What to eat Fiji? culinary specialties and gastronomy

Restaurants often close quite early, and it's common to go out for dinner around 6pm-7pm, in fact to match the rhythm of the sun. It's often more difficult to find a restaurant on Sundays, but in the tourist areas you'll always have a choice. On some islands (Taveuni, for example), you'll need to make dinner reservations and specify your choices in the morning.

Prices vary considerably in Fiji, depending on the standard of the establishment. A snack at the market or in a small local restaurant will set you back a few Fijian dollars, while a meal in a top-class restaurant can quickly climb to around 80-100 Fijian dollars per person. But generally speaking, if you go to a local restaurant, the price will be lower than in France.

Tipping is not very common in Fiji, but to show that you've particularly appreciated the service you can leave one.

Generally speaking, portions are quite generous. The quality of the cuisine varies greatly from place to place. On some islands, local and organic farming is favored, and almost everything is cooked to order (which explains why in Taveuni you have to order your evening meal in the morning). You'll eat very well in these places, and also in the very high-end resorts. On the other hand, in some parts of Viti Levu, the offer is a little rarer and you'll have the choice between fast-food or resort cuisine, with no real middle ground. Resort cuisine is obviously more expensive than the local price range.

In Indian restaurants, you can often specify in advance how much spice you want.

Try kokoda, Fiji's national dish of marinated raw fish! It's cooked with coconut milk, but you can't escape the coconut milk that's so frequently used in dishes anyway. Cassava is also a staple of Fijian cuisine. Lovo is served at important events, the term referring to oven cooking.

With its tropical climate, Fiji offers fruit in profusion: papaya, pineapple, mango, you name it!

In Indian restaurants, you should eat with your right hand only. Not always easy, but give it a try!

Children are welcome everywhere in Fiji. There aren't necessarily any children's menus on offer, but you'll find what you're looking for on the main menu, which often features classic dishes such as burgers, fries, pizzas and breaded fish. For the little gourmets who want to try out the local cuisine, Fijian food isn't usually very spicy, but you can always specify again that you don't want " spicy " dishes.

Tourist bars by the sea can quickly become overcrowded, so it's a good idea to book in advance if you know the place is popular. Happy hours are quite early, in the middle of the afternoon, as it's customary to have dinner around 6:30-7pm.

In really touristy areas, prices will be similar to those in France, but otherwise significantly cheaper.

The legal drinking age is 18. Controls are not as strict as in countries like Australia or the USA.

Fijians often gather at the end of the day to drink kava, and you can join them by paying for your kava. If you go to traditional Fijian villages, you'll be able to witness the kava ceremony. In town, it's much simpler, and people simply gather to drink kava with family or friends.

Children are welcome anywhere in Fiji, as long as they are accompanied.