10 Best Restaurants in Tahiti, French Polynesia

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 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.

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.

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.

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.