Here are some of our recommendations for dining on the Big Island. We hope you get a chance to try some of them during your stay.
Restaurants
Nearby
- Napua at the Mauna Lani Beach Club: Just a short drive down the road, Napua offers excellent food in a comfortable setting right on the beautiful Mauna Lani Beach. Reservations: Resy.
- Canoe House: Upscale restaurant on the beach at the Auberge at the Mauna Lani Resort.
- Brown’s: Upscale restaurant on the beach at the Fairmont Orchid Hotel, also at the Mauna Lani Resort
- Tropics Ale House (Waikōloa): casual spot for sandwiches, salads, and brews.
- Fosters Kitchen Waikōloa: a little overpriced; the food is good but not excellent. Waitlist: Yelp.
- Kuleana Rum Shack: delicious creative cocktails and a tasty (but limited) food menu. Reservations: OpenTable.
- Ulu Ocean Grill, upscale dining on the beach at the Four Seasons Hotel, about 10 miles away.
- Puseo Osteria, upscale dining located up the mountain in Wailoloa Village. http://www.pueososteria.com/
Kona
- Magics Beach Grill: If you’re looking for a delicious yet casual place to eat in Kona, Magics is hard to beat. Reservations: OpenTable.
- Huggos/On the Rocks: This restaurant right on the coast offers steaks, pastas, and seafood, alongside tropical cocktails, beer, and wine. On the Rocks is their beachside grill, a great option for happy hour or a casual meal.
Waimea
- Merriman’s: A Hawaii institution, this farm-to-table restaurant offers some of the best food on the island. They’ve moved to a prix fixe menu at $95 per person. Reservations: OpenTable.
- Big Island Brewhaus: This Waimea spot offers tasty locally-brewed beer alongside scrumptious burgers, sandwiches, and tacos.
Groceries
- Foodland Farms Mauna Lani: Located just a few minutes away, Foodland Farms will be your primary grocery store during your stay. It’s got almost everything you need, including a carefully curated wine selection.
- Hale I’a Da Fish House: One of the best spots to buy fish on the island, Da Fish House is great place to grab fresh seafood to cook at home. Note that Da Fish House has moved to a location inside the Kawaihae Marketplace (across the street from the Da Fish House building).
- Waimea Farmers Markets: There are two main farmers markets on Saturday: at Parker School and Pukulani Stables/Parker Ranch (look for Waimea Midweek Farmers Market on Google Maps–we promise there’s a Saturday market, too). If you can’t make it on Saturday, there’s also a midweek farmers market on Wednesdays at Pukulani Stables (9am to 2pm).