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Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Kauai

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in Kauai? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

A photo of Hualani's restaurant

4.8

4.8 (2202)

$50 and over

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Lihue

About the restaurant

Experience one of the best restaurants on Kaua'i and enjoy farm-to-table oceanfront dining from the elegant yet relaxed setting at Hualani's. Here, oceanfront dining is influenced by the seasons. What's fresh at The Farm at Hōkūala inspires the farm-to-table menu, while our bar serves up well-balanced craft cocktails that complement the seasonality of the kitchen. Our culinary experience is inspired by a sense of place and driven by local farmers, as well as fresh-picked ingredients from our on-site organic farm. From the morning harvest and the daily catch, Hualani's shines a hyper-local spotlight on the bounty of the Garden Isle.

Top review

J

Janet

Dined 5 days ago

Amazing experience, the food is on par with a Michelin 3 Star, the service impeccable and the selection of wines were excellent. The ambiance, let's just say dining overlooking the water with a full moon rising can't be beat!!

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A photo of Lobster Tempura of a restaurant

Lobster Tempura

A photo of Misoyaki Seabass of a restaurant

Misoyaki Seabass

A photo of Harris Ranch Filet Mignon of a restaurant

Harris Ranch Filet Mignon

A photo of Naisla Kitchen & Cocktails restaurant

Naisla Kitchen & Cocktails

4.8

4.8 (232)

$31 to $50

Italian

Kapaa

About the restaurant

A new, upscale dining experience of modern fusion cuisine and craft cocktails, located on Kauai’s east side.

Top review

C

CurtisVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Sunday was the last night of our trip to Kauai and it was difficult to get Ubers to take us very far from Kapaa for dinner. We read about the interesting Japanese/Italian fusion at Naisla's and decided to give it a try. The outside is a bit unassuming, however, when you walk in it is just a really cool place. We had dinner at the bar and Stephanie was our bartender/server. She was engaging, very well informed about the menu and her service & attitude made the night really nice for us. Their were two appetizer specials - a cucumber salad that had an amazing umami and the wagyu hot rock with salted egg yolk and a wonderful Asian sauce for the dipping - this was nothing short of stellar. My wife had the Miso Carbonara and I had the Fettucine Pomodoro (very 'cheffy' idea to marinate the meatballs in ginger/soy braise) - we both loved our dishes. From all the restaurants we tried while in Kauai, Naisla's is at the top of our list to recommend to friends visiting the island and for a return visit ourselves. Thank you Stephanie and chef for a great evening.

A photo of The Plantation House by Gaylords restaurant

The Plantation House by Gaylords

4.7

4.7 (5373)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Lihue

About the restaurant

Gaylords now rebranded as The Plantation House by Gaylords offers one of Kauai's most beautiful settings for lunch, dinner and happy hour. Located in the historic Kilohana Plantation home, diners are seated around an open-air courtyard with views of the plantation grounds and Mt. Waialeale in the distance. Our kitchen uses only the freshest, seasonal ingredients supporting our local farmers and fishermen. Our 67-acre sustainable farm provides much of the produce and herbs used in our dishes and cocktails. Menu items include starters like fresh Ahi poke, fried brie, fresh seafood, delicious steaks and vegan entrees too. Don't forget about our famous Banana Cream Pie for dessert! Take a walk around the Kilohana grounds, shop in our assorted boutiques, visit the Koloa Rum shop, go on a rum safari adventure or take a ride on the plantation train.

If reservations are not available online, please call us anytime and we will be more than happy to accommodate you

Top review

M

Melissa

Dined 4 days ago

Incredible dining experience. Absolutely gorgeous setting, with impeccable service and outstanding food. We’re so pleased that we decided to celebrate our anniversary at The Plantation House while in Kaua’i on vacation. Will most certainly return on future visits to the island!

