Bar Acuda is an open-air restaurant with an intimate/local scene feel. They’re located at 5-5161 Kuhio Highway in the heart of Hanalei, and are open Monday through Sunday from 5:30 – 9:30pm. This is tapas style dining with small dishes, so order many for the table and share away. Bar Acuda is “outstanding”, has “excellent service” and has received an “A+” for ambience. Cuisines offered are: American, Spanish and Gluten free options, they have a full bar and a beautiful wine list for food pairings. They offer outdoor seating, parking and reservations are a very good idea. $$$$
Postcards Cafe is housed in a charming 1800’s plantation cottage with an old-style Hawaii feel. Fresh organic ingredients make up their fish, vegetarian, vegan dishes and one of a kind desserts. You’ll find them located at 5-5075 Kuhio Highway serving up dinner only with a beer and wine list. Postcards is open Monday through Sunday from 5:30 – 9:00pm, you’ll want to get there early so you don’t have a long wait. Cuisines offered are: Seafood, Hawaiian, International and Gluten free options. They have outdoor seating and parking. $$$$
Kalypso Island Bar & Grille is a hopping place to eat, drink and listen to Contemporary Hawaiian and Reggae music from 6:00 – 9:00pm every Friday night. They also have flat screen tvs that air surfing videos, sporting events and best of all, they carry the NFL ticket. They’re located on the main street in Hanalei at 5-5156 Kuhio Highway and are open Monday through Friday from 11:00am – 9:00pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00am – 9:00pm. Cuisines offered are: American, Seafood, Polynesian and Hawaiian, they also have a full bar. Kalypso has a local, sports bar kind of atmosphere offering takeout, parking and outside lanai seating with hillside views. $$-$$$
Bouchon’s is a relaxed and spacious second story, open-air restaurant with breathtaking views of Hanalei’s mountains and waterfalls. Visitors and locals frequent this spot regularly, locate at 5-5190 Kuhio Highway in the Ching Young Shopping Center. Bouchon’s is open Monday through Sunday from 11:00am – 9:00pm serving up “premiere sushi” in Hanalei. Cuisines offered are: Japanese, American, Seafood, Sushi, Asian, Hawaiian and Gluten free options or sit in The Copper Bar and order soft drinks to sake and the ever popular Mai Tai. They offer takeout, parking, tv viewing and reservations are a good idea in the evening. $$-$$$
Hanalei Gourmet resides in an old Hanalei school house that is both charming and also home to some quaint local shops. They’re located at 5-5161 Kuhio Highway and serve up decidedly non-gourmet, just good food and live, local entertainment Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights until 10:30pm. The Gourmet is extremely popular with locals and visitors alike…”reasonably priced for really good food”, incredibly good food, quick and friendly atmosphere”. A ginormous menu on the wall shows the cuisines offered: American, Seafood and Gluten free options with a full bar. They offer takeout, televisions and parking in the back. $$-$$$
Tahiti Nui, or as the locals call it, the Nui is a classic, ultra casual polynesian style bar and restaurant in the heart of Hanalei. They have welcomed visitors as “hanai” which means adopted family, for 3 generations. You’ll find them at 5-5515 Kuhio Highway, and they’re open Monday through Sunday from 11:00am – 12midnight, so you can enjoy live Hawaiian music from 6:30 – 9:00pm and Hawaiian slack key guitar on Friday’s starting at 4:30pm. They’re know for tasty pizza, flavorful food and world renown Mai Tai’s. Cuisines offered are: American, Polynesian and Hawaiian. They offer a full bar, takeout, outside dining, television and parking. $$-$$$
Also check out the Tahiti Nui Lu’au that has hundreds of visitors each year. Aunty Louise started this back in the day to entertain her friends and it’s the same feeling of family today that comes alive every Wednesday, complete with authentic Hawaiian food, songs and dance. Doors open at 5:30pm and the Concert is from 6:30 – 8:00pm. The 2nd show, the doors open at 8:30pm and the Concert is from 9:00 – 10:30pm. $$
Bubba Burgers is good ole American fast food. It’s really an old fashioned, authentic hamburger joint serving Kauai grass fed beef. They’re located at 5-5183 Kuhio Highway on the main road through Hanalei, and are open 7 days a week from 10:30am – 8:00pm. They’re a favorite for locals and visitors time and time again, they offer takeout and parking. If you venture to Kapaa or Poipu, you’ll find Bubba Burgers there as well. $
