By Ela Sathern By Ela Sathern | January 14, 2025 | Food & Drink, Feature, Guides,
Hawai‘i boasts an exciting and dynamic food culture thanks in large part to the bounty of ingredients from land and sea. Treat your valentine at one of our favorite spots in O'ahu.
Haleiwa Beach House In a huge, airy space overlooking Hale‘iwa Harbor, you can nibble on kalua pork and fresh ‘ahi while selecting from an impressive list of craft beers on draft. After eating in the main dining room, don’t forget to head upstairs to the second bar, ideal for sunset sips. haleiwabeachhouse.com
The LookOut Food & Drink Wai Kai Ewa Beach’s The LookOut Food & Drink is the featured restaurant and bar at The LineUp in the Wai Kai development of Hoakalei Resort. On the upper level, enjoy a full-service restaurant with lanai seating and lagoon views. A spiral staircase leads to the lower level into the Boardwalk Cafe if you opt for take-out or a quick dine-in experience. waikai.com/dining
Agave & Vine Tequila connoisseurs should take note of this cocktail lounge at The Lanai at Ala Moana Center. With a clever menu of signature drinks made with 100% organic Grand Leyenda tequila and happy hour, daily and late-night specials, it’s always worth popping in for a few or to enjoy the latest sporting events. Ala Moana Center, agave-vine.com
Aloha Beer Company With its goal of inspiring awe for life and seeking aloha, you can be sure to find something local here. Try the blonde—it’s straw-colored with a light, crisp malt flavor and a delicate hop finish—at their location in the heart of Kaka’ako. alohabeer.com
Hideout This hot spot is tucked away in The Laylow Waikiki, featuring an open-air lanai with ample bar seating and a buzzy vibe. hideoutwaikiki.com
Waterman Thanks to this lounge, located at the Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina, West O‘ahu can now boast one of the poshest cocktail hours on the island. Order one of the tastefully prepared small plates along with one of the teatime cocktails, like the Hawaiian-style mai tai. fourseasons.com/oahu
House Without a Key This is the quintessential island experience with live hula, some of the island’s best mai tais and unforgettable sunsets. Also, check out Earl’s Bar for favorites like the Coconut Cake Martini and Earl’s Daiquiri. halekulani.com
Mai Tai Bar For a classic Waikīkī sunset experience, head to The Royal Hawaiian’s signature outdoor bar, which features daily live music. Not only is the view of Diamond Head and the ocean divine but so are the array of tastefully prepared mai tais. royal-hawaiian.com
Swell Restaurant and Pool Bar Cozy up for local fare on a rooftop infinity pool overlooking Waikīkī Beach. Enjoy nightly entertainment and its happy hour food and cocktail series, Earth to Cup. ‘Alohilani Resort, alohilaniresort.com
The Republik As far as live music venues go in Honolulu, there’s nowhere like this club, which brings in buzzworthy acts from all over. Before the performance, enjoy a small plate from the kitchen. jointherepublik.com
The Veranda One of East Honolulu’s poshest spots is at the always wonderful Kahala Hotel & Resort. Enjoy the sea breezes while taking in the jazz piano. kahalaresort.com
Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room Billed as “a craft-beer bottle shop with benefits,” this cozy beer cafe is a place for brew aficionados to meet and talk wild yeast, head retention, dry-hopping and the like. With over 500 bottled offerings plus 18 rotating taps, beer boredom is virtually impossible at Village. villagebeerhawaii.com
Waikiki Brewing Company One of Hawai‘i’s largest breweries, this is the place to go for fresh, handmade craft beer. In addition to its lineup of seven core beers ranging from a light, crisp blonde to a robust porter, this brewery also offers seasonal and limited-release suds. waikikibrewing.com
Yard House On Waikīkī Beach Yard House boasts one of the best craft beer selections on draft in the islands in a dark, cool pub atmosphere with classic rock that beckons passersby as they power shop and sightsee. A varied menu of gastropub fare has something to satisfy every palate. yardhouse.com
9Bar HNL Named for the ideal amount of pressure required to pull a perfect shot of espresso, this industrial-chic cafe brings a touch of the Brooklyn aesthetic to the islands. Beyond coffee, try the breakfast bowls, and don’t miss the baked goods—the mammoth scuffins are already Insta-famous. 9barhnl.com
Hau Tree A casual beach-centric menu offers Honolulu’s best beachside brunch, lunch and casual dinner, along with a variety of bar bites and desserts. hautreemenus.com
