Best Restaurants and Coffee in Upcountry Maui

Makawao

Makawao is where Baldwin Avenue and Makawao Avenue meet, about 10 minutes uphill from Pāʻia. Keep the meal close to whatever part of the day you are already doing.

Makawao is the best place Upcountry for independent designers and artists, so let the meal sit inside a walk through town. Our Makawao guide covers the rest.

Freshies

Our Makawao breakfast. Fresh ingredients and an easy breakfast that pairs naturally with a walk through town, and a fresh, casual lunch before browsing Makawao’s galleries and shops. Check hours before you go.

Casanova

A longtime local choice and the lively Italian-leaning dinner and music-night option in Makawao. Check the event schedule before choosing the night.

Polli’s

A longtime local choice in Makawao. Check hours before you go.

Komoda Bakery

Still part of Makawao lore for cream puffs and stick donuts, but hours and sellouts can be unpredictable. If it matters to you, check before building the morning around it.

Hāliʻimaile

Hāliʻimaile is downhill from Makawao in the old pineapple district, only a few minutes away.

Hāliʻimaile General Store

One of the best lunches on Maui, and MauiBookIt’s island-wide pick for the destination lunch: excellent island-inspired food in a relaxed historic Upcountry setting.

It is also a polished island dinner when lunch does not fit the day. It fits naturally before or after the Maui Pineapple Tour, Hāliʻimaile Distilling or Makai Glass, all in the same small cluster.

Soulberry Ice Cream

Soulberry Ice Cream in Hāliʻimaile is our pick for dessert in Upcountry.

Kula, Keokea and Kulamalu

Kula runs along the western slope of Haleakalā above Pukalani, with Keokea farther south along Kula Highway. It can be much cooler than the coast, so bring a light layer for dinner.

Our Kula guide covers the farms, gardens and drives these meals pair with.

Marlow

Marlow, at Kulamalu in lower Kula, is one of our favorite restaurants on the island. It is the best low-key Upcountry dinner: casual and romantic, with wood-fired food, strong ingredients and a date-night feel without resort theatre.

Kula Bistro

The meal to plan around Haleakalā. A substantial breakfast before or after the mountain, a generous full-service lunch with a broad menu, and a local dinner when comfort, portions and convenience matter more than ceremony.

Breakfast is not served every day, so verify the current schedule before driving up for it.

Grandma’s Coffee House

The Upcountry breakfast we return to, in Keokea: strong coffee, hearty plates, baked goods and a cozy local room. A longtime Upcountry staple, and the casual soup, sandwich and baked-goods lunch when your route runs through Keokea.

Nearby Thompson Road is one of Maui’s best easy country walks, quiet, scenic and easy to shorten. We especially like it early or near sunset.

La Provence

A Kula breakfast of pastries and crepes in a garden setting. The schedule is limited and can change, so confirm directly before making the drive.

Crema Maui

The best coffee option in Pukalani and a convenient early stop before Haleakalā or a morning exploring Upcountry.

On Saturdays, the Upcountry Farmers Market at Kulamalu Town Center in Pukalani runs 7 to 11 a.m., check before you go, with prepared foods, fresh juices and locally grown produce.

More Food Stops in Kula

• Kula Lodge Marketplace. As of September 2026 the main Kula Lodge restaurant remains closed after the fire, but the Marketplace and food truck are open daily. Deli food, drinks, groceries, local art and gifts, and a practical stop before continuing toward Haleakalā.
• Ocean Vodka Café & Lawn. Food, craft drinks, big open views and room to sit in lower Kula. Late afternoon is especially good.
• Oʻo Farm. Reservation only. A guided farm visit with either coffee and brunch or a farm-to-table lunch; tours run Monday through Friday. Let it replace another lunch stop rather than stacking it into a busy day.

ʻUlupalakua

South of Keokea, Upcountry becomes quieter, more open and more ranch-oriented.

