Best Wailea Restaurants: Our Top 12 for 2026
Eating out in Wailea is more art than science. Maui is not an easy place to run a high-end restaurant. Wages and taxes are high, business can be very seasonal, and most ingredients are flown in from somewhere far away. If that reality hasn’t hit you yet, just wait until you get a look at the prices on the menu. Wowza!
And that’s all the more reason to make sure you’ve done your research and picked just the right spot. To that end, here is our current running list of the very best restaurants in Wailea, grouped loosely by mood. Inside, you’ll find foamy mai tais, fresh fish, lobster toast, and maybe even some local Maui venison. None of these is perfect for every occasion or budget, and so we’ve noted a potential deal-breaker or two for each. But don’t let that stop you from venturing out of your hotel room or condo in pursuit of an exceptional meal.
Side Note: You won’t find Spago, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, or any other mainland chain options on this list. Why not? Because you flew all the way to Maui. Don’t you want to try something original?
Best Happy Hours in Wailea
Monkeypod Kitchen
Let’s start with Monkeypod. It’s right up the street from our Grand Champions condo and pretty much everyone who’s ever been to Maui has eaten here or at its sister location in Kaanapali. The lilikoi foam-topped mai tais are truly amazing and the happy hour appetizers and pizzas are fantastic, especially the kalua pork pizza. In fact, the happy hour is so solid that we often just make an early dinner out of it and call it good. And we’re not even that old yet. The draft beer selection is also top notch. (Beer fans, see our Maui brewery guide.)
All that said, I don’t love the regular dinner menu. Maybe it’s just me, but the options don’t seem all that creative or interesting. I used to order the saimin, which is excellent. But now that I learned how to make it at home, it’s not such a big deal anymore.
“I tried 3 mai tais on our trip: Monkeypod, Mama’s Fish House, and the Hana Resort. Monkeypod’s was the best. I can still taste that delicious lilikoi foam.” (bojangler, Reddit)
Reddit is split on the food, which matches our own experience. One visitor called it “delicious and worth the hype.” Another found it “disappointing and overhyped outside of the mai tai.”
From r/MauiVisitors: “Get the strawberry pie, you won’t regret it.”
Aurum Maui
Aurum is a new addition to our top 12 list. It opened at The Shops at Wailea in July 2025 with a modern American menu built around local ingredients, and the early reviews were resoundingly positive. Strangely, Aurum has since announced that its chef and general manager, Taylor and Natasha Ponte, are leaving as the restaurant heads into its second year. That means the kitchen is in transition, so we don’t quite know what to expect going into 2027!
Manoli’s Pizza Company
Manoli’s is the easy answer if you’re looking for a casual setting with a great sunset view. The pizza is nothing special but this place is open until midnight and has the longest happy hour in Wailea. If you just need to get dinner knocked out without too much fuss, Manoli’s will get the job done.
Date Night and Special Occasions
Matteo’s Osteria
Matteo’s is in Wailea Town Center, next door to Grand Champions. It’s a proper sit-down Italian restaurant with handmade pasta and a long wine list. If you’re staying at Wailea Oasis, you can walk home afterwards. Guy Fieri loves it, so you probably will too!
From r/MauiVisitors: “Matteo’s is great! We eat there every visit.”
Koast
Koast may be the restaurant Wailea regulars are talking about most right now. It opened in 2025 on the second floor of Wailea Village, with a wraparound lanai and a view toward Molokini. Chris Cosentino, a Top Chef Masters winner, guides the menu heavily towards seafood with a strong emphasis on local ingredients. Koast also offers an excellent happy hour with $10 cocktails and a nice selection of bites, including a smoked fish dip and grilled Kauai shrimp.
And our very favorite thing about Koast? There’s no fried chicken on the menu. We hope it stays that way!
From r/MauiVisitors: “We just went to Koast and the quality of food and the super reasonable prices made it a favorite spot.”
From r/MauiVisitors: “Koast is great but hard to get into.”
Lineage
Lineage is where Hawaiian comfort food gets a modern, creative twist. Located next to Island Gourmet Markets in The Shops at Wailea, it’s a vibrant, stylish place made for sharing plates with friends or family. Settle in, order a round of cocktails, and let the dishes flow because you’re not going to see a menu quite like this anywhere but in Hawaii.
“Great staff/service, creative and unique fusion dishes, nice overall ambiance.” (BloomSalsa, Reddit)
Kō
Kō, at the Fairmont Kea Lani, tells the story of Maui’s plantation era through food: Hawaiian, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Korean dishes fused into one delicious menu. The restaurant closed for a renovation in 2025 and then reopened with a new look and a new menu under chef Matt Dela Cruz. If you want one resort dinner that feels authentically Hawaii, this is probably our top pick.
From Yelp: “Great food, thoughtful storytelling, wonderful service, and a perfect date-night setting.”
Kaʻana Kitchen
Kaʻana Kitchen feels elegant without trying too hard. Tucked inside the Andaz Maui, it serves fresh, local ingredients with a farm-to-table approach. The open-air design gives it a breezy island feel, and if you time it right, the sunset over the ocean is spectacular. It suits couples or small groups looking for a meal that is both relaxed and refined.
