If you’re heading to Easter Island, you’re probably wondering where to eat. Because duh, we all want good food while on vacation.
Almost every restaurant on Easter Island is in Hanga Roa. There are a couple of exceptions. One sits at Anakena beach, and a few more are inside the higher end hotels further out. But everything is basically concentrated in the town.
That sounds limiting. In practice it makes eating here simple, because almost everything worth trying sits along three streets. Atamu Tekena runs through the middle of town and Policarpo Toro runs along the coast. Te Pito o Te Henua connects the two. These are the streets you want to eat on.
The food is better than I expected. Fresh tuna is the thing to order, as it is caught that morning. There are options if you are not up for fish. Just expect to pay way more, because they are imported.
There are also way more options than I was expecting. Here is the rundown of where to eat on Easter Island, and when.
Visiting Easter Island and looking for a more in-depth guide? Check out my other posts!
How to visit Easter Island – A Complete Guide – for everything to know before you go, info on arrivals, guides, getting around, and more
Things to do on Easter Island – For a full overview of the best sites worth your time, what each of them is, the order to visit them, and some extra spots to check out
Where to stay on Easter Island – for a run down of the best accommodation options to fit your budget
What to know before you eat on Easter Island
A few things that will save you a wasted walk.
Almost everywhere closes one day a week, and it is usually Sunday. La Creperia, Te Moana, Te Moai Sunset and Hani Hani all shut on Sundays. Shaddai and Terraza close on Mondays instead. Check before you set out, because Sunday evening leaves you with a much shorter list.
Most places add a 10% service charge. That is standard across the island, not something singled out on your bill.
It is expensive. Everything except the fish arrives by plane or ship, and the prices reflect that. Even then, the fish is pretty pricey. Budget more for food here than you would anywhere else in Chile.
Order the tuna. Fresh tuna turns up in ceviche, grilled, and in the unexpected Peruvian dishes on the island.
Where to eat on Easter Island for breakfast and coffee
La Creperia
Top pick for breakfast. Hands down. It sits on Policarpo Toro, right on the coast, with moai and sea behind you while you eat. Amazing.
The menu is huge. Sweet and savoury crepes, waffles, panini, eggs, avocado, salads, ice cream. Breakfast combos come with a juice. Coffee costs extra.
Order the giant Americano if you need it. It is 500ml with three espressos in it. I always order extra espresso in my coffee. This was the first time somewhere just got me.
I went for a savoury avocado crepe and I had zero notes. It was perfection.
Open 9am to 9pm, closed Sundays.
Maná Café
On Atamu Tekena, in the middle of town, and the most reliable option on the island.
Coffee, cakes, pastries and proper cooked breakfasts. It is also one of the only places open from 8am right through to 10pm. That covers you when everything else is shut.
Worth knowing on a Sunday, when most of the town closes.
Rapa Coffee Pastelería
A tiny place further along Atamu Tekena, run by the woman who bakes everything herself.
This is not a full breakfast spot. It is coffee and a very good tart or cheesecake. You eat it on a small patio with chickens wandering around. Go for the sweet treat rather than the meal.
Open 9am to 8pm on weekdays, but afternoons only at weekends, from 4pm.
Where to eat on Easter Island for lunch and dinner
Te Moai Sunset
Up at the north end of Policarpo Toro, near Tahai. This is the sunset dinner spot.
The location and the sunset are very much the point, and the views are said to be insane. But the food is high end too, with suggested wine pairings for every dish.
Lots of fish dishes, so think ceviche, tiraditos (raw fish strips) and catch of the day in various sauces. There is also a whole vegetarian and vegan section. Veggie fajitas, mushroom risotto, even a ceviche made from rare algae. Plenty of chicken and beef dishes for those who want them.
Reserve ahead if you want a sunset table, because it gets busy.
Open 12:30pm until midnight, closed Sundays.
