The Food Guide to Vanuatu: Places to Eat & Food Tours

Vanuatu’s food scene changes a lot from island to island. In the main hubs, you’ll find cafés, beach bars, resort restaurants, food containers, markets and guided food experiences. Head further into the outer islands, however, and food becomes much more local, with meals prepared by bungalow hosts, produce from village gardens and the occasional market or roadside stall.

Port Vila and Efate

If you only have time to explore one food destination in Vanuatu, make it Port Vila and Efate LINK#D017. This is the country’s most developed dining hub, with the widest choice of restaurants, cafés, beach bars, food containers, resort restaurants and self-catering supplies.

It’s also where you’ll find some of Vanuatu’s best food-focused experiences, from chocolate and coffee to distillery tastings, cooking tours, kava bars and the ever-useful Port Vila Central Market. Dining options range from local-food-focused restaurants and French-influenced dining to waterfront meals, casual burgers, Asian-fusion plates, beach bars and resort restaurants with strong dietary options.

For more details, see The Food Guide to Port Vila & Efate: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

Espiritu Santo

Espiritu Santo LINK#D053 is Vanuatu’s second key food destination, but it feels very different from Port Vila. The dining scene is more spread out, with cafés and hotel restaurants in Luganville, beachfront stops along the coast, resort restaurants, market meals, fishing experiences and food woven into cultural visits.

Santo is especially good for travellers who like food with a bit of adventure. One day you might be having coffee and lunch in Luganville, the next you’re eating at a beach restaurant after a swim, tasting fire-cooked food at a cultural village, trying fresh fruit at a waterfall or heading out on a fishing charter.

For more details, see The Food Guide to Espiritu Santo: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

Malekula

Food in Malekula LINK#D035 is not about restaurants. In fact, there is no major restaurant scene here, which is exactly why it deserves its own place in this guide. Eating in Malekula is more about market snacks, accommodation meals, cooking with hosts, garden-to-table experiences and traditional island food.

Lakatoro Market is the main public place to look for local food, with snacks, lunch items and casual meals around the market and nearby Wilkins Memorial Park. Beyond that, most meals are arranged through accommodation hosts, often featuring simple island-style cooking, local produce, fish, meat, rice, root crops and vegetables.

Malekula is also one of the best islands for food experiences that feel genuinely connected to place, from cooking classes and garden harvesting to agricultural tours and island feasts.

For more details, see The Food Guide to Malekula: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

The Outer Islands

Across the outer islands of Vanuatu, food is usually less about menus and more about hospitality. On islands such as Tanna, Pentecost, Ambrym, Ambae and the Banks Islands, travellers often eat with their bungalow hosts or through pre-arranged meals rather than at restaurants.

This can be one of the most memorable parts of travelling in Vanuatu, especially if you’re served local produce, fresh seafood, root crops, coconut-based dishes or traditional foods prepared in a village setting. The key is to communicate your meal needs in advance, bring any speciality foods you rely on and understand that shops and markets can be limited.

For foodies, the outer islands are best approached with curiosity and flexibility. You might not find a long restaurant list, but you may find some of the most authentic food experiences of your trip.

Vanuatu’s food experiences go well beyond the restaurant table. Sure, you can eat your way around Port Vila’s cafés, beach bars and resort restaurants, but some of the country’s most memorable foodie moments happen at markets, nakamals, cultural villages, waterfalls, bungalow kitchens and out on the water.

Port Vila Tours "Guided Food Experience"

For the most complete food-focused day on Efate, join the "Guided Food Experience" with Port Vila Tours. This full-day tour strings together several of the island’s best food and drink stops, including local markets, Aelan Chocolate Makers, 83 Islands Distillery, locally roasted coffee, Vanuatu chocolate, handcrafted spirits, local beef, lunch and kava at traditional bars.

