Where to Eat In Tahiti
Restaurants and Dining
There are many bars and nightclubs on the islands of Tahiti, but some of the best food you will find while in Tahiti is at Les Roulottes in downtown Papeete. Head to the waterfront and go to Vai’ete Square where you will find a large group of food trucks, or traveling kitchens, lined up right off the main road of downtown Papeete. Each night around 6 PM the trucks are opened. They remain open until late into the night. Each truck offers a full menu, and each truck carries a different type of food. Your seating is either a small outdoor table in front of the truck or a bar off the side of the truck. Les Roulottes usually boasts around twenty trucks. Each vendor holds a city license, so there is no fear of poorly cooked food. In fact, the food is prepared fresh when you order it. Service is fast, and of course, typical of island hospitality. At Les Roulottes you can stuff yourself for as little as $10 a person. You can sample Tahitian pizza, Chinese cuisine, and local fair, like brochettes, which are bamboo skewers with grilled calf heart, or veau a la broche, which is an entire barbecued calf! While you are eating at Les Roulottes, you can enjoy live music from the pavilion nearby. However, no alcohol is served at Les Roulottes, so after enjoying your dinner, you may desire to head over to some of the bars and nightclubs.
Papeete is full of nightclubs, from fancy private clubs, to local bars and dance halls. The drink of choice is usually Hinano beer, a local favorite. The nightlife starts around 9 PM, so you have plenty of time to catch some good food at Les Roulottes. The Le Royal Tahitian Hotel in Pirae has a live band on Friday nights, the perfect spot to do some dancing. Each of the island’s big resorts has nightclub type shows at their bars. The Inter-Continental Tahiti Beachcomber Resort hosts the Grande Danse De Tahiti, which is a must-see. The Captain Bligh Restaurant and Bar has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. Or you can hit the street and do some pub-crawling. Keep in mind that drinks on Tahiti are not cheap, so bring plenty of cash.
The nightlife on Tahiti is open until around 3 am. However, most of the clubs and bars are limited to the Papeete area, so keep that in mind when making your plans.
With the wide variety of cultures and foods available here in Tahiti, we have compiled a short list of some of the best and most popular restaurants to make your selection easier:
Captain Bligh Restaurant and Bar – Located at the Lagoonairum in Punaauia, right one the South Maeva Beach, this traditional French restaurant is open from Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am to 2:30 pm for lunch and again from 6:30 pm to 10 pm for dinner, the bar stays open from 9 pm to 10 pm for those great Tahitian cocktails. You can take a bus here during the day, or call a taxi for an evening meal. The meals here run anywhere from 1,700 – 3,200 CFP ($17 - $32 U.S.), and boast one of the most unusual settings for a restaurant around the islands. This large building resembles the over the water bungalows that most resorts boast, and you can throw your bread crumbs directly over the side of the railings at the restaurant to the eager fish waiting below. Some of the specialties here at Captain Bligh's are steaks and lobster, as well as whiskey shrimp and mahi mahi. On Fridays and Saturdays, there is usually a dance show that begins at 8:30 pm, and they have a great buffet on Sundays around noon. For more information, you can contact the restaurant at (689) 43-62-90. And they do take American Express, Master Card, and Visa.
Auberge du Pacifique – Located a little over 2 miles from Sofitel Maeva Beach in Punaauia, this French/Tahitian restaurant is one of the finest eating establishments in Tahiti, and the restaurant is open from Wednesday through Monday from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm for lunch and again from 6:30 pm to 10 pm for dinner. Just like with most of the restaurants here on the islands, you can take a bus during the day, but you have to call a taxi at night for dinner. Although reservations aren't required, they are recommended to ensure that you get a table and aren't waiting all evening for dinner. The entrees here run between 2,000 – 5,000 CFP ($20 - $50 U.S.) and are well worth the money. The owner was named the Master Chef de France in 1987 due to his unique ability to blend the French and Tahitian cuisines flawlessly. This restaurant also boasts a roof that opens at night for a spectacular view of the starry sky overhead while you enjoy a glass of wine from the air conditioned wine cellar. Along with local favorites, they also offer a tourist menu with some of the dishes that you simply must try on your stay here in Tahiti. For more information on the restaurant, you can contact them at (689) 43-98-30, and they do take American Express, Master Card, and Visa.
