Huahine Yacht Club

Tahiti Tourisme lists it as a seafront restaurant in Fare that is popular for its sunsets, with a kitchen built around fish, seafood and Oceanian dishes. A cruising blog rated its happy hour the best it found in French Polynesia, with locals and cruisers filling the tables in the early evening. Marc, at the restaurant, also knows the island’s boat services, and the tourism service’s guide for sailors suggests asking him for advice on repairs.

Come at the start of the evening for happy hour, when pitchers of Hinano, the local beer, are sold at half price along with many other drinks. Then stay for dinner and ask what fish has come in that day, as the kitchen is built around fish and seafood.

The anchorage off Fare lies between Huahine’s two north-west passes. It is well sheltered, with good snorkelling on the reef side, and has room for 15 yachts for up to 48 hours. Go ashore by dinghy to the floating dock in front of the Huahine Yacht Club, which puts you straight into the village. You may also lie alongside Fare’s large concrete quay for a few hours to load supplies, as long as you keep clear of the ferries and local traffic.

Tahiti Tourisme gives the bar’s hours as 9am to 10pm every day, with the kitchen open from 11am to 2pm and 6pm to 9pm. A live band plays every Friday from 5pm, so book that evening by phone. If you are in Fare at the weekend, the Sunday market starts early in the morning by the quay.