The Food Guide to Vava’u: Places to Eat & Food Tours

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The Best Food Tours and Activities in Vava’u

As top producers of vanilla, coconut, noni, kava, taro, yams and much more, Vava’u really offers foodies the ultimate tropical food experience. Here are just a few ways to experience Vava’u through food-orientated activities.

‘Ene’io Botanical Garden Tour

Learn about tropical plants, fruit and vegetables and their medicinal functions on a garden tour of the ‘Ene’io Botanical Gardens (Tu’anekivale). Your tour guide and curator of the gardens, Haniteli Fa’anunu, will show you a wide range of interesting plants grown on Vava’u and some of the health foods made at the gardens. Better yet, upgrade to the “Ene’io Grand Tour” with the addition of a traditional umu feast and cultural show! Find out more about the tour in the 5 Best Guided Island Land Tours of Vava’u.

Vanilla Plantation Tour

Vava’u provides the perfect conditions for growing vanilla beans, where a drive around the main islands will reveal plantations of sprawling vanilla. One of the main producers in Vava’u is Albert Guttenbiel Vanilla (btwn Feletoa and Mataika), who offers short but laidback and informative tours of one of their vanilla plantations where you’ll learn about the lifecycle of these complex vines and the arduous task of hand-pollinating every flower. Of course, you’ll also have the opportunity to purchase the raw product on this already very affordable tour.

Tongan Feast and Cultural Show

Tongans are very food-centric, with one of their most renowned cultural events being umu feasts complete with a floor show. There are a few places around the islands of Vava’u where you experience this for yourself. Food is slow-cooked in an earth oven, the “umu”, while a spit-roast pig is also usually a staple. Tongan feasts can be experienced at ‘Ene’io Botanical Garden (Tu’anekivale) and Beautiful Ofu Island Backpackers (Ofu Island), while Humpback Lodge (Pangaimotu) hosts a similar experience except with kava drinking instead of the floor show. Be sure to pre-book! Learn more about these experiences in the 10 Best Cultural Shows in Tonga.

Neiafu Market

A must for foodies in Neiafu, the Neiafu Market (Neiafu waterfront) is where you can get a great insight into grocery shopping in the South Pacific. Admire piles of tropical fruit and vegetables, mingle with the locals and check out the handicrafts for sale in the section next door. The best time to go is on a Saturday morning, but it’s open throughout the day Monday to Saturday.

More Food Tours in Vava’u

And that’s not all the food scene in Vava’u has to offer. Check out alternative food tours, such as:

• Catch dinner on a fishing charter
• Taste kava at a faikava or Humpback Lodge
• See and learn about Vava’u’s taro and kava plantations on a guided island tour
• Experience the buzz of the Saturday Fish Market
• Enjoy a private dinner on the beach
• Indulge at one of the many restaurants across Vava’u.

Get more details on each experience in our 10 Best Foodie Experiences in Vava’u.

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About the Best Places to Eat in Vava’u

The best way to describe Vava’u’s food scene is that it has tons of hidden surprises. You’ll find Italian food, Spanish food and Chinese food all with a tropical flair, but you’ll almost always find pizzas and burgers on the menu in Tonga should you get these comfort food cravings. Some of the island resorts try to provide as authentic dining as possible with food grown on the islands and fished straight from Vava’u’s waters.

Where to Eat: Restaurants in Vava’u

When thinking about a place to start your dining conquest of Neiafu, most will choose buzzing eateries on the waterfront like The Kraken (Fatafehi Road, Neiafu) or Sam’s Restaurant (Halaevalu small boat marina, Neiafu) but we highly recommend the lesser-known Basque Tavern (cnr Fatafehi and Falaeu Roads, Neiafu). The Spanish-inspired tapas bar in Neiafu (with Tongan-portion tapas, obviously) boasts a creative tapas menu that changes weekly, giving you more reasons to come back.

For European/American-style food done well, head to The Harbourview (Toula). Aside from the idyllic harbour views that give this restaurant and resort its namesake, the diverse breakfast, lunch and dinner menus (which you can choose from any and anytime, FYI) means that everyone in your party is likely to be happy – even the token vegan!

Other than experiencing an umu feast (see below), the dining scene doesn’t get more Tongan than the fabulous and locally run MJ Seafood (Halaevalu Wharf, Neiafu). As the name suggests, they only do seafood but they do it well, delighting diners with a range of curry/gravy-like Tongan dishes, such as their most popular kelevi ika, as well as notably non-greasy fish and chips.

Where to Eat: Cafes in Vava’u

Don’t worry, you can still get your caffeine fix in Neiafu and Vava’u, with a couple of cafes found in the town centre, as well as resorts offering cafe food on their breakfast and lunch menus.

The Swiss-army knife of cafes, Cafe Tropicana (Fatafehi Road, Neiafu) not only keeps you well-fed and caffeinated with locally produced coffee beans for breakfast and lunch but offers a huge range of rental and internet services.

Coffee & Tees (cnr Fatafehi and Pouono Roads, Neiafu) serves up a range of drinks to get you through the day, as well as breakfast and lunch. There are also originally printed t-shirts and Bali-imported clothes and accessories to browse while you wait.

