Food & Drink

Fiji's cuisine is a culinary melting pot: The traditional Melanesian base meets Indian spice artistry and Pacific seafood tradition. The result is a cuisine that is surprisingly diverse and aromatic.

Traditional Dishes

• Kokoda (Fijian Ceviche) — Fiji's national dish: Raw fish (usually Mahi-Mahi or Walu), marinated in lime juice, mixed with coconut milk, chili, tomatoes, and onions. Served in a coconut shell. Fresh, citrusy, and addictive — the best Kokoda can be found in local restaurants and markets. 5–15 FJD.
• Lovo — Fiji's earth oven feast: Pork, chicken, fish, and root vegetables wrapped in banana leaves and cooked for hours in an earth pit over hot stones. The result: smoky, tender, and incredibly aromatic. Lovo is served at festivals and village visits — an unforgettable experience.
• Palusami — Taro leaves filled with coconut milk and corned beef (or fish), slowly cooked. Creamy, rich, and one of the most popular everyday dishes.
• Cassava (Tapioca) — The starchy tuber is Fiji's number one staple food. Boiled, fried, or as chips — cassava is everywhere. Accompanied by Dalo (taro) and Kumala (sweet potato).
• Vakalolo — A sweet dessert made from cassava, coconut milk, and brown sugar. Fiji's comfort food.

Indo-Fijian Cuisine

The Indo-Fijian cuisine is a highlight in itself. Due to the Indian immigrants of the 19th century, Fiji boasts one of the best curry scenes outside of India:

• Roti & Curry — Freshly baked flatbread with chicken, lamb, or vegetable curry. Available in every street restaurant for 4–8 FJD.
• Fish & Chips "Fiji Style" — Fresh fish (often Mahi-Mahi) in batter with cassava chips instead of potatoes.
• Samosas & Pakoras — Fried pastries with vegetable or meat filling. Perfect street snack.

Kava — Fiji's National Drink

Kava (Yaqona) is not just a ceremonial drink but also an everyday beverage. In Fiji, there are Kava bars (more like Kava circles on the grass), where men sit together for hours in the evening, drinking round after round. As a tourist, you will often be invited — sharing a Bilo (bowl) with strangers is a wonderful way to make connections. Kava costs 30–80 FJD per kilo at the market.

Fiji Bitter & Fiji Gold

Fiji Bitter is Fiji's national beer: a light, easy-drinking lager, perfect for tropical temperatures. Brewed by the Paradise Beverages Company in Suva since 1957. A bottle at the resort: 7–12 FJD, in the supermarket: 3–5 FJD. Fiji Gold is the premium variant with more character.

Fruit Juices & Coconut Water

Fresh coconuts are available at every street corner and on the beach for 2–5 FJD — the vendor chops off the top with a machete, inserts a straw, and it's ready. The water is isotonic and perfect after a day of snorkeling. Fresh mangoes, papayas, and passion fruits are offered everywhere as juice or freshly cut.

What You Should Know

• Alcohol: Fiji is not strict about alcohol, but in the villages, only Kava is consumed. Bringing alcohol to villages is disrespectful — avoid it.
• Tap Water: Generally drinkable in Suva and Nadi, bottled water is recommended on the smaller islands.
• Fiji Water: Yes, the globally exported Fiji Water does indeed come from Fiji — from an artesian source in the Yaqara Mountains on Viti Levu. Cheaper locally than anywhere else, but still more expensive than tap water.