Where to Drink in Tonga
Whether you’re looking for a place for a relaxing sundowner, somewhere to meet the locals, meet other travellers or party into the early hours, there’s a place to suit your style of drinks in Tonga. Sure, Tonga isn’t Ibiza but you can find your type of watering hole if you know where to look. In fact, we’ll help you with that using this list of the best bars in Tonga!
Note that the drinking age in Tonga is 18 years old.
1. Billfish Bar & Restaurant
An open-air bar on the waterfront of Nuku’alofa, Billfish Bar & Restaurant is a good place to catch the game, relax with friends or listen to live music. The bar is decorated in trophy billfish, where you can get a wide selection of beers, wines and spirits poured. Or how about pigging out on one of their famous oversized burgers, like the “Jucy Lucy”? Later into the evening, there’s (sometimes) live music or an in-house DJ playing tunes well into the night! The restaurant also features in our 5 Best Restaurants in Nuku’alofa.
Location: Vuna Road, opposite Faua Wharf in Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu
(c) tongapocketguide.com2. Mariner’s Cafe & Restaurant
The one bar and restaurant you’ll find in the islands of Ha’apai that isn’t in a resort is the Mariner’s Cafe & Restaurant. Located in the town of Pangai in Lifuka, the Mariner’s Cafe is a long-established eatery, watering hole and hub of information should you be looking for things to do. They have Tongan beers of tap, tropical punches and non-alcoholic drinks like fresh coconuts, iced coffee and, erm, delightful nonu (noni fruit) shots!
Location: Fau Road, Pangai, Lifuka, Ha’apai
(c) Tonga Ministry of Tourism3. Mango Cafe
As for if you find yourself in the islands of Vava’u, a popular place for drinking, at least with the yachties, is the Mango Cafe in Neiafu. Hanging over the small-boat marina with its array of yachts, the Mango Cafe offers interesting views as you sip on one of their Tongan or international tap beers, wines or mixers. Check out some of the other bars and restaurants in Neiafu in Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants in Vava’u.
Location: Fatafehi Road, Neiafu, Vava’u
(c) tongapocketguide.com4. Reload Bar
Arguably the only real nightclub in Tonga, the Reload Bar in Nuku’alofa is definitely where the party is at. Located opposite the Friends Cafe, the Reload Bar serves up a good selection of beers, which you can tackle as a pint, jug or a tower. They also pour a selection of cocktails and mixers. Throughout the week, Reload puts on different themed nights, from karaoke nights to ladies night to reggae nights to oldies nights to salsa nights, and the list goes on! Learn more about the nightlife on Tonga’s main island in The Ultimate Guide to the Nightlife on Tongatapu.
Location: Tafa’ahau Road, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu
(c) Pixabay5. Vuna Restaurant & Bar
Boasting an awesome waterfront location on the west side of Nuku’alofa (i.e. the west side of the Royal Palace), Vuna Restaurant & Bar is well worth checking out. Enjoy the relaxed ambience in their awesome beer garden decorated with Tongan carvings, sails and all that good stuff. Inside, you can watch the big game on the big screen projector or indulge in some of the restaurant’s seafood canapes and platters. Happy hour is 5pm to 7pm (sometimes until 9am on Fridays and Saturdays).
Location: Vuna Road, west side of the Royal Palace next to Little Italy in Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu
(c) Pixabay6. Bellavista Cafe & Restaurant
With a nice little bar section overlooking the Neiafu Harbour, the Bellavista Cafe & Restaurant is not only a great place to eat but an exceptional place to drink. Sip on a few cocktails, drink wine, beer or your favourite mixer combo from the elevated bar overlooking the small-boat marina in Neiafu. They are open throughout lunch and dinner, so the bar is something you can rely on for an afternoon drink to a relaxing sundowner.
Location: Guttenbeil Plaza, Neiafu, Vava’u
(c) tongapocketguide.com7. Tongan Beach Resort
While many resorts in Tonga have excellent bars, we mention the Tongan Beach Resort in Vava’u, not only because their cocktail menu is among some of the best in the islands, but because they are easy to get to if you’re staying on Vava’u’s main island. The Tongan Beach Resort has a relaxing beachside bar with an extensive cocktail menu to get stuck into. But if you’re not into cocktails, don’t worry, as they also have international and local beers, wines and mixers.
Location: ‘Utungake, Vava’u
(c) tongapocketguide.com8. Nauti Ruby’s Bar & Nightclub
Drink like a sailor and hang out with the yachties at Nauti Ruby’s Bar, sometimes seen as “Nauti Rubi’s”. The nautical-themed bar at Faua Wharf on the waterfront serves up meals like steaks and seafood in “Tongan portions” along with creative cocktails, Tongan beers and fresh coconuts. Later into the night, the bar turns on party mode with music and dancing into the early hours.
Location: Faua Wharf, Vuna Road
(c) pxhere.com9. Ngutulei Bar & Restaurant
Another effortlessly fun bar on the waterfront of Nuku’alofa, Ngutulei Bar & Restaurant knows how to give its punters a good time. You can hardly miss the bright lights of the bar’s sign shining on Faua Wharf, where you can sip on beers, take shots of whisky or get your dose of bourbon and cola while watching the latest game.
Location: Faua Wharf, Vuna Road, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu
(c) tongapocketguide.com10. Vakaloa Beach Resort
While there are many resorts in Tongatapu with bars that are open to both guests and non-guests, we recommend the Vakaloa Beach Resort for their super entertaining cultural shows on Wednesday and Friday nights. The resort on Kanokupolu Beach on the western side of Tongatapu puts on fantastic cultural performances giving you a fun dose of the Tongan culture as you relax with a Tongan beer, mixer, wine or something else. Oh, and that’s not to mention the huge Tongan-style buffet complete with a spitroast pig. Check out more shows like this in The Best Cultural Shows on Tongatapu.
Location: Kanokupolu Beach, Tongatapu
(c) tongapocketguide.comMore About Bars in Tonga