Kona Coffee Purveyors With a spacious seating area ideal for sipping a latte and nibbling on the signature black sesame kouign amann pastries, the cafe is a chic and delicious stop for breakfast, dessert or an afternoon treat. International Market Place, konacoffeepurveyors.com
Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant Enjoy classic Chinese food and dim sum with a menu that was created by chefs who were trained in China. Try the Snow Mountain char siu buns or the honey garlic ribs. Ala Moana Center, jadedynastyhawaii.com
3660 On the Rise Europe meets Hawai‘i at this veteran resto, discreetly tucked away at the bottom of Wilhelmina Rise. Enjoy soy-sake-glazed butterfish alongside ‘ahi katsu for a truly global dining experience. 3660ontherise.com
Chef Chai Chef Chai Chaowasaree draws fans to his chic, sleek Kaka‘ako eatery that focuses on Asian fusion and contemporary seafood dishes made with fresh ingredients. chefchai.com
DB Grill Restos like this casual Asian-fusion winner gives us more and more reasons to drive to the West Side of O‘ahu. Marrying local flavors with Korean cuisine, be sure to try the duck-fat-fried rice and classic kimchi pancake. dbgrillhi.com
Hoku’s You can watch waves crashing against the reef and take a tour of the resort’s spectacular tropical-chic lobby after a sumptuous dinner at this gem that blends French cuisine with local flavors. kahalaresort.com
Lucky Belly This Chinatown fixture serves up delicious appetizers and elevated ramen bowls—say, the Belly Bowl, with pork belly and bacon; or the Fungi Bowl, with porcini and maitake mushroom. luckybellyhi.com
Miro Kaimuki This fabulous French-inspired menu punctuated by Japanese flavors and techniques is helmed by Honolulu native, head chef Chris Kajioka and chef de cuisine Steven Cho. mirokaimuki.com
Mugen This jewel-like restaurant tucked into the Espacio hotel offers a seven-course tasting menu of elevated French-Japanese dishes created by executive chef Colin Sato, plus wine and cocktails. mugenwaikiki.com
O‘Kim’s This classic gem in downtown Honolulu is not your typical Korean restaurant. With elevated traditional dishes and creative monthly specials, people keep coming back for a taste of contemporary Korean food fused with a Hawaiian modern twist. okimshawaii.com
PAI Honolulu This innovative restaurant features seasonal kaiseki-style course menus. These menus allow guests to enjoy a variety of dishes that capture the essence of its playful and beautiful cuisine. paihonolulu.com
The Pig and the Lady With a continual bevy of new dishes, The Pig and the Lady may very well be the ruler of the emerging Chinatown cuisine scene. Its signature Pho 75 is a must-try. thepigandthelady.com
UMI by Vikram Garg Join Garg at his first solo venture, located at the House of Welcoming Waters, Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani. Expansive menus featuring superior seasonal ingredients, vibrant cultural infusion, masterful execution, le chariot tableside service and his signature bespoke chef’s table await. umibyvikramgarg.com
XO Restaurant Don’t be fooled by the humble surroundings. From fresh scallops to an astonishingly delicious strip steak served with a nuanced and addictive sauce, there is a rare deftness to this food. xorghawaii.com
La Mer Regarded as one of the most prestigious fine dining restaurants on O‘ahu, La Mer boasts ocean views and an exquisite menu of French cuisine. An award-winning wine list provides the perfect accompaniment for any dish, all featuring local and tropical ingredients. halekulani.com
Michel’s at the Colony Surf For romantic ambiance, Michel’s is hard to beat. The lapping waves at Sans Souci Beach set a beautiful stage for the rich European dishes, which are so indulgent that they are practically designed for sharing. After lobster bisque and chocolate souffle, a walk on the beach is in order. michelshawaii.com
Arden Acclaimed chefs Makoto Ono and Amanda Cheng invite guests to discover contemporary Hawai‘i cuisine at Arden, a new restaurant at the Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head Hotel, where flavors, culture and genuine culinary artistry intertwine. ardenwaikiki.com
Eating House 1849 After conquering the Garden Isle, Roy Yamaguchi’s homage to Hawai‘i’s plantation-era cuisine has come to O‘ahu with two outposts. The first is in Waikiki—right within the International Market Place—while the second is in Kapolei. royyamaguchi.com
