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Although there are some great places to shop, dine, or obtain basic services on the island of Tahiti OUTSIDE the Papeete city limits, (click here for our Tahiti island section now), no doubt the center
of all shopping, services, and restaurants on the island is in DOWNTOWN PAPEETE.
Let this page be your starting guide to figuring out what's what, where to shop, what to buy, and what and where to eat. The most notable examples of each category are listed below...
Note: TST will not begin to attempt to list ALL stores and businesses in such a large city as Papeete, but rather divide them into basic categories and then list those of significance or that stand out from the others in some other way.
ALL KINDS OF SHOPPING in DOWNTOWN PAPEETE
RELATED CATEGORIES for the CITY OF PAPEETE
TST makes choosing
your favorite island activity easy! If you want MORE choices, simply check out
our other "To Do" pages: WATERSPORTS, ISLAND FUN, ADVENTURES, RECREATION & GAMES, or RELAXATION...
Wan't more? Be sure and explore our "WHAT
TO SEE" section for even more sightseeing and exploring ideas, touring information,
island attractions, and other interesting things to see and do!
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In Papeete, you can pretty much find or do whatever it is you're looking for if
you try hard enough!
Shopping and services in Papeete are
quite similiar to other urban areas of the world in the respect that your choices are extremely
varied... but of course much of the shopping in Papeete is of a "Polynesian flavor".
As you walk along the narrow streets of the
city center you'll find all kinds of Polynesian
products running the gambit of diversity including colorful clothing, pareos, arts and crafts, gifts, souvenirs and tourist
nicknacks, and jewelry with an emphasis on Black Pearls to
many other products and conveniences...
In Papeete, it's possible to buy everything from
a new car, electronics, and hardware, to books, music, cosmetics, art, etc, just keep in mind that many of the products
are imported from France or some other far away country (Papeete is in the
middle of the Pacific ocean!), and whatever you buy or do will not be
cheap... On the other hand, the outerlying islands are definately MORE expensive,
so if you NEED to buy something or get some service done, Papeete is definately
the place to do it.
 SHOP 'TILL YOU DROP!
The majority of tourism related shopping in Papeete is found along the waterfront from the Vaima center to the Mana Rock Cafe. Here, shoppers will find several consolidated "shopping centers" of gift shops, boutiques, etc. The streets beyond and around these main tourist shopping areas are where the rest of the shopping and services are found.
Buy a fine piece of art, pearl jewelry, unique handycraft, Pareo or T-shirt, or pick up some food, get some fishing supplies, airplane tickets, whatever...
It should be noted that although downtown Papeete is relatively easy to explore by foot, it will take more than one afternoon to see ALL the products offered in Papeete.
Basic categories for shopping in Papeete are as follows:
Art Galleries & Studios
Because Papeete is the financial and business center for all of French Polynesia, there are more art galleries here than anywhere else in Polynesia... The reasons for this are obvious. Tahiti itself has a good many working artists making a living off various kinds of art ranging from sculpting, woodwork, and painting to various kinds of designers, craftsmen, etc., and most well known artists from the smaller outerlying islands and remote archipelagoes of French Polynesia also have Papeete gallery outlets to sell their wares, in addition to what's on their own islands.
The complete list of Tahiti's best art galleries and studios, including the ones in downtown Papeete, will reveal a staggering array of Polynesian arts and crafts.
(For
more artist related info and products, don't miss our ARTISTS,
CRAFTSMEN, & OTHER SPECIALISTS section.)
 Shops & Boutiques
More
shopping for thousands of Polynesian goodies! Lots of interesting gift
shops and boutiques featuring a thousand gift ideas like island handicrafts, clothing,
shells, paintings, books, art, pareaos, nicknacks and much, much more.
Here's a partial list for now... we'll be adding more soon.
COMING SOON...
We're working on getting you all these listings in the future... |
COMING SOON...
We're working on getting you all these listings in the future... |
Black
Pearls & Jewelry
The
Black Pearls of French Polynesia are so famous and coveted that TST has
dedicated a special pearl section for these amazing South seas' treasures. Well known for their superior quality and beauty, Tahiti and her surrounding
islands are the leading black pearl exporters in the entire world.
