Noumea dining advice

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Tropic

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Grateful any advice on good place/s for a few drinks and reasonable meal in Noumea (steak/fish salad chips). I know Noumea is expensive and very touristic (cruise pax oriented) but apart from the over priced resort hotels, a few French restaurants and some tourist places, a google search doesnt come up with anything else exciting...
 
Go out to Anse Vata towards the Le Meridien resort. There are a number of food outlets there, like Stone Grill, Hanoi Plage, there are a couple of others there but we didn't try them.
 
We stayed at Casa del Sole Apartments, south end of Plage de la Baie des Citrons, there were several place to eat just near here. We didn't think it was that expensive, but it was a few years ago (2014) and the $ was much stronger!
View from our room, the places in the foreground were all restaurants and then a bit further along there were more.

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Although pricey, L'Hippocampe at Le Meridean was an excellent upmarket experience. Again, not cheap, but the food and service were at least spot on. Great wine list and a knowledgable sommelier (well at least when we visited two years ago).
 
Les 3 Brasseurs had a great pork knuckle (among other things) and craft beers back in 2008 to 2010
 
Thanks daver6 and steady. Actually someone mentioned Les 3 Brasseurs in the gym this morning as being ok. Will find out Saturday 👌
 
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I don't eat there as I tend to gorge myself at the boulangeries when I'm in Noumea and self cater (baguettes, croissants etc are much cheaper than in Oz and delicious 🤤) but I can recommend Les 3 Brasseurs for the beer - prices are very reasonable during their pretty long happy hour. Enjoy!
 
Hi, i was in Noumea in March and there are a number of restaurants, etc along Anse Vata including Hamburger places, etc. if you are after nibbles such as tapas or Pizza I can recommend Bodega del Mar which is down towards the Chateau Royale and Meridien end of Anse Vata and sits out over the edge of the water and has live music on weekends and is open from 5/6pm. First photo is the Menu at the Hamburger cafe (menu is in french or english) and the second photo is the interior of the Bodega del Mar
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Thanks Stewy, all. Back now. 3 brewers was ok for a French chain restuarant though expensive as are all F&B options in NOU. Found all dining options either basic or very touristic (aimed at the one day hit cruise punter) or overly try hard French food constructs...did I mention expensive...? Best thing for me was discovering Havannah beer...
 
Thanks Stewy, all. Back now. 3 brewers was ok for a French chain restuarant though expensive as are all F&B options in NOU. Found all dining options either basic or very touristic (aimed at the one day hit cruise punter) or overly try hard French food constructs...did I mention expensive...? Best thing for me was discovering Havannah beer...
yes , there is no such thing as a cheap meal in Noumea for sure.

I found Bodega del Mar as more full of locals than tourists, in fact everytime we went there we were the only non locals and that made it very enjoyable, especially after a couple of drinks and with the live music.

Did you go there at all @Tropic ?
 
I found the whole Noumea experience underwhelming to say the last. We went to Le roof. Very disappointing, food started well and then went downhill very quickly. Over priced , staff very hit and miss when it comes to service .
We tried another place on the beach called Lounge, again average offering, staff largely indifferent , stupid prices.
I guess when you control things from the other side of the world, don’t allow more localised imports from say Australia and / or New Zealand the cost of goods is always going to be astronomical. Not the locals fault, but one wonders why they put up with it.
For my money there are much better places close by to visit and get the tropical holiday experience .
 
I found the whole Noumea experience underwhelming to say the last. We went to Le roof. Very disappointing, food started well and then went downhill very quickly. Over priced , staff very hit and miss when it comes to service .
We tried another place on the beach called Lounge, again average offering, staff largely indifferent , stupid prices.
I guess when you control things from the other side of the world, don’t allow more localised imports from say Australia and / or New Zealand the cost of goods is always going to be astronomical. Not the locals fault, but one wonders why they put up with it.
For my money there are much better places close by to visit and get the tropical holiday experience .

Yes @GPH I agree with you about Le Roof, very expensive and the food was nice but so expensive only real positive was we sat over the water and watched Sharks and rays swim underneath us as we dined. I think the bill from memory for 2 with an entree and seafood main course each, 2 glasses of Champagne and 2 No 1 beers was $300 + AUD

I found service in the tourist restaurants and hotels very underwhelming.

Did you try Bodega del Mar at all?

You have to walk past it to go to Le Roof as its at the start of the wharf

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View of Le Roof from Bodega del Mar

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Sunset over Noumea Lagoon, Anse Vata Beach showing Le Roof restaurant
 
Walked past but didnt go in Stew. Have to agree whole NOU dining experience and Noumea itself was very average. But to be fair was only there for short time and didnt get out of Noumea. I think if looking for a scuba, wind surfing, sailing or hiking experience and head out of noumea or the other islands, and you prepared to pay, I think you would find it great. However stay off the roads as drivers are crazy 😳😳
 
I have been to Noumea a few times on cruises and this was the first time we had been there for a overnight stay, we stayed at Chateau Royal for 5 days and the difference when the cruise ships are not in town is amazing and the people are very friendly. Service is hit and miss in the up market places but the hamburger places, cafes and bars everyone was so friendly even for us non french speakers :)

I did always order off the French rather then the English menu and hoped I ordered something we liked

But like all of the South Pacific everyone works to "Island Time" and you just have to learn to chill and deal with it

It was great to sample cheeses and wines not readily available in Australia

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Bodega del Mar Pizza Menu March 2019
 
My view is NOU is not a great spot as holiday destination. It's a transit point to elsewhere in NC. We spent 5 magical nights on Ile des Pins and rated that very highly. It was still worth spending a few nights in NOU, but I agree with others. Not a destination point, but a transit point still worthy of a visit.
 
My view is NOU is not a great spot as holiday destination. It's a transit point to elsewhere in NC. We spent 5 magical nights on Ile des Pins and rated that very highly. It was still worth spending a few nights in NOU, but I agree with others. Not a destination point, but a transit point still worthy of a visit.
I agree, it is is transit point and Ile des Pins is such a beautiful place
 
My view is NOU is not a great spot as holiday destination. It's a transit point to elsewhere in NC. We spent 5 magical nights on Ile des Pins and rated that very highly. It was still worth spending a few nights in NOU, but I agree with others. Not a destination point, but a transit point still worthy of a visit.
I agree, it is is transit point and Ile des Pins is such a beautiful place
 
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