"Must Eat" Restaurants

One of the most romantic and breathtaking locations to eat dinner is at Merriman’s, located at the point, on Kapalua Bay. Merriman`s was recently named one of the "Top 10 Travelers Choice Restaurants" in the United States by Tripadvisor.

Merriman’s award winning restaurant has a farm-to-table concept, with over 90% of what you see on your plate being locally sourced.

Sunday brunch is served from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm and live music starts at 10 am. Merriman’s opens for dinner at 5 pm. You can also enjoy a hand crafted cocktail and “pupus” by the fire-pit on the point. There is no finer view on Maui! Look out over Kapalua Bay and enjoy what rarely fails to be a stunning sunset.

Do not forget to finish the night with their signature dessert, the Waialua Chocolate Purse!

The Pour House is one of our favorite places to go in Kapalua for Happy Hour, or to just enjoy some fabulous wine and Italian food.

Enjoy eating outside on their cozy lanai, or dine inside their lounge.

Duke’s Beach House is named after famous Hawaii waterman, surfer and Olympic swimmer, Duke Kahanamoku. Duke’s is located in the Honua Kai Resort and Spa, and is just steps from the white sandy beach. This open air eatery is a favorite for those wishing to truly experience the tropical paradise we call Maui.

Whether you are coming for a weekend brunch, breakfast lunch, dinner, or just cocktails, you will be treated to some of the most gorgeous ocean views imaginable, together with award winning service. Live music is offered daily so be sure to check their website for an updated schedule.

We love Duke’s Lava Flows (with or without alcohol), Crab Wontons, burgers and of course their famous Hula Pie for dessert.

Originally built in 1929, the Honolua Store served workers on the plantation that once occupied the Kapalua grounds. This historic building is now home to one of, if not the most beloved landmark on all Maui.

Today, you can find gifts, wine, gourmet food, groceries, cosmetics, apparel, an espresso bar and bakery, a full service deli, and more.

What draws locals and returning visitors to the Honolua Store each and everyday, is the large variety of delicious food served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. When you see the line of locals, you know the food must be good.

We recommend taking a stroll down to the Honolua Store in the morning, grabbing some items for breakfast, and enjoying those on their beautiful lanai. This is also a good time to pick some Spam Musubi. Their Spam Musubi sells out by lunchtime, and is a local favorite! You have to try this at least once on your vacation.

The traditional lunches are also fantastic; part of that menu changes daily. A local Friday favorite is their Kalua Pork and Cabbage.

The Honolua Store is located just a quick walk down from your villa on Office Road.

One of the best locations for breakfast and brunch is The Plantation House Restaurant, located in the Kapalua® Resort at the Plantation Course.

With views of the island of Molokai and Lanai, your meal`s backdrop could not be any more perfect. During whale season, it is exciting to watch the whales at play as you sip on a Bloody Mary and indulge with a Mahi Mahi Eggs Benedict!

This fine dinning restaurant is also the perfect location for dinner. The sunset views and exquisite menu combine to create a dining experience that is truly world-class.

Taverna is the newest eatery in Kapalua®, and has proven itself to be a force in the culinary world. With a focus on Italian cuisine and hand crafted urban drinks, Taverna is dishing out some of the most talked about meals on Maui.

Tiki torches line the outside patio, and the open air restaurant creates an ambiance that is both warm and welcoming. With a stylish bar with seating for up to thirty-two, this is the perfect place to grab some drinks and pupus.

Taverna has some of the best mixologists on the island; they create works of art on a daily basis! They love creating custom drinks. Just make the request and they will deliver!

On the menu, we highly recommend the Pizza Bianca and the house made pastas.

Taverna is open for dinner, from 5:30 until it closes.

Kapalua® is fortunate to have in its neighborhood one of the most award winning sushi restaurants in the United States. Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar has won numerous awards. Bon Appetit also named Sansei as one of its “Favorite Asian Restaurants” and one of “America’s Best Sushi Bars.”

Sansei is in walking distance from the villas.  It is clearly one of the most exciting dining experiences on Maui.

Some of our favorite dished include the Panko-Crusted Fresh Ahi Sashimi, Shrimp Dynamite and Sansei’s Mango Crab Salad Hand Roll.

Dinner is served from 5:15 pm to 10:00 pm. Early bird dinner specials continue until the last seating at 6 pm. We encourage you to arrive early if you want to make this seating. The line can get long.

Late night dining is on Thursdays and Fridays, from 10 pm to 1 am. You must be twenty-one or over to get in.

Cane & Canoe is located at The Montage Hotel in Kapalua®. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and showcases “modern cuisine that celebrates Hawaii’s diverse cultural influences.” All ingredients are fresh, and locally grown.

Guests may dine in the open-air restaurant, or, just outside on the picturesque lanai. Enjoy views of the beautiful Montage Hotel, the gorgeous Pacific, and islands of Molokai’ and Lanai.

