You’ll find Toatea Crêperie set amongst the lushest coral gardens in all of French Polynesia, with stunning views of both the turquoise lagoon and the bordering mountains. It’s pure romance.
The restaurant is located on stilts on the same docks as the ultra-luxury bungalows, overlooking a natural aquarium. You’re likely to see all kinds of marine life during your time here, ranging from hamu hamu fish to spotted eagle rays. In fact, come nightfall, it’s one of the best places on the island for spotting sand sharks and giant manta rays.
About Toatea Crêperie
Location
Inside of the Hilton Lagoon Hotel & Spa, nestled between Moorea’s two iconic bays.
Cuisine
French-inspired crêpes
Vibe
Island Romance
Reservations
Absolutely necessary, especially if you are not a resort guest
My Visit to Toatea Crêperie
Reservations can only be made in-person or over the phone, which is a bit of a pickle for international visitors. Sara, the owner of the bed and breakfast that I was staying at, made the phone call for us on her local cell phone – I truly believe that her effortless charm was the reason we were able to get a last minute sunset reservation!
After getting all dolled up, I threw some loose pants on over my dress and hopped on the scooter to head down to the resort. I gave my name and reservation time to the security person, who checked it against a list on a clipboard, and then sent me on my way.
We arrived about an hour ahead of our reservation time, giving us plenty of time to grab a mai tai from the bar and wander down the docks. Shifting light until the creamsicle finale.
A large portion of the menu consisted of ingredients that had been shipped thousands of miles from the mainland. I’m not a huge fan of this for a number of reasons.
The first is the obvious environmental impact. The second is that I firmly believe that as a visitor it is my responsibility to contribute to the local economy, especially in places where tourists have a large financial advantage over locals, which includes supporting local agriculture.
Finally, it’s more fun! Why the heck would I spend all this time and money to eat a pear that was grown thirty miles down the road from where I live?
I asked our hostess to point out menu items that were sourced entirely locally, which limited me to about two savoury options and three sweet options. Luckily, they all looked delicious.
I ended up ordering the Moana – made from freshly caught fish of the day, locally harvested pineapple. and creamy cheese. I ended up with swordfish the day I went, and it was truly delicious.
For desert we split the Marquisienne – comprised of honey, lemon, almonds, mango sorbet, and freshly whipped cream. As far as crepes go, it was pretty light and refreshing, due to the abundance of citrus, and was the perfect nightcap to a lovely meal.
The TLDR
Totally dreamy dining experience – remember that you’re coming for the views more than the food, and you’ll leave happy.