If you want to go really big, book the Chef’s Table. This exclusive in-kitchen experience involves a guided multi-course tasting menu in which the chefs talk you through each plate.
Gather on Maui
Gather is perched at the Wailea Golf Club with a wide-angle view down the hillside and over the ocean. People generally come for the sunset first and the food second, and if you do it around happy hour it can be quite affordable. It’s a Reddit favorite with reviewers consistently positive on both the views and the casual atmosphere.
From r/MauiVisitors: “Chill environment and if you like cats you are sure to see a few.”
The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea
Hotel Wailea is an adults-only hilltop hotel and its restaurant is a similarly quiet, grown-up splurge in Wailea. Reviewers praise the service and the setting above all. The hotel bar, The Birdcage, is a great way to get the evening started with cocktails and Japanese small plates at sunset.
From Google Reviews: “The atmosphere is incredibly calm and cozy, perfect for a romantic night out.”
Casual and Affordable: A Short Drive to Kihei
Wailea is a resort, and its prices show it. Ten minutes north, Kihei has the casual, good-value places where you order at a counter and eat in your slippers.
Paia Fish Market
This is the South Maui branch of a local institution that got its start in, you guessed it, Paia. You order at the counter, find a seat at an outdoor table, and get a big plate of fresh fish at a fraction of what it costs in Wailea. The ono fish burger and fries is our standard lunch order and it’s easily the best on the island. Rumor is they are soon to open a location on Kauai!
From r/MauiVisitors: “Paia Fish Market has some of the best fish burgers I’ve ever had.”
South Maui Fish Company
A food truck that serves only the daily catch. Reviewers rave about the freshness, the portion sizes and the prices.
From r/MauiVisitors: “South Maui Fish Company is the answer for lighter lunch. Poke is amazing.”
More Places Reddit Keeps Recommending
Some other popular dining options get frequent mentions in r/MauiVisitors threads. Here are a few more options if you’re in the mood to do your own research…
What About the Big Resort Names?
As promised up top, Spago, Morimoto, Nobu, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, Ruth’s Chris and Tommy Bahama didn’t make our top 12. They’re mainland or global brands that you can find in other cities. That doesn’t mean they’re not worth sampling if the mood strikes. Spago has devoted fans on Reddit, and Tommy Bahama’s happy hour gets regular mentions.
Two additional resort restaurants may be worth a closer look if you want the full oceanfront splurge. Humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa at the Grand Wailea gets strong word of mouth: “Humu was expensive for sure. Lovely. Excellent food.” Ask to sit in the bar for the best view. Ferraro’s at the Four Seasons is open-air and right on the ocean, and regulars love the linguine with clams. Recent online reviews for both lament that the service sometimes doesn’t live up to the high price tag.
If you’re interested in spending a whole day at one of these resorts, see our Wailea resort day pass guide. And for dinner with a show, our Maui luau guide will help you choose wisely.
Wailea Restaurants at a Glance
| Restaurant | Best for | From Grand Champions |
|---|---|---|
| Monkeypod Kitchen | Happy hour | Walk |
| Aurum Maui | Happy hour, date night | Longer walk or short drive |
| Manoli’s Pizza Company | Families, late night | Walk |
| Koast | Sunset dinner | Walk |
| Matteo’s Osteria | Italian date night | Walk |
| Lineage | Shared plates | Longer walk or short drive |
| Kō | Special dinner | Short drive |
| Kaʻana Kitchen | Date night | Short drive |
| Gather on Maui | Sunset | Short drive |
| The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea | Big occasions | Short drive |
| Paia Fish Market | Casual fish dinner | Drive to Kihei |
| South Maui Fish Company | Cheap, fresh lunch | Drive to Kihei |
Wailea Restaurants FAQ
Matteo’s Osteria is next door in Wailea Town Center. Monkeypod Kitchen, Manoli’s Pizza Company and Koast are also a short walk. The Shops at Wailea, with Aurum and Lineage, are a longer walk or a few minutes by car.
For dinner, yes. Book Koast, Lineage, Matteo’s, Kō, Kaʻana Kitchen and The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea ahead, especially in winter. Counter-service places in Kihei like Paia Fish Market don’t take reservations.
Monkeypod Kitchen is our pick, daily from 3:30 to 5PM. Manoli’s has the longest happy hour, from noon to 5PM, and Aurum, Koast and Gather on Maui all run afternoon happy hours.
Drive ten minutes to Kihei. Paia Fish Market, South Maui Fish Company and the food trucks at South Maui Gardens all cost far less than the resort restaurants. In Wailea itself, happy hour and Island Gourmet Markets are the best values.
🏝️ Host Insider Tip
Try eating your big meal of the day at happy hour. We like to head over to Monkeypod around 3:30 for a lilikoi-foam mai tai, the kalua pork pizza and a few appetizers, then take an easy walk back to the condo in time for sunset and a late swim. Then we prep a light meal at the condo later in the evening.
Stay in Wailea, Book Direct
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