The Food Guide to Taveuni: Places to Eat & Food Tours

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Foodie Activities on Taveuni

On such a fertile island that it’s known as the “Garden Island” in Fiji, you will be in, arguably, one of the best places to have authentic Fijian foodie experiences. Combine that with the passion the locals have for fresh food while keeping their supplies sustainable, thanks to the many marine parks and reserves around Taveuni, and you have an excellent array of foodie activities to choose from.

Bobby’s Farm Tour

Na Bogi Ono Farms, affectionately known as Bobby’s Farm, offers a sensory journey through Fiji’s natural remedies. Join Bobby for an enlightening tour of this conservation farm, teeming with birdlife, medicinal plants, and tropical fruits. You’ll discover sustainable farming practices and learn about the importance of preserving local flora and fauna. For those seeking a more immersive experience, opt for the three-hour tour that includes a delightful “garden-to-table” vegan lunch. Savour fresh produce straight from the farm as you indulge in this farm-to-fork feast. Alternatively, the standard 2-hour tour incorporates birdwatching and food tasting. You can visit the farm independently (it’s located south of Waiyevo) or arrange a tour through any of the resorts on Taveuni. Learn more about Bobby’s hiking tour in the 10 Best Walks & Hikes on Taveuni.

Fiji Sea Salt

Discover the art of salt-making at the Fiji Sea Salt‘s informal factory tour, just a short 15-minute boat ride from Taveuni to Viani Bay Resort. You’ll learn about the fascinating process of creating flavoured salts and have the opportunity to take home some unique salty souvenirs. Learn more about the resort in the 15 Best Eco-Resorts in Fiji.

Fijian Cooking Classes and Demonstrations

Fijians are proud to share their food with visitors, so it’s pretty easy to find a cooking class on Taveuni. Watch the chefs work their magic at the Matangi Private Island Resort, where you’ll get to sample divine prawn curry in freshly squeezed coconut milk, roti flatbread and condiments made with local tropical fruit. At Taveuni Palms Resort, you have the opportunity to take part in a complimentary cooking class with your own personal chef during your stay at this five-star resort. Finally, those staying five nights or more at the Coconut Grove Beachfront Cottages will receive a complimentary cooking class with the staff, who just happen to run one of the most popular restaurants on the island – see in our Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants on Taveuni.

Fijian Village Visits and Homestays

If you want to discover what Fijians really eat and how they eat it, then the best thing to do is to visit a village or a village homestay. Village visits can be arranged at almost any resort on Taveuni, with local villages being so accessible and working closely with the resorts. Another way to immerse in the culture is by staying with a Fijian family, where meals are offered to guests at a very reasonable cost and consist of simple yet delicious fresh seafood and root crops, usually sitting on the floor while eating with your hands. It’s the real deal! Choose your homestay with our 5 Best Homestays on Taveuni.

More Things to Do on Taveuni for Foodies

• Discover natural medicinal remedies in a medicine talk
• Join in on a kava ceremony
• Learn all the uses for coconuts in a coconut show
• Indulge in a traditional lovo feast
• Catch your own dinner on a fishing charter
• Treat your loved one to a private dining experience
• Visit the fruit stalls and town markets.

For more information on each activity, see our 10 Things to Do on Taveuni for Foodies.

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Where to Eat on Taveuni

Taveuni’s food scene is mostly found in the island’s resorts and in a couple of the main towns on the island. Luckily, some of the resorts are open to casual diners, should you want to mix things up a bit. Often, we say that the food you’re served at budget accommodations and village stays is enough of a foodie experience to educate your palette.

Where to Eat: Restaurants on Taveuni

If you’re spending some time in Matei and manage to pull yourself away from your resort, then don’t miss one of Taveuni’s most popular restaurants, Tramonto (Coast Road, Materi). Perched on a hilltop overlooking the ocean, Tramonto makes an awesome place to enjoy sundowners before indulging in their thin-crust pizzas. Another place to check out in Matei is the Coconut Grove Restaurant (Coast Road, Matei), which is open to casual diners but requires bookings for dinner. Fresh seafood, organic vegetables and homemade pasta make up much of the ingredients. Additionally, The Dive Café (Coast Road, Matei) offers a warm and inviting atmosphere where you can relax with friends, enjoy stunning views, and savour the best island coffee and delicious local cuisine.

