Best Restaurants in South Maui
At a Glance
Best Breakfasts in South Maui
Kīhei
Kīhei Caffe at Kalama Village | opens 6:00 a.m.
The earliest full breakfast in this shortlist, with large portions and strong value. Expect a line at busy times.
Da Green Coffee Bar | opens 7:00 a.m.
A convenient early stop for coffee, smoothies, açaí bowls and a lighter breakfast.
Bacon & Blossom | opens 7:30 a.m.
The best breakfast tacos on Maui, bar none, with quality ingredients and enough range for anyone who does not want tacos.
Nalu’s South Shore Grill | opens 8:00 a.m.
The Big Kahuna omelet is MauiBookIt’s favorite breakfast on the island. Relaxed, dependable and easy with children.
Blue Door Bread & Pizza Company | opens 8:00 a.m.
Our favorite eggs Benedict, with excellent French toast and one of Kīhei’s best breakfast settings inside South Maui Gardens.
Wailea
Kaʻana Kitchen | opens 6:30 a.m.
The standout resort breakfast buffet when you want range, local flavors and an easy start inside Andaz Maui.
The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea | breakfast from 7:30 a.m.
A quiet, polished breakfast with an adults-oriented atmosphere and one of Wailea’s most refined settings.
Spoon & Key Market | opens 8:00 a.m.
The best non-resort breakfast in Wailea. The ‘So You Think You Can Salsa’ breakfast burrito is addictive.
Best Lunches in South Maui
Kīhei
MauiBookIt’s favorite casual gathering place: multiple strong vendors, tropical gardens, live music and enough choice for the entire group.
On Thursdays, the South Maui Gardens Market adds local artisans and farmers from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The dependable all-day lunch, with a broad menu and a room that works for families.
The easy fish-taco lunch, with quick counter service, two Kīhei locations and a proper keiki menu.
A great casual place for lunch or dinner and one of South Maui’s better values. The broad menu works for families and mixed groups.
Wailea
One of the best casual and healthy lunch options in Wailea, especially for açaí bowls, smoothies, salads and plant-forward food.
The livelier full-service lunch for a mixed group, with enough menu range to satisfy cautious and adventurous eaters.
The polished but approachable lunch near The Shops at Wailea, particularly useful for families and shoppers.
Close by, the Wailea Village Farmers Market runs Tuesdays, 8 to 11 a.m., at Wailea Village, an easy stop for local food, artisan goods and a casual lunch.
The scenic sit-down lunch when the Mākena view is part of the plan. Check current daytime service before driving specifically for it.
Best Dinners in South Maui
Kīhei
South Maui’s hardest reservation and the sushi dinner to plan around. The room is tiny; book as early as the restaurant allows.
MauiBookIt’s pick for the best Mexican restaurant on Maui, in a relaxed room that works especially well for a casual dinner.
The best Thai dinner in South Maui, whether you dine in or take it back to the condo.
The refined South Maui Gardens dinner: restaurant-level cooking in an outdoor food-truck setting.
A reliable, broad-menu dinner and one of the better values in Kīhei.
Wailea
MauiBookIt’s pick for the strongest food and best overall dinner on Maui.
The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea
The most romantic dinner in South Maui: quiet, polished and more adults-oriented than the beachfront resorts.
Open-air Italian beside the water, best timed for sunset.
A polished oceanfront Japanese dinner inside Andaz Maui, best for sushi, seafood and a resort setting.
A high-energy special-occasion dinner at Grand Wailea. Reserve early and expect a resort-level check.
Monkeypod Kitchen and Tommy Bahama
The two easiest polished family dinners in Wailea: Monkeypod is livelier; Tommy Bahama is calmer and more familiar.
A scenic date-night or group dinner without the ceremony of the major resort rooms.
Best South Maui Restaurants for Families
Kīhei
Nalu’s, Coconut’s, Cafe O'Lei and South Maui Gardens
Nalu’s is the best all-day answer; Coconut’s is the quick meal; Cafe O'Lei is the value-driven full-service choice; South Maui Gardens is best when everyone wants something different.
Wailea
Tommy Bahama, Monkeypod and your resort restaurant
Tommy Bahama is polished but easy, Monkeypod is lively, and the resort restaurant is often smartest with toddlers after a long beach day.
A lūʻau or Gather on Maui
Choose a lūʻau when the family wants dinner plus a full cultural evening; choose Gather for a shorter scenic meal.
Most Romantic Restaurants in South Maui
Wailea
The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea
The most romantic room in South Maui and MauiBookIt’s island-wide pick for a quiet dinner for two.
The choice when the food matters as much as the occasion.
The open-air sunset setting; request a quiet outside table when booking.
Scenic, romantic and less formal than the Wailea resort restaurants.
Dessert in Wailea
Lappert’s Hawaii at The Shops at Wailea
The best dessert in Wailea for ice cream, coffee and an easy after-dinner stop. It is also far less complicated than adding another formal course at a resort restaurant.
Practical Tips
Make the hardest reservation first: Koiso, Spago, The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea or Nobu.
Walk or use a short rideshare inside Wailea when possible; parking and resort traffic add friction.
For families, reserve dinner around 5:00 or 5:30 p.m.
Confirm breakfast and coffee hours the day before, especially on holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best breakfast in South Maui?
Nalu’s in Kīhei is MauiBookIt’s overall pick. Blue Door has our favorite eggs Benedict, Bacon & Blossom has the best breakfast tacos, and Spoon & Key is the best non-resort breakfast in Wailea.
What is the best casual lunch in South Maui?
South Maui Gardens is the best casual lunch for a group, Nalu’s has the broadest all-day menu, Coconut’s is the pick for fish tacos, Choice Health Bar suits a healthy Wailea lunch, and Cafe O'Lei offers full service and value.
Where is the best Thai food in South Maui?
The best Thai food in South Maui is Maui Thai Bistro in Kīhei. It works equally well for lunch, dinner or takeout.
