![10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2023]](jpg/cafe-tropicana-breakfast-food-restaurant-french-must-credit-tongapocketguide.com--974x650.jpg)
![10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2023]](jpg/cafe-tropicana-breakfast-food-restaurant-french-must-credit-tongapocketguide.com-.jpg "10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2024]")
The Best Places to Get Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch in Tonga
Most picture themselves lazying on the beach or swimming with whales in Tonga but, believe us, you’re going to want to fuel these activities one way or the other; the other being coffee, cake, breakfast, brunch or lunch at one of the islands’ delightful cafes! Now, Tonga isn’t exactly brimming with cafes unless you’re standing in the heart of its capital, Nuku’alofa, and we have a whole list just for that in the 10 Best Cafes in Nuku’alofa. Otherwise, there are a few worthy lunch spots across most of Tonga’s island groups, which we also make sure you’re well aware of in this list of the best cafes in Tonga. You’re welcome.
1. Garden Cafe (Tongatapu)
A must-stop while road-tripping around Tongatapu, the Garden Cafe offers an attractive setting for cold drinks, salads, Mexican food and cake. The roadside cafe in Vaini village has outdoor and indoor seating among verdant furniture and plants, as well as sports memorabilia to commemorate the family’s famous rugby star. Dishes of chicken salad, tacos, quesadillas and cooked breakfasts taste as good as they look. Fruit juleps are served with bamboo straws at this cafe that aims for minimal single-use plastic. Cakes usually sell out by 12 pm, so get in there early!
Opening hours: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays.
Location: Taufa’ahau Road (near the solar farm and turn-off to Thanks n Praise Car Rental), Vaini, Tongatapu.
![10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=ODQ5OjI5OQ==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA2ODQiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjY4NCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4=)
© TongaPocketGuide.com2. Moli Green Cafe (Tongatapu)
Pop in for a sit-down or use the drive-thru at Moli Green Cafe. The cafe close to Nuku’alofa city centre provides a healthier breakfast and lunch option, specialising in fresh fruit smoothies (try them with moringa!), sandwiches made with homebaked wholemeal bread, cooked breakfasts with veggies on the side, oatmeal, porridge and more! If you can’t kick the caffeine then at least they have locally-roasted Kingdom Koffie beans. Moli Green also has many of your cafe favourites among contemporary industrial-style interiors. Cash only.
Opening hours: 7 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday and 7 am to 1 pm Saturday.
Location: Corner of Fatafehi Road and Laifone Road, Kolofo’ou, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu.
![10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=ODU1OjI5OA==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA2ODQiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjY4NCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4=)
© TongaPocketGuide.com3. Leleno ki Moana (Ha’apai)
Nestled among coconut palms of the beachfront approximately 400 m (440 yards) south of Hihifo, Leleno ki Moana meaning “Run to the Ocean”, is a quirky beach hut restaurant serving quality meals for an affordable price. Delight in fresh fish and chips, beasty burgers, aromatic curries, Tongan dishes and more for brunch, lunch or dinner, all lovingly presented on timber boards and banana leaves. You’ll hardly get a more island vibe! As one of the few restaurants in the Ha’apai island group, Leleno ki Moana is certainly one of the 10 Best Hidden Gems in Tonga.
Opening hours: 9 am to 9 pm Monday to Saturday and 9 am to 4 pm Wednesday.
Location: Hala Holopeka Road, Hihifo (approximately 400 m/440 yards down the dirt road at the end of Hihifo villages), Lifuka Island, Ha’apai.
![10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=ODYxOjMwNg==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA2ODQiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjY4NCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4=)
© TongaPocketGuide.com4. Friends Cafe (Tongatapu)
As one of the capital’s hotspots, Friends Cafe rarely needs an introduction. Learn about the history of the 100+-year-old building on the notices found on each table and treat yourself to a light lunch of toasties, paninis, salads, soups, burgers, all-day breakfasts and more. For the sweet tooth, ice cream and baked cheesecakes are also a winner! They are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and evening drinks with local beer on tap. Check out more eateries in the area in the 20 Best Restaurants on Tongatapu.
Opening hours: 7 am to 10 pm Monday to Saturday.
Location: Corner of Taufa’ahau Road and Salote Road, Nuku’alofa city centre, Tongatapu.
![10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=ODY3OjMyOA==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA2ODQiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjY4NCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4=)
© TongaPocketGuide.com5. Tupu’Anga Cafe (Tongatapu)
While a little out of Nuku’alofa town, it’s worth making your way to Tupu’Anga Cafe for their cassava cakes, lu pies, manioke/kumala chips, lesi (papaya) scones and home-roasted coffee. Tours of the coffee roastery and cassava chip factory are sometimes available if you ask and they’re not too busy – learn more about this experience and others in the 10 Best Foodie Experiences in Tonga. They also have free WiFi and a children’s playground.
Opening hours: 8 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 1 pm Saturday.
Location: Umusi Road, Popua, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu.
