MAUI RESTAURANTS

Overview · Restaurants · Hotels

Caffe Ciao Fairmont Kea Lani, 4100 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, HI, USA	808/875-4100 Read Review
Caffe Ciao brings Italy to the Fairmont Kea Lani. Authentic, fresh gnocchi and lobster risotto taste especially delicious in the open-air café, which overlooks the swimming pool. For casual European fare, try the poached-tuna salad, grilled panini, or pizza from the wood-burning oven. Locals have long known Caffe Ciao's sister deli as the sole source for discerning palates: delectable pastries, tapenades, mustards, and even $50 bottles of truffle oil. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Capische? Blue Diamond Resort, 555 Kaukahi St., Wailea, HI, USA	808/879-2224 Read Review
Hidden up at the quiet Blue Diamond Resort, this restaurant is one local patrons would like kept secret. A circular stone atrium gives way to a small piano lounge, where you can find the best sunset view on the island. You can count on the freshness of the ingredients in superb dishes like the quail saltimbocca, and the saffron vongole -- a colorful affair of squid-ink pasta and spicy saffron broth. Tables nestled in the downstairs garden have a peek at the "chef's cave" where a different region of Italy is explored each month. Intimate and well conceived, Capische, with its seductive flavors and ambience, ensures a romantic night out. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
Casanova Italian Restaurant & Deli 1188 Makawao Ave., Makawao, HI, USA	808/572-0220 Read Review
This family-owned Italian dinner house is an Upcountry institution. The pizzas, baked in a brick wood-burning oven imported from Italy, are the best on the island, especially the tartufo, or truffle oil pizza. The daytime deli serves outstanding sandwiches and espresso. After dining hours, local and visiting entertainers heat up the dance floor. D, DC, MC, V.
Cascades Hyatt Regency Maui, Ka'anapali Beach Resort, 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Ka'anapali, HI, USA	808/661-1234 Read Review
Above the Hyatt's wonderland swimming pools and beneath a canopy of interlocking hau trees, you can enjoy a sampler of island treats -- pot stickers, teriyaki beef skewers, and poke. Toast to your good fortune with a kitschy tropical cocktail. If you've been out shopping late, you can order sushi until 10 PM, and light fare until 11 PM. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Chez Paul Honoapi'ilani Hwy., 4 mi south of Lahaina, Olowalu, HI, USA	808/661-3843 Read Review
Since 1975 this tiny roadside restaurant between Lahaina and Ma'alaea in Olowalu has been serving excellent French cuisine to a packed house of repeat customers. Such dishes as fresh local fish poached in white wine with shallots, cream, and capers typify the classical menu. If you can't resist foie gras, this is the place to have it. The restaurant's offbeat exterior belies the fine art, linen-draped tables, and wine cellar. Don't blink or you'll miss this small group of buildings huddled in the middle of nowhere. Reservations essential. AE, D, MC, V. No lunch.
David Paul's Lahaina Grill 127 Lahainaluna Rd., Lahaina, HI, USA	808/667-5117 Read Review
Though the restaurant's namesake is only a consultant now, David Paul's is still a favorite. Beautifully designed, it's adjacent to the elegant Lahaina Inn in a historic building on Lahainaluna Road. The restaurant has an extensive wine cellar, an in-house bakery, and splashy artwork decorating the walls. The house sommelier's suggestions keep up with the celebrated menu. Try the signature tequila shrimp and firecracker rice along with the scrumptious triple-berry pie. Demi portions are available at the bar. AE, DC, MC, V.
Ferraro's Four Seasons Resort Maui, Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, HI, USA	808/874-8000 Read Review
Overlooking Wailea Beach, this outdoor restaurant is beautiful both day and night. For lunch, indulge in a lobster and grapefruit sandwich -- we haven't found its superior yet. At dinner begin your feast with the crab lumpmeat gazpacho and make use of the wine list's excellent Italian offerings. The service here is unparalleled. Occasionally you can catch celebrities gossiping at the bar. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Gerard's Plantation Inn, 174 Lahainaluna Rd., Lahaina, HI, USA	808/661-8939 Read Review
Owner and celebrated chef Gerard Reversade started cooking at the age of 10, and at 12 he was baking croissants. He honors the French tradition with such exquisitely prepared dishes as rack of lamb in mint crust with thyme jus, and venison cutlets in a port sauce with confit of chestnuts, walnuts, fennel, and pearl onions. The menu changes once a year, but many favorites -- such as the sinfully good crème brûlée -- remain. A first-class wine list, a lovely room, and celebrity-spotting round out the experience. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
Hakone Maui Prince, 5400 Makena Alanui Rd., Makena, HI, USA	808/874-1111 Read Review
The Japanese food served at this restaurant in the Maui Prince hotel has a great reputation. Each night, a different "Special Attraction Buffet" is served: Crazy Crab, Sake Sampler, or the Japanese buffet with numerous dishes of raw, cooked, hot, cold, sweet, and savory items. At $44, it's a good value for the quality of food presented. Impeccably fresh sushi, traditional cooked dishes, and an impressive sake list round out the menu. AE, MC, V. No lunch.
