and sit at a table in the heat of the market to…

  • Quai des Îles

    Around Tahiti Nui

    Creole, French and Polynesian dishes populate the menu of this well-regarded restaurant, just next door to Pink Coconut. On Friday nights it has live…

  • Chez Marie Claire

    Tahiti

    It’s amazing that a place this big out in the middle of nowhere can fill up nightly but Chez Marie Claire does. It’s a basic open restaurant with red…

  • La Saladière

    Pape'ete

    A gay-friendly and generally friendly stop for Tahitian (from 8am), American or Continental breakfasts (from 6am) or a meal-sized salad lunch – there’s…