The Top Bars, Beach Bars and Nightclubs in Tonga
Whether you’re looking for a place for a relaxing sundowner, somewhere to meet the locals, meet with other travellers or party into the early hours, there’s a place to suit your style of drinks in Tonga. Sure, Tonga isn’t Ibiza but you’re bound to find your type of watering hole if you know where to look. We’re here to help you with just that in this list of the best bars in Tonga!
Note that the drinking age in Tonga is 18 years old. Learn more about going out in Tonga in The Ultimate Guide to Nightlife in Tonga.
1. Reload Bar (Tongatapu)
A night out in Nuku’alofa almost has to include the Reload Bar. Located opposite the Friends Cafe, Reload Bar is a popular place to hang out with mates after dinner and meet the locals. Drink Tongan beers on tap or opt for one of their fun pina colada premixed cocktails in a jar; happy hour is from 5 pm to 6 pm with buy-on-get-one-free beers! Pre-drinks and pool get started in the main bar downstairs, then head next door for dancing, and then, if you make it into the wee hours, upstairs is where you can really let your hair down. You also might be lucky enough to catch Reload’s monthly themed nights! Find them open from 3 pm to 12 am Monday to Friday and until 11 pm Saturday.
Location: Taufa’ahau Road (opposite Friends Cafe and the Lagafonua Handicraft Centre), Nuku’alofa city centre, Tongatapu.
© TongaPocketGuide.com2. Le Galion (Vava’u)
Overlooking the marina in Neiafu yet somehow easy to miss, Le Galion is one you’ll be happy to stumble upon for drinks. The elevated bar stays open till late on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, attracting an inclusive crowd of locals, expats and tourists. Part of the fun is their weekly burlesque night put on by the Vava’u Leitis’ Association (a local LGBTQ+ group).
Location: The entrance is on the corner of Fatafehi Road and the road leading down to Halaevalu Wharf (just past the Friendly Islands Bookshop), Neiafu, ‘Utu Vava’u, Vava’u.
© TongaPocketGuide.com3. Nauti Ruby’s Bar & Nightclub (Tongatapu)
Drink like a sailor and hang out with expats, locals and tourists alike at Nauti Ruby’s Bar, sometimes seen as “Nauti Rubi’s”. The nautical-themed bar at Faua Wharf in Nuku’alofa has interesting indoor and outdoor spaces to hang/dance/relax, from the happy hour deck with karaoke from 4 pm to 8 pm, to the bar area with a DJ getting the party going from 9 pm. Shoot a game of pool, watch the big game on the screens, and enjoy a non-fussy selection of bottles, spirits and wine. Find them open from 11 am to 12:30 am Monday to Friday, and from 11 am to 11:30 pm Saturday. Cash and card are accepted.
Location: Faua Wharf (behind Pizzaria Royale), Vuna Road, Ma’ufanga, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu.
© TongaPocketGuide.com4. Basque Tavern (Vava’u)
A bar in many senses, Basque Tavern is not only a favourite watering hole in Vava’u but a Spanish-inspired tapas bar. When you’re not sharing plates, enjoy the rustic decor, pool table and the transition into a buzzing bar as the night goes on. Look out for the occasional karaoke night posted on their Facebook Page. Find the bar in Neiafu open from 3 pm to 12:20 am Tuesday to Friday and 3 pm to 11:30 am on Saturday.
Location: Corner of Fatafehi and Falaeu Roads, Neiafu, ‘Utu Vava’u, Vava’u.
© TongaPocketGuide.com5. Billfish Bar & Restaurant (Tongatapu)
An open-air bar on Nuku’alofa‘s waterfront, Billfish Bar & Restaurant is an awesome place to catch the game, relax with friends or listen to live music. Head over to the bar decorated in trophy billfish for their wide selection of beers, wines and spirits. Or how about treating yourself to one of their famous oversized burgers, like the “Jucie Lucie”? Later into the evening, there’s often live music or an in-house DJ playing tunes well into the night! The restaurant also features in our 20 Best Restaurants in Nuku’alofa. Opening hours are 10 am to 1 am Monday to Friday and 2 pm to 11:30 pm Saturday.