There’s also a cultural element, with traditional cooking techniques in Mele Village helping connect the day’s tastings to everyday Ni-Vanuatu food culture. With hotel or wharf transfers included, it’s one of the easiest ways to get a broad introduction to Vanuatu’s food scene in one go.

Aelan Chocolate Makers

For something sweet, head to Aelan Chocolate Makers (ACTIV Centre, Emten Lagoon), where Vanuatu cacao is transformed into bean-to-bar chocolate. The short tour walks you through the chocolate-making process, from raw cacao beans to finished bars, with tastings that showcase island ingredients.

Flavours might include coconut, chilli pepper, nangai, ginger, turmeric, kava, coffee or sea salt, depending on what’s available. There’s also a small shop/café where you can pick up chocolate, cocoa nibs, tamanu oil, kava, handicrafts and coffee.

Eden on the River Cooking and Kava Tours

For a hands-on food experience in a tropical garden setting, Eden on the River (Rentapao, Efate) offers experiences such as the "Eden Cooking Guided Tour" and "Kava Plantation Guided Tour". Set around the Rentapau River area, these tours combine food, culture and nature rather than just focusing on tastings.

The cooking experience introduces traditional food preparation, while the kava tour explores one of Vanuatu’s most important cultural drinks. It’s a good choice if you want a food experience with a little more scenery and context than a standard town tour.

Visit a Market

No food guide to Vanuatu would be complete without visiting a market. This is where you’ll see everyday island ingredients up close, from tropical fruit and vegetables to root crops, local greens, cooked peanuts, bananas, avocados, chillies, simple snacks and sometimes prepared meals.

Port Vila Central Market (Kumul Highway, Port Vila) is the country’s most useful market for travellers, especially if you’re self-catering, staying in the capital or wanting an easy introduction to Vanuatu produce. Go for fresh fruit, vegetables, local staples and the atmosphere of one of Port Vila’s most important everyday food hubs.

On Santo, Luganville Market (Luganville, Santo) is the place to browse local produce, cooked peanuts, bananas, avocados, watermelons, ginger and other island ingredients. It’s especially useful before heading further around Santo, where food shopping becomes more limited.

Over on Malekula, Lakatoro Market (Lakatoro, Malekula) is the main stop for fresh produce and local food. Ladies sell snacks, lunch items and sometimes cakes like banana bread along the back wall, while a hut behind the market near Wilkins Memorial Park serves casual meals such as fish, chicken or steak with rice, tomatoes and greens.

For more on markets, head on over to the 10 Best Markets in Vanuatu.

Try Kava at a Nakamal

Trying kava at a nakamal is one of Vanuatu’s essential food and drink experiences. A nakamal is a traditional kava bar, usually identified by coloured lights outside. Most open around 3 pm or 4 pm after preparing the day’s batch, and when the light goes out, they’re usually out of kava.

Vanuatu’s kava is famously strong because it is often prepared fresh from the root, rather than dried powder. Start with a small shell, follow local etiquette and try it with wos-em mout snacks such as cassava chips, roasted nangai nuts or grilled skewers to “wash your mouth” after the earthy flavour.

For first-timers, choose recommended nakamals rather than walking into just anywhere. Learn more in the 10 Best Kava Bars (Nakamals) in Vanuatu.

83 Islands Distillery

For a more modern drink experience, 83 Islands Distillery (Stella Mare, Port Vila)  introduces visitors to Vanuatu-made spirits. This is where local ingredients and island creativity meet distilling, with tastings giving you another angle on Vanuatu’s food and drink scene.

It pairs well with other Port Vila foodie stops, especially if you’re interested in what can be made locally beyond the plate. To make a full evening of it, follow a distillery tasting with dinner, sunset drinks or a visit to a recommended nakamal.

Jiarofa Cultural Village

Food is often part of cultural tours around Efate, especially when demonstrations, cooking methods or traditional ingredients are involved. Jiarofa Cultural Village is one to know for traditional farming insights, cooking classes, food preservation techniques, herbal medicine, weaving, dancing and fire walking.