Hali'imaile General Store 900 Hali'imaile Rd., take left exit halfway up Haleakala Hwy., Hali'imaile, HI, USA	808/572-2666 Read Review
What do you do with a lofty wooden building surrounded by sugarcane and pineapple fields that was a tiny town's camp store in the 1920s? If you're Bev and Joe Gannon, you invent a legendary restaurant. The Szechuan barbecued salmon and Hunan-style rack of lamb are classics, as is the sashimi napoleon appetizer: a tower of crispy wontons layered with 'ahi and salmon. Pastry chef Teresa Gannon makes an unbelievable pineapple upside-down cake. The restaurant even has its own cookbook. MC, V.
Hula Grill Whalers Village, 2435 Ka'anapali Pkwy., Ka'anapali, HI, USA	808/667-6636 Read Review
Genial chef-restaurateur Peter Merriman's bustling, family-oriented restaurant is in a re-created 1930s Hawaiian beach house, and every table has an ocean view. You can also dine on the beach, toes in the sand, at the Barefoot Bar, where Hawaiian entertainment is presented every evening. South Pacific snapper is baked with tomato, chili, and cumin aioli and served with a black bean, Maui onion, and avocado relish. Spareribs are steamed in banana leaves, then grilled with mango barbecue sauce over mesquitelike kiawe wood. AE, DC, MC, V.
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Grand Wailea Resort, 3850 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, HI, USA	808/875-1234 Read Review
Wrestle with the restaurant's formidable name -- the name of the state fish -- or simply watch the fish swim by in the 2,100-gallon tank at the bar. The thatch-roof building actually floats on a lagoon, creating an atmosphere that tends to outshine the food. We recommend skipping the dining room and enjoying pupu at the bar. Try their signature 'ahi traps (delectable chunks of seared fish on lemongrass stalks) with an over-the-top cocktail. If you do try the dining room, you can fetch your own spiny lobster (which is best simply grilled) from a cage below the water's surface or try laulau, a traditional Hawaiian preparation of fish or meat steamed in leaves. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
I'o 505 Front St., Lahaina, HI, USA	808/661-8422 Read Review
From its opening, this restaurant established itself as cutting edge in Lahaina, both for its theatrical interior designed by the artist Dado and for its contemporary Pacific Rim menu. A prized appetizer is the Silken Purse -- steamed wontons stuffed with roasted peppers, mushrooms, macadamia nuts, and tofu. Favorite dinners include lemongrass-coconut fish and nori-wrapped rare tuna, served with green-papaya salad. Desserts to savor are the Hawaiian Vintage Chocolate Mousse and the chocolate pâté with Kula strawberries. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
Joe's Bar & Grill 131 Wailea Ike Pl., Wailea, HI, USA	808/875-7767 Read Review
Owners Joe and Bev Gannon, who run the immensely popular Hali'imaile General Store, have brought their flair for food home to roost in this comfortable treetop-level restaurant at the Wailea Tennis Club, where you can dine while watching court action from a balcony seat. With friendly service and such dishes as New York strip steak with caramelized onions, wild mushrooms, and Gorgonzola cheese crumble, there are lots of reasons to stop in at this hidden spot. AE, MC, V.
