Such a beautiful restaurant. The best food we have had since being here the last 7 days. Everything tasted amazing. The service was quick, staff were lovely, the view was absolutely stunning. Couldn’t fault the place at all. Will definitely be back again.

Really enjoyed our dinner at Tamarind House. The staff were lovely and it’s a great spot. Really nice ambiance. The food was delicious and was nicely presented. Really great spot and worth taking a trip. Not photographed was the Ika Mata and bread which were both divine.

Went to this lovely place for the second time of our visit to Rarotonga in the most rain we have ever seen on the island. We were greeted by the friendliest and welcoming staff. Even the owner came over to have a chat with us. Thoroughly recommend this colonial place, food was excellent both times, in fact they even remembered us from the first visit. Top notch restaurant.

Beautiful spot to watch the sunset and great cocktails. Our table (6) ordered various dishes but most had one unfortunate common theme. The fish was a little overcooked across all the dishes. The seafood platter is fantastic with fantastic variety. It features a fish curry (overcooked but great flavour), shrimp cocktail, Oysters with a mignonette sauce, Ika Mata, Mussels in a tomato & basil sauce and pan seared tuna (bits of it were a little over but beautiful otherwise).

Lovely setting, good food. Great place for a special occasion.

This place has the best vibe in Rarotonga! Awesome decor and set up that reminded me of The White Lotus (S1) and amazing food. Was a real highlight of our time here. A must do!

Food was absolute perfection, aranchini was tasty and beautifully presented, pork belly was melt in your mouth, curry was delicious and the desserts were a treat! Service was friendly and quick, one of the best meals we have had on the island.

A real gem. Great location with stunning sunsets over the gardens and sea. Food is well priced and delicious and staff are friendly without being over attentive.

(4.5 stars) New Kiwi managers have brought about a revitalisation of Tamarind House. They have made clever use of island fabrics to cover the azure blue chairs, which, in conjunction with the cane basket lights, gives the historic room a sunny, plantation vibe. The updated menu includes a few clever remixes of the island’s palette of ingredients, including a smoked chicken, pawpaw and edamame salad (NZ$18.50). There’s also an even better salade niçoise (NZ$22) which centralises a generous portion of seared tuna on blanched green beans, olives, tomatoes and boiled potatoes in a puddle of mayonnaise, crowned by a poached egg. In the mains, the marlin fish curry (NZ$30.50) and the beef fillet (NZ$40) with braised brisket, butternut and potato mash, asparagus and jus performed best. Though more attention could be paid to ensuring the beef is cooked as ordered. Fish (NZ$35.50) was a good portion of snapper with savoury puréed rukau, assorted local root vegetable chips, a salsa dotted with flash-fried curry leaves and a green sauce I didn’t get much from—this dish lacked punch. Desserts included a crème brûlée (NZ$16) that only wanted for the expected crisp cracking toffee topper. We also tried a Basque cheesecake (NZ$16), a rather thin affair where the trademark burnt top was unfortunately smothered under chocolate-dusted cream. They also have a range of alcoholic desserts, including an iced brandy Alexander (NZ$16) that would benefit from less ice-based dilution. A few tweaks aside, it’s great to see this famous Rarotonga restaurant resume its place among the island’s best eats.

Food was absolutely amazing. Seven people and we all really enjoyed the food. 10/10 Only downer is we had to wait 45 minutes after our reservation time before we were seated as previous diners at our allocated table may have overstayed their time slot. The owner was really apologetic and finally had to ask them to finish up and let us in. He shouted our table (7 drinks) a round of drinks on the house as a gesture of goodwill. Top marks

With our two great but high energy kids we were a smidgen apprehensive to come to this slightly fancier spot. We shouldn't have. The staff were super kind and loved the kids, food was fantastic and the spot was great for kiddies to run around without disturbing adult diners. Only really recommend to take kids on a clear day though so they can run outside. Highly recommended family place.

We were recommended Tamarind from one of the servers at Club Raro and we were not disappointed. I usually wouldn't spend $40 on a meal (because I can usually never finish it) but the lamb shank was worth every $$! Didn't take a photo before but an empty plate on finish haha. Our server was lovely! Location and set up was awesome! 10/10 would recommend.