It’s also one of the places where you may learn about mara, an ancient preservation technique from Futuna Island using unripe bananas. The result is a preserved delicacy with a cheese-like texture and a surprising blue-cheese-style flavour.

Learn more about Jiarofa and many more in the 10 Best Cultural & Kastom Villages in Vanuatu.

Fire Cooking and Kava in Santo

On Santo, cultural villages bring food and performance together. Santo Fire Walks & Cultural Village includes demonstrations such as weaving, cooking, food cooked in bamboo, freshly squeezed kava, sand drawing, dancing and fire walking.

Meanwhile, Leweton Cultural Village offers an introduction to northern island cultures, with traditional dancing, water music, kava ceremony, fire-making demonstrations and the chance to taste fire-cooked foods such as roasted banana. These experiences are not restaurant tours, but they do give you a deeper understanding of how food, custom and community connect in Vanuatu.

Food Experiences in Malekula

Food experiences in Malekula are less polished and all the better for it. At Lakatoro Palm Lodge, cooking classes can include a visit to the local market before preparing island-style food with your host. At Nawori Seaview Bungalow, guests can join a garden-to-table experience, harvesting ingredients from the property’s garden before cooking and sharing the meal.

For a deeper look at where island food comes from, Nanwut Bungalows on Uri Island offers guided nature and agriculture experiences. The agricultural tour to neighbouring Uripiv Island shows how communities grow staple crops such as taro, cassava and yams, offering a fascinating look at food security and subsistence farming in the islands.

More Food Experiences in Vanuatu

And that’s not all the food scene in Vanuatu has to offer. Check out alternative food tours and experiences, such as:

• Tasting fresh fruit during a visit to Tuffuntari Waterfall on Santo
• Trying tuluk and simboro around Mele Village and Mele Bay
• Visiting Tanna Coffee Café & Tour on Efate to learn about Vanuatu’s coffee industry
• Having dinner with theatre at Stonegrill, where you cook meat and seafood on hot volcanic stones
• Learning about traditional crops, such as yams, taro and cassava, through village and garden visits...

... For more ideas, check out 20 Best Foodie Experiences in Vanuatu.

There’s such an array of eateries in Vanuatu’s main dining hubs that, unfortunately, you just won’t have time to hit them all. Most of the country’s restaurants are concentrated in Port Vila, Efate and Santo, while dining on the outer islands is usually a more local affair through bungalow hosts, markets and pre-arranged meals.

Luckily, our 20 Best Restaurants in Vanuatu guide narrows things down to the standouts, from local-food-focused restaurants and long-standing cafés to beach bars, resort dining, Santo favourites and casual food stops.

The Best Restaurants in Vanuatu

For sit-down dining, Vanuatu’s best restaurants are mostly found in Port Vila and Luganville, with a few destination-worthy coastal spots on Efate and Santo. Expect everything from local-food-focused menus and French-influenced dining to harbour views, resort settings and interactive meals with a little theatre.

Regenerative Vanua (Port Vila and Efate)

For a meal that feels rooted in the islands, Regenerative Vanua (Elluk Road, Nambatri) is one of Vanuatu’s most memorable dining stops. This open-air garden collective brings together local-food dining, wellness drinks and locally roasted coffee, all with a strong focus on ingredients sourced from Vanuatu.

Expect island staples, grilled seafood, meats, root vegetables, free-range chicken and traditional sides like kumala mash and steamed taro. It’s a great choice when you want your meal to feel connected to the land rather than flown in from somewhere else.

LaLaLa Restaurant & Bar (Port Vila and Efate)

LaLaLa Restaurant & Bar (Le Petit Village, Kumul Highway, Port Vila) brings a polished French-influenced dining experience to the Port Vila scene. It’s a good pick for a slower evening meal, especially if you want something more intimate than the casual cafés and beach bars around town.

Expect a refined setting, thoughtful plates and a style that works well for couples, small groups or anyone after a more grown-up dinner in the capital.

