Popular Samoan shopping items include ‘lavalavs’ (sarongs) and handicrafts such as wood carvings and woven bags, baskets and mats. Traditional wood carvings include Kava bowls, walking sticks, and war clubs. Bags, baskets and mats are woven from narrow strips of leaves. The traditional ‘toga’, the best quality and most beautiful mat, is made from strips of pandanus leaves.
Handicraft shops are mainly located in Apia. The Flea Market in Apia is open all day and offers a wide range of handicrafts, imported goods, small convenience stores and food stalls. The Maketi Fou is Apia’s main produce market but also offers local handicrafts.
Hotels gift shops and supermarkets sell souvenirs as well.
A typical Samoan feast includes baked taro, breadfruit, bananas, and palusami (fresh squeezed coconut cream wrapped in baby taro leaves) cooked in a Samoan umu (ground oven). Fresh seafood – fish, lobsters, octopus are also an important part of the Samoan diet. The best way to enjoy traditional Samoan cuisine is at a Samoan fiafia, a traditional music and dance performance usually accompanied with dinner. Several hotels organize such cultural nights for their guest.
Upolu and Savai’i a offer a large variety of restaurants, cafes and takeout restaurants in addition to a variety of bars and night clubs.