Fantastic staff, amazing cocktails and fabulous food. Highly recommend.

Beautiful restaurant and excellent food. Attentive staff and superb outlook make this a must do in Rarotonga.

Beautiful location especially at sunset the beach views are stunning!! Delicious food got the catch of the day which was tuna. Very well cooked with gourmet sides to accompany it. And even better I asked for fresh chilli and got it. Will be back here when I'm back in Raro. Big thanks to Jamie, chef and the workers😊

I don't get it - ordered the Curry, friends ordered other mains but the platter had the exact mains we ordered..like a double ration. Just order the platter and extra rice to pay less.

On the beach in an old colonial house. I enjoyed my chicken curry, it was a little dry but that was fine, service was great and I found it reasonably priced.

Really enjoyed our night out this evening. The food was very good. The relaxed atmosphere and layout made it easy to hold a conversation with our friends but still have ample ambience. The view is amazing. Staff were attentive and helpful providing great service.

On a Monday around midday plenty of parking. Was okay for a quick drink. Functions as a bar quite well. Drinks came nicely chilled. Lukewarm service don't come expecting smiles and chit chat. For similar pricing can get better food elsewhere. Ordered a basket of fries. Their complimentary Habanero sauces are very good if you are okay with very hot and spicy.

Great food at a restaurant located right on the water. View is beautiful, food is delicious and service was good. Had the catch of the day served on Panko and was not disappointed. Kiddos had the fried rice; was enough that they split and still could not finish. Has a bar and the guy working it was proficient and prompt. Great view of the mountains from the entrance. Prices for food and drinks were on par for the island. Will happily return for lunch or dinner in the future.

Great place to get a drink, karaoke, dine in. Awesome value for money, we ate here for dinner one night. Suggest accessing by foot or bicycle as parking might get busy. Very friendly staff and delicious food. Great establishment, well done.

I gave 4 star because of my coconut mojito can taste any alcohol lol The food was nice, Taro chips and my burger was yummy 😋 the vibe the view and the service was good 😊

I’m not the biggest seafood person but I wanted to try the Avarua Fish Taco and oh my goodness! It blew me away! It was incredible - some of the best food I have ever eaten! To add to the amazing food, the location was beautiful - we sat outside and everywhere we looked we could just see amazing turquoise waters. Would happily recommend to anyone!

Came for lunch. Seated instantly, waitress extremely attentive. Drinks arrived within minutes of seating. Order arrived quickly and not a single fault. Have eaten here many times over the years sometimes good, sometimes bad but glad to see it's back to Trader Jack's standard. Will definitely be back.

We had an absolutely fantastic lunch here. Been a long time between visits and still outstanding. The Ika Mata was perfect and our fish just awesome. It is still a must visit when in Rarotonga with a great location!!!

Great spot to enjoy some Kai and a cold beverage while soaking up the sun and looking out to the reef. If you're lucky, you'll snap a good view of aircrafts approaching the runway above or watch the rowers depart on their vakas from the boat ramp. If you've got kids who love the water, let them go swimming off the Wharf which you can watch closely on them from the Trader Jacks deck. The food is great, service very friendly and prices are reasonable. A jug of the local beer is $25NZD, good for 4 or 5 glasses. The cocktails are on average $15NZD each and fairly strong, depending on who the bartender is (we tried different days and had variable results). Saturday from 1pm there is a DJ on the deck or a live one man band. Trader Jacks also have their own hot sauce which is probably one of the best locally made hot sauces you can get. A spot you must try at least once when you're on the island.

Went to Trader Jacks a number of times! I was most impressed with their $12 bloody Mary's! The sashimi and sushi dish was also fresh and delicious! They had a live band on Friday which awesome 👌 Overall it's a quality place to go with a quality view of the ocean!

Great tasting food with large servings. Fab service, too. Good location but we were given a round table, and I was seated with my back to the ocean.

After reading the reviews, we decided to head here for lunch and grab a few pizzas. We were not disappointed. They were great. Glad we came and would recommend.

We had lunch at Trader Jacks 17/10/23. Matradee was not very welcoming, but the other staff were very friendly. We had pizza, and it was very tasty, we were offered some Trader Jack habanero chillie sauce ( you can buy at counter, recommended), and that was a great condiment. We did have to ask for the fries again because they had forgotten them. Great views of the sea.