Mangoes Resort Restaurant (Port Vila and Efate)

Mangoes Resort Restaurant (Captain Cook Avenue, Port Vila) offers relaxed resort dining close to town, with the easy atmosphere you want after a full day of exploring. It’s a convenient choice for travellers staying around Port Vila who want a sit-down meal without making dinner complicated.

The resort setting gives it a calm, tucked-away feel while still being practical for an evening out.

Deco Stop Lodge (Espiritu Santo)

On Santo, Deco Stop Lodge (Hospital Road, Luganville) is a strong choice for views over the Segond Channel, a poolside setting and changing dinner menus. It’s one of the more memorable places to eat in Luganville when the view matters almost as much as the food.

The atmosphere is casual but scenic, making it a useful choice for sunset drinks, dinner or a relaxed evening above town.

Chez Louis Restaurant (Espiritu Santo)

Chez Louis Restaurant (Port Olry) is the one to keep in mind for a laid-back coastal meal up north. Set in one of Santo’s most beautiful beach villages, it’s the sort of lunch stop that gives you a good reason to slow down and stay a little longer.

The signature marinated fried fish, seasoned with local peppers, is the kind of dish that suits the setting perfectly: simple, local, beachy and full of flavour.

Smugglers Seafood Restaurant & Bar (Espiritu Santo)

Smugglers Seafood Restaurant & Bar (Luganville, Espiritu Santo) brings a casual waterfront-style restaurant feel to town. It’s useful for seafood, pub-style meals and an easy-going Santo evening.

The menu leans into hearty lunch specials, seafood dishes and familiar comfort food, making it a solid choice when you want something filling without overthinking dinner.

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The Best Cafés in Vanuatu

Cafés in Vanuatu are most useful in Port Vila and Luganville, where they double as breakfast spots, coffee stops, lunch venues and easy places to reset between tours. They’re also some of the best options for travellers who want lighter meals, smoothies, familiar favourites or diet-friendly choices.

Jill’s Café (Port Vila and Efate)

Jill’s Café (Kumul Highway, Nambatu) is one of the long-standing favourites in the capital, known for hearty breakfasts, burgers, Mexican-style dishes and café classics. It’s the sort of place that works for breakfast, lunch or a familiar, filling meal between tours.

Think pancakes, burritos, burgers, quesadillas and from-scratch café cooking that keeps travellers coming back when they want something reliable.

Nambawan Café (Port Vila and Efate)

Nambawan Café (Port Vila Waterfront) is an easy-going waterfront stop for coffee, smoothies, sorbets and casual bites. It’s also useful for diet-friendly options, with alternative milks and clearly considered dairy-free choices.

Coco & Co (Port Vila and Efate)

For a fresher, more modern café-style meal, Coco & Co (Kumul Highway, Port Vila) offers bowls, smoothies and light meals in a contemporary tropical setting. It’s a good option when the heat calls for something colourful, cool and not too heavy.

Expect the kind of café food that suits a Port Vila day: smoothie bowls, wholesome lunches, coffee and easygoing brunch-style plates.

Amoremio (Port Vila and Efate)

Amoremio (Bellevue Point, Tassiriki) brings French-owned crêperie charm to Efate, with sweet treats, coffee and a family-friendly setting. It’s a handy stop for a low-key treat, especially if you’re travelling with children.

Crêpes, cabinet bites and coffee make it an easy addition to a day exploring beyond central Port Vila.

Natangora Café (Espiritu Santo)

Over on Santo, Natangora Café (Main Road, Luganville) is a useful daytime stop for coffee, lighter meals, sushi-style options and burgers. It’s one of Luganville’s easier café picks when you want something casual but varied.

It’s especially handy for a town day, whether you’re between errands, dive plans, market stops or road trips.

Attar Café (Espiritu Santo)

Attar Café (Main Road, Luganville) is more casual and budget-friendly, with simple rice dishes, toasted sandwiches, juices and coffee. It’s ideal for a quick, affordable bite while running errands in town.

