The Best Accommodation in Tonga with Restaurants
If finding a place to stay in the islands of Tonga also means finding a great place to eat, then you’re in luck! We’ve put together this list of the best accommodation in Tonga for foodies, which essentially means the accommodations with fabulous restaurants and meals to indulge in. Check out our favourites in the list below!
Note that Tonga is an ever-evolving country, especially when it comes to accommodation. With that in mind, some of the services accommodations provide are known to change without notice. If there is any information needing an update in the listings below, feel free to reach out!
1. The Reef Resort
Sure, the snorkelling, lavish fales and fishing might be a reason to stay at this boutique resort on Kapa Island, but the main reason to stay at The Reef Resort is the food! Seafood reigns supreme where you’ll experience fresh catch of the day, whether it’s tuna, mahimahi, parrotfish, snapper or lobster, while other produce is fresh from the market. This resort in the Vava’u Group prides itself on hiring international decorated chefs to prepare the ingredients of the Pacific in creative ways. Meanwhile, your stay here will be in one of the five premium fales either on the hillside or on the beachfront. Check out other accommodation like this in the 7 Things to Do in Vava’u for Foodies.
Check The Reef Resort out:
2. Seaview Lodge & Restaurant
Any foodie will probably know that staying in the capital is a must during your time in Tonga, and one of the stays you might want to consider is the Seaview Lodge & Restaurant. This boutique hotel on the waterfront of Nuku’alofa features colonial-meets-Tongan-inspired guest rooms with a choice of either a sea view with a balcony or a garden view. Continental breakfast and free WiFi are included, while meals can be enjoyed at the on-site restaurant serving contemporary European Haute and Tongan fusion cuisine. Check out more like this in the 10 Best Accommodation in Nuku’alofa for Foodies.
Check Seaview Lodge out:
3. The Beach House (Shell Garden)
Get the best of gourmet Pacific dining and self-catering at The Beach House on Fofoa Island. The boutique island resort in Vava’u with two cottages offers a gourmet meal plan in the whale season where guests are treated to lavish breakfasts, a two-course lunch and a three-course dinner each day. Self-catering in your own modern kitchen is available between November and May. For breakfast, you’ll be left homemade granola, fresh fruit, free-range eggs, organic jams, tea, coffee and more in your private kitchen. Lunch and dinner is all fresh food from seasonal produce and fresh fish caught in the Vava’auan waters. Check out other accommodation like this in the 10 Best Accommodation in Vava’u for Foodies.
Check The Beach House out:
4. Waterfront Lodge
Enjoy a boutique hotel-style accommodation with a delightful restaurant at the Waterfront Lodge in Nuku’alofa. On the waterfront road, Vuna Road, the colonial-style lodge boasts character and charm, complemented with modern and fresh furnishings. There are eight double rooms available with either a garden or sea view. As a bonus, be reassured that your stay will be a peaceful one with the lodge’s strict no-child policy.
Check Waterfront Lodge out:
5. Sandy Beach Resort
If the islands of Ha’apai are calling you instead, take a look at the Sandy Beach Resort. It has a small selection of freestanding beach bungalows with an ensuite and private verandah to enjoy the beach views. Guests have access to a wealth of complimentary activities and paid excursions, from culture tours to fishing charters, while the resort also prides itself on its restaurant which is the closest thing you will find to fine dining in Ha’apai. For instance, indulge in fresh fish and lobster paired with good wines, beers or something off the cocktail menu. Check out more accommodation nearby in the 10 Best Accommodation in Ha’apai for Foodies.
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6. Little Italy Hotel & Restaurant
The Little Italy Hotel brings all of the charms of Europe to the shores of Nuku’alofa. The boutique hotel has Standard and Ocean View Rooms with private balconies and interconnecting rooms. Stays at this waterfront accommodation include a continental buffet breakfast each morning and all of your expected hotel amenities. As for dinner, you need only go downstairs to one of the most popular restaurants in town, the Little Italy Restaurant which serves irresistible pizzas, pasta and more. Check out more foodie accommodation around the main island in the 10 Best Accommodation in Tongatapu for Foodies.
Check Little Italy Hotel out:
8. Mandala Resort
The closest thing to fine dining in Vava’u can be found at the Mandala Resort. Evenings here are spent at the lavish open-air restaurant where guests are treated to an international fare where fresh artisan bread is baked daily, while vegetables and freshwater fish are harvested from the resort’s Aquaponic system. In between delectable dinners, you’ll stay in one of the luxurious treehouses or airy beach bungalows.
Check Mandala Resort out:
9. Beautiful Ofu Island Backpackers
For sampling authentic Tongan cuisine while enjoying an island getaway on a budget, stay at the Beautiful Ofu Island Backpackers in Vava’u. You’re free to bring food from the mainland and cook it up in the resort’s communal kitchen. Otherwise, leave room on a Sunday for the Tongan feast cooked in an underground oven called an “umu”. The resort also offers popular island tours for more ways to experience Vava’u.
[Update] The Basque Tavern
[Update: The Basque Tavern no longer offers accommodation. The restaurant is still open.]
Finally, this accommodation might be better known for its food than its beds, but The Basque Tavern is worth considering if you’re on a tight budget and want to stay in Vava’u’s main town, Neiafu. They offer private rooms for solo travellers and couples with shared bathroom facilities, while downstairs is a Spanish tapas bar boasting magnificent views of the Neiafu Harbour.
[CLOSED] Tapana Island Resort
A budget resort owned by a Spanish couple on Tapana Island, Vava’u, Tapana Island Resort offers guests the chance to self-cater in a basic kitchen. However, it’ll be hard to resist the Spanish dishes served at the on-site La Paella Restaurant, an attraction in itself on the island that brings in the day-trippers to sample a bit of the Mediterranean in the South Pacific. As for the accommodation, stays are in basic fales (beach huts).
More About Accommodation in Tonga for Foodies
That’s it for the best accommodations in Tonga for foodies. See more amazing stays in The Top 30 Resorts in Tonga. Plus, get even more trip-planning tips in The Foodie Guide to Tonga.
Author
Laura S.
This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of Tonga Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as Tonga. She knows the islands inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Tonga’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.