Te Moana
On the coast on Policarpo Toro, with sea views at the back and a reputation among locals as well as visitors. This was the place our guide recommended. They only serve fish though, so it did not work for some of our group.
Mainly seafood. The ceviche and the fish tartare get the best reviews. The sea urchin is said to be worth trying if you have never had it. There is a dance performance on some evenings, which people rate as a highlight rather than a gimmick.
It is one of the pricier places in town, but worth the extra.
Open midday to 11pm, closed Sundays.
Shaddai
Peruvian and Rapa Nui fusion, on Atamu Tekena.
Get the Rapa Nui ceviche, made with tuna caught that day. They also do a lomo saltado (stir fried beef) for any non-fish eaters. Everything they brought out of the kitchen looked incredible. Portions are big and the service is relatively quick.
I also loved the little outside terrace where you sit to eat. It was the perfect place to catch the sunset with a cold local beer. Yes, there is a Rapa Nui beer.
It is small, so it fills up. Open midday to 8:30pm, closed Mondays.
Hani Hani
On the coast, opposite the beach front, and the liveliest place in town during a sports match. I should know, given I watched England’s crushing World Cup defeat here on their big screen. Anyway.
Good ceviche, generous portions and reasonably priced drinks. The fish burger was amazing. They had a handful of non-fish dishes too, including a burger and empanadas. There is live music and traditional dancing on some nights, and they pull people up from the tables to join in.
Open midday until 2am, closed Sundays.
Terraza Lounge
I walked past here several times. It was pretty empty through the day and early evening. But it looked like the kind of place that really livens up at night, and it gave tiki bar vibes.
The seafood pasta, ceviche and pisco sours get amazing reviews. Sad I never got to eat there. Adding it here so you hopefully do.
Open 12:30pm to 11pm, closed Mondays.
Where to eat on Easter Island outside Hanga Roa
Anakena Beach Restaurant – Pae Pae Anakena
The only proper restaurant outside Hanga Roa, and it is in a very good spot.
It opens from around midday, and you eat looking out at the beach with the moai of Ahu Nau Nau behind you. If you are doing the big day of exploring, this is the natural lunch stop after Tongariki and Rano Raraku.
Do not count on it for anything other than lunch. Plan your other meals around town. But if you are here and hungry, why not get a change of scene. This is quite the backdrop for lunch.
The hotels outside town
A couple of the higher end hotels sit outside Hanga Roa, with Ohana and Explora being the popular ones. They keep their restaurants for guests, and the menus are small. These are not places to travel to for dinner.
Having stayed at Ohana, it was convenient to eat breakfast there, and dinner one night. And honestly the quality was pretty good, with a speciality chef on-site. For every other meal though, I took a taxi into town, because the variety is so much better. Hotels will call you a taxi to get in, and restaurants will happily call you one to get back.
Read more in Where to stay on Easter Island!.
Where to eat on Easter Island FAQ
What food is Easter Island known for?
Fresh tuna, served raw in ceviche or grilled. And basically any other fish dish you can think of. Fish is the word here. There is also a Peruvian influence, the same as mainland Chile, so you will see dishes like lomo saltado.
Is food expensive on Easter Island?
Yes. Almost everything except the fish is shipped or flown in, so expect to pay noticeably more than on mainland Chile. Most restaurants also add a 10% service charge.
Are restaurants on Easter Island open on Sundays?
Many are not. Several of the best places close on Sundays, so plan that day around Maná Café, Shaddai, or Terraza Lounge.
Do you need to book restaurants on Easter Island?
For the sunset places on the coast, yes. Te Moai Sunset in particular can turn people away without a reservation.
Can you eat outside Hanga Roa?
Only at Anakena beach, where there is a restaurant open from around midday. You can also eat at some of the higher end hotels if you are staying there. Everywhere else has nothing, apart from a coffee truck at Tongariki for the sunrise crowd. Take water and snacks on long site days.
Planning the rest of your Easter Island trip
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