Kai Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, 1 Ritz-Carlton Dr., Kapalua, HI, USA	808/669-6200 Read Review
Master sushi chef Tadashi Yoshino sits at the helm of this intimate, ocean-view sushi bar, hidden behind the Lobby bar at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. The menu includes sushi and hot Japanese entrées, but your best bet is to let Chef Yoshino design the meal. He might have yellowtail cheeks, fresh sea urchin, and raw lobster. He also makes lobster-head soup, a Japanese comfort food. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Kimo's 845 Front St., Lahaina, HI, USA	808/661-4811 Read Review
On a warm Lahaina day, it's a treat to relax at an umbrella-shaded table on this restaurant's lanai, sip a mai tai, and watch sailboats glide in and out of the harbor. Outstanding seafood is just one of the options here; also good are Hawaiian-style chicken and pork dishes, and burgers. Try the signature dessert, Hula Pie: vanilla-macadamia nut ice cream topped with chocolate fudge and whipped cream in an Oreo-cookie crust. AE, DC, MC, V.
Longhi's 888 Front St., Lahaina, HI, USA	808/667-2288 Read Review
A Lahaina establishment, Longhi's has been around since 1976, serving great Italian pasta as well as sandwiches, seafood, beef, and chicken dishes. The pasta is homemade, and the in-house bakery turns out breakfast pastries, desserts, and fresh bread. Even on a warm day, you won't need air-conditioning with two spacious, breezy, open-air levels to choose from. The black-and-white tile floors are a classic touch. There's a second restaurant on the South Shore, at the Shops at Wailea. Other location: The Shops at Wailea, 3750 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, PHONE: 808/891-8883; AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Mama's Fish House 799 Poho Pl., Ku'au, HI, USA	808/579-8488 Read Review
For years Mama's has been the destination for special occasions. A stone- and shell-engraved path leads you up to what would be, in an ideal world, a good friend's house. The Hawaiian nautical theme is hospitable and fun -- the menu even names which boat reeled in your fish. But, sadly, fame has gone to this restaurant's head. Prices bulged while portions shrank and dinner reservations start at 4:30 PM. If you're willing to fork over the cash, the daily catch baked in a creamy caper sauce or steamed in traditional lu'au leaves is still worth trying. Mama's is marked by a tiny fishing boat perched above the entrance about 1½ mi east of Pa'ia on Hana Highway. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Nick's Fishmarket Maui Fairmont Kea Lani, 4100 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, HI, USA	808/879-7224 Read Review
This romantic spot serves fresh seafood using the simplest preparations: mahimahi with Kula-corn relish, 'ahi pepper fillet, and opakapaka (Hawaiian pink snapper) with rock shrimp in a lemon-butter-caper sauce, to name a few. Everyone seems to love the Greek Maui Wowie salad made with local onions, tomatoes, avocado, feta cheese, and bay shrimp. Service is somewhat formal, but it befits the beautiful food presentations and extensive wine list. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
OnO Westin, Ka'anapali Pkwy., Ka'anapali, HI, USA	808/667-2525 Read Review
This casual, fun restaurant features pupu (known elsewhere in the world as tapas). This is a good place to bring the kids. They can munch away on the beef tenderloin kebabs while you sample the Manila clams, Hokkaido scallops, and asparagus doused in a not-too-spicy Kim Chee cream. AE, DC, MC, V.
Pacific'O 505 Front St., Lahaina, HI, USA	808/667-4341 Read Review
You can sit outdoors at umbrella-shaded tables near the water's edge, or find a spot in the breezy, marble-floor interior. The exciting menu features fresh 'ahi-and-ono tempura, in which the two kinds of fish are wrapped around tobiko (flying-fish roe), then wrapped in nori, and wok-fried. There's a great lamb dish, too -- a whole rack of sweet New Zealand lamb, sesame-crusted and served with roasted macadamia sauce and Hawaiian chutney. Live jazz is played Thursday through Saturday from 9 to midnight. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Pineapple Grill 200 Kapalua Dr., Kapalua, HI, USA	808/669-9600 Read Review
Chef Joey Macadangdang heads the kitchen of Kapalua's newest restaurant. Hawai'i regional cuisine finds superb expression here, in dishes like the porcini-dusted opakapaka with yuzu veloutte. The braised short ribs are garnished with just enough Maui pineapple relish to heighten hidden lemongrass and anise flavors. But don't get attached to anything on the menu -- Chef Joey likes to reinvent it regularly. If the weather isn't too cold, the outdoor tables facing the West Maui mountains can be even nicer than those with an ocean view. AE, MC, V.
