When it comes to tings to do in Kiribati we have learned to measure expectations. Every now and again though you get a curve ball and Chatterbox Cafe was such a thing.
Located down towards the airport and at an office shared with DHL Chatterbox offers the most authentic cafe experience in all Tarawa.
What the Tarawa?
Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati, is home to around 63,000 people, making it the country’s most populous atoll. Split between North and South Tarawa, it serves as the political, economic, and cultural hub of the island nation.
South Tarawa is where most of the action happens, with government offices, schools, and bustling local markets. Despite its small size, Tarawa played a massive role in World War II history, especially on Betio, now a must-visit for history buffs.
Click the link to read about my Tarawa War Tours.
Oh and there is no cafe scene in Tarawa, not Kiribati itself, with even the bar scene being a bit lacking.
What the Chatterbox Cafe?
Located not 10 minutes drive from the main airport in Tarawa, Chatterbox is shared with both DHL and a travel agency, with the cafe having nice seating for about 20 people, as well as an outside area that offers beautiful views of the ocean.
Being a cafe they of course have coffee, which ranges from cold and frozen to regular and hot. Not exactly eclectic, but does the job. They also technically have milkshakes and weird juices, but in reality these seem to usually be sold out.
Food wise there are cakes and brownies, but what got my attention at least was the toasties, with us going for bacon, cheese and onion, as well as one with baked beans. Yep baked beans are a bit of a thing here. Not amazing, but hey they did the job.
I would not say this is part of the nightlife scene though…
In conclusion….
While Chatterbox cafe is unlikely to win big awards any time soon it does still represent a few cool things. These are namely a shift change in what is offered in Tarawa, as well as the best place to hang and wait before your flight out of Kiribati.
This to us anyway makes it more than worth and article. Oh and they have wifi too, even if it is $1 an hour.
Click the link to see my tours to Kiribati.