Papeete is considered the Black Pearl
capital of the world due to its many outlets for these shiny and round little
Tahitian delights. No where else in the world will you find more choices
for Tahitian Black pearls, on both wholesale and various retail levels.
TAHITI
SUN TRAVEL RECOMMENDS:
Deesse Diams & Pearls has an online pearl store with lots of great pearls
and gifts, pearl buying information and tips, legal questions about pearls
and everything else you want to know about Tahitian Black Pearls.
SEE
OUR DIRECT LINKING
WEBSITE NOW
And here's a cool Black Pearl place:
LE MUSEE DE LA PERLE
(Black Pearl Museum)
Located in Downtown Papeete- Centre Vaima- BP 7
98713 Papeete, Tahiti-
French Polynesia,
Tel-
(689) 45.21.22, Fax-
(689) 45.48.92
History, science, art, and mythology surrounding the amazing Tahitian
Black Pearl.
Open daily from 8am to 7pm, and Sundays from 9am to 7pm
SIBANI PERLE
Commercial center, Papeete- Tel- (689) 45.38.45
Vaima Center- Tel- (689) 54.24.30
Fine pearl jewelry, gifts, watches, and more. |
HERMAN PERLES
Pomare, Papeete- Tel- (689) 45.28.82
Tahitian Black Pearls, watches, fine jewelry, gifts, art and more... |
OPEC
Rue Paul Gauguin, Papeete- Tel- (689) 45.36.16
Fine black pearl jewelry, gifts, watches, and more. |
TAHITI
PEARL TRADING
Vaiete, Papeete- Tel- (689) 45.44.05
Tahiti Black pearls, pearl jewelry, gifts, and more. |
TAHITI
PEARLS- (A Robert Wan Company)
Downtown Papeete: BP 850, Papeete,
Tel- (689) 46.15.15, Fax: Tel- (689) 46.15.14
Home of the Pearl Museaum, fine pearl jewelry, gifts, watches,
and more. |
Specialty Shopping
Amid the many types of shops
and stores in Papeete, there are some shops which SPECIALIZE in a particular
item, skill, product, or idea, etc.
Here's a list of some of the most interesting...
ARII-
CREATIONS (Tahitian fabrics/ fashions)
2 locations to
serve you! 1 location downtown Papeete- (Avenue Georges Bambridge,
Papeete), Telephone- (689)45.59.00, Fax- (689)53.49.19, and
the second location at the Centre Ville, Papeete- (Rue Marechal
Foch), Telephone/ fax - (689)42.12.11.
Wholesale and retail sales and services. We also have an outlet
on Raiatea. |
 Daily Marketyplace
Papeete has a daily market place open to the public for shopping and buying groceries.
This market, locally known as "Le Marche", is in a sense, the heart of the city. It has become a tourist and traveler's sightseeing favorite due to its brightly colored vendors and attractive Tahitian products. Wander among the many stands and displays to find such products as
luscious ripe fruits and vegetables, monoi oils and scented soaps, vanilla beans, cakes and pies, fruit preserves, dancing costumes and clothing, woven hats and bags and shell necklaces. 2 floors worth of vendors, including the finest display of floral arrangements of orchids, and anthuriums, marigolds and daisys and other flowers you will ever see.
Located in the heart of Papeete, just one block inland from the center of the waterfront, it's not hard to find.
Open daily from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm, the best times to see it are always early in the morning, especially on Sundays, and also at around 4:00 pm daily when the local fisherman bring in the fresh fish.
General Merchandise
General merchandise stores in Papeete are found scattered throughout the city. Every product imaginable for whims of all kinds... It's a city and there's a lot of stuff to buy!
Listings coming soon...
RESTAURANTS
& DINING OPTIONS
Papeete
has the largest selection of restaurants and dining choices in all of
Polynesia. Choices are many and vary from economic and tasty international cuisine, to gourmet and specialty choices.
