Discover the Magic of Maui: Your Ultimate Travel Guide

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Maui travel guide pinterest image with photos of Maui beaches, honu, and a lovely maui sunset.Maui travel guide pinterest image with photos of Maui beaches, honu, and a lovely maui sunset.

Aloha, fellow travelers! If you’re dreaming of lush landscapes, pristine beaches, and unforgettable culinary adventures, Maui should be at the top of your travel bucket list.

Image for Maui Travel with beach and homu photos

In this comprehensive Maui travel guide, we take you through the island’s must-see attractions, hidden gems, and, of course, the best local eats that will make your taste buds dance.

Whether you’re planning a relaxing getaway or an action-packed adventure, this guide has everything you need to make the most of your time in paradise. Let’s dive into the beauty and flavors of Maui!

Below are some of our favorite restaurants, beaches, and more!

Our Favorite Spots On Maui

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Restaurants – South Side

Wailea (most in walking distance!)

Akamai Coffee

Located in Wailea Village, the shopping complex just below the condo property. They serve great coffee and espresso drinks and light breakfast and lunch fare. akamaicoffee.com

Matteo’s Osteria

This excellent Italian restaurant has delicious food and an extensive wine list. Located within walking distance from here! We recommend making a reservation and sitting on the patio. matteosmaui.com

Lineage

The menu at Lineage has an international flair made with local ingredients, and the bar features an innovative cocktail menu. It is located at The Shops at Wailea, a short walk from here. It was owned initially by Chef Sheldon Simeon, now headed by Chef MiJin Kang Toride. lineagemaui.com

Tommy Bahama Grill

A spacious lanai and warm island breezes make this spot ideal for lunch, dinner, or Happy Hour. Located in The Shops at Wailea, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere classy.  tommybahama.com/restaurants-and-marlin-bars/locations/wailea

Monkeypod Kitchen

Farm-to-table eatery and bar with Hawaiian fare and a vast beer and cocktail list. This cool casual spot in Wailea has delicious food options and drinks! Make reservations, as they can get busy. monkeypodkitchen.com

DUO

In the Four Seasons Resort, DUO serves premium steaks and local seafood in an open-air setting. Great for a romantic dinner out!  fourseasons.com/maui/dining/restaurants/duo-steak-and-seafood

Spago

Located within the Four Seasons Resort, Spago offers many locally-inspired dishes and Wolfgang Puck’s classics. Pair your meal with a selection from the vast wine collection or try an interpretation of a classic Hawaiian cocktail: spectacular ocean views and sunsets. wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants/spago-maui

Pita Paradise

Great Greek-inspired food. Our favorite is the Greek salad with the fresh catch of the day. The owner, Captain John, fishes daily and exclusively for the restaurant, so all the fish is local and fresh. It is located just up the road next to Monkeypod.  pitaparadisehawaii.com

Kohola Brewery

Initially located in Lahaina, Kohola lost its brewing facility in the Lahaina fire. They are brewing beer on the big island and serving out of their taproom/restaurant in Wailea Village, the shopping center just below us. This location is casual and has plenty of seating. Excellent service, great beer, wine, and cocktails; they also have great food. We recommend the Smashburger and the fried chicken. koholabrewery.com

Tikehau Lounge

It is located in Wailea Village across from Kohola Brewery. This cute and welcoming tiki lounge has unique cocktails crafted by Mari, who uses local produce from her own backyard. This spot is fantastic and has excellent cocktails as well as small bites. Sunday is happy hour all day. tikehaulounge.com 

The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea

This restaurant is super special. It’s a great place for an upscale dinner – the service is top-notch, the wine list is amazing, and the food is excellent. From its perch on the hillside above Wailea, you’ll enjoy panoramic ocean views from the upper lanai and intimate dining under the stars in the garden. hotelwailea.com/dining/the-restaurant

The Birdcage Bar

This bar is located in the Hotel Wailea next to the restaurant, but you don’t need to make a reservation. Get there before sunset, and you will see dozens of pairs of lovebirds that sing and flutter about… we’ve described this as a real-life Disney Tiki House adventure! The cocktails are great, the setting is remarkable, and you can order food. We highly recommend checking this spot out.  hotelwailea.com/dining/the-birdcage

Kihei

Kihei Caffe

Located on Kihei Road, this breakfast/lunch place opens at 6 am daily and often has a line, but it moves fast. Great local flavors, including Loco Moco with Kalua Pork! kiheicaffe.com

Sugar Beach Bake Shop

Located on the north end of Kihei, you’ll find malasadas and other baked goods inspired by local flavors and ingredients. Go early because they do run out of malasadas. Serving up fresh-brewed Hawaiian OMA coffee and house-made lemonades. sugarbeachbakeshop.com

