Hilton Hotel Tahiti gives you reason to linger longer in the French Polynesian capital of Papeete. Kirstie Bedford explains why.
Kaleidoscopic fish dart across the coral reef below me, while above, a speedboat slices through the otherwise glassy waters.
I’m sitting on the terrace of breakfast restaurant Moevai at the Hilton Hotel Tahiti in Papeete, a plate of juicy pineapple and melon in front of me.
In the distance, the undulating Moorea island strikes a picturesque pose no matter where you look – the start of my trip here in Tahiti couldn’t be more perfect: blue sky, gin-clear water, and a humidity only the tropics can bring, and there’s so much more to come.
My room
I arrived under the cover of darkness. Standing at the sliding doors to my balcony, all I can see are a few twinkling lights from the poolside bar and neighbouring restaurant. The blessing here is that you are only five minutes from the airport, so you’ll be slipping into your plush king-size bed within minutes of landing.
When I wake and peel back the curtains, it’s to a scene where tropical dreams are made – a wispy cloud-swept blue sky, where below, a lagoon-style glistening pool (said to be the largest in Tahiti) sits below swaying palm trees, and beyond the dramatic, ragged peaks of Moorea rise.
My room is a King Bed Ocean View, where you can soak up that sweeping view from a furnished balcony. Inside, it’s spacious with a two-seater couch, lots of storage, and a dual-sink bathroom with an oversized shower with Tahitian prints to top off the tropical vibe.
When you’re not on that balcony, time will be spent poolside or at the gym, spa, and onsite boutique store.
Wine and dine
Each morning, I head to the overwater Moevai restaurant for my chef-made omelette, followed by fresh tropical fruits – mango, pineapple and papaya which seem a prerequisite when you’re in French Polynesia.
Choose a seat outside on the terrace so you can watch the marine life dart across the reef below and dine to nothing but the lap of the ocean.
Come nightfall, Moevai turns into La Strada, an Italian bistro, but if you haven’t had enough of the local fare, you can head to Taitea Brassiere, next to the bar by the pool, where I often frequent to get filet de poisson du lagon – steamed lagoon fish fillets, uru, taro and Fe’i banana; or curry de crevettes de la presqu’ile – curry of local shrimps with rice.
Here, you can sit inside or out, with live music playing most nights. For Japanese, San is your go-to, tucked back in the main building under the stairs up to the lobby, you’ll find a sushi bar and a selection of Japanese sakes and whiskies.
There are also two bars, the Heiva Lounge in the open-air lobby with ocean views and a bespoke collection of wine, and the Vaipuna poolside bar – perfect for cocktails.
Out and about
“Everything is within 15 minutes; any further, we think it’s a long drive,” laughs my driver, Mana from Manava Tours. And you’ll soon realise he’s not wrong.
I was here for Tahiti’s inaugural yoga festival, held at Le Tahiti by Pearl Resorts – less than 15 minutes from the Hilton. If you’re travelling in November 2026, you’ll be able to attend the second annual event.
Created by Tahitian-born yoga teacher and entrepreneur Rani Chaves, it runs for three days with everything from yoga, breathwork and meditation to cultural workshops to learn traditional Tahitian culture, like playing the bamboo flute the vivo, or making tapa with Ta’ati Fenua.
Chaves wanted to create a space where people could “peel back the layers of their stressful lives in these modern times”, and with multiple sessions running every hour over the three days, there’s more than enough to choose from to achieve it, all run by some of the world’s best yoga instructors.
Back at Papeete, the local markets, Le Marché, are also only a short drive away, or around a 25-minute walk from the Hilton, where you can buy everything from food to jewellery.
On the first floor, you’ll find the jewellery of the revered Hiro Ou Wen of Te Tavake Creations. He retired 25 years ago from the Museum of Tahiti and created the crowns worn by Miss Tahiti each year. Despite being in his 80s, he can still be found in his workshop along with his daughter Orama Ou Wen.
Another must-do is the 40-kilometre tour with Te Mana Tahiti Tours, which takes you right through the centre of Tahiti from Papenoo in the north to Mataiea in the south.
Here you’ll learn about the importance of the local flora and stop at a crystal-clear lagoon for a swim.
Expect to be white-knuckled as you stand on the back of a 4WD gripping the bars as it navigates cliffs that cleave into the valley below so deep you can’t see the bottom, but you’ll feel like you’re venturing into Jurassic Park with mountain ranges so high your head will be in the clouds – literally.
Verdict
Tahiti is often seen as a gateway to other French Polynesian isles, but when you have a hotel this picturesque, and in such a central locale, it’s worth lingering a bit longer.
The reward is a chance to stay in what must be one of the world’s prettiest capital cities, and if you come during the Tahiti Yoga Festival, you’ll leave with a feeling of Zen you can only get from a place where nature and culture play such a key part of the experience.
The details
Address: Auae Faaa, Papeete 98713, French Polynesia
Room type: King Bed Ocean View
Check-in: 3pm
Check-out: 11am
Rates: $600– $1,000 per night (depending on the time of year)
The writer flew with Air Tahiti Nui on the new Mānava Premium Class
For more information, visit Hilton Hotel Tahiti.
