Tauono’s Claim

Dining and Entertainment in Tauono’s Garden Café

If you want to try a unique dining experience in Aitutaki, try to visit Tauono’s Garden Café. Opened on January 1, 2000 as a millennium commitment, it is owned and operated by Sonja (Austrian born and now a permanent resident in the island) and Tauono Raela (a native of the island). The couple met on Aitutaki 11 years ago and they were married 7 months later in Canada.

Since March 1995, the two have been creating things that are shared to their guests. Their beautiful garden café offers great facilities, beautiful services, island products and crafts, and nice hospitality that bring island spirit of Aloha and Kia Orana. The place is the only true organic gardeners on Aitutaki. Since the couple started their food business, they have not used chemical fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides. They serve primarily fruits and vegetables from their own plantations or food directly created in their own kitchen; hence guests are assured of the best food they can offer.

Vegetables and fruits served in the café are grown in their garden and converted to edibles to please guests such as fresh juices, jams and jellies, their very own coffee, fruit smoothies, herbal teas, breads made from arrowroot and breadfruit, main dishes from vegetables from their garden and plantation, and even their famous coconut cake flavoured with own vanilla beans and lemon peels.

Guests can feel free to tour the garden where vegetables are picked upon request. They also offer plantation tours where they do companion planting and see coffee, pineapple, root vegetables and get the chance to take some sample fruits of the season.

Tauono’s Garden Café also offers special services for events like weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, group’s celebrations or catering. Cooking class is also offered in the garden café for a maximum of 4 people.