The Best Places to Eat in the Lau Islands for Yachties
On your sailing adventure through the pristine Lau Islands, your gastronomic journey might be more of a challenge than you anticipated. Unlike other parts of Fiji, dining options in the Lau Group are extremely limited, making it essential for yachties to come well-prepared.
The Lau Islands offer a unique sailing experience, but when it comes to food, self-sufficiency is key. It’s best to stock up on provisions before setting sail, as finding a local guesthouse or stumbling upon a village feast should be considered a rare treat rather than the norm.
While the occasional chance to savour freshly caught fish or sample homegrown produce might arise, these opportunities are few and far between.
Before we dive into our admittedly limited food guide of the Lau Islands, be sure to bookmark The Complete Sailing Guide to the Lau Islands for essential information on navigating this remote archipelago.
Table of Contents
The 3 Best Places to Eat in the Lau Islands for Yachties
Where are the best places to eat in the Lau Islands? As you may have guessed, this list is reduced to the only places you can eat in the Lau Islands (that we know about), but hey, they are still worth mentioning:
- Your chosen homestay
- Jim’s Bar & Grill (Vatuvara Private Islands, Kaibu Island)
- The Valhalla Restaurant (Vatuvara Private Islands, Kaibu Island)
Scroll down to learn more about each of these dining options.
© FijiPocketGuide.comMeals at Guesthouses and Homestays
Guesthouses and homestays offer the real deal, where food is authentically Fijian using fish fresh from the sea (bones and all), root crops straight from the gardens such as cassava, fruit from the trees such as breadfruit, and more.
Be sure to have a few bottles of water with you (better yet, a Lifestraw Bottle), as many outer islands in Fiji use rainwater storage in barrels that may or may not have traces of waterborne viruses that our foreign stomachs may not be used to. See Is the Water Safe to Drink in Fiji? for more tips.
How to Arrange Homestays in the Lau Islands
The easiest way, we’ve found, for arranging homestays in the Lau Islands is through the Lau Provincial Council Office in Suva.
You’ll find the Lau Provincial Office at the top of the multi-storey car park on Struan Street. They’ll happily make a booking for you, coordinating homestays with your estimated arrival date, and the best part? There’s usually no waiting time; just set sail and look forward to the authentic cultural experience whenyou arrive at your chosen island!
© FijiPocketGuide.comMeals at Vatuvara Private Islands
In the Lau Islands, the only restaurants you will find are on Vatuvara Private Islands. The luxury resort boasts two restaurants serving fabulous meals made from ingredients grown in their organic gardens and fished from the surrounding waters.
Jim’s Bar & Grill is your casual option for a beachside breakfast or a wood-fired pizza for lunch. Traditional Fijian-style lovos are also prepared here – a dining experience you can’t miss!
The Valhalla Restaurant is an evening dining establishment situated under a verandah, where appetisers are served as the sun sets, before you indulge in its Pacific Rim menu.
For yachts, it’s important to note that Vatuvara Private Islands emphasises exclusivity and controlled access. It’s therefore advisable to contact them directly to inquire about the possibility of anchoring nearby or arranging a visit by private vessel. You can reach them at [email protected] or by phone at +679 707 5017.
Find out more about the dining experience at this private island resort in The Luxury Guide to the Lau Islands.
© FijiPocketGuide.comSupermarkets, Groceries and Provisioning in the Lau Islands
The Lau Islands present a unique challenge for sailors due to their extreme remoteness and lack of tourism infrastructure.
Most villages have small stores, but supplies are limited and frequently run low due to infrequent cargo ship visits.
Fresh produce is particularly scarce for purchase. Cruisers are strongly advised to stock up on essentials like sugar, rice, and flour in Savusavu or Suva before setting sail. These items can be useful for trades or as alternatives to yaqona in sevusevu ceremonies.
Self-sufficiency is key when exploring this pristine archipelago.
For more detailed information on provisioning and sailing in Fiji, check out A Sailing Guide to Port Savusavu and Yacht Provisioning in the Lau Islands.
More About the Lau Islands for Yachties
That’s it for where to eat in the Lau Islands for yachties; for more information about Fiji’s most remote island group, check out the following articles:
- 10 Things to Do in the Lau Islands for Yachties
- Yacht Provisioning: Shops & Services in the Lau Islands
- The Sailing Guide to Fiji: Tips for Yachting in Fiji
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in our Complete Sailing Guide to the Lau Islands.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Fiji and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism Fiji (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (Customs and visitor taxes - Updated [2025])
- Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
- Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Tourism statistics - Updated [2025])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
- Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- Ocean Posse (Mooring data for the South Pacific)
- SV Soggy Paws (Sailing resource for the South Pacific)
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