This is not fancy café dining, but that’s exactly the appeal: simple, useful and easy to work into a Santo day.

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The Best Beach Bars and Waterfront Restaurants in Vanuatu

Let’s be honest: food tastes better with a sea view. Around Efate and Santo, beach bars and waterfront restaurants are where Vanuatu’s holiday atmosphere really comes through, whether you’re after pizzas by the sand, seafood by the harbour, casual drinks or a lazy lunch that somehow becomes sunset.

The Beach Bar (Port Vila and Efate)

Around Efate, The Beach Bar (Mele Road, Mele Bay, Port Vila) is a fun, casual pick for beachside food, drinks, pizzas, family-friendly meals and evening entertainment. It’s one of those places where lunch can easily turn into a longer beach stop.

Come for the relaxed Mele Bay setting and stay for the easygoing mix of drinks, food and island-style entertainment.

Banyan Beach Bar (Port Vila and Efate)

Banyan Beach Bar (Kumul Highway, Port Vila) offers a beachfront setting with pizzas, salads, pastas and a lively atmosphere. It’s a good choice when you want something casual but still scenic.

The Italian-leaning menu, beach location and social feel make it a useful all-rounder for lunch, dinner or drinks by the water.

Mali Beach Club (Port Vila and Efate)

Mali Beach Club (Devil's Point Road, Mele Bay) delivers a tranquil, Bali-inspired oceanfront dining experience with Vanuatu’s easygoing island atmosphere. It works well for a lazy meal or drink by the water, especially if you’re exploring beyond central Port Vila.

It’s the kind of place where the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting, with beach-club-style dining, cocktails and sunset potential.

Waterfront Bar & Grill (Port Vila and Efate)

For marina and harbour settings, Waterfront Bar & Grill (Kumul Highway, Port Vila) is a classic Port Vila option. Its long-standing seafood chowder is one of the big draws, alongside fresh catches, local beef steaks, wood-fired pizzas and grill-style dishes.

It’s a reliable choice for lunch, dinner or a drink between services, especially if you like your meal with boats bobbing nearby.

Wahoo Seafood & Grill (Port Vila and Efate)

Seafood lovers should also look to Wahoo Seafood & Grill (Havannah Harbour), especially if you’re heading out of central Port Vila. It combines seafood and grill dining with a more tucked-away coastal setting.

It’s a good one to pair with a scenic drive or a day exploring Efate’s quieter side.

The Sandbar (Espiritu Santo)

On Santo, The Sandbar (Luganville Waterfront) brings a relaxed beachy feel to town. It’s a casual option for drinks, pizzas, seafood, fresh juices and a simple meal near the water.

It’s one of the easier places in Luganville to get that sand-and-sea atmosphere without heading far out of town.

Million Dollar View Restaurant (Espiritu Santo)

Million Dollar View Restaurant (Canal Road, Luganville) is worth knowing about if you’re visiting the nearby WW2 site and want a casual local-feeling meal. It’s a simple, useful stop with a setting that makes sense as part of a sightseeing day.

Come here when you want something unfussy near one of Santo’s most famous historic snorkelling and diving locations.

The Best Resort Restaurants in Vanuatu

Resort restaurants are a big part of dining in Vanuatu, especially if you want a more polished meal, beachfront setting or somewhere convenient after a full day of tours. They’re also some of the most reliable options once you’re outside the main towns.

Tamanu on the Beach (Port Vila and Efate)

Around Efate, Tamanu on the Beach (White Sands Road, Efate) is one of the more atmospheric resort dining options, with a beachside setting that suits a special lunch or dinner away from central Port Vila.

It’s a good choice when you want the meal to feel like part of the holiday setting, not just a place to eat.

Eratap Beach Resort (Port Vila and Efate)

Eratap Beach Resort (Eratap, Efate) is another strong resort restaurant for travellers who want beach views, polished service and a quieter setting. It’s a good fit for a more relaxed, scenic meal away from the capital.