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A photo of Quick Fried Brie of a restaurant

Quick Fried Brie

A photo of Shrimp Scampi of a restaurant

A photo of French Onion Soup of a restaurant

French Onion Soup

A photo of Merriman's Kauai restaurant

Merriman's Kauai

4.7

4.7 (5213)

$31 to $50

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Koloa

About the restaurant

Chef-Owner Peter Merriman has brought his unique style of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine served in a casual yet elegant setting of Old Hawaii Plantation. A pioneer in the "Farm to Table" concept, Peter serves only the freshest products, at least 90% of which are locally grown or caught, using only sustainable methods. His international menu items are prepared in a manner that highlights the natural flavors of these fresh, local foods. Located in Poipu, we feature both mauka (mountain) and makai (ocean) views as well as sunset veiws over the Kukui'ula resort. The aloha-friendly staff, with a food and beverage knowledge second to none, will ensure that you have an extraordinary dining experience.

Top review

S

Savanna

Dined 4 days ago

Great experience! Best dinner in Kauai for us, enjoyed it over the Beach House! Excellent service, great cocktails, and delicious classics with outside the box flair. Definitely will go back!

A photo of Tidepools - Grand Hyatt Kauai restaurant

Tidepools - Grand Hyatt Kauai

4.7

4.7 (5795)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Poipu

About the restaurant

The most romantic setting on Kauai. For the ultimate in ambiance, delectable food and stellar service, Tidepools is the place. This quintessential Hawaiian setting has a backdrop of waterfalls with thatched roof bungalows that seemingly float above koi-filled lagoons. Savor modern island-style cuisine in this distinctive open-air setting. Diners rave about the exceptional service and fresh fish and steak options with a unique island flair including macadamia nut crusted fish, grilled ahi or a succulent steak. Salads feature greens grown at our hydroponic farm on site and the desserts are luscious. Don't miss this delightful experience.

Top review

M

Mackenzie

Dined 3 days ago

A very lovely spot for dinner. The ambience was nice and the food and service were also great!

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A photo of Molten Chocolate Lava Cake of a restaurant

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

A photo of Prime Ribeye of a restaurant

A photo of Hawaiian Catch of a restaurant

A photo of Keoki's Paradise restaurant

Keoki's Paradise

4.6

4.6 (7334)

$30 and under

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Poipu

About the restaurant

Aloha! Visit keokisparadise.com for our menu, hours of operation, weekly specials or to place a takeout order online!

Enjoy fresh fish, steak, seafood and more! Keoki's is open for lunch and dinner every day of the week while offering brunch on the weekends. Escape to your own unforgettable paradise! Surround yourself with serene waterfall features and panoramic greenery, an experience the entire family will enjoy.

Live entertainment is offered daily. Experience locally sourced ingredients which compliments the refreshing and casual atmosphere. With a strong commitment to the community and genuine service, Keoki’s is truly beloved by locals and visitors alike.

Top review

C

Carl

Dined 5 days ago

Everything was perfect except the seafood risotto. Pretty much tasteless and there was no salt or pepper at the table to tweak it.

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A photo of Original Hula Pie of a restaurant

Original Hula Pie

A photo of Fish Tacos of a restaurant

A photo of Fish & Chips of a restaurant

A photo of Stevenson’s Library restaurant

Stevenson’s Library

4.6

4.6 (1820)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Poipu

About the restaurant

This luxury nightspot offers a truly unique and welcoming atmosphere with a 27-ft koa wood bar, outdoor lanai and intimate lounge seating. The bar features beautifully carved koa in traditional sugarcane and pineapple motifs.

Chef Jin and his team create delectable sushi creations nightly. Relax, enjoy the views and sip on a tropical, martini, beer or sake. Stevenson's also boasts an extensive selection of Whiskeys, Cognac, Port and Wine.

Stevenson's is the place for sushi & spirits.