![10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=ODczOjMxNw==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA2ODQiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjY4NCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4=)
© TongaPocketGuide.com6. Cafe Tropicana (Vava’u)
The Swiss-army knife of cafes, Cafe Tropicana not only keeps you well-fed and caffeinated for breakfast and lunch but offers information services, vehicle and bicycle rental, snorkel rental, internet, phone top-ups, laundry, order-ahead deli goods, super yacht agent and more in Vava’u! Meanwhile, the cosy cafe with indoor and outdoor seating has perhaps the most diverse range of drinks in Vava’u, including barista coffee made with Tonga’s own Kingdom Koffie. Otherwise, they’ll sort you out for a cooked breakfast or international lunch with the likes of burgers, pizzas, nachos, burritos, curries, pad thai and various white-board specials.
Opening hours: 7 am to 2:30 pm from Monday to Saturday for food and until 4 pm for drinks and other services.
Location: Fatafehi Road (opposite Jetsave), Neiafu, ‘Utu Vava’u, Vava’u.
![10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=ODc5OjMyOA==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNjgzIDEwMjQiIHdpZHRoPSI2ODMiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAyNCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4=)
© TongaPocketGuide.com7. Talei’s Restaurant (‘Eua)
If you’re looking to eat out on ‘Eua, your options are few and far between yet Talei’s Restaurant is here to serve all your comfort classics and get a true taste of Tonga. The rustic restaurant in ‘Eua’s central cluster of villages has a small but interesting menu, from ika kelevi (fish in sauce) to fish/sausage/chicken and chips/manioke, and all for a very very affordable price. Enjoy it all in the pleasant undercover seating area or order to takeaway. More options for eating out on ‘Eua can be found in The Complete Travel Guide to ‘Eua.
Opening hours: 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday.
Location: Angaha village (the first road south of the Catholic Church), central ‘Eua.
![10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=ODg1OjMyNQ==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA2ODQiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjY4NCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4=)
© TongaPocketGuide.com8. Bellavista Cafe & Restaurant (Vava’u)
An eclectic array of meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as great views, can be found at the Bellavista Cafe & Restaurant in the Guttenbeil Plaza of Vava’u. It’s your Italian flair in the South Pacific, serving up Italian-style pizzas, pasta, espresso coffees and a wealth of seafood dishes with fresh Vava’uan fish – no wonder their fish of the day is the most popular! If you need to wet your whistle, Bellavista also pours an impressive range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks (the fresh papaya and banana smoothie is a best-seller). Credit card is accepted. See more eateries nearby in the 15 Best Cafes & Restaurants in Vava’u.
Opening hours: 8 am to 10 pm from Monday to Saturday.
Location: Guttenbeil Plaza, Fatafehi Road, Neiafu, ‘Utu Vava’u, Vava’u.
![10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=ODkxOjMyNA==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNjgzIDEwMjQiIHdpZHRoPSI2ODMiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAyNCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4=)
© TongaPocketGuide.com9. Siva’s Dream Cafe (Tongatapu)
If you have plenty of time on your hands and want to get out of Nuku’alofa, escape to Siva’s Dream Cafe. Food is made with love at this locally run cafe in the village of Te’ekiu, which can take a little bit of time but is well worth the wait for the “Waimanalo Burger” marinated in honey soy sauce or the creamy chicken pasta. Look out for one of their floor shows between November and December, as described in The 10 Best Cultural Shows in Tonga.
Opening hours: 8 am to 8 pm Tuesday to Saturday.
Location: Signposted off Hihifo Road, Te’ekiu village, west side of Tongatapu.
![10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=ODk3OjMyNA==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA2ODQiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjY4NCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4=)
© TongaPocketGuide.com10. Coffee Post (Tongatapu)
A bustling spot in Nuku’alofa city centre, Coffee Post boasts an array of healthy lunch options and not-so-healthy breakfasts, including beautifully presented pancakes, sandwiches, toasties and more. The cafe boasts a good go-to for caffeine, as it’s one of the earliest-opening cafes in the kingdom! Look out for creative freshly baked cakes provided by local and independently run bakeries.
Opening hours: 6:30 am to 1 pm Monday to Friday and 7 am to 12 pm Saturday.
Location: Taufa’ahau Road (Tonga Post building), Nuku’alofa city centre, Tongatapu.
![10 BEST Cafes in Tonga ☕ [2024]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=OTAzOjMxMQ==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA2ODQiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjY4NCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4=)
© TongaPocketGuide.comMore About Cafes in Tonga
That’s it for the best cafes in Tonga, but there are a lot more lunch stops around the islands, so check them out in the following guides:
Finally, plan your trip around dining experiences in the Tonga Food Itinerary: 14 Days, Tonga Food Itinerary: 7 Days and Tonga Food Itinerary: 5 Days.
![30 BEST Restaurants on Tongatapu 🍨 [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTA0NDozOTI=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgOTAwIDYwMSIgd2lkdGg9IjkwMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI2MDEiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+)