Paia Fish Market – South Side

Paia Fish Market has a casual, cozy, family-friendly atmosphere with communal wooden tables, dive bar decor, and cool surf photography. It’s counter service only, so you’ll need to stand in a perpetually long line, but the food’s worth the wait. As its name suggests, this place specializes in fish: just-caught, fresh-off-the-boat local seafood. paiafishmarket.com

Outrigger Pizza

There is a small pizza trailer on South Kihei Road; don’t miss it in the parking lot. The pizza here is excellent! It’s been featured on Diner’s Drive-Ins and Dives. The pizzas are made to order in a wood-fired pizza oven. outriggerpizzas.com

Black Rock Pizza 

Great pizza with a local twist. Located on South Kihei Road near Foodland, you can enjoy open-air seating or order ahead for takeout.  blackrock.pizza/kihei

South Maui Fish Company

This food truck is located inside the Aloha Open Marketplace and features fantastic fish tacos, poke, and fish and chips. southmauifishco.com

South Maui Gardens Food Trucks

South Maui Gardens is located in the heart of Kihei. This location has a collection of awesome food trucks, art vendors, and a plant nursery. Local musicians are usually playing in the courtyard. They also have live hula shows that you can buy tickets for.  southmauigardens.com/foodtrucks

Miso Phat Sushi

Cute sushi place in a little strip mall in Kihei. Very fresh local fish makes for delicious sushi. misophat.com

Restaurants – West Side

Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop

For a casual setting, visit Leoda’s, a counter-serve cafe featuring delicious sandwiches, salads, and some of the best handmade pies! Located on Honoapi’ilani Highway in Olowalu, it’s a convenient stop when heading into or out of the Lahaina area.  leodas.com

Lahaina

Aloha Mixed Plate

This spot in Lahaina serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also serve local plate lunch specials like shoyu chicken, kalua pork, pork lau lau, and Hawaiian mac salad. Everything is great, and the service is friendly. alohamixedplate.com

Star Noodle

Must stop, it is absolutely fantastic food! You will need a reservation – make it in advance. Get the ahi avo and the Vietnamese crepe. starnoodle.com

Mala Tavern

This is a great location right on the water. They have food and live music. Post covid, they took over the side lot and turned it into an outdoor garden patio for eating. b malaoceantavern.com

Honu

It’s an open-air place and a great spot for sunset – right on the water. Get the ahi tuna bruschetta – it is lovely. (They closed after the Lahaina fire but hope to reopen soon.) honumaui.com

Kapalua

Merriman’s

This breathtaking oceanfront restaurant offers farm-to-table menu options. At least 90% of the menu items are locally sourced using sustainable methods. With indoor and outdoor seating options, live music, and Kapalua Bay as the backdrop, it makes for an unforgettable dining experience! The dining room requires a reservation; the patio bar is on first come. merrimanshawaii.com/kapalua

Taverna

Excellent Italian food and delicious cocktails are available at the Ritz, which is open for lunch and dinner. Make reservations for dinner! tavernamaui.com 

Napili

Seahouse

This place is nestled right in Napili Bay (a great spot for snorkeling or swimming), a cool open-air spot with great views (be warned it’s very hot on their patio!). Very casual – most people are coming straight from the water, and there’s a little trail around the property with great views. seahousemaui.com

Fond

This is an unassuming neighborhood spot in a strip mall in Napili. The food is outstanding, and the chef, Jojo Vasquez, is a James Beard finalist who serves self-described Hawaiian Regional and New American cuisine. fondmaui.com

Hula Grill

This is in Whaler’s Village, which is a nice shopping area near Black Rock. If you are snorkeling or hitting the beach there, you can stop by here. Their patio is literally in the sand so it’s a fun lunch spot. hulagrillkaanapali.com

Maui Brewing Company

It’s a small pub in a strip mall. This was their first place before they built their much more prominent location in Kihei: good beer, good food, cool bar (with an ice circle along the bar).  mbcrestaurants.com/kahana

Restaurants – North Maui

Paia

Mama’s Fish House

Make your reservation early. This is a definite MUST! This place is fantastic – the view, location, food, drinks – the whole package. It’s a famous mainstay on the island. We can’t say enough wonderful things about it. The food is so fresh and local that they will even list the boat’s name and the fisherman who caught the fish featured in that day’s menu. This place is true Hawaii to me. Order the Relaxer drink – it’s not on the menu, but they will usually make it. mamasfishhouse.com

Paia Bay Coffee & Bar

Restaurant, coffee bar, and cocktail bar. We haven’t been yet, but we’ve heard good things. Their cocktail menu was created by the woman who runs Esters in Wailuku (see below), so it’s probably darn good. paiabaycoffeeandbar.com

Café de Amis

It is a cute, small restaurant with an interesting but delicious mix of French, Mediterranean, and Indian. cdamaui.com

nyloS

If you are up for something truly decadent nyloS is it. This tiny restaurant in Paia has only one seating at 6:30 pm. The restaurant holds about 14 guests, which truly feels like a private dining experience. The menu is prix fixe with an optional wine pairing. You will sit in the dining room and watch Chef Jeremy Solyn prepare every plate. We have done the tasting menu here several times and are always in awe of the experience. nylosmaui.com

Restaurants – Kahului/Wailuku

Kahului

Tin Roof

The place was opened by Sheldon Simeon (from Top Chef fame), and it features his family’s cuisine. It is super casual, and there is always a line out the door. It’s right next to the airport – not the most fabulous location, but it’s good for take-out. tinroofmaui.com

Wailuku

Esters Fair Prospect

This tiki bar has become one of our favorite spots on the island. It’s tiny and such a great, cute spot. It’s near the Iao Valley in Wailuku town. They usually have a fun, special cocktail menu. estersmaui.com

Tiffany’s

This is an older local spot that Chef Sheldon and his wife, owners of Tin Roof) bought as the original owners were going to retire. The food is fantastic!! It’s Hawaiian classic food – Korean, Chinese, and Filipino flavors and fusion. It’s in a very local part of town. When Sheldon bought it, the locals demanded he didn’t remove specific items off the menu – like the walnut shrimp. They don’t take reservations but do have an online waitlist. tiffanysmaui.com

SixtyTwo MarcKet

The menu, which rotates seasonally (every 62 days), is frequently complemented by specials drawing inspiration from what’s harvested at that moment the very same day. sixtytwomarcket.com

Waikapu on 30

This is our favorite plate lunch location. They serve authentic, local dishes and the best lau lau on the island (in our combined opinion). Grab a plate lunch and relax on the picnic tables. instagram.com/waikapuon30

Restaurants – Upcountry

Haiku

Colleen’s at the Cannery

Located in the old cannery, it’s a bakery and restaurant serving food all day. The adjacent bar next door opens for happy hour at 3:30 and is strongly recommended. colleensinhaiku.com

Nuka Sushi

Some of the best sushi we’ve ever had. It’s a lovely place but small, and it tends to fill up quickly, so get there close to opening time at 4:30. You could go to Colleen’s across the street for a drink at 3:30 and then walk over here when they open. nukamaui.com

Hali’imaile

Hali’imaile General Store

Great restaurant featuring locally sourced produce, seafood, meats, and products since 1988. Regional local ingredients are sourced from Hawaiian farmers, fishermen, and ranchers. Their dishes are a unique blend of fresh Hawaiian food, local Asian influences, and modern preparations. This location is a truly special dining experience set within a historic building in lower Haleakala’s pineapple fields.  hgsmaui.com

Pukalani

Mahalo Aleworks

New brewery, and we love it! It has great upcountry views and is usually not too crowded. The beer is great, and they have a semi-permanent food stall called Upcountry Sausage Works. But… we would have a drink and then head next door to Marlow for dinner. mahaloaleworks.com

Marlow

Right next door to Mahalo Aleworks, Marlow is all about Italian food with a focus on pizzas. It’s a small spot but very good. restaurantmarlow.com 

Ulupalakua

Ulupalakua Ranch Grill

(Ooh (like in ooh la la) – loo – pah – lah – koo – ah)

The ranch is one of a kind on Maui, and the drive to it will give you views to amaze. The grill serves up burgers made from Maui beef (or elk or venison). There’s even a winery ( MauiWine.com) across the street, but make tasting reservations in advance. ulupalakuaranch.com

Beaches – South Side

Ulua / Mokapu Beaches

(u-lu’-a)/(moh-kah-poo)

These fabulous beaches are within walking distance from here, located in front of the Andaz Hotel. Both are great beaches with soft sand and fun for swimming and snorkeling. There is also a small parking lot, which can fill up early.

Keawakapu Beach

(key-avah-kah-pooh)

Just north of Mokapu Beach, this sparkling stretch of sand is a showstopper. Keawakapu is set back from the main road and less visible than Kihei’s main roadside beaches just north. It’s also less crowded and is a great place to settle in and watch the sunset. Excellent for swimming and snorkeling, especially at the north end of the beach. Easy parking at the corner of S. Kihei Rd. and Kilohana Dr.

Kamaole Beaches (1, 2 and 3)

(Kah-mah-oh-lay)

The Kamaole beaches are known for plenty of play areas on the sand and grass, and each beach has a public restroom. Kamaole 3 also has volleyball courts available for public use. There are also plenty of restaurant options across the street from Kamaole 2. Each beach is excellent for boogie boarding and body surfing, and you can find some great snorkel spots if you look for them!

Big Beach (Makena State Park)

Big Beach is known for its waves, which are great for body surfing and boogie boarding. There is plenty of sandy beach, but we recommend bringing some refreshments. This beach is located south of Wailea and is not close to stores or restaurants. It may not be the safest beach for little ones, as the waves can be quite large, especially during winter.

Other Activities – South Side

Wailea Beach Path

This gorgeous walking path stretches a little over 1.5 miles along the beach, running from the parking lot at Ulua Beach down to Polo Beach. It winds along the cliffs above the beaches and ocean.

Beaches – West Side

Ka’anapali Beach

(Kah-ah-naw-PAW-lee)

Ka’anapali Beach is famous for snorkeling and cliff jumping from the volcanic ocean cliff known as Black Rock. This popular beach is a 3-mile stretch of golden-white sandy coast. In addition to snorkeling, swimming, and scuba diving, Ka’anapali Beach offers an incredible location for whale watching and sunset views.

Napili Bay

(Nah-peel-lee)

Napili Bay is a popular snorkel spot known for being frequented by Hawaiian green sea turtles. The waters are generally calm and offer a gorgeous view of underwater coral reef formations. During peak season, the beach can get quite busy, and with no designated parking lot, we recommend going early.

Launiupoko Beach Park

(Lou-new-poh-koh)

Popular for surfers and standup paddle boarders, Launiupoko is a west-side beach favorite alongside Honoapi’ilani Highway. A natural pool with surrounding lava rock walls makes for an ideal shallow swimming area for children.

D.T. Fleming Beach Park

Located in front of The Ritz Carlton in Kapalua, this beach is excellent for those who enjoy playing in the waves. Conditions can become rough, and powerful waves are expected. Experienced boogie boarders and surfers will enjoy the waters here during North swells.

Slaughterhouse Beach

Slaughterhouse Beach, or Mokule’ia Beach, is a protected marine preserve and great for snorkeling when the conditions are right. Located north past Kapalua, you’ll see cars parked along a fence and steps going down to the beach. The beach is enjoyed by more experienced boogie boarders, surfers, and snorkelers.

Honokohau Bay

(Hoe-no-koh-how)

An incredible spot for snorkeling. There’s one location where you walk through a wooded area and end up at a beach and protected bay area that’s great for snorkeling (you will see many catamaran snorkeling cruises anchored in the bay). You know you are there when you come across a very narrow, short, concrete bridge – it’s right after that. You will see people parked along the road.

Other Activities – West Side

Kapalua Coastal Trail

It is a fun coastal trail that starts at Merriman’s and runs to DT Fleming Beach through the Montage and Ritz property. It offers great views—plus, the houses are incredible! (There are other trails along the property here as well.)

Walkway from Ka’anapali Beach to Black Rock

We start at Duke’s and walk either on the path itself or the beach to Whaler’s Village/Black Rock.

The rest of the island!

Visit an Upcountry town – Haiku, Makawao, Pukalani

Haiku or Makawao are great places to visit. Makawao is a bit bigger and has some great boutique shops—I recommend a visit. You can drive directly to/from Paia Village down the Hana Highway to make a full day out of it.

Paia

It’s an artist community, but it’s become super packed now. There are neat shops, and it is fun to walk around and check out the area. We usually stop by Paia on our way to Mama’s Fish House. Paia Fish Market’s original location is located in town.

Haleakalā National Park

The views from the summit are incredible. Many people come here for sunrise (reservations are required for sunrise!) or to hike the moonlike terrain. It can get very cold up at the top (between 40 and 60 °F), so plan accordingly.

Road to Hana 

Along the route, there are great hikes and waterfalls. We recommend giving yourself an entire day, starting early, and hitting as many stops as possible—they are beautiful. The best part is the many incredible food trucks you’ll find along the road in Hana.

ʻĪao Valley State Park 

Enjoy cool hikes and a walk through a tropical rainforest in the West Maui Mountains above Wailuku and Kahului. Reservations are required for entry and are available online.  gostateparks.hawaii.gov

Maui Wine

Yes, there is actually a winery on Maui! Located on the slopes of Haleakala in Upcountry Maui, Maui Wine has both traditional wines as well as a pineapple wine that is worth trying just because it’s unique. Make reservations ahead of time, and stop at Ulupalakua Ranch Grill across the road for lunch before or after your tasting. mauiwine.com

Ocean Distillery

Makers of Ocean Vodka (in the distinctive round bottles) and more, this is a fun place to take a tour, do a tasting, and even have lunch at their cafe. You can book tours/tastings in advance, and they will accommodate drop-ins as well. oceandistillery.com

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