Kia Orana Villas & Spa

Restaurants & Cafés

Where to eat in Rarotonga — in our experience.

Book Direct Now

Thirty-plus places we’d send our own friends to. Browse by meal, by location, or by Sane & Joe’s top picks. Every venue here is one we’d recommend — ratings are public Google or TripAdvisor scores. We’re happy to book on your behalf, or just tell you when to walk in.

By Meal

Best for “what shall we do for breakfast / lunch / dinner?”

🍍 Breakfast
Beluga

Type: Café — Arorangi · Rating: 4.8 (Google, 369)

Excellent coffee, breakfast and brunch in a relaxed setting.

Phone: +682 27 788 · Beluga on Facebook

A note from Ross and Janet Holmes, owners Janet’s sister Lucy shouted us breakfast at Beluga in Arorangi, and the ten-minute drive there was well worth it — excellent coffee, a delicious breakfast selection, friendly service, and a relaxed setting. One of our favourite breakfast spots on the island.
Circles Cafe

Type: Café — Vaimaanga · Rating: 4.6 (Google, 51)

Cosy Filipino-influenced breakfasts, smoothies and bakes.

Phone: +682 29 583

Deli-Licious Cafe

Type: Café · Rating: 4.5 (TripAdvisor)

Popular breakfast stop with generous plates and good coffee.

LBV — Le Bon Vivant

Type: Bakery & Café — Muri · Rating: 4.2 (TripAdvisor)

Fresh pastries and simple breakfast plates near the lagoon.

Nautilus Restaurant

Type: Resort restaurant (open to public) — Muri · Rating: 4.9 (Google, 183)

Premium beachside setting; serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Phone: +682 25 125 · nautilusresortrarotonga.com

Soul Cafe & Barber

Type: Café — Tupapa Maraerenga · Rating: 4.7 (Google, 82) · 5.0 (TripAdvisor)

Hearty breakfast plates with island flavours; friendly vibes.

TLC Rarotonga

Type: Specialty café — Tue–Fri 8am–2pm; Saturday mornings at Punanga Nui Market

Creative coffee and daytime bites — “Every1 needs some TLC”.

Phone: +682 52 897 · TLC on Facebook

The Café (Beachcomber Courtyard)

Type: Café — Avarua · Rating: 4.5 (TripAdvisor)

Courtyard café for breakfast or a light lunch in town.

The Lazy Trout Cafe

Type: Café — Avarua District · Rating: 4.7 (TripAdvisor)

All-day breakfast and lunch in a leafy garden setting.

The Lucky Rooster Eatery

Type: Café — Avarua · Rating: 4.5 (Google, 206) · 4.3 (TripAdvisor)

All-day breakfast and lunch; good coffee; friendly service; Wi-Fi.

🥗 Lunch
Anchorage (Sunset Resort)

Type: Western — Arorangi · Rating: 4.8 (Google, 64)

Diverse menu in a friendly resort setting. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Phone: +682 23 004 · thesunsetresort.com

Charlie’s Cafe & Bar

Type: Beachfront café/bar — Titikaveka · Rating: 4.5 (TripAdvisor)

Fresh fish sandwiches, burgers, live music and lagoon views.

charliesraro.com

A note from Ross and Janet Holmes, owners One of our favourites — owned by Janet’s cousin Mary and her husband Charlie. Make sure to say kia orana to them from Ross and Janet. The setting is right on the beach, the service is warm, and the helpings are large (if you’re trying to lose weight, be careful what you order). Our pick: the fish of the day.
Maire Nui Gardens & Cafe

Type: Botanical garden café — Titikaveka · Rating: 4.6 (Google, 358) · 4.9 (TripAdvisor)

Laid-back garden lunches amongst tropical plants and ponds.

Nautilus Restaurant

Type: Resort restaurant (open to public) — Muri · Rating: 4.9 (Google, 183)

Beachside Polynesian-inspired dining; open for lunch and dinner.

Tamarind House

Type: Pacific/contemporary — Avarua, heritage house · Rating: 4.6 (Google, 448)

Historic seafront dining; lunch and dinner. Excellent for sunsets.

Phone: +682 26 487

The Mooring Fish Cafe

Type: Fish & chips, sandwiches — Ngatangiia · Rating: 4.8 (Google, 384)

Famous fresh fish sandwiches; simple seaside lunches.

The Waterline Restaurant & Outrigger Beach Bar

Type: Beachfront — Arorangi (sunset coast) · Rating: 4.5 (Google, 289)

Seafood and international dishes with a romantic west-coast outlook.

Phone: +682 22 161 · Waterline on Facebook

Trader Jacks

Type: Waterfront grill and bar — Avarua Harbour · Rating: 4.3 (Google, 1.1K) · 4.0 (TripAdvisor)

Legendary harbourfront spot for pizza, fish and a lively bar scene.

Vili’s Burger Joint

Type: Fast food — Ngatangiia · Rating: 4.7 (Google, 565) · 4.7 (TripAdvisor)

Beloved local burger shack — fast, tasty and budget-friendly.

🌺 Dinner
Antipodes Rarotonga

Type: Fine dining — Avarua / Black Rock · Rating: 4.4 (Google, 251)

Stunning views and generous Mediterranean-leaning plates.

Phone: +682 28 873 · antipodesrarotonga.com

Kikau Hut

Type: Seafood and NZ cuisine — Arorangi · Rating: 4.7 (Google, 188) · 4.5 (TripAdvisor)

Warm, friendly service; classic island-meets-Kiwi flavours.

Little Polynesian

Type: Romantic beachfront — Titikaveka · Rating: 4.7 (Google, 251) · 4.4 (TripAdvisor)

Intimate lagoon-edge dining for anniversaries and honeymoons.

