Experience authentic cuisine through guided food tours in Vanuatu.
Vanuatu is a stunning South Pacific archipelago of 83 volcanic islands offering pristine beaches, world-class diving, active volcanoes, and authentic Melanesian culture. From the bustling capital Port Vila to the remote outer islands, Vanuatu combines adventure and relaxation in a tropical paradise.
The best guided culinary experiences.
A guided morning tour through the Port Vila Main Market and Handicraft Market, tasting local fruits, sampling cooked lap-lap from market stalls, trying fresh coconut, and learning about traditional Melanesian food culture from a local guide.
An evening tour along the Port Vila waterfront visiting BBQ fish stands, kava nakamals, the Friday Night Market (if running), and local juice vendors. Experience how ni-Vanuatu people actually eat and socialize in the evening.
Visit Ekasup Cultural Village to participate in traditional food preparation including making lap-lap (the national dish), coconut cream extraction, and cooking in a traditional underground oven. Eat the food you help prepare alongside village families.
Fly to Tanna Island or join a tour from the airport to visit a working Tanna Coffee plantation, see the traditional sun-drying process, roast beans on-site, and taste multiple brews while learning how volcanic soil creates unique flavor profiles.
Choose based on your culinary interests.
Evening BBQ fish stands and kava nakamal tours along the Port Vila waterfront
Morning guided tours through Port Vila's vibrant produce and handicraft markets with tastings
Curated dining experiences at Port Vila's best restaurants with chef introductions and menu guidance
Tanna Coffee plantation tours, coconut crab seasonal experiences, and farm-to-table cooking
Tour recommendations, DIY routes, and local recipes.
Learn to make local dishes yourself.
Learn to make Vanuatu's national dish — lap-lap — from scratch under the guidance of a local village woman. The process involves grating root vegetables (taro, yam, or manioc), mixing with coconut cream, wrapping in banana leaves, and cooking in a traditional earth oven. Eat what you make.
Participate in traditional Melanesian food preparation at an authentic kastom village. Learn how multiple generations of women work together to prepare community meals, including coconut preparation, island vegetable cooking, and fish preparation using traditional methods. Includes cultural show and village tour.
A chef-led cooking class at one of Port Vila's leading restaurants. Learn to prepare three dishes incorporating traditional Vanuatu ingredients in contemporary Pacific Rim style: fresh poulet fish ceviche, coconut-crusted prawns, and tropical fruit dessert.
Create your own culinary adventure.
A self-guided food tour of Port Vila combining the market, waterfront dining, and kava culture
Stop 1: Port Vila Main Market (6-9 AM) - buy fresh tropical fruits, watch the market come alive, try a coconut from a vendor ($1-2)
Stop 2: Cafe Vila or Cafe du Village (9-10 AM) - French-style breakfast with croissant and espresso ($8-12)
Stop 3: Port Vila Handicraft Market - browse while snacking on nangai nuts bought from market vendors ($2-5)
Stop 4: Market food stalls for lunch (12-1 PM) - try lap-lap with chicken ($5-6) and fresh juice
Stop 5: Tanna Coffee Roasting (3-4 PM) - try locally grown coffee and buy beans to take home ($15-30)
Stop 6: Local kava nakamal at dusk - experience traditional kava culture with local people (kava $2-4 per shell)
Get the most from your culinary adventures.
The Friday and Saturday night market behind the main market is the best place to eat BBQ fish grilled over coconut husks — arrive early for the best selection
Lap-lap is the true national dish — a pudding-like dish of grated root vegetables mixed with coconut cream and wrapped in banana leaves. Market stalls serve it for $3-6.
Kava is deeply cultural — when visiting a nakamal, sit quietly, clap once before receiving your shell, drink in one sip, then clap again. Don't talk while drinking.
Fresh coconut crab (a Vanuatu delicacy) is highly seasonal and expensive — if you see it on a menu and can afford $60-80, try it. L'Houstalet does it best.
The food market vendors are most friendly and interactive in the early morning (6-8 AM) before the tourist crowds arrive
Poulet fish is a local freshwater fish unique to some Pacific islands and a Vanuatu specialty — try it grilled at the Waterfront Bar & Grill
Santo beef from Espiritu Santo is some of the finest beef in the Pacific — grass-fed in volcanic soil. Order it at any restaurant serving local produce.
Ask your accommodation host to take you to their local nakamal for kava — it's a very different (and much more authentic) experience than tourist-oriented venues
Get our complete foodie guide with tour recommendations, DIY routes, recipes, and dining tips.
Download Food Tour Guide