Such a chill and well known place on the island. Local catch or more ‘normal’ food it’s your choice. From the relaxed bar to the welcoming restaurant, always worth a visit.

We ate at Trader Jacks numerous times. Best Seafood Chowder I have ever had, hubby had Reef and Beef, loved it. Service was wonderful, the girls really look after you, thank you Letitia you were so welcoming. Definitely recommend.

Great view and a big menu. However we ordered the ika mata and it never came, staff were very apologetic. Our food also took a while to come

Pizza on an island? Why not! My wife and I are both pizza fans, although we are very picky as we try to limit our gluten intake. Well, this one was worth waiting for. The staff here are very friendly, although be wary that English is not their first language, so be clear with your questions and order. This is by no means a negative thing, just a heads up. There is an extensive menu with a wide range of fresh ingredients, although again, remember we are on an island, sometimes things are not available so concessions must be made occasionally. We ordered the Kai Pizza Supreme (lots of meat, lots of veges!) and this was simply delicious. The ingredients are fresh and tasty and the pizza is well made. The dough is nice and light and the whole thing has a nice smokey flavour from the pizza oven. We also ordered the Smoked Chicken, and this was a nice balance, the sweetness of the cranberries elevated the flavour profile, and the cream cheese nicely offset the bit of spice in the sauce. In general, the pizza was really good, and the garlic bread was nicely buttered and flavoured as a perfect side. If you are on the island and have had enough fish or seafood for the night, go here for a bit of the ol classic pizza. Good food done well.

Pizza Pepperoni: tast OK, added Onions + 4 $ (too much for onions) Really friendly service and staff More to Take away than to eat here A little bit loins, because right beside the road.

Really tasty pizzas and garlic bread. Freshly prepared and cooked in the wood fired pizza oven. Very friendly staff. A good selection of pizza's on the menu and you can eat your food there or takeaway.

I don't get all the fabulous reviews after trying this pizza tonight. I ordered the garlic pizza and it was a total disappointment. You couldn't see, smell or taste garlic at all, and it was so incredibly greasy, swimmingin oil!

Best wraps and salads on the island - affordable and consistently delicious. Nice to have something healthy and fresh. Pizzas are awesome too!

We got two takeaway pizzas, margarita and pepporini, yummo and good value. Rang ahead so they were ready when we arrived.

Great pizza - thin crust and wood fired! The prices are reasonable, but don’t expect to have leftovers. Tuesday’s you can get their most expensive pizzas for only $15NZD each. Also remember that there is a “sugary drink tax” on the island, so think twice before buying a soft drink with your meal.

Food is amazing!!! Only unfortunate thing is the customer service isn’t so friendly and the service is very slow. They had no fries and offered us another vegetable instead but couldn’t tell us what it was. Whenever we had questions the lady would just reply with “I don’t know” which wasn’t very helpful. But if you don’t mind all that then it is a nice place to eat.

Enjoyed the pepperoni pizza, thank you. At $16 good value. Note for pepperoni aficianados: mild.

Blown away by the quality.. Amazing thin crust pizza made in wood fire Stone oven. Ate the bbq chicken pizza and was delicious..

Excellent pizza. Thoroughly recommend. Not all takeaways are great in Raro. This one is one of the few I'd go back to.

Definitely recommend. My partner and I were in Rarotonga for 8 nights. 3 of those nights we chose to go to Vaima for dinner. Each dinner there was delicious and the staff were genuine, funny, and friendly. Many of the outside tables are right kn the beach and the views are beautiful. I really loved their Ika Mata and Seafood Curry, while my partner was obsessed with the Catch of the Day fish. The 3rd time we went there was for my 30th birthday and they did little bits and pieces to help me celebrate, including one of the waitresses singing me happy birthday while bringing my dessert out. We were the last to leave and their patience letting me finish my birthday sticky date toffee pudding was greatly appreciated, as I was stuffed (and still am while writing this review) from eating all their yummy meals. Thanks Vaima staff! :) Love from NZ and Germany Renee and Jeannine

Tumeke. Perfect spot for dinner. Pretty much unbeatable in terms of vibe, and the cocktails were to die for. Seafood curry and pork belly were outstanding, and the crabs came out to play with the king tide. Highly, highly recommend.

