The food in Moorea is a delicious fusion of French cuisine and local Polynesian flavors. While you can find appealing menus with an international bent at the resorts, you’ll also want to try some of the local spots around the island.
Here are the best places to eat in Moorea:
Le Mayflower
Locals proclaim Le Mayflower in Haapiti to be the best gourmet restaurant on their home island. It is most famous for its delicious house special, lobster ravioli. Other mouthwatering seafood dishes include tuna steak with tomato, basil and garlic cream sauce; shrimp flambé with cognac and pasta; and mahi-mahi with ginger and lemon sauce.
Snack Coco D’isle
Situated in Haapiti, this local restaurant is casual dining at its best. The quaint little roadside restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed evening with your feet in the sand. The menu features a diverse range of local specialties, including pizza, kabobs, steak frites, fresh sashimi, grilled fish and burgers. The portions are generous and the prices are reasonable, giving many travelers a reason to eat there twice in one trip.
Le Mahogany
This bistro near idyllic Cook’s Bay is just as popular with the locals as it is with foreigners. The restaurant has a charming tiki-hut feel, with polished mahogany tables, colorful artwork and large windows that open up to the surrounding tropical gardens. The menu is both Chinese and French — which means you can choose from dishes as diverse as French onion soup or prawn curry.
Te Honu Iti
Tahitian for “The Little Turtle,” this classic French restaurant offers a lovely waterfront setting near Cook’s Bay with an outdoor deck and lights that illuminate the lagoon at night. Request a table near the water so you can watch as locals feed the stingrays as you dine. The menu offers classic French fare — including frog’s legs and beef tenderloin with brandy sauce — as well as Polynesian-inspired dishes.