ʻUlupalakua Ranch Store & Grill

The practical ranch lunch, best when you are already driving this far. The grill serves Maui-raised beef, venison and elk burgers, and the store sells ranch gifts and local products. Ask for the hot BBQ sauce on the side.

Across the road, MauiWine offers seated tastings under huge trees. If you are drinking, make the tasting the last major stop and have a sober driver. The road back is long and winding.

Best Upcountry Picks by Meal

• Breakfast. Grandma’s Coffee House in Keokea, Freshies in Makawao, Kula Bistro on breakfast days, La Provence for pastries and crepes.
• Coffee. Grandma’s Coffee House; Crema Maui in Pukalani on the way up.
• Lunch. Hāliʻimaile General Store. Kula Bistro after a Haleakalā morning, the ʻUlupalakua Ranch Store & Grill on a ranch-country day.
• Dinner. Marlow. Hāliʻimaile General Store, Kula Bistro, or Casanova on a music night.
• Dessert. Soulberry Ice Cream in Hāliʻimaile.
• Saturday. The Upcountry Farmers Market at Kulamalu.

Best Upcountry Restaurants for Families

Kula Bistro is the easiest full-service family meal because the menu and portions cover a wide range of appetites.

Freshies is the casual daytime choice. Hāliʻimaile General Store is the nicer family lunch when children are comfortable with a longer meal.

Practical Tips

• Pair restaurants with the route. Grandma’s with Keokea, Freshies with Makawao, Hāliʻimaile General Store with a North Shore or farm day.
• Do not drive back and forth. If you are continuing from Makawao toward Kula, save Marlow and Kula Bistro for that leg.
• Check hours before you go. Many small Upcountry places are not open every day. Verify La Provence and Kula Bistro breakfast before driving specifically for them.
• Bring a light layer. Temperatures can be much cooler than at the resorts.
• Rest after sunrise. Do not schedule a long Upcountry dinner after a sunrise Haleakalā start unless the group has rested.
• Plan the driver first if MauiWine or Hāliʻimaile Distilling is part of the day.

For the rest of the island, see the best restaurants on Maui, and for everything Upcountry beyond food, the Ultimate Upcountry Maui Guide.

What is the best lunch in Upcountry Maui?

Hāliʻimaile General Store is the best lunch in Upcountry Maui. It is one of the best lunches on Maui, with excellent island-inspired food in a relaxed historic Upcountry setting, and it works well with an Upcountry, farm or North Shore day.

Where should we eat before or after Haleakalā?

Before or after Haleakalā, eat at Kula Bistro for a substantial breakfast, lunch or dinner, or at Grandma’s Coffee House in Keokea for breakfast and coffee. Kula Bistro does not serve breakfast every day, so verify before leaving.

What is the best dinner in Upcountry Maui?

The best dinner in Upcountry Maui is Marlow at Kulamalu in lower Kula, one of our favorite restaurants on the island. It is casual and romantic, with wood-fired food and a date-night feel without resort theatre.

Where should I eat in Makawao?

In Makawao, eat at Freshies for breakfast or a casual lunch, or at Casanova or Polli’s, both longtime local choices. Casanova is the lively Italian-leaning dinner and music-night option, so check the event schedule before choosing the night.

What should I order at the ʻUlupalakua Ranch Store & Grill?

At the ʻUlupalakua Ranch Store & Grill, order a Maui-raised beef, venison or elk burger, and ask for the hot BBQ sauce on the side. MauiWine is across the road for seated tastings.

Where is the best dessert in Upcountry Maui?

The best dessert in Upcountry Maui is Soulberry Ice Cream in Hāliʻimaile, a few minutes from Makawao and close to Hāliʻimaile General Store.

Do Upcountry restaurants keep regular hours?

Upcountry restaurants do not always keep regular hours. Many small Upcountry places are not open every day, and La Provence keeps a limited schedule that can change. Check hours before you go.