Sushigirl Kauai

Tucked away in a serene beach cove a few miles from Hanalei, the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is Kauai’s ultimate escape, where eco-luxury and island ease exist in perfect harmony.

One excellent hotel option—particularly for families, or anyone traveling with other couples—is the Lodge at Kukui'ula, a private club in Poʻipū that stretches across 1,010 acres, and was included in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards Best Hawaiian Resorts. Comprised of multi-bedroom homes—most with adjacent guest houses—it has plenty of high-end touches and amenities. While all the homes are equipped with lavish kitchens, the club restaurant, ʻUmeke Kitchen + Bar is excellent, and serviced by an on-site garden. There's a multi-level pool complete with hot tubs, a water slide, and a beach (the real beach is just across the road), a keiki play room, and the on-site Huakaʻi Outfitters staffed by locals who know all the island's secrets—what's better is that they'll take you there, or pack you a cooler and bag of equipment and send you on your way. For those otherwise inclined, there is a Tom-Weiskopf-designed golf course, tennis courts, and the award-winning Hiʻilani Spa and Fitness Center, home to a gym, yoga studio, and more.

Nestled on a secluded 5-acre estate in the Moloa’a hills on Kauai’s north shore, The Palmwood is a veritable sanctuary—as a bed-and-breakfast, it’s got a personal touch you aren’t likely to find at the major resorts. Inspired by the country inns found in the mountains of Japan, the rooms here are on the cozy side with warm, Eastern-inspired furnishings, and the grounds are lush and green. Best of all: this intimate, peaceful hideaway is close to some of the island’s finest attractions. As it is a real-deal B&B, we also hear that Auntie Eddi makes the very, very best breakfast.

Perched on a cliff with panoramic ocean views, Timbers Kauai is serene and cozy, perfect for families and long stays. The fifty-seven vacation rentals are multibedroom residences with the comfiest beds and sofas, beautiful high-end kitchens, spacious lanais, and luxury amenities that make everything just so easy. The property is stretched across 450 oceanfront acres, and the two infinity pools really will trick you into thinking they’re spilling into the Pacific. We highly recommend a tour of the property’s organic farm, from which the restaurant, Hualani’s, sources ingredients like sugarcane, bananas, and papayas. And the spa does a transformative Hawaiian lomi lomi massage—don’t skip the heated coconut oil scalp massage at the end.

No question, this shack-stand in Hanalei serves the best acai bowls on the island. Also in Aloha’s line-up: juices, smoothies, teas, small treats, nuts, and bars. And attached to the juice bar is a produce stand with fresh fruit to-go. Photo: Brave Heart

Tucked in the heart of Kauai’s North Shore, AMA is the casual-but-chic noodle spot locals love. The menu leans fresh and comforting with ramen and noodles finished your way, whether with ahi tuna, braised pork belly, or grilled Jidori chicken. The drinks list is refined, with one of Hanalei’s best selections of fine wines and bespoke cocktails, making it an easy choice for a relaxed, deeply satisfying meal.

A Hanalei favorite, Bar Acuda delivers beautifully executed plates from chefs and owners Hanna and Kenny Uddifa. The menu offers daily specials like house-made pasta and regulars swear by the local cucumber salad, lamb riblets, and honeycomb plate with Humboldt Fog. Don't miss out on the lilikoi cheesecake for dessert. Reservations are online only (Resy or the restaurant’s website), making it easy to lock in one of the island’s most reliably great dinners.

Sure, the views from all sides are stunning—complete with one of the island's best snorkeling beaches is just steps below—but the food here holds its own. With Peter Merriman at the helm, the space nails that effortlessly upscale Hawaiian beach vibe, and chef Marshall Blanchard turns out seafood-inflected comfort food that's the perfect amount of fancy. This translates to a really good option for oceanfront weddings, big celebratory family dinners, as well as low-key sunburnt happy hours. Don't miss standouts like fresh scallops and the seared ahi steak—there's a straightforward kid's menu, too.

There are a lot of shave stands throughout the islands, and so it only makes sense that many are pushing the art form, and giving up high fructose corn syrup for cleaner and healthier options. At The Fresh Shave, they use organic options wherever possible and interesting combinations, like chai tea, kauai cold brew coffee, and coconut chia seed cream.

This old-school ramen shop has been a Kauai stand-by for 70-odd years and counting (they're also known for lilikoi pie). There's typically a long line of locals, and it is completely frill-free, but it's a great post-airport choice after a long ride (or in advance of a red eye back to the states). By Hawaii standards, they're also open quite late.

