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The Best Fine Dining in the Cook Islands
Aim for exceptional when it comes to gastronomical experiences in the Cook Islands with the country’s exquisite fine dining restaurant. From casual fine dining with your toes in the sand to elevated views from a Meditteranean-inspired villa, there are all sorts of ambiences and cuisine styles to explore. Whether you prefer a specific diet or are open to all ingredients, there are menus to suit in Rarotonga and Aitutaki. Find the perfect night for you with this list of the best fine dining restaurants in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.
And for more food experience, don’t forget to open up The Food Guide to the Cook Islands: Places to Eat, Food Tours & Best Resorts for Food.
1. Antipodes
When it comes to fine dining in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands, most will point you in the direction of Antipodes. Perched on the hillside of Black Rock, the Mediterranean-inspired villa with three levels of dining area basks in wonderful views and sunsets. Of course, the food matches the theme right down to the extensive wine list. With views, carefully curated cuisine and presentation to die for, needless to say, you’ll need to make a booking a few nights ahead for this hotspot!
Location: Ara Matua (inland road), Nikao (just opposite the hospital road), Rarotonga.
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© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com2. On The Beach (OTB) Restaurant & Bar
Easing you into the fine dining scene on Rarotonga while still remaining casual enough with the restaurant’s tables on the sand, On The Beach (OTB) is not to be missed. Fronting the Manuia Beach Resort, the beachfront restaurant is renowned for its NZ$60 three-course menu most days and five-course menu on a Friday. Every course has its own individual chef headed by veteran cuisiner, Phillip Nordt, who’s famous on the island for his TV cooking show and other foodie ventures, including the Botanical Bakery in Avarua. See how the restaurant compares to The Best Places to Eat on Rarotonga: 10 Best Restaurants.
Location: Manuia Beach Resort, Main Road (Ara Tapu), Arorangi, Rarotonga.
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© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com3. Nautilus Restaurant
A short yet sophisticated menu of creative cuisine awaits at the Nautilus Restaurant of the luxury Nautilus Resort. A typical menu will have favourites, such as sustainable line-caught catch of the day and flambé grass-fed striploin, “duo of duck” adds an exotic alternative, while beetroot, eggplant, pumpkin and tofu timbale offers an enticing gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan option. Don’t miss the caramelised miso banana for dessert for a quintessential Cook Islands flavour. As for the setting, Nautilus Restaurant sits at the quiet end of Muri Beach with elegant indoor dining, as well as relaxed alfresco poolside dining.
Location: Main Road (Ara Tapu), southern end of Muri, Rarotonga.
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© Zhang Da Qiang - Cook Islands Tourism4. Rapae Bay Restaurant
Experience fine dining and five-star service at the Pacific Resort Aitutaki‘s Rapae Bay Restaurant. Elevated over the beach and gazing across the lagoon on Aitutaki’s sunset coast, Rapae Bay offers the ideal setting for a more sophisticated evening, as well as the menu to match. The menu offers a range of crowd-pleasing choices with plenty of gluten and dairy-free options. Their most impressive menu is their drinks, pouring everything from cocktails to sake. Note that the restaurant is only open to patrons aged 12+ except if they are hosting an island night. See how the restaurant compares to The Best Places to Eat on Aitutaki: 10 Best Restaurants on Aitutaki.
Location: Pacific Resort Aitutaki, just north of Amuri on the main road of the west coast, Aitutaki.
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© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com5. Tamarind House Restaurant
Enjoy elegant oceanfront dining in a charming colonial house at Tamarind House Restaurant. The restaurant is set among spacious manicured gardens with blooming flowers when the season is right. The international menu boasts the likes of fettuccine puttanesca, slow-baked lamb shank, vegetable lasagne and vegan curry. Try natural oysters when in season and/or treat yourself for dessert with an eclectic selection from tiramisu to fresh fruit crepes.
Location: Main Road (Ara Tapu), the eastern end of Avarua, Rarotonga.
![5 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NzY4OjM0OA==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA2ODMiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjY4MyIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4=)
© Derek Smith - Cook Islands TourismMore About Fine Dining in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands
Now that you know the most sophisticated of fine dining restaurants in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands, take a look at more reputable dining options in the following guides:
- The Food Guide to the Cook Islands: Places to Eat, Food Tours & Best Resorts for Food
- 10 Best Foodie Experiences in the Cook Islands
- Traditional Rarotongan Food: 10 Foods to Try in the Cook Islands
Finally, incorporate more luxurious touches to your getaway by following the advice in The Complete Luxury Guide to the Cook Islands.
![10 Best Foodie Experiences in the Cook Islands 🥭 [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=OTIwOjQzMA==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgOTAwIDY3NSIgd2lkdGg9IjkwMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI2NzUiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+)
![The Best Places to Eat on Rarotonga: 10 Best Restaurants 🍔 [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=OTMxOjQyNA==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgOTAwIDYwMSIgd2lkdGg9IjkwMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI2MDEiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+)
![10 Best Foodie Experiences in the Cook Islands 🥭 [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTA2MDozMjE=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTIwMCA5MDAiIHdpZHRoPSIxMjAwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjkwMCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "10 Best Foodie Experiences in the Cook Islands 🥭 [2024]")