The location gives it that out-of-town escape feeling while still being close enough to work into an Efate itinerary.

Waves Restaurant at Barrier Beach Resort (Espiritu Santo)

On Santo, Waves Restaurant at Barrier Beach Resort (East Coast Road, Saraoutou) is one of the stronger resort dining options, especially if you’re exploring beyond Luganville. The adults-only resort setting gives it a quiet, escape-like feel.

It’s best suited to travellers who want a longer, slower meal as part of a coastal Santo day.

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The Best Casual Eats and Food Parks in Vanuatu

For something easy, quick or group-friendly, Vanuatu’s casual dining scene is strongest in Port Vila. Food containers, burger joints, pizzas and relaxed resort-adjacent restaurants make this category especially useful when you don’t want a formal meal but still want something satisfying.

Eat Street (Port Vila and Efate)

For casual meals, quick bites and group-friendly dining, Eat Street (Kumul Highway, Port Vila) is one of Port Vila’s most convenient food stops. This container-style food park brings multiple vendors together in one place, making it handy when everyone wants something different.

It’s an easy evening option, especially for families, groups and anyone who likes being able to browse before committing.

Port Vila Burger Co. (Port Vila and Efate)

Port Vila Burger Co. (Rue Dartois, Independence Park, Port Vila) is an easy favourite for filling burgers, combo meals and local-flavoured specials. It stands out for bringing Vanuatu ingredients into familiar burger formats, from homemade island sauces to rotating specials.

It’s also one of the more convenient casual options if you’re after delivery or a no-fuss meal.

Three Pigs Restaurant (Port Vila and Efate)

Three Pigs Restaurant (Nasama Resort, Pango Road) mixes casual comfort food with a resort-adjacent setting. It’s a relaxed option when you want something easy but a little more interesting than the usual burger-and-chips routine.

Expect a casual, social atmosphere that works for lunch, dinner or drinks around the Pango side of Port Vila.

The Best Outer-Island Food Experiences in Vanuatu

Beyond Port Vila, Efate and Santo, don’t expect a long list of restaurants. On islands such as Malekula, Tanna, Pentecost, Ambrym and the Banks Islands, eating is often arranged through accommodation hosts, local markets or pre-booked experiences. This is where food becomes less about menus and more about hospitality, local produce and sharing what’s available.

Lakatoro Market (Malekula)

On Malekula, Lakatoro Market (Lakatoro) is one of the few public places to find snacks and casual meals. Look for ladies selling snacks, lunch items and sometimes cakes like banana bread along the back wall, while a hut behind the market near Wilkins Memorial Park serves simple meals such as fish, chicken or steak with rice, tomatoes and greens.

It’s not a restaurant scene, but it is one of the best places to taste everyday local food on Malekula.

Accommodation Meals (Outer Islands)

Across the outer islands, many bungalows and guesthouses prepare simple island-style meals using local produce. This is also where food experiences can become more hands-on, whether that means cooking with hosts, visiting gardens, learning about staple crops or sharing a traditional island meal.

In short, the best places to eat in Vanuatu depend on where you are: restaurants and cafés in the main hubs, resort dining along the coast, markets for local flavour and host-prepared meals once you head further into the islands.

Contemporary meals found in Vanuatu’s main dining hubs mostly reflect a mix of French, Asian, Australian, American and island-style influences, with curries, burgers, pizzas, seafood, café food and resort dining all easy to find in Port Vila and Santo. When it comes to the roots of Ni-Vanuatu cooking, however, traditional meals are much more closely connected to village gardens, root crops, coconut, seafood, fire cooking and food shared through markets, bungalow meals and cultural experiences.

Traditional Meals of Vanuatu

One of the most iconic traditional foods to try is laplap, often considered Vanuatu’s national dish. It’s usually made with grated root crops such as cassava, taro or yams, cooked with coconut milk and sometimes served with fish, vegetables or island cabbage. You’re more likely to find it at markets, accommodation meals and cultural food experiences than on standard restaurant menus.

