FEEJEE ISLANDS TRADERS HERITAGE MALL
Away from the hustle and bustle of the cosmopolitan melting pot that is 21st century downtown Suva, is a place that offers a step back in time, to when the South Pacific was more than a destination for a little fun in the sun. Feejee Island Traders Heritage Mall revisits the mystique of the South Seas that first drew explorers, adventurers and traders to the e
xotic islands. The building which houses the Heritage Mall itself is a testimony to the history of Fiji and the Pacific. Once the residence of Fijian High Chief and Pacific statesman, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, the restored colonial estate now houses South Seas Treasures Fine Furniture and Exotic Gift Store, Karalina’s Fiji Designer Boutique and Fiji Real Estate Centre and the Mall’s crowning glory Governor’s Gourmet Coffee House and Restaurant. As you cross the threshold you cross from the postmodern, virtual, internet connected world of the 21st century to a time when even the most mundane of activities carried with them a sense of adventure and every experience had the potential to be history in the making. The walls are adorned with photographs and paraphernalia, each capturing the essence of the romantic South Seas. Every picture is post-card perfect, offering a snapshot of island life in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Given that the most common form of transport of that era was the sailing ship, it is not surprising that Governor’s carries a maritime motif. From a tribute to the old King’s Wharf in Suva, to images of sailing ships and stylised private dining and meeting rooms (Captain’s Table, Explorers’ Room, Bosun’s Quarters, and Norm’s Bula Talei Bar, Governor’s easily transports the visitor to the “old world” of the South Pacific. Governor’s also pays tribute to the “golden age” of the islands, with facsimiles of vintage pages of The Fiji Times Newspaper serving as placemats. Governor’s is more than a living museum. It is easily a world-class bistro/restaurant. Patrons can either soak up the interior atmosphere or sit outside on the large verandah surrounded by a lush tropical garden and enjoy food and beverages from the kitchen which boast local chefs and cooks who have provided their fine fare at some of Fiji’s five star resorts. Breakfast is served from 8 o’clock to midday with lunch served till 2pm. Dinner will be introduced in late August and will be served “cruise ship style” at two sittings. The first sitting will be from 6pm to 7.45pm for both adults and families, and from 8pm to 10pm for adults only from Thursday to Saturday, with bookings for private functions available on Wednesdays. The private dining/meeting rooms can be booked at any time in two hour blocks. On Sundays, breakfast is served at your leisure from 9am to 2pm. Morning and afternoon tea or a great takeaway gourmet coffee with a range of freshly baked goodies is available daily. Governor’s and the Feejee Island Traders Heritage Mall is more than a shopping and culinary experience. It is a date with history.