On the west side of Taveuni, pop into the Salty Fox Bar and Grill at Taveuni Dive Resort (Between Wairiki and Qacavuio) when you’re craving American-style food like pizzas and burgers. It’s a popular place for holidaymakers, locals and expats. Alternatively, indulge in a delightful culinary experience at Kai Time, located at the Aroha Taveuni Beachfront Villas (Coast Road, Wairiki). This charming restaurant welcomes casual diners to savour their wood-fired pizzas and ever-popular fish and chips. Finally, in the west, experience culinary delights at the Paradise Oceanview Restaurant & Bar, located on-site at Paradise Taveuni Resort (Coast Road, Vuna). Indulge in a diverse menu featuring Fijian delicacies, local organic produce, and international favourites.

See more recommendations in our Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants on Taveuni.

Where to Eat: Resort Dining

Many of the resorts want to provide the full Fiji experience and have the menus to match. At Qamea Resort & Spa‘s Bure Kalau (Qamea Island), indulge in a fusion of Fijian Pacific Rim cuisine with fresh local ingredients. The resort also offers diet-special food and health retreats.

Those travelling along the west coast can stop by the Cliffhouse Restaurant at the Nakia Resort (Weilagi), which does a little bit of everything, including Indian and Chinese cuisine. Meals are made with produce grown in the resort’s own garden, as well as local seafood, beef, lamb and chicken. Vegetarian meals are also available.

While the Maravu Plantation Cafe offers a wide range of cuisine, such as Western dishes, it’s also a good place to go for Indian and Chinese food. Curries and fried rice dishes are part of their extensive menu which is one of the most affordable resort menus on the island. Find the cafe at Maravu Taveuni Lodge (Matei, road opposite Tides Reach).

On Matangi Island, the Vale-Ni-Kana dining room at Matangi Private Island Resort offers a set menu each day with Asian dishes usually being one of the options. For instance, thyme and tofu fried rice, Thai beef salad, tempura prawn salad, Thai-flavoured mussel and more.

Where to Eat: Cheap Eats on Taveuni

Taveuni’s small towns each have a couple of great options for cafe, Fijian and Indo-Fijian-style food often sold on the front porch of locals’ houses. The street food available in Matei and Naqara is ever-changing, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to list recommendations here. Just wander around town and see what’s available!

Sample simple yet authentic Fijian food at one of the island’s budget accommodations, like Vuna Lagoon Lodge (Kanacea, Vuna). This budget accommodation offers super affordable breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Fijian style. While you won’t have a menu to choose from, the choice is ideal for non-fussy eaters who want to try something truly local. See more options like this in the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Taveuni.

Should you find yourself on the remote southwest coast of Taveuni, don’t miss the Paradise Bakery (Coast Road, Vuna). Located at the top of the Paradise Taveuni Resort property, this charming bakery is open seven days a week from 6:30 am until late. Indulge in a variety of sweet and savoury delights, including cakes, pies, ice cream, cold drinks, and candy.

Where to Eat: Vegan and Vegetarian Food on Taveuni

While there are no real vegetarian restaurants on Taveuni (with the exception of the vegan experience at Bobby’s Farm – see above), the high-end resorts are equipped to meet your dietary needs if given prior notice. For village stays or meals at the budget accommodations, you will have to inquire whether they can provide them, as most meals served are often made with fresh seafood. Otherwise, we have listed the self-catering accommodation in the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations on Taveuni, where you can spruce up your own creations from purchases made at the local markets and grocery stores.

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Dining Experiences on Taveuni

From romantic beachfront dinners to traditional Fijian feasts, the dining scene on Taveuni promises unforgettable moments for food enthusiasts and cultural explorers alike.

Private Dining on Taveuni

To celebrate a special occasion or just because you’re on holiday – you don’t need an excuse; private dining is a special foodie experience on Taveuni. Many of the luxury resorts offer the option to have a private table set up on the beach, often with candles and serenaders. Resorts like Matangi Resort, Paradise Taveuni, The Remote Resort, Coconut Grove and Qamea Resort offer this, for example. An irresistibly romantic option is a private island picnic available with Matangi Resort, where you’ll indulge in a gourmet picnic on Horseshoe Bay. Vacala Bay Resort offers a similar option, along with wine or beer, on a sailing cruise to Honeymoon Island.

Where to Try a Lovo on Taveuni

The ultimate foodie experience in Fiji you can’t miss is trying a “lovo“. Lovo is a traditional food preparation method where food is wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked in an earth oven. The result is to die for. Once a week during the winter months, Wiwi Village (Matei, north coast) puts on a lovo and meke (traditional dance) night for resort guests at Taveuni Palms, Aroha Taveuni, Vacala Bay and others to enjoy and open your mind to a different way of life. An in-resort lovo feast is also organised once a week at the Paradise Taveuni (Coast Road, Vuna) resort.

For more experiences, check out 10 Best Foodie Experiences on Taveuni.