11 BEST Cafes in Nuku'alofa & Tongatapu ☕ 2025

Last Updated: 30 November, 2025

The Best Places to Get Coffee, Breakfast and Lunch in Nuku’alofa

In Tonga’s capital city, you have the widest range of cafes available in the whole kingdom! Make the most of it by checking out a few of the best cafes in Nuku’alofa.

In fact, the capital on the country’s most populated island is where almost all of Tongatapu‘s cafes are located, including cafes set in iconic historical buildings to coffee shops roasting their own beans.

However, there are a few hidden gems across the outer villages where you can treat yourself to breakfast, lunch or coffee and cakes!

We go through the highlights in this list of the best cafes in Nuku’alofa and Tongatapu.

For more information on experiencing Nuku’alofa through its flavours, see The Food Guide to Nuku’alofa: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

1. Friends Café

As one of the city centre’s hotspots, Friends Café rarely needs an introduction. Learn about the history of the 100+-year-old building on the notices found on each table and treat yourself to an extensive menu featuring all-day breakfasts with tropical-inspired options like caramelised banana and sweet potato, alongside hearty mains spanning multiple cuisines.

From slow-cooked pork belly ciabatta sandwiches to fusion pasta dishes incorporating coconut cream and local ingredients, there’s something for everyone, including vegetarians who’ll find plenty of egg-based dishes, steamed vegetables and seasonal vegan salads.

For the sweet tooth, Italian-inspired tiramisu and ice cream are also winners!

They’re open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and evening drinks with local beer on tap, a good option for pre-drinks before hitting the 5 Best Bars in Nuku’alofa!

Opening hours: from 7 am to 11 pm Monday to Saturday (closed Sundays).
Location: Corner of Taufa’ahau Road and Salote Road, Nuku’alofa city centre.

The Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants in Nuku'alofa

2. Tupu’anga Cafe

We’re big fans of Tupu’anga Cafe for their farm-to-table approach and commitment to local production. What makes this spot particularly special is their on-site coffee roasting using beans sourced right here in Tonga, plus they make their own taro chips from crops grown on their own farm.

The menu covers all your café favourites, from omelettes and eggs Benedict (complete with local touches like squid rings and potato fritters) to paninis and distinctly Tongan offerings like ‘Ota Ika (raw fish with fresh coconut cream) served with kumala or taro chips, and beef nachos with manioke chips.

Their coffee selection includes all the standard espresso-based drinks with various syrup flavours and milk alternatives.

The café offers casual tours of their coffee roasting area at no charge when they’re not too busy, learn more about this experience and others in the 10 Best Foodie Experiences in Nuku’alofa. They also have free WiFi and a children’s playground.

Opening hours: from 8 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 1 pm Saturday. Closed Sundays.
Location: Umusi Road, Popua, Nuku’alofa.

3. Moli Green Cafe

Pop in for a sit-down or use the drive-thru at Moli Green Cafe. The café close to Nuku’alofa city centre provides a healthier breakfast and lunch option, specialising in fresh fruit smoothies (including unique moringa blends with pineapple or dates), sandwiches and hot options like omelettes and full breakfast combinations with bacon, sausage and scrambled eggs.

Menu highlights include toasties and paninis with various fillings, tuna sandwiches and heartier cooked breakfast options.

We’re particularly drawn to their extensive smoothie programme featuring health-conscious creations like the Malogreen with spinach and apple, tropical combinations and specialty coffee smoothies including the Banana Buzz and Banana Iced Coffee with vanilla ice cream.

If you can’t kick the caffeine then at least they have locally-roasted Kingdom Koffie beans alongside hot moringa juice and traditional teas. Vegetarian options are plentiful. Prices range from TOP$5 to TOP$22. Cash only.

Opening hours: 7 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday and 7 am to 1 pm Saturday.
Location: Corner of Fatafehi Road and Laifone Road, Kolofo’ou, Nuku’alofa.

5 BEST Cafes in Nuku'alofa & Tongatapu ☕ [2023]

4. Lava Cafe

Operating out of the shipping containers at the bus station, Lava Cafe offers a quirky setting for coffee, cake or something more substantial.

The café specialises in breakfast fare with options ranging from simple toast with butter and jam to hearty meals like the All Island big breakfast. We love their Keke Stack pancakes and customisable omelettes, while their Midnight Sandwich with Italian mince makes for a satisfying option any time of day.

The beverage selection is impressive, featuring standard coffee options alongside an extensive tropical flavour range including fruit fizzy drinks and fruit teas in combinations like passion mango, raspberry lychee and kiwifruit pineapple. Cold options include milkshakes, bubble teas and health-focused lemon ginger honey preparations.

Opening hours: 6 am to 10 pm Monday to Friday, 6 am to 12:30 pm Saturday, closed Sundays.
Location: Vuna Road (at the bus station in front of Vuna Wharf), Nuku’alofa city centre.

5. Mum’s Cafe

Experience a café Tongan style at Mum’s Cafe! This family-run establishment serves up everything from traditional Tongan favourites like ota ika and ika lolo to hearty Western breakfasts including the legendary “Mum’s Big Breakfast”.

The menu is impressively diverse, spanning breakfast classics (pancakes, eggs on toast), fast food favourites (fish and chips, chicken wings), and authentic Tongan platters straight from the food warmers. Fancy something more substantial? Try their grilled selections, pasta dishes, curries or burgers.

There’s hot food ready to go in the cabinet or have something made to order. Either way, food is lovingly but ironically prepared by Dad in the back while Mum and her daughters are running the show out front!

Opening hours: from 7 am to 8:30 pm Monday to Saturday.
Location: Corner of Fatafehi Road and Laifone Road, Kolofo’ou, Nuku’alofa.

