One of the great attractions of Rarotonga is the excellent restaurants and good nightlife. Rarotonga has over 20 good independent restaurants scattered around the island as well as a number of good fast food takeaways and cafes. There's a nice Japanese sushi restaurant in Avarua Town along with the popular Trader Jacks and the Banana Court bar / nightclub which serves excellent coffee. Don't miss Mama's Cafe for great value breakfast and lunch. The highest concentration of restaurants is along the north west coast where there is a choice from Italian to Chinese. One of the few independent beach front restaurants is along a secluded spot at Vaima on the south coast. Muri Beach is another popular spot for dining with several good restaurants set in from the beach and the Sailing Club offering bar snacks at lunch. All the larger resorts have their own restaurants and the Rarotongan Beach Resort offers an excellent buffet night with local delicacies cooked in a traditional underground oven (taro rootcrops, fish and pork cooked whole wrapped in banana leaves), followed by traditional dances.

Restaurants on Aitutaki is not as diverse although there are several excellent restaurants and cafes around the island. Samade Bar on the south coast is a great choice and overlooks the beach and ocean. Nightlife on Aitutaki though is almost non-existent except for occasional dances held in Arutanga Village.

Tropical fruits are plentiful with pawpaws and bananas found year round, mangoes and watermelon around Christmas and local oranges and pineapples mid year.

Prices in the Cook Islands are quite high and both dining and supermarket food is no exception. Expect to pay at least NZ$10 for a basic takeaway meal and from NZ$25 for a restaurant meal.

Cook Islands Resort Listings Cook Islands Tour Companies

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