This open-air, family-owned coffee shop café—from the same people as Bar Acuda—is one of those spots that's perpetually packed, though you can generally always snag a spot for breakfast or an early lunch. While it's not exclusively allergen-free, there are tons of options for the gluten- and dairy-averse, including really good almond milk lattes and delicious rolls and breads.

There are great health foods stores on the north shore and in Kapa’a, but nothing beats a Saturday morning at the farmers’ market in Hanalei. This is where you can get the most incredible fruit maybe in the world—including fruits and vegetables from the only biodynamic farm on the island and one of the best breakfast burritos we’ve ever had. Plan on staying a few hours.

There are so many good cold-pressed juices and kombucha teas at this Kauai shop, which has locations in Kapaa, Kilauea, and Koloa. Most of their drinks are made from local, organic produce: they work with over three dozen local farmers on the island. Bonus: their juices are all served in glass bottles, which you can return to Kauai Juice Co. to be recycled, and for a refund.

This quaint and cozy cottage house is a perfect casual lunch spot with outdoor seating for local fish—seared ahi tuna poké wraps, mahi mahi tacos, as well as some very interesting non-fish items, like sea asparagus. If you’re not in the mood for seafood, they also offer delectable BBQ chicken and a few vegetarian options (including big, hearty burritos). Important to note: It gets busy come dinner, and they’re closed Sundays.

Koloa Pizza Kitchen + Bar is a go-to in Old Koloa Town. It has all the classics you’d expect, along with entrées that are Italian-meets-Hawaiian—like kalua pork (grilled in papaya BBQ sauce) and grilled ono (Hawaiian mackerel). Set in an airy, open space with indoor and outdoor seating, it’s perfect for a laid-back meal for small families and large parties.

Fancy Italian might seem out-of-place on an island as laid-back as Kauai, but when you've had enough of island food, it's a welcome break—and it's also delicious. The far-ranging menu includes everything from pear and gorgonzola flatbreads, to a decadent lasagna and eggplant parmesan. They also serve an egg-centric breakfast that's the perfect way to fuel up before a big hike or day at the beach.

While you'll certainly find larger grocery stores in Kauai, you won't find nearly the same sort of health-centric offering, from organic and local produce, to bio-dynamic wines. There's also a prepared food counter where you can pick up fresh juice, sandwiches, smoothies, and salads, including pretty excellent egg and cheese sandwiches and gluten-free crepes.

Peter Merriman was one of the pioneers of the local food scene in Hawaii—he was at the forefront of efforts to grow vegetables in the local volcanic soils, so they could be eaten fresh (rather than after a lengthy journey on a boat). Today, he partners with local farmers to serve his three restaurants, and there’s one each on Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. The dining room and menu are dressed up without being overly stuffy, so it’s ideal for a nicer family or group outing. Try the upcountry salad (made with kale and butter lettuce from local farms), the fresh-caught mahi mahi, and vegetarian taro cake.

So much better than your typical (open-faced) ballgame dog, Puka Dog serves their variation in their own Hawaiian sweet bread, which they toast on custom skewers. Rather than slicing the bread open, Puka serves their Polish sausages and veggie dogs—along with your choice of garlic lemon secret sauce, Hawaiian fruit relish, and mustard sauce—fully enclosed in the roll, which makes them surprisingly easier to eat. All that said, this meal is best followed by an afternoon nap at the beach, as opposed to say, a hike.

Open since 1983, Wishing Well Shave Ice, which operates out of a white food truck on Kuhio Highway, has long been a staple in Hanalei. More recently, though, it’s taken a fresh, organic turn under new owners—Kauai natives, Jesse Merle Jones and Aamion Goodwin—who have done away with artificially flavored syrups and powders, while still making really tasty, refreshing shave ice. This is also an easy spot to pick up a breakfast acai bowl and cup of coffee.

Protected even in strong surf by what is, in fact, Hawaii’s largest coral reef, the crystal-clear waters of Anini (which was called Wanini until a hurricane knocked the W off the sign, and the locals decided to leave it) are shallow and calm enough for little ones. Better yet, there’s ample public parking, and grassy picnic spots abound.

Every Friday night from 5pm-9pm, you’ll find a community festival and art walk in the cute little town of Hanapepe, stocked with local vendors and food stalls. There are more than a dozen art galleries, too, where local artists mingle, along with live music (and gorgeous sunsets). Kids love it, too.

