Grand Pacific Hotel Suva will welcome internationally recognised pastry chef and chocolatier Kirsten Tibballs, widely known as the “Chocolate Queen”, for a limited-time culinary residency in Fiji this March.
The acclaimed Australian chef will make her first curated appearance in Suva with a special Grand High Tea Buffet experience at the historic Grand Pacific Hotel on Sunday 22 March 2026. The afternoon event will be held at the Victoria Lounge Terrace from 2.00pm to 4.30pm and is open to both in-house guests and members of the public, with advance bookings required due to limited seating.
Grand Pacific Hotel General Manager Robert Clark said the event presents a unique opportunity for Suva residents and visitors to enjoy an elevated high tea experience in one of the capital’s most iconic settings.
“Grand Pacific Hotel is part of Suva’s story, and this residency gives locals and visiting guests a rare reason to dress up, book in, and experience high tea at a level we do not often see in the capital,” he said.
Tibballs, founder of Savour Chocolate and Patisserie School in Australia, is internationally respected for her work in pastry and chocolate craftsmanship. During the Suva high tea experience, guests can expect a carefully curated selection of her signature patisserie creations, including items such as passionfruit macarons, raspberry financier, salted caramel truffles, cookie sandwiches with orange ganache, and a Breton lemon meringue tart.
The Suva event forms part of a wider programme of dessert-led culinary experiences taking place in Fiji through a partnership between Grand Pacific Hotel and InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa in Natadola Bay.
Following the Suva appearance, Tibballs will continue the residency at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa from 25 to 28 March 2026, presenting a series of limited-capacity culinary experiences designed to showcase dessert craftsmanship in an intimate setting. These include specially curated dessert features, an interactive demonstration for a small group of guests, a Club InterContinental high tea experience, and a beachfront sunset dessert event at Kama.
Lachlan Walker, Regional General Manager for Fiji and the Pacific at IHG Hotels and Resorts, said the residency reflects a broader effort to create distinctive culinary experiences that connect visitors with the destination.
“Bringing Kirsten Tibballs to Fiji is about more than a visiting chef. It is about creating experiences people will travel for, and giving both Suva and Natadola Bay something genuinely distinctive for a limited time,” he said.
“Through Grand Pacific Hotel we are offering Suva a first, and at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa we are extending the residency into a series of intimate moments that celebrate craftsmanship, place and occasion.”
Tibballs said she was looking forward to introducing her signature desserts to audiences in Fiji.
“I am excited to bring this experience to Suva for the first time. High tea is about detail, flavour and a sense of occasion, and I look forward to sharing an indulgent afternoon at Grand Pacific Hotel before continuing the week with guests in Natadola Bay,” she said.
The programme will also support a local community initiative, with a portion of proceeds from selected experiences contributing to the work of Daulomani Safe Home, an organisation that provides shelter and support for women, children and members of the LGBT+ community facing vulnerable circumstances.
Bookings for the Grand High Tea Buffet at Grand Pacific Hotel can be made through the hotel’s website or by contacting the property directly.
For more information, visit https://grandpacifichotel.com.fj/packages/high-tea-buffet-with-kirsten-tibballs/ or contact Grand Pacific Hotel Suva via email at Restaurant.GPH@ihg.com or phone +679 322 2000.