Another local favourite is tuluk, a speciality associated with Mele, the largest village in Vanuatu. Think of it as a local burrito: grated cassava wrapped in banana leaves and cooked until dense, filling and satisfying. A similar dish, simboro, is wrapped in cabbage or local greens instead, giving it a leafy, spring-roll-like appearance.

Seafood is another essential part of island meals, whether that’s fresh fish cooked with coconut, grilled simply, served with rice and greens or caught during a fishing trip. Coconut crab is also considered a delicacy in parts of Vanuatu, but because it grows slowly and is vulnerable to over-harvesting, we don’t personally encourage travellers to order it casually unless they can confirm it has been sustainably sourced.

There’s a lot more where that came from, so head to our guide, Traditional Ni-Vanuatu Food: 10 Foods to Try in Vanuatu for more meals.

Where to Try Traditional Food in Vanuatu

The best places to try traditional Ni-Vanuatu food are usually not standard restaurants, but markets, cultural villages, cooking classes, bungalow stays and local-hosted meals.

For an easy introduction, start with Port Vila Central Market (Kumul Highway, Port Vila), where you can browse local produce, root crops, island greens, fruit and sometimes prepared traditional foods. Luganville Market (Main Road, Luganville) is useful for produce and simple local ingredients on Santo, while Lakatoro Market (Lakatoro, Malekula) is one of the few public places on the island where you’ll find snacks, lunch items and casual local plates.

For specific dishes, look for tuluk and simboro around Mele Village and Mele Bay, or through cooking experiences such as Papaya Loco Cooking School. Traditional meals and hands-on cooking can also be arranged through some outer-island accommodations, such as Lakatoro Palm Lodge and Nawori Seaview Bungalow on Malekula.

Cultural experiences are another excellent way to taste or learn about traditional food. Leweton Cultural Village and Santo Fire Walks in Luganville include food-related demonstrations alongside kava, fire cooking, performances and kastom activities. For more ideas, see 20 Best Foodie Experiences in Vanuatu.

Ni-Vanuatu Drinks

The traditional drink you can’t leave Vanuatu without trying is kava. Made from the root of the kava plant, it has been consumed in Vanuatu for centuries and remains an important symbol of respect, community and tradition. Unlike in some other Pacific islands, Vanuatu’s kava is often prepared fresh from fresh root, giving it its famously potent kick.

The best place to try it is at a nakamal, or kava bar, usually identified by coloured lights outside. Most open around 3 pm or 4 pm after preparing the day’s batch, and when the light goes off, they’re usually out of kava. Start with a small shell and follow it with wos-em mout, a salty or savoury snack used to “wash your mouth” after the earthy flavour.

For non-alcoholic local drinks, look out for fresh fruit juices, smoothies, coconut water, locally roasted coffee and drinks made with seasonal tropical fruit. Vanuatu also has its own locally made products to try, from Tanna coffee to local spirits from distillery experiences around Port Vila. Again, all is explained in the 20 Best Foodie Experiences in Vanuatu.

So, what about if you want to cater for yourself? Perhaps you have food allergies that you’d like to keep in check, you’re travelling on a budget, or you simply want the freedom to prepare a few easy meals between tours. Whatever the reason, self-catering is totally viable in Vanuatu, especially if you base yourself in the main hubs and plan ahead before heading to the outer islands.

Self-catering in Vanuatu is easiest in Port Vila and around Efate, where you’ll find the country’s widest choice of supermarkets, markets and accommodations with kitchen facilities. Luganville on Santo also has workable options, while the outer islands rely more on village stores, local markets and simple shared kitchens at some bungalows and guesthouses.

