Best Places to eat in Muri, Rarotonga

I’m back, freshly married and glowing from an unforgettable week in Rarotonga - and I couldn’t wait to start writing again! Along with a travel diary and hotel review, one thing I especially wanted to dive into was… the food!

I’m officially kicking off a new category on the blog: ‘Food’ / ‘Best Places to Eat’ - because I’m a total foodie, and I always love discovering new spots through other people’s recommendations.

Since I was a bit caught up in wedding prep most of the time, I mainly ate around Muri, where we were staying - but honestly, I was more than happy with that. Every single meal blew me away. The flavours, the freshness, the heart that went into each dish - it was all incredible.

Food plays a huge role in Cook Islands culture, and that really shines through. It’s fresh, abundant, and made with love - from family-run cafés to laid-back beachfront restaurants.

Muri is one of the most popular places to stay in Rarotonga, and it’s not hard to see why - with a sparkling aqua lagoon lapping against white sand, plenty of amazing accommodation options, fun activities, and yes… a brilliant food scene.

So here are my top picks for where to eat in Muri, Rarotonga — you’ll want to try them all!

 

The Pacific Resort

I'll start with The Pacific Resort, this is where we stayed and got married - and I honestly can’t recommend it enough! Naturally, we ended up eating here quite a bit, and everything we tried was consistently delicious. The setting is stunning, the service warm and welcoming, and the food always beautifully presented.

And I have to give a special shoutout to their cocktails - they were incredible! Sitting back with one of their cocktails in hand, overlooking the lagoon… it doesn’t get more holiday than that.

Located right on the beach, Barefoot Bar is the ultimate spot to sip and soak up the view. With the turquoise lagoon just steps away, it’s the kind of place where time slows down - and the drinks taste even better.

They run two happy hours a day, which is perfect if you’re watching your budget (or just love a good deal!). From 4-5pm and again at 8:30-9:30pm, selected cocktails drop to $10, and beers to $5 - nearly half price.

And if you’re a coffee lover, don’t miss their flat whites. We tried a few around the island, and these were easily the best. I went back every morning for one - it became part of my daily ritual!

A mai tai and pineapple mojito at the Pacific Resort

Sandals is the Pacific Resort’s own restaurant, and like the bar, you don’t have to be a guest to dine there - although I’d recommend making a booking for the evenings.

My very first dinner there set the bar extremely high. I ordered the Fish of the Day, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it was the best fish I’ve ever had in my life. (Spoiler: fish features heavily in this post - it’s the Cook Islands’ top local specialty and it’s honestly next-level!).

That night’s fish was Yellowfin Tuna, which I had grilled, and it was per-fec-tion. It came with a lovely fresh salad, and you can choose your own side - I went for the roasted vegetables. Everything was beautifully cooked and full of flavour. I devoured every bite. For $28 NZD, it was fantastic value - and no, I didn’t get a photo... I was too busy enjoying family dinner and forgot. Oops!

The setting is just as good as the food. Sandals is an open-air restaurant overlooking a gentle stream, lit by candlelight with live music playing each night - it really creates such a warm, romantic, tropical atmosphere.

We actually returned later in the week - it was raining and we didn’t want to go far. Even though they were fully booked, the staff kindly let us sit at the bar, which still had a lovely view of the beach.

We ordered the main-sized Ika Mata (Rarotonga’s famous raw fish salad) to share as a starter, and even though we’d tried a few versions by that point, this one blew us away. The flavour was so zingy, vibrant and fresh - it was gone in minutes and we were all fighting over the last bite! It came with a side of crispy taro chips, another delicious local favourite.

Ika Mata

For my main, I went with the Chef’s Special - a sizzling hot plate of freshly caught fish and vegetables. It arrived steaming and fragrant, and was every bit as delicious as it looked. The fish that day was Parrot Fish, beautifully cooked and topped with a rich, creamy coconut sauce that brought the whole dish together.

The vegetables were perfectly tender, and the presentation on the hot plate gave it that extra wow factor. At $35 NZD, it was the most expensive dish on the menu - but for the quality, flavour, and generous portion, it was absolutely worth it. 