Be sure not to miss their Sunday Brunch & Bloody Mary Bar. Enjoy savory sweet cuisine and a “build your own Bloody Mary bar.” Or, try the Cane & Canoe for dinner, starting the evening off with a handcrafted cocktail accompanied with tuna sashimi. We recommend their Pacific Rim Cioppino for the main course. Then try their Roasted Pineapple Napoleon for dessert.

The Banyan Tree, located at The Ritz Carlton, features fabulous views, “garden-to glass” cocktails and a cuisine that showcases exciting flavors and the freshest local ingredients.

This “farm-to-table” concept restaurant offers guests fabulous sunset views and an open-air atmosphere that is truly embracing.  The Kapalua coastline, as well as Honolua Bay are both showcased from this romantic location.

Try their “crispy Haiku avocados and silk tofu” appetizer, and then their “seafood fettuccine” with Kauai prawns, seared scallops and Maui heirloom tomatoes as a main course. If you have room for dessert, we recommend their heavenly “WOW-WEE Maui chocolate macadamia bar,” featuring praline crunch, Mai tai sorbet and chocolate coral sponge!

Open for dinner only.

The Burger Shack is located near D.T. Flemings Beach in Kapalua®.  Here you will find one of the most ideal locations to grab a great burger, and perhaps, some tasty tropical cocktails. So if you may be at D.T. Fleming beach one day, we recommend that you head up to the Burger Shack, for a snack or a meal under the welcoming shade of the coconut palms. The Burger Shack features wonderful food, yet in a casual, outdoor atmosphere accompanied by gorgeous views! We love their Ali’I Burger and Serrano Hibiscus Rita.  Or, you simply cannot go wrong with their classic Mai Tai.

Open daily from 11:30 am to 4 pm.

Located at poolside at the Montage Hotel, the Hana Hou Bar is a perfect spot to enjoy a drink, and, some great food while taking in the stunning ocean and island views. The outdoor bar is just a quick walk up the pathway from Kapalua Bay; it is not only a full bar, but offers hamburgers, salads, sandwiches, pizza, and other edible delights, as well as a keiki menu.  Given that the Hana Hou Bar is part of the Montage Hotel, you can be sure that their menu standards are top notch.

Open daily from 11 am to 5 pm.

Kai Cafe is a hidden gem in the Kapalua® Resort. This "grab-and-go cafe" is located off the lobby of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, and serves up some of the most delicious and healthy treats. You will find gourmet coffee, house-made wraps, pastries, salads and more. This is just the place to visit for that delicious and healthy treat, following your morning walk around the resort!

Open daily from 6:30 am to 12:00 pm.

Maui Brewing Company produces some of the world’s finest craft beers. With numerous awards and world titles under their belt, Maui Brewing Company produces all their beer on Maui. In their brewpub you will find a large selection of fresh beer; try their award winning Coconut Porter, Bikini Blonde, Pineapple Mana or Craven Triple. In the brewpub you will find a large selection of fresh beer made right here on Maui. There are no better beers out there! With a large selection of beer, and a knowledgeable staff, you will find a visit to the brewpub to be a delight.

Maui Brewing Company Brewpub serves lunch and dinner, and is located in Kahana Gateway, just minutes from our villas.

We recommend trying their Kalua Pork Nachos and their Farm Flatbread. Pair that with one of their fantastic beers, and you cannot go wrong!

Let us state the simple truth – there is no better shave ice in the world than that at Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice. You have had a snow cone on the mainland?  Sorry, no competition. Nothing compares.

Ululani’s awards are endless. Year after year, Ululani continues to win the title of, “best shaved ice on the island.” Their homemade syrups and creative add-ons are nothing short of heavenly. With dozens of flavors, and premium island made ice cream to add to the bottom, it is tough to refrain from that second helping!

Try their “No Ka Oi,” a combination of coconut, mango and lilikoi. Add Roselani’s premium macadamia nut ice-cream, and toasted coconut to the top.

Or, try their “Haleakala,” a creation of coconut and leche flavor, topped with sweetened condensed cream.

With over six locations on the island, you are never too far away from one of the best treats on Maui. Two of their locations are located on Front Street in Lahaina.

The Sea House Restaurant is located on Napili Beach, just a short walk from The Ridge Villas. Here, you will find one of the last “old Hawaiian” restaurants. The Sea House sits on the beach of Napili Bay, and provides an ambiance that can not be found anywhere else on the island.

This charming and exotic open-air restaurant, features one of the best Happy Hours on the island, from 2 to 5 pm.

Spend the day at Kapalua or Napili Bay, then head to the Sea House for some tropical drinks, pupus and live Hawaiian music. The Sea House is one of the best kept secrets on Maui.

Monkeypod is one of our most recommend restaurants on all Maui. This “farm-to-table” restaurant is the creation of world renowned chef, Peter Merriman. Guests will find a large variety of dishes, all with the freshest local ingredients and five-star quality. Monkeypod also prides itself with their laidback atmosphere, serving some of the best beer and cocktails on the island. You truly feel like family from the moment you walk in the door. Monkeypods offers a wonderful Happy Hour with live music from 3:00 PM- 5:30 PM, and 9:00 PM- 11 PM.