In Port Vila, larger supermarket chains such as Bon Marché and HXM Supermarket are useful for dry goods, snacks, frozen foods, pantry staples and some imported items. For fresh fruit and vegetables, Port Vila Central Market is the main stop, with smaller markets also found around the outskirts of town. This is the best place to stock up on naturally local ingredients such as bananas, papaya, avocado, coconuts, cassava, taro, island greens and other seasonal produce.

In Luganville, supermarket shopping is more limited but still practical. LCM Supermarket generally has one of the better grocery selections, while Chinese supermarkets such as Daming and Sunshine are useful for basics like rice, pasta, bread, cereals, peanut butter, drinks and snacks. Luganville Market is the place to go for fresh local produce, from bananas and avocados to watermelons, cooked peanuts, ginger, chillies and whatever else is in season.

On islands like Malekula, self-catering becomes much more basic. Shops around Lakatoro, Norsup, Litzlitz and Tautu usually stock everyday staples and convenience items, but choice depends on supply. Lakatoro Market is the main place for fresh produce, while some guesthouses and bungalows offer shared kitchen facilities. On the smaller outer islands, expect modest village stores, limited opening hours and supplies that vary with boat deliveries.

The easiest approach is to cook with naturally available ingredients rather than relying on substitutes or specialist foods. Fresh produce, root crops, rice, pasta, bread, eggs, canned tuna, peanut butter and simple pantry staples are much easier to find than gluten-free bread, vegan substitutes or specialty allergy products. If you rely on particular foods, bring them from home or stock up in Port Vila before travelling further afield.

Learn more about shopping experiences in Vanuatu in A Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Vanuatu LINK#TT020.

When it comes to gastronomical experiences at your accommodation, Vanuatu has a choice of accommodations with fabulous restaurants or self-catering accommodation, should you want to spruce something up with local ingredients.

Although we outline all your options in the article Where to Stay in Vanuatu, here are some of our top picks for foodies.

The Havannah (Port Vila and Efate)

One of Vanuatu's most prestigious luxury retreats, The Havannah is a foodie's paradise with its all-inclusive culinary programme. The adults-only resort features 19 elegantly designed villas, from "Garden Villas" to "Deluxe Waterfront Villas" with private plunge pools.

The main restaurant is the true star, showcasing daily-changing set menus featuring the finest local seafood, tropical fruits and premium cuisine. Each day brings completely new culinary selections, ensuring every meal is a surprise. The daily afternoon tea service provides an elegant mid-day indulgence.

Beyond exceptional dining, guests enjoy complimentary water activities, sunset cruises aboard the resort's boat, and regular entertainment. This luxury haven also features in our 10 Best Adults-Only Resorts in Vanuatu.

Turtle Bay Lodge (Espiritu Santo)

Foodies will fall head over heels for Turtle Bay Lodge, where the Salty Dog Bar and Restaurant takes centre stage with its spectacular waterfront dining.

From our experience, the restaurant's fresh Santo beef steals the show, perfectly complemented by sumptuous seafood caught daily from the surrounding waters. The expansive deck overlooking the bay creates an unforgettable dining atmosphere, while international dishes round out the menu.

This stunning 14-room boutique resort on Santo's east coast perfectly balances culinary excellence with adventure, offering everything from diving and kayaking to stylish waterfront accommodation in adults-only deluxe marquee rooms and family-friendly beachfront villas.

Nawori Sea View Bungalows (Malekula)

Perched 5 m (16 ft) above the ocean in northeast Malekula, this traditional bamboo and natangura construction guesthouse offers breathtaking sunrise views between Wala and Rano islands.

Hosts Etienne and Lin create unforgettable foodie experiences with guided garden visits where you'll harvest ingredients before returning to prepare and cook traditional meals together. This hands-on approach perfectly showcases local customs and cuisine.

Breakfast includes delicious homemade treats with fresh fruits, bread and eggs, whilst lunch and dinner feature locally grown ingredients. Located 30-40 minutes from Norsup Airport, the property offers 24-hour power, WiFi throughout and serves as base for cultural exploration.