Relais De La Maroto – Small family owned mountain retreat – Located PK 17, 5 Papenoo BP 20687, 98713 French Polynesia. Relais de la Maroto is about an hour and a half, or 39 kilometers away from the airport in the valley of Papenoo, and 34 kilometers from the quay of ferries. Getting to the hotel requires one of the following methods of transportation: hiking, 4 wheel drive, or helicopter. This get-away is the perfect place for vacationers to kick back and relax in relative seclusion without the stuffy or commercial feel of other corporate franchise hotels on the island. Guests staying at the Realis de la Maroto will find a fine dining establishment on-site that offers a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, a gourmet menu featuring fresh seafood, French cuisine, and traditional Polynesian dishes. The restaurant’s wine cellar contains one of the most expansive collections in all of French Polynesia. Guests at Relais de la Maroto have the opportunity to participate in wine tasting. Also, guests can indulge in a wealth of activities such as hiking, swimming in fresh mountain streams and going on excursions to the Marae. Due to the remote location, hiking and 4 wheel drive are the most common ways to get around, making this hotel an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts. The hotel’s location allows access to some of the very best hiking opportunities Tahiti has to offer. Close-by visitors can find an archeological site. The hotel’s game room contains a foosball table and billiards. The overall décor and feel of the hotel is similar to that of summer camp, but is contrasted with the sophisticated access to fine dining.
Belvedere - When visiting Tahiti be sure to visit Le Belvedere restaurant located at the peak of the highest mountain, and gazing down into the Fare Rau Ape Valley. The price range for this restaurant is between ten and twenty US dollars. The restaurant has a panoramic view overlooking the beautiful Venus point and the city of Papeete. The restaurant is located in the mountains at the end of the Belvedere road, a truly beautiful setting. The restaurant is famous for raclette and fondues, which are the specialties. The décor of the restaurant has a Polynesian flair. There are four dining areas and a charming outdoor patio. One of the popular dishes are the seafood fondue, with a locally favorite shrimp selection and onion soup. The restaurant also serves great Mahi-Mahi, a local fish, and Pepper steak for those who don’t enjoy seafood. There is a van available to take the guests from back and forth from the restaurant to the nearby hotel. The attire for the restaurant is casual, and you do not need a reservation. But bring your swimming gear! The restaurant has a private pool and the friendly staff will probably invite you to take a swim! Le Belvadere claims to have the best view of all of Tahiti, since it is located on the highest peak on the island. From the restaurant you can see the sunset, or enjoy a moonlight dinner. The restaurant is a very romantic location. Be sure to make your reservation as soon as you arrive on the island!
Sofitel Tahiti Resort - Guests can savor French cuisine at Le Bougainville or enjoy buffets that change daily from bar-b-q, to seafood and traditional Polynesian. A Polynesian dance show is preformed on Friday and Saturday nights at Le Bougainville. For guests who desire a more impressive formal experience, Sakura Japanese Restaurant showcases authentic Japanese cuisine, hot dishes that are cooked in front of you and menu options that include sushi and sashimi. Sakura’s décor can be described as classically Oriental and faces a beautiful traditional Japanese garden. Snack Moorea is the hotel’s light-meal place to go after a dip in the pool or stroll along the hotel’s private beach. Guest’s can enjoy tropical libations and live music in either of the two hotel bars – Bar Terrasse and Bar Moorea.
Le Meridien - Le Meridien Tahiti is situated in the beautiful Punaauia region on the main island of Tahiti and boasts three different restaurants and bars. La Plantation seats about 300 people and offers daily buffets of all sorts of international foods, local dishes, and seafood. Le Fare Te Moana is a more elegant dining facility and is located beach front. L'Astrolabe is the hotel's bar and is a great place to meet people and dance the night away. Food and beverage facilities at Le Méridien Tahiti offer an eclectic mix of local and European cuisines.
Sheraton - Sheraton Hotel Tahiti has three restaurants. The Moevai, Heepuemi, and Quinn’s Bar. The main restaurant, The Moevai, provides guests a fine dining experience with a menu focused on the freshest seafood and every Friday an entertaining Polynesian show is preformed. At Heepuemi, visitors will find relaxed alfresco styled dining with a menu that includes delicious light lunches and cocktails. This restaurant is close to the hotel’s infinity pool, providing a spectacular bay view. Quinn’s Bar is a great place to mingle in a setting where the décor and theme is focused on showcasing historic and early pioneer times of the area. Live music is featured on the week-ends at Quinn’s Bar.
Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti features a special and unique Tahitian dance show, durring dinner, where tradional tropic grass skirts sway to the beat of rythemic drums. The show sells out quick, so reservations are necessary. A fine dining experience can be had at any time with the freshest morning buffet and finest seafood in the evening featuring fresh produce, local Asian delicacies, and authentic island flavor. Guest can enjoy dining in the air-conditioned comfort of the hotel’s restaurant or take in the ambiance of outdoor seating. The hotel includes a relaxed pool bar where an array of local beers and numerous specialty island cocktails are served. For a more romantic setting, guests can enjoy the Layfette Bar, set high above the hotel itself, which boasts spectacular views of the Matavai bay. At the Layfette Bar you can soak up the sunset in the cozy lounge setting while savoring a tastey cocktail or martini.
Intercontinental Tahiti Resorts - The main hotel restaurant "Tiare" is open from 5.30 am to 10.00 pm every day with continous service for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
For Refined and creative culinary art lunch (12.30 - 2.30 pm) and dinner (6.30 - 9.30 pm), "Le Lotus" is located far end of the resort grounds with a enchanting ambiance and over lagoon dining. Soft piano music plays evenings (Wednesday to Sunday).
The Tiare with its open air kitchen is the center of the ground level of the hotel, looking out over the stage, luxury pool and waterfalls and the spectacular silhouette of the mountains of Moorea. The decor style is genuinely Tahitian and it's here that the dinner shows happen on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the last two by the famous "Les Grands Ballets de TAHITI" a Polynesian Cultural Dance show .
The menu is extensive and the ranges are from light snacks and healthy salads to fresh fish specialities and specially chosen meats from New Zealand.
Le Lotus
If you come to the InterContinental Tahiti Resort, you have to try one of the most romantic gourmet overwater restaurant.
They have the best gastronomic dishes accompagnied of course, by fine French wines. You'll enjoy the paradise-like view over Moorea during lunch or dinner.
Special Foods To Try In Tahiti
Foods and Local CuisineThe local food here is called “Ma'a Tahiti” that means Tahiti Food. On Tahiti and her sister islands, there are many different foods to try. But, how do you know which ones you will like or dislike? Well, here are a few explanations of the foods to help you out:
Fafa – or Polynesian spinach is cooked in salt water to avoid irritating the tongue when eaten. This vegetable is usually served with chicken but goes well with other meats too.
Umara or Uma'a – the sweet potato are sometimes purple on the inside and are usually cooked just the same way as normal potatoes are, even as French fries.
Poisson Cru – or raw fish, similar to sushi, is served all over the islands from restaurants to small snack bars, and is a “must try” for all visitors here.
Uru – or breadfruit, was one of the most basic vegetables of the ancient Polynesian people. There are about forty different varieties throughout the islands, and is enjoyed raw or cooked.
Rio or Hamoa – more commonly known as bananas, these two varieties are sweeter and usually eaten raw, but there are the maohi and fei varieties that are used for cooking.
Ufi – or yams are found in several different varieties all over the islands and are used in a wide variety of dishes.
Taro and Tarua – these roots are known for their the energetic qualities as well as their high content of iron and calcuim.
Poe - The Tahitian Poe is made of Banana or Taro or Pumpking with manioc starch, coconut milk, sugar, vanilla.
Banana Poe
Pumpking Poe
Taro Poe
Poisson Cru "Marinated Raw Fish"
Tahitian Cocktails
Some of the best cocktails can be found here on Tahiti and her islands. Some of the most popular are:
Maitai – made from white and brown rum, fresh pineapple juice, and a dash of Cointreau
Pina Lagoon – coconut milk, sugar cane syrup, white rum, pineapple concentrate, and blended into a frozen treat
Banana coralia – fresh crushed bananas, coconut milk, orange juice, strawberry syrup, and blended into a frozen treat
Maeva – pineapple juice, orange juice, watermelon, and blended with ice and a shot of strawberry syrup to make a tasty frozen treat.
No matter if you have these cocktails with or without alcohol, they are wonderful blends of native fruits and tastes that you are sure to love.
