Destinations Australia & New Zealand Pacific Islands The 10 Best Restaurants in Tahiti By Scott Laird Scott Laird Scott Laird is a freelance travel writer. His work has been published in TravelPulse, TravelAge West, and other publications. Travel's editorial guidelines Published on November 4, 2021 Tahiti, the most populated island in French Polynesia, has a wealth of choices for dining. Options range from French cuisine on par with what diners might expect in Paris to humble but bountiful food trucks. While seafood is commonly found on the bulk of restaurant and food truck menus, there are usually other items on offer to appeal to most palates. A lot of restaurants in Tahiti maintain websites, but many post daily specials and changes to opening hours on Facebook; it’s often helpful to keep the social media app handy to peruse menus and send messages to restaurant owners, although most prefer to take reservations over the phone. Read on to discover the best restaurants in Tahiti. 01 of 10 Best Overall: Blue Banana Blue Banana Tahiti / Facebook Address PK 11,200 côté mer face au Magasin PAS CHER, Puna'auia, French Polynesia Get directions Phone +689 40 41 22 24 Web Visit website In tranquil Puna’auia, Blue Banana is perhaps Tahiti’s most well-balanced dining experience. Whether you choose a table indoors or out on the overwater pontoon with views of neighboring Moorea, you're in for some good food. The regular menu has a fine selection of well-priced steaks, seafood, and pizzas; in addition, the human-sized daily specials board is often similarly extensive, usually featuring fresh catches or imported meats. Favorites include seared tuna as an entrée or atop a salad, pizza with raclette cheese, and guava tart. Reservations are essential on weekends. On any other day, booking ahead and asking for a table outside on the pontoon is the best assurance of actually getting a spot. 02 of 10 Best Fine Dining: Le Lotus Restaurant InterContinental Tahiti Resort / Facebook Address PK7, Fa'a'ā 98702, French Polynesia Get directions Phone +689 40 86 51 10 Web Visit website Le Lotus, comprising a cluster of circular overwater huts on the grounds of the InterContinental Resort Tahiti, is perhaps one of Tahiti’s most romantic dining spots. Guests enjoy views of Moorea and sea life swimming below the lighted floor. The menu changes frequently to accommodate new inventions, but diners can generally count on fresh seafood and meats with inventive sauces and artful presentations. There’s also a large selection of cocktail creations and an extensive wine list. It's open for lunch and dinner; reservations are required. 03 of 10 Best Mediterranean: La Casa Bianca Address Puna'auia, French Polynesia Get directions Phone +689 40 43 91 35 Web Visit website Situated next to the Marina in Puna’auia, La Casa Bianca is best known for generous portions of pasta, pizza, and salads, as well as congenial dining areas both indoors and outdoors. Italian for “The White House,” this well-loved local establishment is also popular for its brisk takeout business and selection of beers and wines at the bar. Booking ahead is recommended for weekends. 04 of 10 Best Steak: L’annexe Address Fa'a'ā, French Polynesia Get directions Phone +689 40 42 32 32 Web Visit website Tucked into an air-conditioned corner of the Pacific Place shopping center in Faa’a, this cozy restaurant is known for the quality of its steaks, grilled in a style more American than French. But L’annexe is more than a steakhouse. The daily specials board often has a variety of fresh seafood and other imported meats. Be sure to save room for one of their inventive desserts—like a peanut butter cup take on the traditional profiterole. 05 of 10 Best Value: Place Vaiete Roulottes Address 369 Bd de la Reine Pomare IV, Papeete 98714, French Polynesia Get directions This waterfront circle of souped-up food trucks with picnic tables is popular in the evenings for everything from raw fish dishes and Asian stir-fries to burgers and fries, barbecue, steak frites, and desserts. Whichever roulette (French for "caravan") one chooses, there’s but one guarantee—it will be too much food for most people in one sitting. Famously generous portions justify prices that may at first appear rather expensive. Be sure to take cash, as few (if any) of the roulettes accept cards. 06 of 10 Best French: Le Sully Restaurant Le Sully / Facebook Address Papeete 98714, French Polynesia Get directions Phone +689 40 83 39 83 Web Visit website This intimate dining room serving market cuisine (meaning the menu is mostly comprised of nightly specials based on what the chef has selected from the market that day) is a brasserie-style atmosphere straight out of Paris. Menu features include French favorites like beef tournedos (often topped with a slice of tangy French cheese), country terrines, pork rillette, and of course, Tahiti’s fresh seafood. The restaurant faithfully posts daily updates on its Facebook page; reservations are strongly suggested. 07 of 10 Best View: O Belvédère Le Belvédère / Facebook Address Pīra'e, French Polynesia Get directions Phone +689 89 40 34 03 Web Visit website Perched on the mountain high over Papeete, this restaurant lives up to its name. After a long, steep drive up the mountain ridge, diners enjoy sweeping vistas of the coast of Tahiti down the valley, the city of Papeete, and Moorea across the channel. O Belvédère typically has a significant selection of nightly specials, but a number of fondues and raclettes, as well as a substantial burger with bacon and onion confit, have a permanent place on the menu. 08 of 10 Best for Lunch: Le Soufflé Restaurant Le soufflé / Facebook Address Papeete 98714, French Polynesia Get directions Phone +689 40 57 00 17 Web Visit website On Rue de Paul Gauguin, across from the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) of Papeete, Le Soufflé is definitely a power lunch spot. Here, the star of the menu is the eponymous souffle, served as a savory main dish or a sweet dessert. There’s also a notable selection of wryly named cocktails, salads (a favorite is topped with sautéed shrimp), and market cuisine depending on what’s fresh at the nearby public market that day. Reservations are necessary for lunch. 09 of 10 Best Seafood: L’Instant Présent Address C98M+986, Puna'auia, French Polynesia Get directions Phone +689 40 57 00 08 Web Visit website L’Instant Présent (French for “The Present Time”) offers a variety of experiences under one roof. Diners can take in the bistro menu—which features plenty of tapas and tartars made from local seafood or meat—on the oceanfront dining room with a terrace. They also serve up sushi and other Japanese dishes, while the teppanyaki table is available by reservation or walk-in (though reservations are suggested). Whatever diners choose, the sunset views of Moorea are spectacular. 10 of 10 Best Patisserie: Bogato BOGATO LA PATISSERIE / Facebook Address Ave du Prince Hīnoi, Papeete 98714, French Polynesia Get directions Phone +689 40 42 85 00 With a Paris-trained pastry chef turning out the daily yield, Bogato is the place for decadent and eye-catching pastries in Tahiti. There are satellite locations in Papara and Taravao, but the original in downtown Papeete is perfect for sipping coffee and indulging in a sweet treat on a lurid afternoon. Or, swing by and pick up a box to-go for a special occasion or—in true Tahitian style—an oceanfront picnic. Arrive early in the day for the best selection. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit