- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Cafe Hanalei - CLOSED
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for Cafe Hanalei
Review Highlights
-
"Stay here for the sunset, it is well worth it." In 5 reviews -
"...cafe boasts one of the best views in Hawaii and they are..." In 4 reviews -
"Very good food but especially the breakfast buffet." In 3 reviews
Loading...
17 reviews in English
-
Review from Sharon G.
Mill Valley, CA
5/28/2008
We have been reluctant to eat here because of the price on past visits, but this trip, we decided to try it. If you arrive about 45 minutes before sunset, you can get an outdoor seat (shady) with an awesome view. Note that the bar a floor up also has the awesome view, but no shade.
We ordered two appetizers each, which made a good size meal. Prices are high. View and quality is worth two visits to some of the other mediocre restaurants, however. We will make this a regular place for appetizers and drinks and sunset viewing. -
Review from Lee R.
Oakland, CA
8/22/2008
A woman chef making really good food is a find in Kauai. Cafe Hanalei has that chef during the day ... and her crab cakes and fresh fish specials are delicious. She has some interesting flavors and ideas that shine through her food. I hope she sticks around for the opening of the St Regis next spring because it would be a disappointment if they lose her.
We have had a few breakfasts and a couple of lunches at the Cafe since we arrived at the hotel and each of our meals and treats have been wonderful. Kimo did a really good job catering to my 4-year old daughter's requests and chocolate milk emergencies..
The cafe boasts one of the best views in Hawaii and they are right. It is spectacular. After a good rain, you can see waterfalls appear. And the sunset is perfect from here or at the nearby Living Room bar and sushi spot. I am writing this review from the Living Room with its free internet access. This is a really nice way to enjoy a cocktail and beautiful sunset.
Life is good.
Aloha!Listed in: Aloha ... I love Kauai!
-
Review from Karen C.
San Francisco, CA
9/12/2007
The views at this cafe were spectacular!
My fiance and I shared the fish special which was a monchong (local white fish) over a bed of soba noodles. This dish was amazingly delicious. The fish was cooked perfectly and the sides paired very well. We also had the Ahi Burger that came with a slice of bacon. Hmm, I thought this dish was rather average. The Ahi tasted bland - it needed some seasoning of sort and the bacon was a weird combination with it. Didn't quite work.
The prices are high! But hey, a view like this never comes cheap. -
Review from John G.
1/16/2008
Come for the view. Makes the meal just wonderful.
Food is ok. Best bet is the breakfast buffett. Lunch and dinner are very pricey.
Nice place to get some appetizer plates and a drink. Worth it to do at least once.Listed in: Kauai Favorites
-
Review from Pete S.
7/26/2007 2 photos
The 2nd day we were there, we wanted to go to the north shore and see what they have there. After hearing so many great reviews about this Cafe Hanalei, I made reservations for the Friday Seafood buffet. (You NEED to reserve if you want to be seated right away) People were lining up at 5pm already and once inside they check off your name and a hostess seats you. The earlier you come, the better seats you get dining al fresco. You get a great view of the Hanalei Bay as previous Yelpers said. Stay here for the sunset, it is well worth it. If you don't want to spend the money, have a drink upstairs and you can do the same.
Now for the buffet itself, it was $65. It included poki some tuna for sashimi and some cheeses as well as crab and oysters for cold dish. They had a carving station for prime rib and filo dough salmon. There is also a outdoor bbq skewer station. For the hot food, there are maybe six selections. The dinner itself does NOT include sodas or teas or coffee. What gives? It was an additional $3.50 for my iced tea and $3 for sprite. I felt the selection of the food was very limited and the desert bar was items leftover from a party. Really, I couldn't justify saying I got my money's worth here. It felt like a $20 buffet with a really nice niew. -
Review from Sam W.
Stuart, FL
10/12/2008
We visited the Cafe Hanalei twice in August; once for a late breakfast and reconnaisance mission a few days before our intimate wedding dinner with close friends.
The entrance to the restaurant through the Princeville Resort's lobby is a preview of the experience that follows in the restaurant. Tables on the lanai overlook the dramatic scenery of Kauai's north shore and provide a perfect environment for leisurely dining where the food, service and facilities are equally high-quality. We ordered a variety of menu items that included several fresh, local seafood selections, every one delightful. The real star of the Cafe Hanalei is the spectacular view, to include a mountain range where we counted 4 waterfalls. A real highlight in the many dining experiences during our last vacation and way up on the list for return visits. -
Review from S H.
Alameda, CA
1/10/2010
CLOSED.
This place has been renamed, it is now the Makana Terrace ( http://www.yelp.com/bi... ). It's in the St. Regis hotel. The yelp map info for this business is way off, it's on the NW corner of the bay in the St. Regis Hotel not south center in the Hanalei town as it shows. -
Review from Kel C.
11/9/2007 1 photo
You come here for the view and nothing else. The Princeville Hotel has only two restaurants and this is the cheaper of the two, which isn't saying much. Expect to pay around $50/person, not bad for a high-end place like this.
There is inside and outside seating. Of course, you want to sit outside. However, beware of the birds that want to mess with your dinner. They are very comfortable around humans, so don't be surprised if they come up to you and attempt to strike up a conversation.
We could go into the food, but it's not what this place is about. It's only about the view. The food is comparable to a $20 restaurant in San Francisco-- it's not horrible, but it's also not divine either.
And because we got stuck out in Princeville for our spa session, we actually ate here for both lunch and dinner. At least we racked up the SW points. -
Review from Roxy A.
7/17/2008
This was my second time having dinner here with my ohana, but this time around I wasn't so impressed with the food. When he came a few years back I think the food was alot better.
The best part about this place is the ambience and the beautiful view, but i don't know what was going on that night but we had some strange servers...i'm all about the laid back hawaiian style but our servers were a little too laid back..the service wasn't up to par with the fine dining atmosphere.
The first course was really good, I think everyone was pleased with their appetizers. The main course was just okay though..I had the ahi..but it wasn't really seared the right way and the presentation was just okay. Dessert was your regular selections of chocolate cake, cheesecake and sorbets. I think I was expecting alot because the Princeville Resort is so beautiful and high class that I thought the food would be the same..the prices are definitely up there, but I don't know if you're really getting what you pay for when it comes to food. i guess part of what you pay for is the view! -
Review from Anthony P.
Oakland, CA
8/4/2008
Our other place we went to on our Honeymoon. For those of you trying to make your reservations, it was a good mile or two from the fist entrance and then have drive through the other resorts before getting to the Cafe. Once your their they have complimentary valet parking and you walk straight through the lobby and down the stairs on the left and the hostess will seat you.
The view, especially at sunset, was amazing and there is a little veranda everyone goes to to take pictures. We didn't get outdoor seating but they have huge bay windows which was fine.
Our waiter was um....a little weird to be nice. He had the personality of Frankenstein on drugs. At least he was sedated! The bus boys, luckily, seemed to be getting most of our drinks and food. I order the Special catch which was Grilled Sea Bass in a creamy ginger lime marinade. It was cooked on the rare side which I like and my wife got the Roasted Duck which was also cooked very nicely and tasted great. I ended up helping her finish hers, yum :)
The prices are high but the food and the view, again try to get there for sunset, were worth it. -
Review from Miki M.
Houston, TX
Updated - 12/24/2010
This restaurant was closed when the Princeville Resort became the St. Regis Resort, now owned by Starwood. It now operates under a different name (Makana Terrace) and has a new management. Anyway, for those of you reading the "CLOSED" review, I wanted to let you know that it's still there...
Listed in: Top Food on Kauai
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/30/2007
We didn't get to try the breakfast buffet (arrived at 11:45 AM- here on Kaua'i I sleep so deep I'm… Read more »
-
-
Review from Stuart M.
San Jose, CA
7/29/2006
Very good food but especially the breakfast buffet. What puts this place over the top is the view from the lanai. If you can get a table outside you get one of the best views from any restaurant on the island! You sit outside near an infinity-edge pool and have a great view of Bali Hai. The service is good but can be slow in the typical Island style.
Listed in: On Kauai
-
Review from Jennifer O.
San Francisco, CA
5/14/2008 2 photos
Pricey yes, but with a priceless view...go ahead, take my arm and leg. The brunch buffet had something everyone could love, from seafood to crepes and beyond. Combine the heady variety with endless glasses of champagne and well you've got a destination worthy of exploring.
-
Review from T N.
Sausalito, CA
5/27/2007
Honestly, the view alone (undoubtedly the best of the stunning Hanalei Bay) is worth five stars alone. D and I went to Cafe Hanalei a couple of times for the breakfast buffet, because breakfast buffets are our collective poison. Pretty standard for an upscale buffet, but you absolutely must, must, must have the bananas that have been carmelized in their peels, garnished with toasted macadamia nuts...I think they took up at least half of my breakfast plate alone. Those, with some Portuguese sausage and guava juice, make me a happy girl indeed. Service is very friendly and attentive, with the exception of one snarky chef who barked at us for being at the buffet at 10:29 when it apparently closed down at 10:30 (our sweet waitress counterbalanced his sourness by charging us for the continental buffet instead). Even if breakfast buffets are not your thing (they do have a regular breakfast menu as well), a relaxing meal overlooking the bay is a must. Words simply cannot describe how gorgeous the setting is.
If you're not staying at the Princeville Resort, there is a rather small public parking area that fits about 8 cars. You can usually snag a spot, but if those are all full, I don't know that it's such a big issue to park in guest parking, at least for breakfast (shhhh!).
Broke da mouf?*
Broke da mouf AND da eyes.
*D and I have discovered the phrase 'broke da mouf' and thinks it's the best and funniest thing ever, so all Kauai reviews this trip will have a 'broke da mouf' rating." -
Review from A. Christine T.
Venice, CA
8/12/2008
Yummy! We weren't planning on having a fancy dinner out, but we wanted to check out the bar patio where people recommend watching the sunset. Well the bar was all full, so we followed the stairs down to a level below the main lobby and discovered a beautiful restaurant with an amazing view. We were hooked and had to stay. I had fresh (as in local, straight from the ocean) tuna sashimi as my appetizer, and perfectly cooked and seasoned lamb for dinner. Very pricey, very good. But come on, you walk into the lobby at the Princeville Hotel, there's no WAY you're expecting a bargain meal. My meal was price fixed, with app, entrée and dessert, and it cost $58. Without wine. Not bad for a fancy place in my opinion.
-
Review from Nicole W.
Berkeley, CA
1/1/2009
This was a very nice restaurant, but just a note that it's closed during the renovation of the Princeville Resort. I think the schedule is for an opening of fall, 2009.
-
Review from L U.
Bay Area, CA
8/26/2009
Delicious buffet brunch with absolutely breathtaking views of Hanalei Bay. 4 1/2 stars for the food; 5 stars for the spectacular views.
