Honolulu’s most beautiful restaurants are all about letting the postcard-perfect surroundings in. And many of the dining rooms in the city’s especially drop-dead gorgeous restaurants take design cues from the land and the sea.
Tall Victorian arches open up to oceanfront views at a regal afternoon tea favorite. Granite floors, shimmery chandeliers, and panoramic sea vistas give a Mediterranean gem its special occasion-cred. A white-tableclothed French restaurant on an especially pristine stretch of Waikīkī has been a celebration magnet for over 60 years.
From the airiest lanais to chic nature-inspired interiors, Honolulu’s dining rooms offer various spins on beauty. Read on for a guide to the city’s 12 most gorgeous restaurants.
Azure – The Royal Hawaiʻian (Waikīkī)
Azure holds the distinction of being one of the main restaurants at the Royal Hawaiʻian Resort, a historic Honolulu landmark since 1927. The Spanish-Moorish aesthetic in its serene outdoor dining room matches the rest of the dramatic property. Expect impeccably set tables topped with candles, cabanas, and views of Waikīkī Beach and Diamond Head. There’s an elegant tasting menu to match, featuring top-notch seafood like poached scallops with coconut-milk vinaigrette and pan-seared Kona kampachi.
Monkeypod Kitchen (Waikīkī)
It’s one of three other locations, but the newest Monkeypod Kitchen stands out for end-to-end ocean views. The open-air dining room features playful touches like floral-patterned chairs and Edison light bulbs, fueling an easygoing vibe. But that doesn’t mean food is an afterthought: The menu is full of the breakfasty farm-to-table hits like mai tai flapjacks and Hawaiian chilaquiles with kālua pork. Even if you’re not on vacation, the ultra-chill setting here will make it feel like one.
Beachhouse – Moana Surfrider (Waikīkī)
It’s hard not to be blown away by the Moana Surfrider’s stunning Victorian architecture—there’s a grand entrance with tall white columns and swooping archways. The foyer opens up to a prime ocean-front space decked with a breezy veranda (next to one of the hotel’s impressively large banyan trees). The white-tableclothed setting is a popular breakfast spot, but it’s the afternoon tea service, which includes dainty sandwiches, pastries, and optional Champagne, that shouldn’t be missed.
La Vie (Waikīkī)
Enchanting La Vie faces a stretch of the Pacific at the Ritz-Carlton Waikīkī. The wood-heavy dining room can shapeshift from a relaxed happy hour hangout to an occasion-worthy candlelit escape at dinnertime—La Vie’s scene-stealer might just be its baby grand piano, which provides a sultry soundtrack to go with the sunset every evening. Come for a French-inspired feast featuring luxe dishes including duck breast with jus a l’orange, plus extras like caviar service and a cheese cart.
100 Sails Restaurant & Bar (Waikīkī)
Treat yourself to sunset views of Honolulu Yacht Harbor at 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar in the Prince Hotel. Floor-to-ceiling windows make perfect frames for the surrounding sailboats, so come at sunset for the ultimate experience. The restaurant fully leans into its watery surroundings, confirmed by the wispy wooden screens—which take cues from algae—that line the space. It all makes an elegant backdrop to enjoy a massive buffet complete with a sushi station, cold bar, prime-rib counter, and more.
La Mer at Halekulani (Waikīkī)
For a tropical spin on quiet luxury, head to this French-inspired restaurant, best known for a decadent tasting menu featuring duck roti, foie gras, and poached lobster. But it’s not just the food that impresses here: La Mer is perched on the second-floor of the Halekulani Hotel and all about unobstructed Pacific Ocean views. The dining room is a graceful blend of Pacific teak and rattan, meaning it’s an especially scenic place to gaze at the waves.
Michel’s at the Colony Surf (Waikīkī)
Lavish island vibes meet French fine dining at this dreamy Gold Coast favorite. Open since 1962, Michel’s elegant dining room, adorned with glass chandeliers, also has a stretch of windows that offer uninterrupted sand and sea views—they can even be fully opened to let in the trade winds. Choose from a three-course set menu or dive into a selection of steakhouse classics like beef Wellington.
PESCA (Waikīkī)
This Mediterranean-accented beauty is set on the top two floors of the Ilikai Hotel. Surf and turf headline the menu—diners can pick from a selection of by-the-pound fish, cooked as they like it, and a hearty selection of meat that includes filet mignon and lamb chops. The interiors are an especially majestic place to take in panoramic ocean views, complete with granite floors, crisp white tablecloths, and feather-like glass chandeliers.
EP Bar (Chinatown)
An impressive vinyl record setup and easy-to-love cocktails, made by drinks maestro Justin Park, give Honolulu’s first listening bar its local cred. The rock-walled bar is also just plain beautiful, nestled into the back of a coffee shop—the only clue that there’s a bar on site is a sign made from penny tiles next to a pastry case. The discreet entrance opens up to a dimly lit enclave, revealing glowy wooden shelves stacked with specially curated whiskeys.
Merriman’s (Honolulu)
With cathedral-like ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and tasteful natural-wood accents, Merriman’s is one of the prettiest places in Ward Village for a sun-drenched brunch or celebratory dinner. The menu is the brainchild of Peter Merriman, one of the pioneers of Pacific Rim cuisine, and includes excellent island-inspired dishes like macadamia nut-crusted fish, poke, and octopus prepared with cognac garlic butter.
Cino (Kakaʻako)
Cino was one of Honolulu’s most beautiful new restaurants to open in 2023. Its sexy dining room is full of plush velvet, brass, and textured upholstery. And then there’s the showstopper of a bar, topped with a dramatic stretch of amazonite marble. Post up here for a drink by cocktail pro Jen Len before making way for a modern Italian meal of crab spaghetti and miso-charred butterfish with slow-roasted eggplant.
Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi (North Shore)
Just steps from the sand, chef and restaurateur Roy Yamaguchi’s open-air pavilion is a casual but stunning retreat on O‘ahu’s North Shore. Take in the jaw-dropping views—your backdrop includes two stunning reef points. The cushy lounge chairs and giant ceiling fans make Beach House the kind of relaxed place you can wander in with slippers, sip a tropical cocktail or an ice-cold local beer, and dig into outstanding seafood by one of Hawaii’s leading chefs.
Noelle Chun is a freelance journalist who writes about food, cocktails, and wine in Honolulu and San Francisco. Her writing has appeared in Eater, The Guardian, and HONOLULU, among other publications.