Chef's special

Vili's Burgers

Just down the road from the Pacific Resort, right in the heart of Muri, is Vili’s Burger Joint - a total local favourite! I lost count of how many times we were told “you have to try Vili’s, they do the best burgers on the island.” Even my wedding coordinator called it “the McDonald’s of Rarotonga” - in the best possible way!

I didn’t make it there until the day after the wedding, but Gareth (now husband!) had already eaten there three days in a row - so that says a lot.

I went for brunch and was absolutely blown away. The burger was massive - hands down the biggest I’ve ever had - and also, the best. It was so juicy it was literally dripping down my arm (classy, I know). I ate nearly the whole thing and was full right through till dinner. It was just that good.

Best burger of my life- had for breakfast post wedding day! You know it's good when you're still missing it two months later 🍔😋🤘 #rarotonga #cookislands #muri #muribeach #vilis #burger #burgerporn #foodporn #travel #travelblogger #wanderluster #travelholic #travelgram #instatravel

A post shared by Krysti Jaims (@krystijaims) on Jan 28, 2017 at 4:28am PST

I loved it so much, I went back the next day and ordered the exact same thing for lunch - this time splitting it with my bestie because there was no way I could take on a full one again.

If you’re in Muri and love a good burger, Vili’s is an absolute must. They're open 11:30 am – 9:00 pm daily, except Mondays.

There’s a great range of burger options, but my pick was the ‘Tamatoa’ for $13 NZD - a beast of a burger stacked with beef patty, bacon, egg, cheese, beetroot, tomato, lettuce, and their special secret sauce. 

Tamatoa burger at Vili's

Muri Night Markets

Originally started as a Thursday night event to cater for tourists, the Muri Night Markets have grown in popularity and now run four nights a week - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings.

The markets offer an amazing variety of local food stalls, with everything from mains to snacks, drinks and desserts. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a foodie or just looking for a casual dinner in the open air.

Gareth and I ended up eating there twice. On our first visit, we shared some delicious Ika Mata, a fish curry, and crispy spring rolls. The second time we tried a chicken rukau with rice - a traditional Cook Islands dish made with taro leaves (similar to spinach) - and finished off with a decadent Crunchie cheesecake. Every bite was amazing!

One thing to note - portions are huge, so I’d definitely recommend sharing where you can. The market space is always lively and brimming with people, but there are plenty of tables and chairs set up under shelter in the centre, perfect for sitting down to enjoy your meal or keeping dry if it rains.

If you’re after a quieter experience, head along on Tuesdays or Wednesdays when things are more low-key with fewer stalls. For the full atmosphere, Thursdays and Sundays are the nights to go - you’ll find more food options and live music to complete the vibe.

The markets kick off at 5:30 pm, and the popular dishes sell out fast, so get there early if you’ve got your eye on something special!

Chicken rukau

Crunchie cheesecake

The Mooring

We had two different locals tell us the same thing: “You have to try The Mooring - they’ve got the best fish sandwiches on the island.” So naturally, we had to check it out!

Located just a 15-minute walk from the Pacific Resort, The Mooring Fish Café made the perfect spot for our final lunch in Rarotonga. It’s a laid-back outdoor café, where you sit at picnic tables with a beautiful lagoon view right in front of you.

When we arrived, it was a Sunday afternoon and the place was buzzing with locals in their Sunday best - clearly a favourite post-church lunch spot.

Set inside a converted shipping container, the menu had so many tempting options that we asked for a recommendation. The lovely lady behind the counter said the two most popular were the ‘FOB’ and the Hot & Spicy - perfect for spice lovers like us. We ordered one of each to share, along with a fresh baby coconut to sip on.

Even though they were super busy, our order came out incredibly fast. The FOB sandwich featured crumbed Mahi Mahi with a zesty lime mayo, while the Hot & Spicy came with seared tuna and tangy pickles. Both were served on delicious Turkish-style bread and were absolutely huge!