Where to Eat: Tongan Feasts in Vava’u

The best way to truly experience Tongan cuisine is to get yourself to one of the weekly Tongan feasts. ‘Ene’io Botanical Garden (Tu’anikivale) offers an umu feast and floor show as part of their “‘Ene’io Grand Tour”. Saturday night at Humpback Lodge (Pangaimotu) is kava night along with Tongan food if you preorder and string band entertainment. Finally, another option awaits at the Beautiful Ofu Island Backpackers (Ofu Island) which also serves up a weekly traditional Tongan feast and floor show. Learn more about the resort in the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Vava’u, while more about the cultural shows can be found in the 10 Best Cultural Shows in Tonga.

Where to Eat: Takeaways in Vava’u

Take dinner back to your hotel, yacht or the waterfront with a pizza from Falaleu Deli & Takeaway (Fatafehi Road, Neiafu)! Pizzas are usually “where it’s at” at this popular takeaway with bright red signs on Neiafu‘s main road. There are also some irresistible burger ensembles, as well as nachos, fries and wraps if you prefer.

To experience Vava’u’s first “Uber Eats”, try Manu Eats – essentially the takeaway delivery service of The Harbourview (Toula). It’s a small fee to get their food delivered within a 5 km radius of their restaurant just south of Neiafu.

Where to Eat: Resort Restaurants in Vava’u

Most resorts in Vava’u will focus on providing whale swimming experiences rather than memorable cuisine but that mantra is switched at The Reef Resort (Kapa Island). Food is at the fore of your stay at the most luxurious resort in Vava’u with the pride being their European-South Pacific fusion cuisine prepared by decorated German and Swiss chefs. Learn more about the resort in the 10 Best Resorts in Vava’u.

Open to casual diners and accessible by road, the Tongan Beach Resort‘s (‘Utungake) open-air restaurant has items on the menu to offer a taste of Tonga. The restaurant provides a casual setting for breakfast and lunch, while the lighting and table decor in the evening create one of the most upmarket settings for dinner in Vava’u.

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More Options for Food in Vava’u

As you can see, there are plenty of options for dining in Neiafu and on the main island of Vava’u. But what happens if you’re staying somewhere without a restaurant, like one of the outer islands? Luckily, your resort hosts will absolutely not let you go hungry!

Resort Set Meals and Meal Plans

Those staying on the outer islands of Vava’u at the island resorts only have their chosen resort’s meal offerings for dining. Depending on the resort, meals are either a la carte or a set menu each day, enjoyed at a communal dining fale or restaurant with a bar with drinks available to purchase on the go. Meals are either pay-as-you-go (but you still need to give your hosts notice) or are included in your resort rate as a compulsory meal plan. Either way, expect a variety of Western and Tongan dishes mainly using local ingredients.

Learn more about resorts’ set meals and meal plans in Should You Buy a Resort Meal Plan in Tonga?

Special Diets

With many resorts across Vava’u focussing on sustainability, finding vegetarian options at resorts is rarely an issue. However, it’s crucial that you inform your resort of any dietary requirements prior to arrival, as they have very limited access to resources that you might used to and, therefore, will need time and effort to prepare. Due to the difficulty some of these resorts are facing with very specific diets, like vegan and gluten-free, some are starting to charge a little extra for these meals.

We have some tips for dining in Tonga with special diets in The Gluten-Free Guide to Tonga and Tonga for Vegans & Vegetarians + 10 Best Restaurants.

Self-Catering in Vava’u

Stick to a budget and enjoy the pleasures of preparing meals using local ingredients by staying in one of the self-catering accommodations and making use of the abundance of grocery stores and the market in Neiafu. There are a few guesthouses with shared kitchens and apartments with private kitchen facilities, which we list in the 5 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in Vava’u. More information on the shops available in Neiafu can be found in our guide, Information, Shops & Services in Vava’u.

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Alternative Things to Do in Vava’u

As much as eating is exciting, you can’t travel all the way to Vava’u just for the food. You’re on some of the most beautiful and adventurous islands in the South Pacific! So balance out your stay with some of the alternative activities, such as:

• Check out the amazing views from Mt Talau
• Swim with humpback whales
• Snorkel inside Swallows’ Cave
• Check out the views from the ‘Utula’aina, ‘Esi ko Salote, ‘Esi o Lupepau’u Lookouts and more
• Paddle on a guided kayaking tour
• Jump on an island-hopping boat tour…

… and much more! Check out the details of these activities and get more inspiration in the 50 Best Things to Do in Vava’u.

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5 Final Tips for Eating Out in Vava’u

Finally, here are some tips to bear in mind when it comes to food in Vava’u.

1. If you’re chartering a boat and want to do a bit of fishing for yourself, don’t eat reef fish which can carry a disease called ciguatera. It’s best to eat the fish served in restaurants and that the locals are eating
2. The drinking age in Tonga is 18 years old
3. Local meat, seafood and poultry from restaurants are generally safe to eat
4. Tips are not expected in Vava’u but are appreciated
5. Tell your resort of any dietary requirements well in advance so they can cater to your needs.

For more food tips, check out The Guide to the Food in Tonga.