Kani Ka Pila Grille A refreshed menu of Hawaiian fare from chef Rey Baysa and original cocktails await kama‘āina and visitors alike at this hot spot to hear live Hawaiian music nightly. outrigger.com
MW Restaurant Wade Ueoka and Michelle Karr-Ueoka, who met and married while proteges in Alan Wong’s kitchen, have gained high praise since opening their eatery at Velocity Honolulu with delectable local cuisine. mwrestaurant.com
Merriman’s Honolulu Peter Merriman’s O‘ahu location at the sleek Anaha high-rise brings Hawai‘i regional cuisine, which he is personally credited with helping to create and define, to the Honolulu dining scene. Lunch in the breezy sun-drenched dining room is glorious, and while the menu features many standouts, the humble buttermilk biscuits steal the show. merrimanshawaii.com
Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar Enjoy a contemporary approach to classic Italian fare with handtossed Neapolitan-style artisanal pizza. Don’t miss the impressive boutique wine list, either. appetitowaikiki.com
La Bettola Experience classic Italian cuisine by renowned chef Tsutomu Ochiai. Rustic Italian flavors converge with the bounty of the island to transport diners from the shores of the Hawaiian Islands to the shores of the Mediterranean. lbwaikiki.com/la-bettola
Noe O‘ahu’s culinary scene has reached transcendent levels with Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu’s premier eatery, thanks to the mastery of chef Ryo Takatsuka. The creative concept here is Hawai‘i meets Capri, so expect southern Italian dishes prepared with island seafood, handmade pasta and more. fourseasons.com/oahu
Ruscello Tucked inside the third floor of Nordstrom, this full-service Mediterranean and Italian restaurant is a perfect choice for a light lunch and libation mid-shopping spree. nordstrom.com/st/nordstrom-ala-moana
Morimoto Asia Waikīkī The Pan-Asian menu at Iron Chef and sushi master Morimoto’s Waikīkī outpost is truly eclectic, with nods to the cuisines of China, Korea, Japan and Thailand. Diners may watch as the expert toque team carves Peking ducks in the exhibition kitchen. morimotoasiawaikiki.com
Restaurant Suntory Escape to Japan in the heart of Waikīkī and enjoy luxury omakase, teppanyaki, kaiseki and more. Savor the finest sushi, spirits and seasonal Japanese flavors. restaurantsuntory.com
Sushi Sasabune“Trust Me!” proclaims the sign at this quirky house of Omakase, where the customer is definitively not always right. Children are not welcome; you may not add soy sauce or pass on rice; and dietary restrictions are not catered to. But these affronts pale once you taste the fish. sasabuneh.com
Sushi Sho Sushi master Keiji Nakazawa made headlines when he left Tokyo to open a new counter at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach. One taste of his 30-course omakase menu, and you’ll see why he reigns supreme in the artisanal realm of Edomae-style sushi. ritzcarlton.com
53 By the Sea Enjoy a selection of surf ’n’ turf specialties, including seafood risotto with Atlantic lobster tail and pan-seared ribeye, while watching surfers catch waves at the mouth of the Kewalo Basin. Take in the incomparable view of Diamond Head’s regal profile from this seaside eatery. 53bythesea.com
Mina’s Fish House Celeb chef Michael Mina created this island outpost with the idea of a traditional Hawaiian fish house in mind, and the line-to-table cuisine honors this impulse, employing a fish sommelier and welcoming local fishermen to the back door of the restaurant with the best catches of the day. fourseasons.com/oahu
Empire Steak House Hawaii Located atop the historic Ilikai Hotel & Luxury Suites is Hawai‘i’s newest steakhouse brings a renewed perspective to classic steak house dining in Hawaii, offering diners breathtaking panoramic views of Honolulu’s coastline while treating them to the finest USDA Prime steaks and Japanese and American wagyu cooked to perfection and accompanied by succulent fresh seafood, a world-class selection of wines, and inspired craft cocktails. empiresteakhousehawaii.com
Hy’s Steak House The granddaddy of Waikīkī’s high-end steakhouses is a beloved classic. With faves like garlic steak, filet and foie gras, and bananas foster flambéed tableside, Hy’s is a home run every time. hyswaikiki.com
STRIPSTEAK Waikīkī Celebrity chef Michael Mina’s first foray into Hawai‘i drew rave reviews when it opened at International Market Place, and it’s no wonder. The signature strip steak is meltingly tender, and the Washugyu strip steak is prepared using a special technique with three stages of searing. michaelmina.net
Photography by: Sweet Lova/Getty Images