We tell all our guests they can’t leave the island without trying one of their famous Mai Tais, topped with a honey-lilioi foam. This may be the king of all Mai Tais! We also love their Poke Tacos, tasty pizzas and Bulgogi Pork Tacos.

Mala’s Ocean Tavern is one of our favorite restaurants on Maui. The ambiance and location can’t be topped. There may not be another restaurant on the island that is as close to the ocean as Mala’s. Mala’s offers indoor and outdoor seating, but it is the outdoor seating that is truly breathtaking. With seating right off the water, you are treated to spectacular ocean views! Take in a fabulous sunset, or watch the turtles at play just feet from your table.

Mala’s features Pacific Rim and Mediterranean dishes, and prides themselves in serving farm fresh, local ingredients. We recommend their Ahi Bruschetta, Fresh Island Fish and their Carmel Miranda dessert.

They are also open for a wonderful brunch of both Saturday and Sunday.

Monday- Friday: 11 AM- 9:00 PM, Saturday- Sunday: 9 AM- 9:00 PM

Leoda’s Pie Shop offers some of the most decadent, housemade pies on the island. Their heavenly pies include Coconut Cream, Macnut Chocolate, Banana Cream Pie, Olowalu Lime, and Apple Crumb.

Leoda’s Kitchen also offers breakfast and lunch, including such dishes as Chicken Pot Pie, Reubens and Baked Mac & Cheese.

Be sure to stop by Leoda’s on your way home from the other side of the island. Grab a bite, and take a pie home for later on!

Choice Health Bar is an "improved kitchen based on what is growing this season on Maui." If you want to gift your body with something truly healthy and nourishing, Choice is the place to go. Located in Lahaina, you will find a large variety of fresh salads, "living foods," a juice bar, smoothies, acai bowls, vitality shots and more.

Honu Seafood and Pizza is located as close to the water as you can get! Sitting on the rocky seashore of Lahaina, Honu serves some of the best seafood and pizza on the island. Given that you are located just next to the crashing waves of the Pacific, you will also be visited by the turtles (honus) feeding along the rocks.

Honu is a casual restaurant, created by famed Maui restaurateurs Mark and Judy Ellman. They are open for lunch and dinner from 11 am to 9:30 pm.

Enjoy a starter of Ahi Bruschetta or Butternut Squash Coconut Soup, and their Ali’i Hamakua Mushroom pizza or Dungeness Crab Mac & Cheese. Finish off with a Raspberry Lilikoi Tart and a fresh cup of Ka’anapali Coffee.

The Hali’imaile General Store is located in what was once a general store for pineapple plantation workers during the 1920s. Today, it is home to one of the coziest restaurants in Maui, offering fresh American food with “Asian undertones.”

The owner and chef, Bev Gannon, has used local ingredients to make the Hali’imaile General Store one of the top restaurants on Maui.

Be sure to try the Sashimi Napoleon. This dish features layers of Ahi tartare, smoked salmon, sashimi ahi, crispy wonton stack and wasabi vinaigrette-to-die-for! Bev’s Chopped Chinese Chicken Salad and Coconut Fish Curry is another winner. Finish the meal with Lilikoi Brulee and Almond Brittle.

If you find yourself upcountry or on the other side of the island, the Hali’imaile General Store is the perfect spot to stop for lunch or dinner.

The Hali’imaile General Store is open for lunch, Monday – Friday, from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, and, for dinner from 5:30 to 9:00 pm.

Mama’s Fish House is one the best restaurants on Maui, if not the best. Mama’s was rated the second most popular restaurant in the United States, by Open Table, and a “Top 10 Fine Dining Restaurant in the World” by Trip Advisor.

This family owned restaurant has been in business since 1973, and features some of the freshest fish on the island. The reason they have the freshest fish is that they use their own fishermen, who are out daily.  On the menu you will actually see menu you will actually see the name of the fisherman who caught your fish.

Mama’s ambiance and décor is that which you would expect of old Hawaii or Polynesia. This open-air restaurant sits on a secluded beach in Paia, looking out onto the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Enjoy such dishes as the Kauai Shrimp Won Ton with Macadamia nut dipping sauce, or, the Ahi and Mahimahi sautéed in Panang Curry and Coconut Milks. No matter the order, the presentation is a show stopper and it is always a meal to remember.

Maui Luxe Picnics offers unique and intimate picnics that are anything but ordinary. These luxury picnics are the perfect settings for a romantic proposal, a special date, or celebration for any occasion.

Choose from their many picnic packages, or, collaborate with the owners, Paula and Christine, to create a custom experience all your own.

Maui Luxe Picnics offers options such as low picnic tables, vintage beach umbrellas, tents, pillow cushions, food, drinks, photography, videography, live music, hula dancers, flower leis and more. All you need to do is show up and they will take care of the rest.

Maui Luxe Picnics service the whole island of Maui, so picnic on Kapalua Bay, or anywhere your heart desires!