To Go orders: Offered between 5-6PM only due to high demand
High-Top seating: This is a tall table located in the bar area. This is a request and is not guaranteed.
Regular seating: A regular dining table located in the restaurant.
Lanai Seating: Balcony seating is limited. We do our best to accommodate requests, however it is not guaranteed. Mahalo for your understanding.

Top review

M

Mona

Dined 3 days ago

Always wonderful local service! Poke, sashimi, sushi pizza and lobster dynamite is always outstanding! Our 4 sushi rolls were fresh and delicious! Side Uni on rice and our dessert was amazing! Our fav place to go for dinner on the south side!!

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A photo of Sushi Pizza of a restaurant

A photo of Stevenson's Lobster Dynamite of a restaurant

Stevenson's Lobster Dynamite

A photo of Beach House Restaurant- Kauai restaurant

Beach House Restaurant- Kauai

4.6

4.6 (12814)

$50 and over

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Poipu

About the restaurant

Our stunning ocean-front location with spectacular sunsets makes the Beach House an iconic destination on Kauai's south shore that has won the Hale 'Aina Award for "Best Restaurant - Kauai" for 20+ years.

Our philosophy at the Beach House is simple - take aloha, blend it with fresh and high-quality ingredients, and add an ocean view to deliver a handcrafted, Hawaiian experience. Executive Chef Marshall Blanchard makes the most of local ingredients by sourcing our fish directly from island fisherman and our beef from neighboring ranches. We incorporate fresh and local produce throughout our menu, highlighting Hawai'i farms and the resources that surround Kauai.

Reservations are highly recommended for a dining room table in our open-air restaurant. We also offer lounge seating on our lawn, where the full menu and full service are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please check in with the bar host for lawn seating.

Top review

P

PamelaVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent service from our server who knew from memory the gluten free selections. Our steak and Ahi were both prepared perfectly. Ambience as always, breathtaking. Everyone, from the valet, to the welcoming committee at the desk, to the expediters really take a moment to make a connection however brief. Amazing in this age where it seems people are losing the ability to communicate. But the coup de gras? Gluten-free Mochi cake! Thanking the team for a gluten free dessert that is unique and memorable.

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A photo of Filet Mignon of a restaurant

A photo of Keiki Fish of a restaurant

A photo of Lobster Bisque of a restaurant

A photo of Red Salt at Ko’a Kea Resort restaurant

Red Salt at Ko’a Kea Resort

4.5

4.5 (2752)

$50 and over

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Koloa

About the restaurant

Red Salt’s diverse menu by acclaimed Executive Chef and Kauai native Noelani Planas celebrates fresh Hawaiian seafood and produce in a casual, yet sophisticated seaside atmosphere. Modern dinner cuisine includes favorites from both land and sea, decadent desserts, tableside martinis and more, all served in a contemporary setting.

Top review

J

Julia

Dined 4 days ago

I took a friend and her family there for her 60th birthday. The food, service, and ambience were fantastic and made for a memorable birthday for her.

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A photo of Blue Crab Crusted Monchong of a restaurant

Blue Crab Crusted Monchong

A photo of Hawaiian Bread Pudding of a restaurant

Hawaiian Bread Pudding

A photo of Grilled Mahi Mahi of a restaurant

Grilled Mahi Mahi

A photo of Table at Poipu restaurant

4.5

4.5 (487)

$31 to $50

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Koloa

About the restaurant

I'm humbled to present to you my newest creation: Table at Poipu. Here, I will be sharing some of my favorite recipes developed through the years, always with my favorite culinary quote in mind; "quality ingredients served simply". by CHEF GORDON

Top review

L

Linda

Dined 3 days ago

Our dinner and drinks were exceptionally good. Our server, Angie, took very good care of us.

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A photo of Mushroom Risotto Goat Cheese Croquettes of a restaurant

Mushroom Risotto Goat Cheese Croquettes

A photo of Bone-In Pork Chop of a restaurant

Bone-In Pork Chop

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