Kaanapali
T S Restaurants is a group that owns Duke’s, Hula Grill, Keoki’s Paradise, Kimo’s, and Leilani’s on the Beach located in both Kaanapali and Lahaina. The group specializes in bringing innovative fresh local cuisine to the table. The restaurants feature beautiful views of the ocean and are decorated with classic Hawaiian carpentry for a more casual vibe.
Lahaina
Betty’s Beach Café located next to the Lahaina Shores Beach Resort is a great option for breakfast/brunch. We were excited to learn that they served $3 mimosas and champagne until 2pm every day! The view of the beach and ocean is a nice added touch.
Westside Bagels is a local café that offers a great grab and go option before hitting the road for excursions. In the morning, we got coffees and breakfast sandwiches, but they also offer delicious sandwiches.
Honu Seafood and Pizza is located five minutes from the Lahaina historical town center. The restaurant has new owners who have refreshed the inside and outdoor patio furniture to make a light beachy environment. Like most Maui restaurants, the menu has lots of fresh fish options, however I opted for a change and went with the pepperoni and sausage pizza…it was divine. I have dined here three times and every time I have had the pizza. You can’t go wrong!
Mala Tavern is located five minutes from the Lahaina historical town center and is a restaurant with great food but is currently having an identity crisis. The inside reminded me of a bad dorm room from my college years, dark blue paint, colored lighting and an odd array of mismatched artwork. However, we made reservations for outside and luckily there is a large patio next to the water. If you can dine outside, it is a solid option.
Lahaina Grill is a fine dining contemporary bistro located in the historical town center of Lahaina. I was looking forward to dining here again because on my first visit I was jetlagged and really could not remember much (sleep exhaustion). This bistro is innovative in the presentation of the food, and everything tasted amazing. The waitstaff was kind, attentive and professional. We had the Maui onion soup, bufala tomato salad, sauteed local mahi-mahi and the triple berry pie. I imagine everything this bistro makes tastes great but save room for the triple berry pie!!! (a different spin on a berry pie)
Fleetwood’s on Front Street is an obvious choice when staying in West Maui. Fleetwood’s is a restaurant and bar owned by rock and roll icon Mick Fleetwood. I have dined both indoors and outdoors and loved the ambiance of both. Fleetwood’s indoor dining was quiet with eclectic décor, wood, and leather furniture and of course music in the background. The outdoor dining is upstairs on the rooftop and is known as one of the best spots to watch the sunset. It is open air dining that includes tables, booths and romantic lighting. One of my favorite elements of the rooftop is the live nightly music which truly plays into the rock and roll feel of this establishment. Beyond the beautiful décor and ambiance, the staff are extremely helpful and friendly, and the food is exquisite. On my last visit I had the filet mignon as well as the surf and turf special which included scallops, shrimp, lobster and beef wellington (Fleetwood’s is known for their steaks). I never leave disappointed! Make sure to make reservations 30 days in advance.
Down the Hatch Maui is a casual outdoor restaurant most notable for being featured on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives. I did not have the chance to eat here, but it looked super cute and was always packed!
Cool Cat Café- Maui is another restaurant I did not eat at but always looked busy. I heard it offers a fantastic hearty burger at a reasonable price! If you are getting tired of eating fish every night, I would check this café out.
Wailea
Tommy Bahama Restaurant is a chain with multiple locations, but this was my first-time dining here. We waited to sit on the outdoor balcony, and I was so happy we did as the restaurant had live music. I was not sure what to expect as I know people go for lunch to grab burgers. The dinner menu, however, is more upscale while still being reasonably priced compared to other restaurants in Wailea.
Matteo’s Osteria simply WOW! I have been to Italy a handful of times and this Osteria could compete with the best! I found out that the Chef is from Italy which would explain why the food was amazing! We started with the Caprese salad and added the prosciutto di parma, followed by fettuccine frutti di mare and Bolognese as our entrees. Being the dessert girl I am…. I topped it off with tiramisu. I wish we ate here the first night in Wailea because I would have gone back!
Ferraro’s Bar e Ristorante is located at the Four Seasons Wailea and is exactly what one would expect of a Four Seasons restaurant. Ferraro’s is an outdoor restaurant overlooking the ocean and is so romantic for those looking to celebrate a special occasion. The service is top notch as well as the cocktails, wine and of course food. Kevin said this was by far the best Chianti he had while in Hawaii. I highly recommend trying the Polpette Alla Parmigiana (breaded & fried meatballs) as an appetizer. Everything was so wonderful- we genuinely enjoyed ourselves!
Paia
Paia Fish Market Restaurant is located on Hana Hwy and is the perfect casual spot to dine at if you are staying in Paia or passing through after exploring the road to Hana. I did not get a chance to eat here but spoke to fellow travelers who all raved about how great and fresh the fish was.
Flatbread Company was next to the Paia Inn and while I did not eat here, I could constantly smell the fresh pizza being baked in the oven while sitting on the beach.
Mama’s Fish House…simply put if I could eat at one restaurant every night this would be my pick! I did not make reservations on my first trip to Maui and vowed to never make that mistake again. When talking with friends and family about my upcoming trip to Maui, are you going to Mama’s Fish House was always the first question. This restaurant is truly the best on the island, and I was so happy to finally eat here. It is located down a quiet road off the Hana Hwy on a small beach, perfect for a little stroll pre or post dinner. The restaurant itself is decorated in Hawaiian carpentry and island décor with fresh flowers, tiki torches and tiki statues. The service goes above and beyond, accommodating any questions or concerns and is helpful in giving recommendations. We started with fresh baked bread with cinnamon and honey butter, followed by the Haiku Tomato and Maui Onion Salad as a starter. As a surprise, a complementary tasting of mushroom bisque was served after the starter. I could not believe how flavorful the food was and we had not even made it to the main course yet!! I ordered the Beef Short Ribs “Pulehu” and Kevin ordered the Mahi-Mahi stuffed with lobster and crab, baked in a Macadamia nut crust. I want to acknowledge that the fish is so fresh at Mama’s Fish House that the local fisherman is listed on the menu to ensure you know where the fish is coming from! While I did not have fish…the short ribs were one of the best meals I have ever had. Kevin is also still raving about the Mahi to this day. To top it all off we ordered the staple Polynesian Black Pearl Liliko’i Chocolate Mousse in a Pastry Seashell- it was visually stunning and tasted just as amazing!
Paia Bay Coffee is a minute walk from the Paia Inn and is a cute outdoor café with eclectic art and greenery and is a great spot to grab coffee, breakfast, lunch, and drinks with live music for happy hour!