Fabulous dinner and beautiful beach views. We went here for our last night on Raro and couldn't have made a better choice. Beautiful sunset views and the grilled parrotfish was the best meal of the holiday. Chicken curry was also outstanding, as well as the key lime pie and sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Highly recommended for a perfect island night out.

Another nice place on the beach front to eat. Food was very good and great service.

Arrived at 6 without booking they gave us a table right on the beach with great sea views, had fries, fish curry, parrot fish and vegetables, creme brulee and pavlova all were superb and super quick arriving. The waitresses were all great and full of laughs. Not a lot of parking for cars but plenty for bikes. Don't forget the insect repellent!

Beautiful place to dine. I had the curry and it was delicious. Wife had the pork belly and it was moist and tender. Sitting on the beach was a wonderful experience. I was originally concerned with how chairs and tables would work on the sand but it turned out to not be a problem. At sunset crabs populated the beach and were a delight to watch scurrying about. Definitely coming back.

This was our favorite evening of the 9 days we were in Raro. We came with our baby and they made us feel so welcome, they fussed him and looked after us too. The cocktails were great (and strong!), and the food fast and delicious 😌 Meitaki Vaima staff 🌸❤️

Steak, pork belly and dessert were good. Staff were lovely. I wasn't a fan of the pina colada

AMAZING FOOD!!! The steak, pork belly and sticky date pudding were incredible. The drinks were strong as hell which gives you more bang for your buck and the servers were beautifully friendly :) Going back again!

Great service and yummy food! Small menu but we all found something we liked.

We ordered the garlic prawns as an entree for $18 and it was literally 5 prawns! Then ordered the catch of the day as a main for $36 and the fish was so salty, the veges were super bland and it was very hard to enjoy. Food was very average for what you pay and I regretted dining here immediately after. Food took almost an hour to come out and we ended up going somewhere else to eat after as we didn't even want to finish our food.

We have visited Charlie’s many times over the past 10 years, even when it was a one shack hut. We loved the fish burger that made them famous, but this time the food was not what we expected, very disappointing, but the seating area is still beautiful! The big boast that Charlie’s advertises now is the huge fish burger that can feed two, not anymore. We ordered that fish burger with fries and we got two small pieces of fried tuna buried in a bun of Turkish bread with a slice of tomato and too many lettuce leaves, we left hungry! Needless to say we won’t be going back!

Went for dinner here had great food and an awesome time with a live band. The fish tacos were generous and tasty. The crumbed fish was huge - would have been enough for both of us. The live band was great fun. Definitely worth going to. Book ahead if you want a table looking out over the sea. Irrespective of where you sit you can enjoy the views as open to the sea all round.

Always looked busy and can see why. A great vibe and friendly service. Music was a good selection and you could also have a conversion. The bar is on the right as you enter. Ordered the 1.5l of Tokyo Dry which came with the seperate ice. Worked perfect for keeping it chilled. Price range $10 - $15. Dartboard hire was easy just $2 total for 2 people and set up to keep score. In the early afternoon toilets were dark couldn't find a light switch but staff switched it on at the bar.

Stopped in for dinner and lunch during our week in Rarotonga. Great pub-style food without pretense, huge servings, a good range of drinks, heaps of indoor and outdoor seating, and a very entertaining band on the night we were there. And cheap too! The fish sandwich is enormous. We wanted to try it on the night we were there but it had already sold out, so had it for lunch a couple of days later. Big? No, huge! It really is enormous. Overall a really fun place with welcoming staff and fast service. Highly recommended.

Food was good, prices affordable and the view is lovely. We visited twice and first time our takeaway order was not complete - we had to come back and also we were charged too much, so had to get it fixed. Otherwise a pleasant experience and we will definitely be back.

Friendly staff, clean and tidy restaurant with great views of the lagoon. The fish burger was nice, chicken parma was large and the fish n chips ok. Value for money was OK.