Plantation House Restaurant Plantation Course Clubhouse, 2000 Plantation Club Dr., past Kapalua, HI, USA	808/669-6299 Read Review
It's hard to decide which is better here, the food or the view. Misty hills, grassy volcanic ridges lined with pine trees, and fairways that appear to drop off into the ocean provide an idyllic setting. The specialty is fresh island fish prepared according to different "tastes" -- Upcountry Maui, Asian-Pacific, Provence, and others. The breeze through the large shuttered windows can be cool, so you may want to bring a sweater or sit by the fireplace. Breakfast here is a luxurious way to start your day. AE, MC, V.
Roy's Kahana Bar & Grill Kahana Gateway Shopping Center, 4405 Honoapi'ilani Hwy., Kahana, HI, USA	808/669-6999 Read Review
Roy Yamaguchi's own sake brand ("Y") and Hawaiian fusion specialties, such as shrimp with sweet-and-spicy chili sauce and miso yaki butterfish, keep regulars returning for more. Locals know to order the incomparable chocolate soufflé immediately after being seated. Both restaurants, in Kahana and Kihei, are in supermarket parking lots -- it's not the view that excites, it's the food. Other location: Safeway Shopping Center, 303 Pi'ikea Ave., Kihei, PHONE: 808/891-1120; AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Sarento's on the Beach 2980 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei, HI, USA	808/875-7555 Read Review
The beachfront setting at this South Maui Italian setting is irresistible. Chef George Gomes, formerly of A Pacific Café, heads the kitchen. The menu features both traditional dishes -- like penne Calabrese and seafood fra diavolo -- as well as inventions such as swordfish saltimbocca, a strangely successful entrée with a prosciutto, Bel Paese cheese, radicchio, and porcini-mushroom sauce. The wine list includes some affordable finds. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
Son'z Hyatt Regency Maui, Ka'anapali Beach Resort, 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Ka'anapali, HI, USA	808/661-1234 Read Review
Chef Aaron Placourakis, formerly of Sarento's, Nick's, and Aaron's atop Ala Moana (on O'ahu), has taken over the Hyatt's beloved Swan Court. Now you can sample one of 3,000 bottles of wine (from the largest cellar in the state) while shielding your sourdough roll from the staring eyes of the swans. Steaks and seafood are featured. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Spago Four Seasons Resort, 3900 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, HI, USA	808/879-2999 Read Review
Celebrity chef and owner Wolfgang Puck wisely brought his fame to this gorgeous locale. Giant sea-anemone prints, modern-art-inspired lamps, and views of the shoreline give diners something to look at while waiting. The solid menu delivers with dishes like seared scallops with asparagus and pohole (fiddlehead fern) shoots, and "chinois" lamb chops with Hunan eggplant. The beef dish, with braised celery, Armagnac, and horseradish potatoes, may be the island's priciest -- but devotees swear it's worth every cent. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
The Banyan Tree Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, 1 Ritz-Carlton Dr., Kapalua, HI, USA	808/669-6200 Read Review
If you've never tried foie gras ice cream, don't be shy. The menu is daring but delectable. Nothing is prepared as it should be: the priciest dish, lobster and scallops, is a salad, and the fish of Hawai'ian royalty, moi, is served atop Indian-spice lentils with a yogurt sauce. We recommend placing your evening's fate in the care of the chef. The tasting menus and wine pairings provide an epicurean experience to be savored long afterward in memory. The open-beam restaurant's subdued atmosphere is charged with the sounds of live world music. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
VINO 2000 Village Rd., Kapalua, HI, USA	808/661-8466 Read Review
D. K. Kodama, the culinary mastermind behind Sansei, teamed up with Master Sommelier Chuck Furuya to create a strange child -- an Italian tapas restaurant with a Japanese twist. The results have been hailed as, well, masterful. Set on the Kapalua golf course, the restaurant's active, somewhat noisy atmosphere encourages experimentation. Small plates of lamb chops, osso buco, or plump shrimp atop Asian noodles with truffle butter are sure to tempt. Wines are served in Riedel stemware; flights can be sampled at the bar. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Waterfront Restaurant 50 Hau'oli St., Ma'alaea, HI, USA	808/244-9028 Read Review
At this harborside establishment, fresh fish is prepared in a host of sumptuous ways: baked in buttered parchment paper; imprisoned in ribbons of angel-hair potato; or topped with tomato salsa, smoked chili pepper, and avocado. The varied menu also lists an outstanding rack of lamb and veal scallopini. Visitors like to come early to dine at sunset on the outdoor patio. Enter Ma'alaea at the Maui Ocean Center and then follow the blue waterfront restaurant signs to the third condominium. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.