CITY SERVICES
When it comes to city services, French Polynesians do and need the same things as people from all over the world do and need, so the choices vary as they will in any city. You can have your hair done, go to
the dentist, pharmacy, post office, laundromat, real estate agent, etc, etc...
SEE OUR SEPARATE PAPEETE SERVICES PAGE FOR ALL THE SERVICE LISTINGS INCLUDING SPECIAL COMMENTARY ABOUT THE TAHITI VISITORS BUREAU AND MORE... |
 THE
"CAFE" SCENE (In general)
The
"cafe" scene in Papeete is excellent. In following what seems
to be a worldwide trend, Papeete's cafe's compete with many of the best and
well known restaurants of the city in a never ending search for more customers.
By offering more than just food on the menu,
most "cafes" attract a more diverse customer base than traditional
restaurants...
The "quotes" around the word "cafe"
may explain the phenomenon... "Cafes" can be whatever they want
to nowadays. If you have a few computers, you can be a "cyber cafe".
If you serve alchohol, you are a "cafe/ bar". Or, if you have any
sort of live entertainment or activities at your place, you could be an "entertainment
cafe".
The only thing you really must do to claim yourself a cafe is serve an occasional
coffee, preferrably of good quality... see the listings below for choices
in Papeete.
Regarding
"Cyber Points/ Cafes"
On most
of the smaller Polynesian islands, "Cyber cafes" are still a relatively
new thing. As the internet began to make its mark on these islands only
a few short years ago, "cyber points" began springing up in random
places. Basically, an island "cyber point" was (and still is in
many places), a no frills access point to the internet and little else...
No ambiance or amenities offered. Many were located in the backs of shops
or in some dark room, and had the slowest of slow computers... until recently...
Now the cyber cafe bug has hit hard in the islands like it has in every other
country on earth and the whole scene is quickly improving. Papeete is lightyears
ahead of its outerlying islands in terms of Cyber cafe evolution.
CAFES AND CYBER POINTS:
MORRISONS
CAFE
Vaima Center, Papeete- TAHITI
Telephone- (689) 42.78.61, Fax- (689) 41.28.43 |
LE
CAFE DES NEGOCIANTS
Rue Jean Gilbert, Papeete- TAHITI
Telephone/ Fax- (689) 48.08.48 |
MANA
ROCK CAFE- (W/ INTERNET ACCESS)
Rue de Ecoles, Papeete- TAHITI
Telephone- (689) 48.36.36, Fax- (689) 48.36.37
Restaurant, cafe, dancing, internet access and more in the heart of
Papeete. |
CAFE
DE LA GARE
Avenue de General de Gaulle, Papeete- TAHITI
Telephone- (689) 42.75.95 |
E-6- (INTERNET ACCESS)
Papeete- TAHITI
Telephone # coming as soon as we can find it.
Internet access point, (not a "cafe"), but good speed connections. |
TOP
PHONE- (INTERNET ACCESS)
Papeete- TAHITI, (near the post office)
Telephone contact: (689) 50.82.08 (Pirae)
Internet access point, (not a "cafe"), but good speed connections
and good rates. |
More Shopping, Services, & Eating on the Other Islands of
An Internetwork of Travel & Tourism Guides
for the Main Islands of Tahiti Polynesia.
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board covering a diverse array of Tahitian subjects.
Ask questions, get advice, meet people, be crazy!
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...with
our EZ Print
Internet Coupons for activities, lodging, car
rentals, and many other things travelers (and locals) spend
money on in French Polynesia.*
 Remember: French Polynesians don't "negotiate"
or barter with their published prices...
These coupons are worth cold, hard cash!
*For a quick glance at our vendors, see
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This handy quick reference saves time when you don't have
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Check out our online store for the most interesting Polynesian products on the planet.
Books, travel guides, maps, Polynesian music, videos, gifts, pareos, soaps, oils, lotions, perfumes & clothing are just a few of the items available.
If you sell Polynesian products: We'd like to sell your products in our store!
See the details here and let's get something going...
We'll bring you the traffic, you sell the products!
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