17 Best Restaurants in French Polynesia

Considered one of the best tables in Pape'ete, Le Carre has a lounge feel due to its subdued lighting, music, and sophisticated ambience. Start with lobster ravioli, with peppermint, ginger, and anise; the adventurous might order the breaded pig's foot with roasted scallops and beets, and a rosemary emulsion. Main dishes include the delicious chef's fish cassolette (stew) flavored with smoked butter, vanilla, and Avatea liqueur. There's a degustation menu, as well as several set menu options that include the two-course option (main and dessert).

This romantic restaurant on the edge of the lagoon is perfect for a special night out. The outdoor dining area is a series of small dining nooks within a circular terrace facing a lovely garden. It's especially beautiful at night, dining by candlelight listening to the gentle lap of waves. Dishes such as duck magret (lean duck breast) and honey sauce, and beef filet a la Rossini (topped with hot foie gras) are served on lovely painted plates. It's an expensive night out, but there are two- and three-course set menus at lunchtime, which go a little easier on the wallet.

There's a lovely blend of several Asian cuisines at this popular eatery not far from Pape'ete Town Hall (le mairie). The Vietnamese steamed dumplings (known as "raviolis") are said to be legendary, while the Thai Tom Yum soup is also very good. There are also Chinese dishes using fresh produce from the nearby public market.

This is the big splurge restaurant in the area where you can tuck into delicious plates of fresh seafood laden with lobster, crab, and other delicacies. There's also couscous, paella, various cassoulets (French stews), and wood-fired pizzas on the menu.

This little touch of Italy is a great place to while away a few hours in the shady internal courtyard away from the busy waterfront road. The tablecloths are red and frescos of Italian scenes adorn the walls. The pizzas (from 6,000 to 1,000 CFP for a mini-pizza) and pastas are excellent, while fish dishes include the mahimahi with garlic, oregano, and olives. The restaurant is a Pape'ete institution, serving up wholesome Italian fare since 1968.

This little restaurant a few blocks back from the cruise ship port has a rustic French ambience with vases of fresh flowers everywhere and French and Tahitian ornaments and artwork adorning the walls. Shrimp in coconut milk and vanilla are a specialty, as are the desserts, which are homemade. Ask for le vacherin glace a la vanilla, a type of vanilla ice-cream. The friendly staff speaks English, which is something of a plus in Pape'ete.

Situated on the south coast road of Tahiti Iti, right on Maui Beach, this restaurant serves fresh seafood such as shrimp, mahimahi, and tuna. This lovely patch of sand is the only white-sand beach on the peninsula and is a lovely spot for lunch. Rose Wilkinson and Alain Corre, who used to work at the Sofitel Resort Moorea, decided to really get away from it all and started this restaurant.

This restaurant is favored by tour groups because of the sensational view from almost 2,000 feet (609 meters) in the hills above Pape'ete. There are sunset and moonlight dining sessions, with sunset being the most popular. You can drive yourself; however, it's a more relaxing experience to take an organized tour, as the road to the top is very steep and narrow in parts. There is a set menu and a la carte choices. Dishes may include fondue, mahimahi, pepper steak, and chicken. There's also a wine menu. The price includes a round-trip hotel transfer. The restaurant will provide transport to the airport if you have a late flight to catch home.

This is one of a handful of restaurants at Marina Taina, Tahiti's first international marina located about 8 km (5 mi) west of Pape'ete. There are great views of stylish yachts at anchor. The restaurant is decorated with Italian paintings, and pizzas and seafood and fish dishes are the order of the day. The staff speaks English and the menus are in English, too.

If you're heading east of town toward Point Vénus you might want to stop off at this popular Asian restaurant in the town of Arue, not far from the military camp. You can feast on Chinese-style fondue (various meats and vegetables cooked in a pot on your table) or sample the specialty Peking duck or pork with coconut. There's a playground for the kids, too.

Bring your credit card to this romantic restaurant perched over the lagoon at the far end of the resort. Several of the dishes were created by the renowned three-star Michelin L'auberge de l'Ill in Alsace, France, with which Le Lotus has an association. You might start with the swordfish mousse on a potato and mussel risotto, move on to duck breast with pan-fried figs and candied onions, and round off with the decadent frozen coconut parfait in a chocolate shell and white mint ice cream. Chef Franck Davi, one of the best in French Polynesia, runs this smart establishment. The four-course degustation menu is pricey.

There's no mistaking you're in a Chinese restaurant at Le Mandarin, situated in the hotel of the same name, just a block from the Pape'ete waterfront. Walls are adorned with frescos of rural scenes including peach blossom trees, pagodas, and fire-breathing dragons, and the ceiling is hung with lanterns. The food's good, too, and fuses Chinese spices with fresh local seafood. Try the spiced lobster if it's on the menu, or the wok-tossed Tahitian shrimp. Duck with Marquesan kumquat and taro-stuffed pork are local twists on classic dishes. A live band plays on Friday and Saturday nights.

Make sure you arrive before sunset not only to watch the lagoon and Moorea island bathed in a pink glow but to check out the fashionable crowd who frequent this restaurant. Located at Marina Taina, Le Pink Coconut, the trendiest place in town, is a good excuse to put on your best, but still casual, outfit. It serves seafood and Polynesian dishes—the trio of salmon is a favorite. There's live music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

This popular café and microbrewery has 20 beers from around the world on tap. It's right across from the ferry port and always buzzing with diners and drinkers. Dishes include classic grilled steaks and fish in variety of styles, including poisson cru (raw fish marinated in coconut and lime juice), as well as mussels and duck. Cheaper choices are the La Formule due Jour (special of the day), which includes a starter or dessert with a main course and glass of beer for 2,100 CFP. You can taste any four of the beers (in four small glasses) for 800 CFP.

The decor is bright and breezy with all-white tables and chairs and orange, yellow, and green cushions. It's situated next to the busy Vaima Centre, making it an ideal lunch or dinner spot after a shopping expedition. Dishes that blend Tahitian and French flavors are the grilled breadfruit topped with foie gras and port wine sauce; and the tuna with candied ginger. Mains include the hearty red wine beef stew and rack of lamb.

You can eat in or take away at this stylish little restaurant right at the isthmus. There are classic French/Tahitian dishes such as beef entrecôte (steak) with coconut or vanilla sauce, along with a variety of burgers and pizzas. The place heats up on Friday and Saturday nights with dancing to a local live band.

If you yearn for Japanese cuisine, this teppanyaki restaurant offers the mainstays of the Land of the Rising Sun. Appetizers include mixed tempura and a selection of sushi, while the main course consists of a range of teppanyaki dishes all served with miso soup, mixed salad, and sautéed hibachi vegetables. Choose from salmon, tenderloin, shrimp, pork loin, mahimahi, chicken, lobster, and sea scallop teppanyaki or mix them up in various combinations. Set menus and children's menus and desserts, including flambé vanilla ice cream with rum, are also on offer.