Dining in Denarau, Fiji: Local Restaurants and Pocket-Friendly Eateries Worth a Visit

Now that you’ve landed in Denarau, Fiji – where can you eat? For those who have meandered here because of the title – thank you and Dining in Denarau is not clickbait. Forget about #3, none of the points will shock you, although you might find the page mildly entertaining (at best!). Most travellers to Fiji will have stayed at Denarau Island. Repeat travellers will go around and beyond, but it’s almost a guarantee that almost every traveller to Fiji has been to Denarau and its lovely port.

Where is Denarau? Also, what is Denarau?

In short, Denarau Island was envisioned and ‘brought to life’ by reclaiming 2.55 acres of coastal mangrove wetlands. A golf course, a port and a resort and residential complex was made, and the entire island is connected to the mainland by a causeway. The main town of Nadi is less than 10 minutes away by car and the international airport is around 40 minutes away.

So, there are places to eat in Denarau, right?

Yes. Denarau, and Nadi nearby, is teeming with a range of restaurants to satiate any and every palate. The island is host to nine huge world-class beachfront resorts, each of which have several themed and specialty restaurants. These, we will delve in to shortly. The island also has a beautiful port and marina, which hosts a score and more of eating joints, long-standing restaurants, cafes, and pizzerias. Also, the view of the open sea, the briny breeze and the designer yachts make for a great view.

Budget Restaurants and Eateries in and around Denarau

Just because something is budget, doesn’t mean it’s compromised on quality or taste. Experiential travellers will staunchly vouch for the fact that most local restaurants and eateries may not have an extended menu, but they will make an omelette or a steak beyond your expectations. That’s the nature of experimenting with food and places, really. Also, since the island is less than three square miles and adjoins the proper city of Nadi, dining in Denarau does include places in the bigger cousin. That comes later, though.

So, we start off the journey with the one comfort food the world knows – Mama’s Pizza at the Port Denarau marina. Just the aroma of freshly-baked pizza, tang of marinara and the bubbling cheese makes your mouth water as you walk in. The reason to hit up Mama’s is the locals favour it and there’s no better sign of a good restaurant than a stream of local patrons.

But if you’re travelling with a family, you’ll need more variety and a choice of wholesome meals. That’s all right, you can mosey over to Lulu Bar Restaurant and Café. It’s an all-day diner which opens as early as 7am and stays bustling till 11pm. Their menu has a decent depth, and the restaurant has plenty of space for families without jostling.

Dining in Denarau: Indian, Mexican and some mouth-watering seafood!

There’s also the Indigo Indian and Asian Restaurant, or just Indigo on the marina. With both airconditioned indoor and outdoor seating, the restaurant has been open and serving fresh Indian and seafood since 2007. Speaking of seafood, families can head over to Bonefish, which specialises in yes, seafood. It’s been recently nominated and won TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice award for 2022. They do a mean lobster, their seafood platter is inhumanly huge, and everything is practically catch of the day! But not everything at the Port Denarau marina is about seafood. The Cantina on the marina and Mamacita serves up some authentic Mexican for hungry travellers. Also, their sangria varieties are straight-up better than Tiktok versions any day. The Cantina is a standalone restaurant on the waterfront, and you can spot it immediately with its bright graffiti-style walls. Mamacita is set inside Club Wyndham Denarau Island, Trademark Collection by Wyndham.

It’s often the case that with travellers often spend their entire vacation inside gigantic resorts, not venturing outside and sampling the local cuisines, menus and generally soaking in the island vibe. We don’t blame anyone, there’s just so much to see, do and eat. But… did you know that our Denarau and Fiji holiday packages often have seasonal bonuses of $100 dinner voucher that travellers can use to experience several of Port Denarau’s finest offerings? We just want travellers to step out and experience the real Fiji, that’s all.

Places to eat in Nadi – Pocket-Friendly Picks

But the quest to eat without breaking bank shall not remain confined to Denarau – just a causeway and 10 minutes away lies Nadi and everything nice! (We apologise for the bad rhyme.) There are places aplenty here which offer inexpensive and hearty fare for all travellers. And for first timers, it’s written as Nadi, but pronounced ‘Na-n-dii’. Surprise, there’s an extra ‘n’ hidden there! So, dining in Denarau goes down the road (and not downhill!) like 10 minutes.

For example, if you’re near the Sri Siva Subramaniya Siva temple and you’re in the mood to top up the old energy reserves, consider the Bo Hai Seafood Restaurant just down the road. It’s set above a Bank of Baroda branch and can host over a 100 people, easy. It’s BYOB, and the servings are simply intimidating. Bring an appetite. But we’re drifting off to seafood again – it’s Fiji, what can we say. Feeling like Chinese or Asian? Head over to LC’s at Namaka in Nadi – they have a good menu to order from. It’s also a local favourite and gets boisterous in the evenings with families taking up its big tables. The service can get a tad delayed, but the food stays on point. Continuing the Asian streak, the Sitar Restaurant is pretty well-regarded by the population for its Thai and Indian fare. It’s set along the Wailoaloa Road in Sigatoka, and it offers hungry, hungry travellers heaping helpings of freshly-made Indian and Thai comfort food.

For times when you’re feeling like splurging a bit on getting the taste of Fiji exactly right, head over to Kanu Gastropub by Lance Seeto. A chef-driven restaurant, the produce is always locally-derived, fresh and organic, and the food will delight travellers looking to taste Fijian dishes just right. The restaurant also takes care of vegan travellers’ palate and those requiring gluten-free fare. Looking for a quick pick-me-up or a burger on the go? Google the Coffee Hub in Nadi. You’ll do all right.

Dining in Denarau – Budget Edition: More to come?

Most travellers will notice and point out that we’ve not highlighted/showcased great restaurants dotting this island nation which are set inside or are flagships of hotels and resorts. That’s exactly the reason and also the fact that we genuinely want travellers to Fiji to experience local restaurants and eateries. The service might not be 5-star, but the food will be memorable, and you’ll walk away happy. Mostly always.