Location: Vuna Road (opposite the eastern end of Faua Wharf), Ma’ufanga, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu.
(c) tongapocketguide.com6. Tali’eva Inn & Bar (Tongatapu)
For an alternative crowd of 30-50-somethings, head down to Tali’eva Inn & Bar in Nuku’alofa city centre. You’ll find locals playing pool in the courtyard or singing karaoke early on weekdays, while the weekend attracts a fun crowd letting loose to Tongan contemporary music. Rum and coke with real spirits and Long Island iced tea are a favourite here, especially during one of the bar’s flexible happy hours. Find Tali’eva open from 4 pm to 12:30 am Monday to Saturday. Other bars in the capital are also listed in the 5 Best Bars in Nuku’alofa.
Location: Taufa’ahau Road (next to The Top Restaurant and opposite Cafe Escape), Nuku’alofa city centre, Tongatapu.
© TongaPocketGuide.com7. Ciora Karaoke Bar (Tongatapu)
The new kid in Nuku’alofa city centre, Ciora Karaoke Bar is not only a place to work those vocal cords but to find some of the cheapest drinks in town. As the name suggests, it’s karaoke every night at Ciora’s with the odd competition here and there. Drinks are cheap with canned favourites including Long White rum and Woodstock, as well as fun mixers from rum and coke to fruity punch. Ciora’s is open from 4 pm to 1 am Monday to Friday and 3 pm to 1 am Saturday with happy hour on Saturday from 3 pm to 4 pm.
Location: Taufa’ahau Road (a little further south from Tali’eva, opposite Cafe Escape), Nuku’alofa city centre, Tongatapu.
© TongaPocketGuide.com8. Mango Cafe (Vava’u)
A popular place for drinking, at least with the yachties, is the Mango Cafe in Vava’u. Hanging over the harbour’s edge, the Mango Cafe offers interesting views as you sip on one of their Tongan or international tap beers, wines or mixers. Open all day every day, you can still hang around with bevvies after dinner, as the bar/cafe is open until 12 am Monday to Sunday. Credit card is accepted.
Location: Fatafehi Road, Neiafu, Vava’u.
© TongaPocketGuide.com9. Bellavista Cafe & Restaurant (Vava’u)
With a nice little bar section overlooking the Neiafu Harbour, the Bellavista Cafe & Restaurant is not only a great place to eat but an exceptional place to drink. Sip on a few cocktails, drink wine, beer or your favourite mixer combo from the elevated bar overlooking the small-boat marina in Neiafu. They are open throughout lunch and dinner, so the bar is something you can rely on for an afternoon drink to a relaxing sundowner. Learn more about their food offerings in the 20 Best Restaurants in Tonga.
Location: Guttenbeil Plaza, Fatafehi Road, Neiafu, Vava’u.
© TongaPocketGuide.com10. Tongan Beach Resort (Vava’u)
While many resorts in Tonga have excellent bars, we mention the Tongan Beach Resort in Vava’u, not only because their cocktail menu is among some of the best in the islands, but because they are easy to get to if you’re staying on Vava’u’s main island. The Tongan Beach Resort has a relaxing beachside bar with an extensive cocktail menu to get stuck into. But if you’re not into cocktails, don’t worry, as they also have international and local beers, wines and mixers. See if this resort is worthy of a stay in The Top 25 Resorts in Tonga.
Location: ‘Utungake, ‘Utungake Island, Vava’u.
(c) tongapocketguide.comMore About Bars in Tonga
That’s it for our guide to the best bars in Tonga. For more about the good times in Tonga, take a look at the following:
- 10 Drinks in Tonga You Have to Try
- The Ultimate Guide to Nightlife in Tonga
- 10 Adult-Only Activities in Tonga
Finally, plan more around partying using Tonga Adults-Only Itinerary: 14 Days, Tonga Adults-Only Itinerary: 7 Days and Tonga Adults-Only Itinerary: 5 Days.
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