Moorea Restaurant Recommendations

How many times can you eat at the restaurants offered at your hotel? Probably a few times! At least most hotel restaurants change the menu every day. However, there is probably at least a night or two where you are ready to eat somewhere else, right? It is fun go out and experience something new for lunch or dinner. Now, thanks to my awesome travel partners in Tahiti, I have a list of restaurants that we recommend that you check out the next time you are in French Polynesia (aka Tahiti).

RUDY’S FINE STEAKHOUSE AND SEAFOOD

• LOCATION: Walking distance from the Hotel Manava Moorea in the district of Maharepa near a small outdoor shopping center
• TRANSFERS: Free round-trip transfers from all major resorts on the island
• RESERVATIONS: Highly recommended! Please call +689 40 56 58 00
• OPENING TIMES: Everyday of the week from 5.30pm to 10pm
• AVERAGE COST: €€ – €€€
• ATMOSPHERE: Small restaurant on the road side with a Mexican hacienda décor outside but pure French bistro inside with a Polynesian touch.
• SIGNATURE DISH: Parrot fish stuffed with crab
• CUISINE: French-American with fresh seafood and fish, NZ beef, escargots, French onion soup, lobster flambée with Cognac
• WHO TO TALK TO: Talk to the Tahitian-American owner Syd, the son of Rudy’s!
• STAFF: Wonderful, friendly and efficient staff. Syd also does a lot of meet and greet welcoming the diners to his restaurant.
• OUR OPINION: Always a great meal, attentive service for good value!
• WEBSITE: www.rudysmoorea.com
• FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/rudysmoorea

MOOREA BEACH CAFÉ (or simply… MBC)

• LOCATION: Gorgeous location right on the lagoon with endless sea views and of course stunning sunsets! You can’t miss it as the Veuve Cliquot champagne logo in bright orange is imprinted on the sun umbrellas and the patio furniture is also bright orange! Walking distance from the Hotel Manava Moorea in the district of Maharepa near a small outdoor shopping center.
• TRANSFERS: Free round-trip transfers from all major resorts on the island
• RESERVATIONS: Highly recommended! Please call +689 4056 2999
• OPENING TIMES: Wednesday to Sunday from 11.30pm to 9pm
• AVERAGE COST: €€ – €€€
• ATMOSPHERE: Casual chic, Southern France “Côté d’Azur, St Tropez, Monaco” atmosphere. Restaurant with a large outdoor deck covered with sun umbrellas overlooking the lagoon of Moorea.
• SIGNATURE DISH: Hard to say so always go with the Chef’s Specials of the Day!
• CUISINE: French with a Tahitian influence proposing fresh seafood, fish, beef, duck, chicken and even pizza
• WHO TO TALK TO: Talk to the owner and famous chef himself, Bruno Jamais!
• STAFF: Wonderful, friendly and efficient staff.
• OUR OPINION: To see and to be seen! Great place to check out the local action and see who is doing what and where! Your Nice, Monaco, St Tropez fix if you are missing a little sophistication!
• WEBSITE: www.mooreabeachcafe.com
• FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/MooreaBeachCafe

FARE LA CANADIENNE MOOREA

• LOCATION: Ideally located about 5mn driving from Sofitel Moorea Kia Ora Beach Resort and 10mn from the Manava Moorea Beach Resort in a small shopping center called Tumai Centre
• TRANSFERS: Not available
• RESERVATIONS: Highly recommended! Please call +689 87 73 45 78
• OPENING TIMES: Closed on Tuesday. From Monday to Friday: 11am to 1.30pm and from 6pm to 8pm. Open non stop on Saturday from 11am to 8.30pm
• AVERAGE COST: €€ – €€€
• ATMOSPHERE: Quaint homey structure with outdoor terrace and interior decorated with Montreal Canadian hockey jerseys and flags! Quite an eclectic style inside with interesting Queen Pomare type chairs around the dining tables.
• SIGNATURE DISH: Hamburgers, hamburgers and more hamburgers! The best in Moorea and in all of French Polynesia
• CUISINE: Casual dining with hamburgers as the star but also featuring the famous Quebecois “poutine”, salads, seafood, fish and grilled steaks.
• WHO TO TALK TO: Talk to the Canadian owner, Nancy and be charmed by her Quebecois accent!
• STAFF: Friendly, attentive staff
• OUR OPINION: Go on an empty stomach and feast your heart out on American (Canadian) food!
• WEBSITE: farelacanadienneburgerhousemoorea.business.site
• FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/pages/La%20Canadienne/380608739020128/