They were both so fresh and full of flavour - I genuinely loved each one, but if I had to choose, the FOB was my favourite. The crispy coating on the Mahi was perfection, and that creamy lime mayo just brought it all together.

We left feeling totally satisfied (and very full!) - confident we had truly found the best fish sammies on the island. At $13 NZD each, they were fantastic value for the size and quality. The Mooring also offers salads, desserts, and other main fish dishes, and they’re open every day for lunch except Saturdays.

It’s the kind of place you’ll wish you’d found earlier in your trip - so don’t miss it! 

Walking home with my coconut!

LBV Cafe

LBV Bakery & Cafe (Le Bon Vivant) is a charming spot offering freshly baked goods, deli-style pastas and salads, hot meals, coffee, wine and sweet treats. We stopped in for lunch on our first day and were drawn to their cabinet sandwiches - we both went for the tomato and cheese baguette, which was served warm, cut in half, and paired with a delicious bowl of chutney on the side.

The sandwiches were huge, fresh, and packed with flavour - which we appreciated for $9 NZD each. We sat outside in their lovely garden area, which made for a peaceful and relaxing lunch. Friends and family who dined there regularly during the week all had great things to say about the food as well.

I also used LBV for catering my Hens Day, and they did an outstanding job. I pre-ordered a cheese and deli platter, a bakery and sweets platter, and a fresh fruit platter - and there was so much food! They delivered everything (free of charge) in a portable fridge, so it all stayed fresh and chilled. The bakery sweets were divine, the cheese platter came with loads of fresh bread and crackers, and the prawns wrapped in prosciutto were a definite highlight. I totally over-ordered for the 11 of us, but everything was so good we gave it a good go! (The photo below is only half the spread!)

There’s also an LBV Cafe in Avarua if you’re out and about in town. Whether you’re after a casual bite, a full meal, or some event catering, I’d highly recommend LBV. They’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 7 days a week.

Sails

Sails Restaurant & Bar is perfectly positioned right on Muri Beach, offering excellent views of the lagoon. The first time I went for lunch, I didn’t even bother looking at the menu - because right out front was a line of locals and tourists all queuing for what looked like the island’s version of a sausage sizzle: a spit roast pork roll.

A whole roasted pig was being carved fresh for each person, and there were rows of soft rolls already filled with butter and coleslaw, ready to be topped with the hot pork. You could add gravy and apple sauce too - the whole thing felt wonderfully casual and very Raro. It was $10 NZD, generous with the pork, and absolutely hit the spot.

I knew Gareth would have loved it (he was off with friends that day), so we returned the next day hoping to grab another one. Sadly, the spit roast setup wasn’t there - I’m not sure if it was just a Tuesday special or a one-off - but we happily stayed for lunch anyway.

This time, I actually got to look at the menu and ordered the pulled pork soft tacos, while Gareth chose the crispy calamari and a side of chips. We sat outside soaking in the gorgeous lagoon views. The tacos came in a pair, so we shared everything like we usually do. The flavours were great - fresh, tasty, and well-prepared - and the calamari came with a really nice dipping sauce.

They also show live sports on a big screen inside - an All Blacks match was playing the next morning, and the vibe was already building when we were there.

Our total came to $38 NZD including a soft drink each - so around $19 per person, which is pretty reasonable for a tasty lunch with a view. The service was lovely and we’d happily go back again.

The sweet view from Sails

And that brings us to the end of my best places to eat in Muri, Rarotonga! I hope you’ve found this post helpful if you’re planning a trip there soon.

I honestly loved the food in Rarotonga - it was always fresh, delicious, generously portioned, and pretty well-priced. Plus, the genuinely friendly people made every meal a pleasure with great service and welcoming vibes.

Next up, I’ll be sharing my Travel Diary from our week in paradise before I jet off again… this time to Vietnam in just four days!

I also made a video for Youtube of the highlights from my week in Rarotonga:


Hope to catch you at my next post!

Happy Travels,

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Cook Islands, Food, Oceania, Rarotonga