This stunning natural adventure takes you up the Wailua River by kayak, followed by a short hike to a secret enclosure with a gorgeous waterfall; it’s pretty easy to do on your own, though there are tours as well. The trip takes about four hours roundtrip—don’t forget to pack a lunch.

This peaceful ocean lagoon at Ke'e Beach is the last car-accessible stop on the north shore, and as this part of the coastline is shielded by coral reef, it’s perfect for snorkeling—particularly during the summer months, when the water is calmest. It also offers views of the Nāpali coast.

If you’re not into birdwatching this wildlife reserve is worth visiting for the insanely beautiful ocean view and the historic lighthouse alone. But if you are a birder, you’ve come to the perfect place. It’s that easy to spot many different species up close and personal here—the seabirds often fly really low, which makes for a pretty magical experience. Images courtesy of USFWS.

The great thing about this coastline hike is that there are several trails that run parallel to the island’s southern shore (with varying degrees of difficulty). The one closest to the ocean is more technical, and if you’re on the way back, the inland trails are friendlier and easier on the feet. Bring plenty of water and start early at Shipwreck Beach. From there, you’ll hike through different ecosystems and across sand and lava rock along the ocean (and curiously enough, along the edge of a golf course for part of it). The trail will lead you to either a semisecluded beach or Makauwahi Cave, a limestone formation that requires a good army crawl to enter.

You can explore the stunning thousand-foot-drop cliffs of Kauai’s coastline by sailboat (or luxe sunset cruise), or, if you’re up for the challenge, you can take the scenic route—there’s an 11-mile hike (yes, that’s 11 miles each way) that takes you along the coast, and a gentler, 2-mile hike to Hanakapiai Beach (about 4 miles round-trip). Not only will you encounter some incredible natural beauty, but some essential Hawaii activities, too, as this is a great area for snorkeling and kayaking tours.

Your rental car contract will prohibit you from accessing this beach—and should you attempt it, you'll understand why. The road is terrible, but the beach at its end is incredible. At 17-miles long, its one of Hawaii's longest beaches and it is vast and stunning and more or less empty. It abuts the Napali Coast and shares those epic views. Similarly, it faces the open ocean and the waves are intense, making the water only safe for strong swimmers. Most visitors come to walk the beach.

For an adventurous, action-packed day trip, Princeville Ranch is the place: their team of locals can lead you through everything from ziplining to horseback riding. There's also swimming, guided tours through the rainforest (where you’ll encounter challenges like scaling down a 10-foot wall of rock and crossing a waterfall—pro-level assistance and safety gear included), and hikes up to Kalihiwai Falls; theirs is the only tour with access to the peak of Pu’u O’ Henui, with a panoramic view of the North Shore.

A natural lava rock ridge protects this crescent beach, meaning its gentle lagoon makes for safe, easy swimming and snorkeling with kids. (Plus, its glimmering red-and-gold sand is too pretty to miss.) Located close to Hawaii’s last remaining traditional salt-gathering ponds (hence the name), it’s known to be a preferred hangout for Monk Seals, as well as local families. That said, in order to protect the fragile natural environment, the namesake salt ponds are off-limits to the public.

You can hike your way to an 800-foot, two-tiered waterfall, which is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Take the extra time to hike the Canyon Trail: It brings you through a forest until you reach the exposed ridge, where you’ll be greeted by an incredible view of the canyon’s monumental rock formations (take care, as there are no guardrails). Hike up from there to a peaceful pool above Waipo’o Falls; the whole trek takes a few hours roundtrip.

The first tour of its kind on Kaua‘i, Lydgate Farms offers a three-hour deep dive into the island’s world-class cacao. You’ll wander the botanical gardens sampling estate honey, vanilla, and tropical fruit before learning how cacao grows, tastes straight off the tree, and transforms into exceptional chocolate. The farm—repeatedly recognized by Cocoa of Excellence for producing some of the best cacao globally—makes the whole process both accessible and delicious. Kids seven and up are welcome on the tour; families with younger children can stop by the Lydgate Chocolate Tasting Room in downtown Kapa‘a for a shorter, sample-driven intro. Serious chocolate lovers can opt for the Deluxe Adult ticket, which includes a customizable box of top-tier chocolates to take home.

Founded by organic pioneer Carole Bamford, this serene, nature-driven spa brings the Bamford's holistic English-countryside roots to Kaua‘i. Treatments draw on Bamford’s organic body and skincare line—combined with Hawaiian plant medicine, local ingredients, and intuitive therapists—to nurture mind, body, and spirit.