On The Beach (Manuia Beach Resort)

Type: Seafood / contemporary — Arorangi · Rating: 4.1 (Google, 242) · 4.4 (TripAdvisor)

Sunset-side dining just steps from the sand.

Saigon Shack

Type: Vietnamese street food — Muri

Highly-rated for authentic flavours, fresh ingredients and casual outdoor dining.

Takitumu Tapas

Type: Polynesian tapas — Titikaveka, cash only · Rating: 5.0 (Google, 181)

Creative small plates with island flavours; takeaway options available.

Vaima Restaurant & Bar

Type: Seafood and healthy options — Vaimaanga · Rating: 4.4 (Google, 311) · 4.4 (TripAdvisor)

Relaxed beachfront vibe with cocktails and a broad dinner menu.

By Location

Best for “what’s near where we are right now?”

Avarua & Black Rock (north)

The capital and your closest dining cluster — only a few minutes from Kia Orana Villas.

  • Antipodes Rarotonga
  • Tamarind House
  • The Café (Beachcomber Courtyard)
  • The Lazy Trout Cafe
  • The Lucky Rooster Eatery
  • Trader Jacks
Arorangi (west / sunset coast)

The west coast — sunset side — about 15 minutes by car. Beachfront and resort dining.

  • Anchorage (Sunset Resort)
  • Beluga
  • Kikau Hut
  • On The Beach (Manuia Beach Resort)
  • The Waterline Restaurant & Outrigger Beach Bar
Muri (east / lagoon side)

The east coast lagoon — about 15–20 minutes by car. Mix of casual and fine dining, near the markets.

  • LBV — Le Bon Vivant
  • Nautilus Restaurant
  • Saigon Shack
Titikaveka & south coast

The south coast — gentle lagoon, snorkel-friendly beaches. About 20 minutes by car.

  • Charlie’s Cafe & Bar
  • Little Polynesian
  • Maire Nui Gardens & Cafe
  • Takitumu Tapas
Vaimaanga & Ngatangiia (south-east)

Quieter pockets between Titikaveka and Muri.

  • Circles Cafe
  • The Mooring Fish Cafe
  • Vaima Restaurant & Bar
  • Vili’s Burger Joint
Tupapa & central area

Inland and central — closer to Avarua than the coast.

  • Soul Cafe & Barber
  • TLC Rarotonga
  • Deli-Licious Cafe

Sane & Joe’s Top Picks

If we only had a week, where would we send our own friends?

For a special occasion
  • Tamarind House — the heritage seafront house, classic and unhurried
  • Nautilus Restaurant — Muri beachfront, polished, Polynesian-inspired
  • Little Polynesian — intimate, lagoon-edge, perfect for couples
For something distinctive
  • Antipodes Rarotonga — modern Mediterranean over the lagoon at Black Rock
  • Takitumu Tapas — tiny, creative Polynesian small plates (cash only, book ahead)
  • Saigon Shack — properly good Vietnamese street food in casual Muri surroundings
For casual lunch with a view
  • Charlie’s Cafe & Bar — Titikaveka beachfront, fish sandwiches, live music
  • Maire Nui Gardens & Cafe — lunch in a botanical garden, simple and lovely
  • The Mooring Fish Cafe — legendary fish sandwiches, no fuss
For breakfast and great coffee
  • Beluga — Arorangi’s best brunch, excellent coffee
  • The Lucky Rooster Eatery — Avarua all-day, with Wi-Fi
  • TLC Rarotonga — creative coffee, Tue–Fri (also Saturday at Punanga Nui Market)
For families
  • Trader Jacks — pizza, fish, harbour views, lively atmosphere
  • Vili’s Burger Joint — fast, tasty, won’t break the bank
  • Anchorage at Sunset Resort — broad menu, friendly, beachfront

Want us to book it for you?

Tell Sane your dates, who’s coming, and which restaurants you’d like. We’ll secure your tables — at no cost to you.

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Ratings are public Google or TripAdvisor scores at time of writing. We do our best to keep this directory current — but in a small island, things change. Please let us know if you spot anything out of date.

Seafood dish with shrimp, garnished with herbs, served on a black plate, at a table with a glass of water, bread, and utensils.
Fried chicken sandwich with lettuce on a black plate, served with fries and dipping sauce.
People dancing and enjoying at a tropical-themed indoor party with wooden decor and vibrant lighting.
People sitting around a large table with a blue and white tablecloth outdoors, listening to a man in an orange shirt speaking, with trees and greenery in the background.
Hula dancers performing on stage, wearing grass skirts and traditional costumes, with musicians sitting behind them, in a tropical setting during nighttime.

Why book direct with us

Online travel agents take a substantial portion of every booking in commissions and fees. Booking with us directly is straightforwardly better:

  • ✓ Our Best Rate Guarantee — if you find a lower rate online elsewhere on the date you booked, we match it and give you 5% off. See our Terms & Conditions for full details.
  • ✓ You deal with us throughout, not via a call centre
  • ✓ Easier when plans change — just contact Sane directly
  • ✓ Your money stays with the property — and on the island
Book Direct Now For Best Rates

Join the Kia Orana Club

Free, immediate, and our way of saying thank you to guests who book directly with us. Members enjoy:

  • 🌺 20% off pre-booked breakfasts at the Café
  • 🌺 20% off Spa treatments with Nancy
  • 🌺 20% off bike and snorkel gear hire
  • 🌺 Priority early check-in / late check-out
  • 🌺 First notice of any specials

Takes seconds. Free to join. See full member benefits.

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Make your stay unforgettable

Whether you’re here to unwind or explore, let us help you experience the best of Rarotonga — from lagoon adventures and cultural shows to hidden gems and dining delights. Tell us what you love, and we’ll plan it together.

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