Niue for Vegans & Vegetarians + Best Restaurants

© NiuePocketGuide.com

Self-Catering as a Vegan or Vegetarian in Niue

Finding vegan ingredients in Niue is easy thanks to the well-stocked supermarkets and grocery stores found in Alofi.

The largest selection of foods can be found in the Swanson Supermarket (Swanson Complex) typically stocked with imports from New Zealand. Items like almond/soy milk, rice, nuts and vegan snacks are all available, if not a little more expensive than what you might be used to – check The Cost of Food in Niue: Restaurant & Grocery Prices.

There are also small convenience stores in Alofi, which offer the basics but usually not the variety of vegan options you’ll find at the larger stores. We go into more detail about what to expect from grocery stores and supermarkets in The Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Niue. Note, however, that Swanson Supermarket and other grocery stores start to run out of supplies as they wait for the monthly cargo ship to unload – usually towards the end/beginning of the month. For this reason, we recommend bringing a few vegan substitutes with you to Niue. See Taking Food to Niue: What You Need to Know to find out what you can and cannot bring.

While fresh local fruit and vegetables are often available in the supermarket and smaller grocery stores, you’ll also be able to pick up fresh produce from the Niue Market, as listed in the 5 Best Markets in Niue.

Pro tip: Join Tony from A5 Plantation Tours (see the 6 Best Guided Tours in Niue) who often stocks tour-goers with more fruit than they can eat!

All you need with your vegan or vegetarian ingredients is a place to cook them! Check out the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in Apia & Upolu for our top picks.

© NiuePocketGuide.com

The Top Restaurants in Niue for Vegans and Vegetarians

Although there are no exclusively vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Niue (all food is cooked alongside meat and seafood dishes), there are some restaurants that are more accommodating to vegans and vegetarians than others. Below are the restaurants we recommend to vegans and vegetarians. For more information on each, plus opening hours, check out the 20 Best Restaurants in Niue.

Fana Cafe

(Swanson Complex, Alofi) – Although their ever-changing menu of meals using locally-sourced ingredients is heavy on meat, eggs and seafood, the talented team at Fana Cafe are happy to accommodate vegans and vegetarians; just ask the staff what they can do for you.

Hio Cafe & Bar

(Tuapa) – This clifftop container restaurant overlooking Hio Beach has a very accommodating owner who will be happy to point out the vegan and vegetarian items on the menu or alter recipes slightly to suit. Try their Niuean tasting platter!

Vanilla Cafe

(Alofi Commercial Centre) – Coconut cream-based vegetarian curries are on the menu served with rice, making Vanilla Cafe a good go-to for a vegan dish whether for lunch or dinner.

Niue Market

(Alofi) – Ok, so the Niue Market is definitely not a restaurant, but it’s often a good place to find traditional Niuean snacks and hot food that just happens to be vegan! Try nane – a porridge-like dish made with arrowroot and coconut, pitako fusi – a type of banana bread that is also made without flour, or cooked taro. See more traditional dishes to look out for, like takihi which is also vegan, in Traditional Niuean Food: 10 Foods to Try in Niue. Plus, learn more about the Niue Market in the 5 Best Markets in Niue.

Maala Garden Tour

(Liku) – Again, not a restaurant but you’ll want to save some room for the Maala Garden Tour which includes a casual tour around a local bush garden before sitting down to sample an array of its produce – all vegan, of course. Find out more about the tour in the 6 Best Guided Tours in Niue.

© NiuePocketGuide.com

Niuean Umu Buffets

Another way vegans and vegetarians can experience the local cuisine of Niue is at Niuean umu nights; food that has been slow-cooked in hot rocks and served buffet-style.

Like any buffet, vegans and vegetarians will be able to pick out the most suitable dishes from a wide selection, such as cooked taro, takihi, salad, Niuean bread and more. However, due to most dishes available containing meat and fish, vegans and vegetarians may not be getting the best value out of this otherwise fairly expensive experience.

Niuean umu nights are available at Manuiz (Alofi), Lilo’s Restaurant (Hakupu) and the Dolphin Restaurant of the Scenic Matavai Resort (Tamakautoga). Check out schedules and learn more in the 20 Best Restaurants in Niue and The Ultimate Guide to Niue Nightlife.