6. Siva’s Dream Cafe

If you have plenty of time on your hands and want to get out of town, escape to Siva’s Dream Cafe.

Food is made with love at this locally run cafe in the village of Te’ekiu, which can take a little bit of time but is well worth the wait for the “Waimanalo Burger” marinated in honey soy sauce or the creamy chicken pasta.

Look out for one of their floor shows between November and December, as described in The 10 Best Cultural Shows in Tonga.

Opening hours: 8 am to 8 pm Tuesday to Saturday.
Location: Signposted off Hihifo Road, Te’ekiu village, west side of Tongatapu.

7. Kuinita’s Coffee

A container café with a large undercover deck on the outskirts of Nuku’alofa, Kuinita’s Coffee makes an excellent stop when exploring the west side of Tongatapu.

The menu spans from simple cheese toasties to more elaborate sandwiches featuring ham, tuna and eggs, while their gourmet cake selection includes carrot, banana, chocolate with coffee, and lemon varieties. Brownies come in berry biscuit and peanut butter options.

The coffee programme is comprehensive, offering traditional espresso-based drinks in multiple sizes with flavoured syrups and alternative milk choices. Cold options include iced coffee variations, smoothies and speciality drinks like papaya ginger and lemon frappé.

Opening hours: 6 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday, 1 pm to 7 pm Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Location: Hihifo Road, west side of Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu.

8. Aloha Cafe

One of the newest cafes and bakeries in town, Aloha Cafe wows with its well-lit cabinet displays of cupcakes, cheesecakes, cream cakes, breads and other baked goods all baked on-site.

The cafe, with stylish furniture and fairy lights incorporated into the industrial-style setting, is a quirky place to meet up for sweet treats and cold drinks such as syrup smoothies and milkshakes, iced coffee and bubble tea.

Opening hours: 6 am until everything has gone, Monday to Saturday.
Location: Corner of Tu’i Road and Wellington Road (next to Mia Hair and Beauty), Nuku’alofa city centre.

9. Hakau Horse Bar & Restaurant

Located at Simon’s Place accommodation, Hakau Horse Bar & Restaurant is a burger specialist that’s become a favourite lunch spot among locals and visitors alike.

Open Monday through Saturday, the café serves up an impressive all-day menu that combines Tongan and international flavours, from traditional otaika to classic fish and chips and Mexican-inspired dishes.

The heart of their menu is their burgers and sandwiches selection, ranging from simple cheeseburgers to their signature Hakau Horse burger, plus paninis that incorporate local flavours.

With a drinks menu featuring milkshakes, fresh coconut, juices and iced tea, it’s the perfect spot to cool down in Nuku’alofa’s tropical climate. They also cater to families with a dedicated kids menu.

Opening hours: from 11 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday
Location: Laifone Road, Nuku’alofa. Located at Simon’s Place accommodation. Approximately 300 m (yards) east of Sunshine Rental Cars and Mum’s Cafe.

10. Coffee Post

Coffee Post boasts an array of healthy lunch options and not-so-healthy breakfasts, including beautifully presented pancakes, sandwiches, toasties and more.

The café is one of the earliest-opening spots in the kingdom, making it a reliable go-to for your morning caffeine fix. Their coffee preparation is taken seriously, with detailed brewing standards for everything from espresso to macchiato ensuring consistent quality across all their offerings.

We love their breakfast menu, which features popular choices like their omelette and eggs benedict (both noted as best-sellers). You’ll also find their unique “Tonga Toast” interpretation of French toast, along with protein-enhanced porridge options for health-conscious visitors.

Their blended smoothies are made without added sugar, featuring tropical fruit combinations and green smoothie options. Alternative milk choices like almond and soy are available for an additional charge.

Look out for creative freshly baked cakes provided by local and independently run bakeries.

Opening hours: 6:30 am to 2 pm Monday to Friday and 6:30 am to 12 pm Saturday. Closed Sundays.
Location: Taufa’ahau Road (Tonga Post building), Nuku’alofa city centre.

11. Cafe Escape

It’s easy to find your own space inside the large indoor venue of Cafe Escape. The contemporary café offers a large selection of breakfast and lunch meals scrawled on its blackboard menu, lurching from tuna poke to burgers to soup of the day.

The café specialises in all-day breakfast with an extensive menu featuring everything from eggs Benedict and scrambled eggs with smoked salmon to tropical-style pancakes and French toast.

For lunch, tuck into daily soup specials like fish chowder, sandwiches with tuna or chicken, or chef’s favourites showcasing dishes with international influences including Thai red curry preparations and teriyaki-style options.

If you don’t come for lunch or brekkie, at least come for the hearty cake slices.

There are even a couple of options for vegans, as listed in Tonga for Vegans & Vegetarians + 10 Best Restaurants.

Opening hours: 7:30 am to 4 pm Monday to Saturday.
Location: Taufa’ahau Road (near Western Union and opposite Ciora and Tali’eva Bars), Nuku’alofa city centre.

More About Cafes in Nuku’alofa and Tongatapu

That’s it for our list of the best cafes in Nuku’alofa and Tongatapu. For more foodie experiences, take a look at the following:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Food Guide to Tongatapu: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Tonga and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Tonga Tourism Authority (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
Tonga Ministry of Tourism (FAQs about visiting Tonga - Updated [2025])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Revenue & Customs (Customs and immigration contacts - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Agriculture & Food, Forests and Fisheries (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Infrastructure (Land and aviation transport info - Updated [2025])
Tonga Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Tonga Statistics Department (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Tonga - Updated [2025])
Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Tonga - Updated [2025])
Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Tonga - Updated [2025])

Our editorial standards: At Tonga Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura (Lola) 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.

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