Where to Eat in Taveuni: Guide for Yachties

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The Best Restaurants in Taveuni for Yachties

Taveuni’s food scene is primarily found in the island’s resorts and a few of the main towns. Luckily, some of the resorts are open to casual diners. Often, we say that the food you’re served at budget accommodations and village stays is enough of a foodie experience to educate your palate.

Tramonto

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, Matei). Perched on a hilltop overlooking the ocean, Tramonto makes an awesome place to enjoy sundowners before indulging in their thin-crust pizzas.

Coconut Grove Restaurant

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 the majority of the ingredients.

The Dive Cafe

The Dive Café (Coast Road, Matei) offers a warm and inviting atmosphere where you can relax with friends, enjoy stunning views from the deck, and savour the best island coffee and delicious local cuisine.

Salty Fox Bar and Grill (Taveuni Dive Resort)

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.

Kai Time

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.

Paradise Oceanview Restaurant & Bar (Paradise Resort)

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. Better yet, this resort offers free moorings!

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

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The Best Resort Restaurants in Taveuni

Many resorts aim to provide the full Fiji experience, and their menus reflect this.

Viani Bay Resort

Across the Somosomo Strait, Viani Bay Resort (technically located on Vanua Levu but more easily accessible from Taveuni) specialises in sustainable meals using locally sourced ingredients. This yacht-friendly resort welcomes sailors for dinner, just be sure to give a little advanced notice. Enjoy set meals, such as home-cooked fresh fish, tropical fruits and locally inspired dishes.

Qamea Resort & Spa

At Qamea Resort & Spa‘s Bure Kalau (Qamea Island), indulge in a fusion of Fijian Pacific Rim cuisine with fresh local ingredients. The yacht-friendly resort, with an anchorage nearby, also offers diet-special food and health retreats.

COMO Laucala Island

For ultimate luxury, stay on COMO Laucala Island, a private island resort with five restaurants to choose from. Anchorages are available with advanced booking.

Nakia Resort

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.

Maravu Taveuni Lodge

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).

Matangi Private Island Resort

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.

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Cheap Eats in Taveuni

Taveuni’s small towns each have a couple of great options for cafes, 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!

Vuna Lagoon Lodge

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.

Paradise Bakery (Paradise Resort)

If you choose to moor at this resort 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.

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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 the 10 Things to Do in Taveuni for Yachties), 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, a fantastic option for vegan and vegetarian food is at Viani Bay Resort (Vanua Levu), which offers anchorage nearby. Be sure to get in contact before your arrival, as meals are set each day and require some advanced notice to prepare.

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Dining Experiences in 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 onshore, 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.

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), a resort well known for its free moorings.

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

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Supermarkets, Groceries and Provisioning in Taveuni

Provisioning and self-catering are also very doable in Taveuni. It’s best to stock up on groceries in Matei, Waiyevo, Naqara or Wairiki, which offer several options for supermarkets, convenience stores and roadside fruit stalls.

Limited healthcare, fuel stations and banks are available. There is no fuel dock. Local SIM cards can be purchased from convenience stores.

For more details on provisioning and shopping options in Taveuni, check out our article on Yacht Provisioning: Shops & Services in Taveuni.