If you have to splurge anywhere, you might as well do so during an extravagant vacation to the tropical cliff sides of Kauai. An important part of adventuring here includes seeking out some palette-refining, top-rated eateries, restaurants and cafes.
If you are wondering where to eat on Kauai for a truly local and memorable cuisine experience, you’ll find it here.
The below four fine dining restaurants on the breathtakingly scenic northern side of Kauai will force you to re-evaluate your standards for dining. It’s Kauai, it’s fine dining, and there’s romance in the air.
What could be better?
Bar Acuda
Bar Acuda, a playful spin on the word barracuda, is led by Jim Moffat. When Moffat moved to the Hanalei area on Kauai, it was his goal to be extraordinary. He sought to bring the magic of Bar Acuda to a new place, and to ease the hours, rejuvenate the community, and improve his menu.
Bar Acuda has a dazzling atmosphere, borrowing décor elements of Europe and the Mediterranean. Moffat knows he has an eclectic and varied menu, which is why he primarily promotes tapas.
This gives you the option to sample several options like the kale and blackened ahi caesar salad, the saffron arancini risotto fritters, and the roasted local tomato bruschetta all in one evening.
Due to the smaller portions and the exuberant style of Moffat’s culinary experience, he likes to switch the menu often. You can always expect new tapas to take over.
Bar Acuda is located at 5-5161 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, HI 96714, near the northernmost tip of Kauai. It is located within walking distance of the famous Hanalei Bay.
This fine dining favorite only opens at 5:30 p.m. and wraps up the evening at 9:30 p.m. Guests who arrive prior to 9:30 p.m. can enjoy the evening magic as long as they desire. Reservations are not essential, but strongly encouraged.
Postcards (Hanalei)
Head on over a block or two and find Postcards. Postcards specializes in captivating and complex vegetarian and seafood dishes and a varied assortment of organic ingredients. The restaurant also utilizes local Hanalei produce as much as possible.
According to the website, Postcards forgoes any meat, additives, poultry, or refined sugar. This gives the menu a freshness and quality that can’t be easily found.
The menu is refined and offers a selection of exquisite local options. This includes Sorrento linguini (Kauai shrimp, catch of the day, mushrooms, tomatoes, shallots, greens and garlic), sesame crusted ahi with jasmine rice, sombrero corn tortillas with a fire roasted red pepper coulis, blackened fish soaked in macadamia nut butter and other specialties.
This progressive café also has some many vegan options, and most non-seafood dishes can be customized vegan. Postcards can be found tucked away at 5-5075 Kuhio Hwy in Hanalei, about two minutes east of Bar Acuda.
Kauai Grill
The insular and cozy interior of the Kauai Grill in Princeville is built as a circle. Wrapping around the dining room is a bold window with backdrops of the Hawaiian mountainsides, Fort Alexander, and Puu Poa beach. The view is quite possibly the best on the island.
Kauai Grill is an acclaimed fine dining restaurant with a special focus on making dinner a memorable event. Guests can order from a popular tasting menu with or without wine across five total courses. Three other menus include a main menu, gluten-free and vegetarian.
The menu changes seasonally. Just a few recent items include nut and seed crusted mahi mahi, Kona Lobster covered in crystallized ginger vinaigrette, tuna tartare, aged ribeye, or roasted organic chicken.
You can order meat and fish a la carte, grilled upon request. The vegetarian sides and
A selection of perfectly plated desserts rounds out the menu including coconut or mango sorbet, chef’s specialty cheesecake, chocolate cake or butterscotch pudding.
Reservations are highly recommended and essential during peak seasons. It is located at 5520 Ka Haku Rd at the St. Regis Resort in the northwestern tip of the island.
Tahiti Nui
Tahiti Nui does not try to add too many elements to their stripped-down and simple formula, with the quality you would expect from a fine dining destination mixed with hospitality and a more casual vibe.
The menu is full of authentic local favorites, from locally sourced organic salads, to a variety of signature pizzas, and small plate starters such as poke bowls. Choose from a selection of impressive dinner entrees including baby back ribs, aged ribeye, local fresh island fish served with your choice of sauce, braised pork, a pasta of the day and more.
This family operation has been in business since 1963, giving you a real connection to Hawaii’s history. The wine bar offers a romantic collection of options for you and a loved one. The dichotomy between the specialty pizzas and fine wine is unique and delectable.
They are open for lunch – an ideal stop before visiting some of the other restaurants mentioned above on the northern coast of Kauai. You can stop by Tahiti Nui from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
We know about a wide assortment of Kauai restaurants. Reach out to us at our Waipouli Beach Resort and Spa and learn how to stay on Kauai in style at our Islander on the Beach rentals and other spectacular condos on the beach.
Appreciate the fine dining restaurants and the glorious views that can only be seen off the northern coast of Kauai.
