Honolulu is a special-occasion hotspot, confirmed by the thousands who annually flock here to ring in everything from palm-fringed honeymoons to beachside reunions. The city’s restaurants cover an impressive ground, ready to amp up any celebration with their signature aloha spirit.
From serene oceanfront meals to energetic teppanyaki spectacles, Honolulu’s best restaurants can do it all. Read on for 12 stellar special-occasion restaurants to book right now.
La Vie (Waikīkī)
Come to La Vie for an especially chic celebration. The airy Waikīkī Ritz-Carlton restaurant churns out seasonal French-inspired fare featuring luxuries like dry-aged kampachi and duck breast with jus a l’orange—plus celebratory add-ons like caviar service, A5 wagyu, and a cheese cart, if you want to pull out all the stops. The dining room is loved for its ability to shapeshift from a relaxed happy hour backdrop to an occasion-worthy candlelit escape at dinnertime, complete with live piano performances to dial up the elegance.
Taormina Sicilian Cuisine (Waikīkī)
Taormina is a go-to for special date nights and anniversaries thanks to its dimly lit, white-tablecloth vibes. Make your way through executive chef Hiroyuki Mimura’s solid Sicilian-inspired menu, which includes crowd favorites like beef carpaccio and spaghettini with sardines, fennel, and anchovies. The restaurant’s deep wine list is curated by Roberto Viernes—one of Hawaiʻi’s few master sommeliers—and filled with toast-worthy Italian bottles, white burgundies, and plenty of Champagne.
Orchids at Halekulani (Waikīkī)
Orchids at Halekulani has hosted memorable graduations, weddings, bridal showers, and birthdays for decades. The Honolulu classic stands out for a gigantic Sunday brunch buffet that features a carving station, an ice-cream sundae bar, and favorites from the Halekulani Bakery. Don’t miss the hotel’s signature popovers, which have single-handedly drawn locals for years. Add sweeping Diamond Head views and you’ve got one of the most iconic photo ops on Oahu.
Tanaka of Tokyo (East, Central, and West)
There’s no better celebration combo than dinner and a show—especially when dinner is the show. One of Honolulu’s most popular teppanyaki spots is well-loved by groups and families for lively performances from master chefs who flip knives, toss shrimp, and make onion volcanoes. Celebrate over salmon steak, scallops sauteed in lemon and butter, and more. This festive and roomy restaurant opened its doors in 1978 and now has three locations, including one in Ala Moana Center, the largest open-air shopping center in the world.
Original Roy’s, Hawaii Kai (Honolulu)
Locals have turned to Roy’s for celebrations ever since it opened in 1988. James Beard Award-winning chef Roy Yamaguchi, who helped define Pacific Rim Cuisine in the ’90s, is fluent in fine-dining food like slow-braised beef short rib and Hawaiʻi-style sushi rolls. His namesake restaurant has expanded to include a number of locations in both Hawaiʻi and on the mainland, but the Hawaii Kai edition is the undisputed OG. Away from the hustle of Waikīkī, its serene dining room is all about celebrating in an inviting space warmed by sea breezes from the nearby shore.
Hy’s Steak House (Waikīkī)
If your idea of a proper celebration is a handsome cut of beef and a stiff martini, Hy’s Steak House is the ticket. The old-school restaurant is dressed in mahogany and leather and decorated with oil paintings in ornate wooden frames, making this one of the most regal spots in town. Go all out with shareable seafood towers, tableside salads, and the stars of the show—kiawe-broiled prime beef cuts served in filet mignon, porterhouse, or ribeye form.
Deck. (Waikīkī)
Deck. is a blockbuster brunch spot that attracts crowds for top-notch poke, fish tacos, and burgers, plus half-off bottles of wine and Champagne. The stylish New American restaurant lives in the freshly revamped Queen Kapiolani Hotel and has an award-winning outdoor setup featuring a postcard-perfect lanai and uninterrupted Diamond Head views—a super scenic pairing that’s earned it all sorts of wedding and reception cred.
Sushi Sho (Waikīkī)
Honolulu is a seafood paradise, and renowned sushi chef Keiji Nakazawa makes ocean-inspired magic at this exclusive Ritz-Carlton Waikīkī dining room. Sushi Sho leans into the Edo-mae tradition with a uniquely Hawaiʻi twist. But there are only 16 seats at this cocoon-like special occasion spot, plus a private sushi counter (available for up to six diners), so book well in advance of your big night out.
100 Sails Restaurant & Bar (Waikīkī)
Insta-worthy Honolulu Pier views are one of the many festive perks at this Waikiki stunner. So are luxe American and Asian dishes by chef de cuisine Aaron Furuto, who cranks out an impressive buffet that includes a prime rib station, unlimited temaki, crab legs, and more. Enjoy it in a window-wrapped dining room and watch the sun slide into the Pacific above Ala Wai Harbor—a setting that’s sure to add magic to whatever you’re celebrating.
The Veranda at the Kahala Resort (Honolulu)
One of Oahu’s top luxury resorts also aces the special occasion test: The Kahala’s high-ceilinged, open-air Veranda is a gorgeous setting for a celebratory English-inspired afternoon tea spread—with some Hawaiian touches, of course. Case in point: scones with passionfruit curd and pineapple marmalade, black tea from Maui, and other locally accented high-tea treats. Add a glass of bubbles to take your celebration up a notch.
Bar Leather Apron (Downtown/Chinatown)
Sometimes, a special occasion demands an epic toast, and that’s when Bar Leather Apron comes in. The James Beard Award winner impresses with a cocktail menu from co-owner and bartender Justin Park, who pairs Japan-inspired techniques with Hawaiian ingredients like coconut and passionfruit. Not only do the dramatic drinks—aromatics bursting into flames, or local wood smoke curling out of a tiki glass—scream celebration, but so do the plush interiors. Get comfortable in a leather seat, take in the whiskey-lined walls, and see where your big night out takes you.
Olay’s Thai Lao Cuisine (Downtown/Chinatown)
This neon-lit Lao and Thai spot is a little extra in the decor department, lined with skeletons in October and heart streamers in February. But it’s adored for its design quirks, which also include an interior courtyard with a waterfall and koi pond. Expect Southeast Asian flavors that are just as loud in mains like whole deep-fried fish drenched in lime, cilantro, peppers, and garlic. Olay’s festive vibes are also fueled by a live DJ who spins on weekends and a thoughtful no-corkage policy that encourages diners to buy a celebratory bottle from the store next door.
Tried them all? Check out other options here.
Noelle Chun is a freelance journalist who writes about food, cocktails, and wine in Honolulu and San Francisco. Follow her on Instagram at @noellechun.
