12 Drinks in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands You HAVE to Try!

Atiu Island Coffee offers a unique and hands-on coffee tour that showcases traditional Atiuan coffee-making methods. Run by local entrepreneur Mata Arai, this intimate experience takes you through the entire process, from cultivating coffee trees to roasting and preparing the beans.

The highlight? Witnessing Mata roast and paste the coffee in coconut cream using a technique passed down from her grandmother, you can see how locals traditionally prepare their coffee.

You'll love tasting the freshly roasted coffee served with coconut cream and pikelets. The tour is reasonably priced and offers a genuine insight into Atiu's coffee culture.

Be sure to take the opportunity to buy Atiu Island Coffee at supermarkets or the duty-free stores in Rarotonga Airport.

Another drink that the island of Atiu is famous for is its tumunu, small shacks on the edge of villages and plantations that host "bush beer" sessions. It originated over 200 years ago when English whalers taught Atiuan warriors to brew ale from oranges as a substitute for kava.

Bush beer is a potent homebrew made with orange, banana and sometimes pawpaw (papaya). Head to one of these tumunu bars to truly experience a strong Cook Islands beverage! Bush beer can also be sampled on other pa enua (outer islands), such as Pati's Bar on Mitiaro.

A nu is a young coconut ready for drinking! Available all year round, nu is the best way to stay hydrated and get your dose of electrolytes. They can be purchased at many cafes, restaurants, roadside market stalls, or even given to you straight from the tree on guided tours.

Discover a tropical twist on your morning brew at the charming TLC Cafe in Arorangi. Their signature "Coconut Toa Delite" is an island-inspired iced coffee that'll have you saying "Meitaki" (thank you) after every sip! This delightful concoction blends rich coffee with creamy coconut milk and a dollop of indulgent coconut cream. The finishing touch? A sprinkle of coconut shavings that'll transport you straight to paradise.

Brewed right here on Rarotonga, Cook Islands Lager is the signature brew of the Rarotonga Brewery. This crisp refreshing lager of a clean pale amber and medium-sized head delivers only a mild bitterness that complements the tropical climate where it's brewed.

Cook Islands Lager is sold all over Rarotonga, Aitutaki and beyond, but the best place to try it is via a free tasting at the Rarotonga Brewery itself.

Founded in 2016, this garden tasting room and retail outlet on the west side of Rarotonga has grown into a genuine local icon.

Located around 800 m (yards) past Black Rock, opposite Edgewater Resort, the brewery follows the German Purity Law for Beer (malt, hops and barley only) and takes sustainability seriously, running a biofuel generator on restaurant waste and saving millions of glass bottles through reusable flagons.

Beyond the signature lager, they craft ciders, artisan sodas, kombucha, limeade, moringa iced tea and garden-grown herbal teas. Free shot-glass tastings of the full range are available daily, while guided brewery tours run every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 am.

Opening hours are from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday.

For a locally distilled tipple, look out for the colourful bottles of Tavake from Cook Islands Distillery, a small-batch distillery based in Nikao, Rarotonga. Launched in 2025, its distinctive labels take inspiration from the traditional tivaevae quilts made by co-founder Ash's grandmother from Atiu.

The range includes gin, vodka and two styles of rum, each bringing a little Cook Islands flavour to the bottle. The dry gin combines classic botanicals with local citrus, star fruit, hibiscus and tiare maori flowers, while the vodka uses Cook Islands rainwater and rukau (taro leaf) during fermentation. For rum drinkers, Tavake Rum combines a cane molasses base with Cook Islands vanilla and pineapple bark, while Tavake White Rum keeps things simple with local rainwater and sugar cane.

Tastings are available at Raro Liquorland, Rarotonga Brewery and Maire Nui Gardens & Cafe, while local bars and restaurants also put the spirits to work in cocktails. If you've found a favourite, 700 ml and smaller 200 ml bottles are available, with the latter making an easy Cook Islands gift to squeeze into your luggage.

With an abundance of tropical fruit available on the islands all year round, you can bet that the Cook Islands is a glorious place to sip on a smoothie. A popular smoothie spot is the Real Fruit Smoothie stall at the Punanga Nui Market, available all Saturday morning.

Otherwise, there are plenty of cafes across the Cook Islands selling refreshing mixes.

Roasting coffee on Rarotonga since 1999, the Cook Islands Coffee Company is a must-visit for caffeine lovers. Their charming roadside café in Matavera offers freshly roasted coffee and an attractive outdoor seating area.

Open six days a week (closed Saturdays) from 7 am to 10:30 am, it's the perfect spot for a morning brew. Be sure to visit their on-site bakery on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays for freshly baked treats!

This is an island holiday destination, after all! To fit the bill, the Cook Islands is home to well-trained mixologists and bar staff who can shake up some amazing cocktails in minutes.

Check out the 10 Best Bars in the Cook Islands for places to try your "Sex on the Beach". Learn more with The Ultimate Guide to Rarotonga Nightlife + Happy Hour List.

Rarotonga and Aitutaki's upscale resorts and restaurants certainly don't cheap out on the wine list, boasting eclectic selections of wine predominantly from New Zealand but also from Australia and the rest of the world.

Some of the most extensive wine menus can be found at On The Beach (OTB) and the Pacific Resort Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

The Cook Islands is an idyllic go-to to celebrate special occasions, such as honeymoons, weddings, anniversaries, etc. And what celebration is complete without Champagne?!

Tell any resort that you're staying on your honeymoon and you're likely to find a bottle of free bubbles chilled in your room - see the 10 Best Honeymoon Packages in the Cook Islands. You'll also find "Champagne sunset cruises", for instance, on Aitutaki with Teking Lagoon Cruises - see the 10 Most Romantic Things to Do on Aitutaki.

Ok, so it's probably not a good idea to solely rely on the drinks above to stay hydrated. So, how do you make sure you always have access to safe drinking water in the Cook Islands? Luckily, the islands that most travellers visit in the Cook Islands have filtered water stations in the towns and villages where you can refill your water bottle with UV-filtered water.

But if, like us, you don't want to take any risks of an upset stomach while on your holidays, get yourself a Lifestraw Water Bottle which filters 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria through the straw while you're drinking through it.

We don't go to any South Pacific island without it! Learn more about the water situation in the Cook Islands in Is the Water Safe to Drink in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?