Stopped here because we'd heard of the gigantic fish sandwich....and it is indeed gigantic. The sandwich is about the size of a plate and tastes better than it looks. Kiddo had the steak nachos and they were quite delicious, other kiddo the sashimi and it too was fantastic. You can get the usual sodas here, along with a number of beers and liquor. The view is gorgeous, with a wonderful palm tree just down the beach that has a swing hanging from it. Makes for a great time for the little ones and for picture taking. Darts are also available here. Service was prompt, prices are more than fair and overall a great place. We will be going back!

Good location but no fish dish on the menu and not open the evening. The pizza had a very thick crust but limited topping. No Cook Island lager either. We heard good reviews for Charlies but they were closed more often than not while we were visiting Cook Islands. I can't justify a higher rating, the restauring is either becoming complacent or we have visited on a challenging time.

Crumbed fish n salad, chips, garlic bread, Salt n Pepper squid. All adequate. Beer n (Nice) Lime milkshake. Tartare? sauce-yum! Can imagine it would be lovely on a sunny calm day. Ladies delivering food were lovely

Love this place. Love the locals, the love music, the darts, the food, the atmosphere. Mamma Mary and Papps Charlie the BEST host. We were in Rarotonga for 3 weeks and spent alot of nights here. Oh yeah great fish tacos

Great food and drink choices, mean view from the balcony of the ocean. Come here at the right time and you’ll never have to wait long, but you are in Rarotonga so what’s the rush? Would recommend!

Well great looking place right on the beach front with local art hanging and music that was upbeat and perfect volume allowing for easy conversation. The food menu was a delicious collection of burgers pizzas and seafood. The view was so nice with the waves breaking on the reef. Only down side was no WiFi Even if the network work showed 5 different ones for the site even a guests one showed up but was told it wasn’t available to us ? Seemed a bit strange

Amazing fresh fishermen platter. Fabulous fresh tuna sashimi and fish taco. Great prawn skewers. Lovely atmosphere with live music and great service, very welcoming stuff.

I was staying nearby and really loved the atmosphere of the place as well as the views from the balcony. However the food was okay and I found the service, especially from one of the girls behind the bar, underwhelming. One night, it took over an hour for the parmigiana and I had to chase it and get take away even though the people who ordered before me received their meals 30 mins beforehand . I understand the western tourist appeal of the place but there’s better venues on the island.

Tasty food & cool atmosphere. We got the $75 fish platter, SO yummy!! :) The rest of our party’s food took a while to come out and the waiter kept coming over with the wrong order asking if it was ours. Must have been because it was a bit busy. My mother got her burger once we were all ready to leave. She enjoyed it though.

Beachside Bliss at Charlie's Raro: Sunset Sips and Stellar Eats Await! Craving island vibes with toes-in-the-sand vibes (minus the actual sand between your toes)? Then look no further than Charlie's Raro! Imagine this: a spacious deck overlooking the crashing waves, the scent of saltwater in the air, and breathtaking sunset views painting the sky. That's the magical setting for your dining experience at this beachside gem. Sure, you won't be digging your feet directly into the sand, but the elevated deck offers even better panoramas of the ocean and sky. Picture yourself sipping a tropical cocktail as the sun dips below the horizon, casting a fiery glow on the water. Doesn't that sound like pure bliss? And the food? Oh, the food! Charlie's menu is a tantalizing mix of island flavours and comfort classics. Dive into a juicy fish burger bursting with fresh local catch, savour a perfectly cooked steak, or share a pizza piled high with island-inspired toppings. The prices are as laid-back as the atmosphere, leaving you with more moolah for island adventures. But the magic of Charlie's Raro goes beyond the delicious bites. The service is warm and friendly, like a big island welcome from the moment you step on the deck. And to top it off, live music every night fills the air with vibrant energy, inviting you to sway to the rhythm and soak up the island spirit. Parking is a breeze with plenty of spots nearby, ensuring your beachside bliss starts and ends smoothly. So, whether you're looking for a romantic sunset dinner, a fun night with friends, or simply a delicious meal with stunning views, Charlie's Raro is your answer. With its stellar food, infectious atmosphere, and breathtaking location, this spot is pure Rarotonga magic!

Beautiful place, food was amazing. Staff were awesome. Been twice and will be back.

Such a great place great vibe comfortable seating excellent food and live music a must vist