COCO BEACH MOOREA

• LOCATION: The only true restaurant located on the beach at Tiahura motu (islet) in the Haapiti district (across the channel from where the old Intercontinental Moorea was)
• TRANSFERS: Free boat transfers from the parking lot to the motu however you must take your own vehicle or scooter to get to the parking lot.
• RESERVATIONS: Highly recommended! Please call +689 87 72 57 26
• OPENING TIMES: Open only during the day. Closed on Monday and Tuesday. From Wednesday to Sunday: 10am to 4pm non-stop.
• AVERAGE COST: €€ – €€€
• ATMOSPHERE: Eat like a local, be like a local, barefoot chic in the sand. Come as you are, bathing suit flip flops and pareo. You can arrive with the first free boat transfer at 10am and stay all day until 4pm. You can eat, drink, snorkel, swim, pet the stingrays, relax and enjoy the stunning views of the lagoon and the verdant mountains of Moorea in the distance!
• SIGNATURE DISH: The classic Tahitian “poisson cru” raw, marinated red tuna with diced cucumber, tomatoes, onions and carrots doused in delicious, cold coconut milk and covered in freshly squeezed lime. If not… there is also the grilled octopus which is a favorite!
• CUISINE: Casual beachside dining, feet in the sand with salads, seafood, fish and grilled meat.
• WHO TO TALK TO: Your neighbors over a huge pitcher of margaritas, mojitos or Ti Punch!
• OUR OPINION: A must do in Moorea for a truly local experience combining the best of snorkeling, swimming, tanning and eating!
• FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/cocobeachmoz

HOLY STEAKHOUSE MOOREA

• LOCATION: Located right across the street on the hillside from the old Intercontinental Moorea in the district of Haapiti. The former Legends Resort (now rental vacation homes) is just above the restaurant.
• TRANSFERS: Not available.
• RESERVATIONS: Highly recommended! Please call +689 40 55 15 14
• OPENING TIMES: Open daily non-stop from noon to 10pm
• AVERAGE COST: €€ – €€€
• ATMOSPHERE: Comfortably elegant grill and wine bar, perfect for a romantic dinner or even a simple family dinner with high tables and chairs on the outdoor terrace for a more casual atmosphere to the elegantly appointed interior. The crowning touch is a floor to ceiling glass wine cellar with wines on view from all over the world appropriate for even the finest establishment.
• SIGNATURE DISH: The steak of course! From Angus Beef Sirloin, to prime rib, to huge ribeye steaks! However not to be missed are also the Local Lobster Raviolis.
• CUISINE: French with Polynesian touches such as fresh ginger sauce to go with the steaks.
• WHO TO TALK TO: The Manager, Alexandra and her nice and smiling staff!
• OUR OPINION: Come for sunset over the lagoon! You go for the views, you stay for the wine and you enjoy a delicious, tender steak or any of the vegetarian options, salads and fish! Good value for money.
• WEBSITE: www.holysteakhouse.com
• FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/holysteakhouse

SNACK MAHANA MOOREA

• LOCATION: At PK 23,200, on the lagoon side in the Papetoai district (about 5min driving from the old Intercontinental Moorea)
• TRANSFERS: Not available.
• RESERVATIONS: Reservations are not accepted. First come, first served.
• OPENING TIMES: Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 3pm – It can get busy so get there early!
• AVERAGE COST: €€ – €€€
• ATMOSPHERE: Very casual, laid back atmosphere. It looks as if you are entering a private home but you head into the backyard which is dominated by a huge, leafy tree providing much wanted escape from the heat. Tables are on the deck overlooking the water, on the lagoon’s edge and there are even cute, little houses that can sit four right on the lagoon’s edge.
• SIGNATURE DISH: Fish, fish and more fish! The fish is extremely fresh and comes in all varieties from the traditional “poisson cru” to sashimi, carpaccio, grilled and crusted with coconut and more!
• CUISINE: Polynesian using fresh ingredients
• WHO TO TALK TO: The fish in the water as you throw bread crumbs! You might get lucky and see a leopard ray or just a normal sting ray too.
• OUR OPINION: A little known eating hole, a great stop if driving a rental car or scooter for a relaxing lunch with a Hinano beer right on the water surrounded by a lot of locals and some tourists.
• FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/pages/Snack%20Mahana/116997691795723/

Finally, here is a handy interactive map to explore exactly where these recommendations are located:

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Originally Published Aug 28, 2021