5 Best Restaurants in Huahine Nui, Huahine

Executive chef Jean Frederic Markacz has a simple philosophy when creating dishes: use only the freshest local fruit and vegetables combined with fish straight out of the ocean. He incorporates the much-loved vanilla bean with mahimahi and also uses it to create a sauce to accompany a chicken breast stuffed with papaya. Swordfish, red tuna, and lobster are always on the menu. The restaurant has a wonderful position over the water with both lagoon and ocean views.

You can't miss Les Dauphins (The Dolphins), as it's right next to the post office in Fare—the only post office on the island. There are seven tables beautifully set for dinner each night under thatched cover and casual lunch dining in the garden under bright umbrellas. The menu is quite imaginative for Huahine and includes stuffed mussels with garlic butter, sautéed jumbo prawns with cognac, and fillet of duck with honey sauce. There's also confit of duck with potatoes and garlic and, for those with plain tastes, grilled lamp chops. Finish off with the classic French dessert of crème brûlée, or a warm coconut tart with vanilla ice cream. You can order half or full bottles of wine.

The great location right on the water at Fare quay and a happy vibe are the draws for this restaurant, which despite the name has been operating a few years now. Locals drink their Hinanos (a local beer) as the sun goes down and cocktails are around 500 CFP during happy hour from 5:30–6:30 every night. Menus items include grilled salmon, tuna with vanilla sauce, steamed mahimahi with ginger, or lobster with spicy coconut sauce (3,200 CFP); meat lovers have several options including steak with Roquefort sauce.

This small poolside garden restaurant, popular with locals, is in the Fare Maeva. Pension guests can either buy a half-board meal plan and receive a set dinner menu (which can change daily) of entrée, main course, and dessert, or choose from the á la carte menu. Dishes include curries (chicken or prawns), prawns cru (a new twist on poisson cru), and char-grilled lobster (at 3,200 CFP). A popular dessert choice is the pineapple tart with coconut milk. Snacks including sandwiches and burgers are available during the day.

This cute balcony restaurant, right in the heart of Fare quay, is also a bookstore. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner serving great food prepared by charming French owner Vivi. Dinner is either á la carte or a set menu of main course and dessert (1800 CFP), possibly grilled fish and vegetables and a tart. Á la carte choices include tuna tartare with papaya salad, and a salad of lentils and hot duck sausage with pistachio and balsamic dressing. It's located up a spiral staircase, a few doors away from the visitors' bureau and Internet café.