Best Wailea Restaurants

Where To Dine In Wailea

Wailea, located in South Maui is known for its luxury shopping, high-end resorts, and some of the best restaurants on Maui. Nearly 50 Wailea restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining are serving up creative and delicious flavors including fresh seafood, contemporary Hawaiian cuisine, Asian cuisines, Italian food, and more! With so much delicious food available it can be tough to narrow down which restaurants in Wailea you need to experience. Here are some of the best Wailea restaurants you should try.

 

The Best Wailea Restaurants

 

Kō

The Fairmont Kea Lani’s signature restaurant, Kō, brings Hawaiian flavors into the limelight — proving that island-style cuisine deserves a place in upscale kitchens. Ko’s menu was inspired by Hawaii’s plantation days, drawing influence from the melting pot of cultures that lived and worked together in Hawaii during the sugarcane era. Ko also sources 90 percent of its ingredients locally – an impressive feat considering the size of the menu.

Go for a dressed-up version of traditional Hawaiian lau lau, with freshly caught fish, scallops, and prawns wrapped and steamed in ti leaves. Or, travel across the Pacific for Korean braised short ribs or garlic shrimp and scallop pancit, a Filipino-inspired favorite.

 

Ferraro’s

Located at Four Seasons Resort, Ferraro’s offers an Italian ambiance with a casual lunch and dinner menu. A selection of Italian wines and drinks are available for dinner to go with your risotto, sashimi, or handmade pasta dishes. Ferraro’s is open for lunch and dinner and every table has an ocean view.

Resort or business casual is the preferred dress code for dinner while a shirt and shoes are the requirements for lunch. Ferraro’s is an ideal spot for a romantic meal and is one of the best restaurants in Wailea.

 

Tommy Bahama Restaurant

Tommy Bahama Restaurant is a chain restaurant you may be familiar with. If not, then know you are in for a treat. Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar offers warm island winds and a beautiful lanai. This location can be found at the Shops at Wailea, next to the Grand Wailea Resort. It is open for lunch and dinner, plus they offer a happy hour menu from 2 to 5 pm.

Tommy Bahamas restaurant boasts some of the freshest seafood and produce found in Hawaii. Not only is it a restaurant, but it is also a shop, where you can pick up shirts and other Tommy Bahama items before or after you dine.

 

Matteo’s

Locals tend to go to Matteo’s versus the resorts’ Italian restaurants because they know Matteo is from Italy and offers the most authentic Italian cuisine. The restaurant offers an impressive international wine list, handcrafted cocktails, and a diverse menu all with a relaxing ambiance. A sampling of the menu includes contemporary Italian dishes like tiger prawns, gnocchi, and house-made pasta.

Although they can get very busy, the service is spectacular and this is easily one of the best restaurants in Wailea. Matteo’s is at 161 Wailea Ike Place in the Wailea Town Center. Matteo’s is open Tuesday through Saturday from 4:45 pm and the last seating is at 8:30 pm. Reservations are strongly recommended.

 

Monkeypod Kitchen

World-class, award-winning chef Peter Merriman delivers a casual experience full of energy and the freshest ingredients available at the famous Monkeypod Kitchen. Feast on an array of Hawaiian regional cuisine inspired by local ingredients. Top choices include truffle fries, poke tacos, hand-tossed pizzas, fish & chips, ribeye, and, oh my, the pies! The pie is worth the trip alone but the beer list is exceptional and the Mai Tai’s are famous and possibly the “best on Maui.” Live music fills the air during lunch and dinner and the service is top-notch.

Monkeypod should be on your list if you are visiting Wailea. Keep in mind, Monkeypod Kitchen is popular so reservations are not required but strongly encouraged. Open daily 11 am – 10 pm with a happy hour menu from 3:30 – 5 pm. 

 

Pita Paradise

Pita Paradise offers something a little different than many of the restaurants on this list. The atmosphere is a little dark, with wood tones and romantic mood lighting. You can find the restaurant at Wailea Gateway Center. At Pita Paradise, you can eat generous portions of lunch or dinner, as well as enjoy happy hour (3 – 5 pm). It is best to make a reservation if you travel to Maui during the high tourist season.

Pita Paradise sources its food locally ensuring you have a fresh combination of flavors that are unmatched. The fish specials are written daily based on the catch of the day, typically caught by Pita Paradise owner, “Captain Johnny” Arabatzis Jr. You can also enjoy free-range lamb, Baklava ice cream, and beef dishes.

 

Morimoto

Morimoto, located in the Andaz Resort at 3550 Wailea Alanui Drive, in Wailea, Maui is a great place for sushi and seafood. Reservations are necessary to get a table here for lunch or dinner. Sake and other cocktails are served, as well as a variety of dessert choices.

A few of your options include the chef’s choice seafood and sushi, lobster, raw bar combination, wagyu tomahawk ribeye, and salads. Soups and noodles are on the menu for those who like a variety of options relating to Japanese dishes. For dessert, consider the malasadas or flaming chocolate.

 

Kaʻana Kitchen  

Kaʻana Kitchen is also located at the Andaz Maui Resort in Wailea. If you are staying at the hotel, pop down for breakfast or dinner. You can also eat at the restaurant if you are not a guest of the hotel. Perhaps you are in the area after a walk along the beach and need sustenance, try the farm-to-table cuisine the restaurant is known for.

Menu items are based on local produce, beef, and seafood provided by those who know the island best. Kaʻana is a family restaurant open for breakfast and dinner. Dinner reservations are strongly encouraged.

Thank you for reading about Wailea Restaurants. What are some of your favorite restaurants in Wailea? Check out more Maui restaurant recommendations.