The Big Island is a fantastic place for romance. Additionally, finding a romantic dinner on the Big Island is easy. In fact, around 17,000 couples choose Hawaii as their destination wedding location every year. Additionally, tens of thousands more come annually to celebrate. Such as engagements, anniversaries, and to otherwise spend time with the one they love. For all these couples and more, the Big Island of Hawaii has plenty of outstanding locations to enjoy, including premier restaurants.
The following is a look at just a few of our favorite restaurants for a romantic dinner you might take your own loved one to during your time on the Big Island:
ULU Ocean Grill
ULU Ocean Grill is located within the Four Seasons Resort in Kailua-Kona. The restaurant itself is located right on the beach, with a wooden patio that extends out over the beach. Given that ULU Ocean Grill is located on the western side of the island, guests choose to sit out on that patio. In the early evening hours can enjoy a romantic and delicious dinner in the beautiful sunset hours.
Meals here start with complimentary sweet potato bread paired with salted butter. You then have your choice of entree from a lovely selection of seafood and steak entrees. Fantastic options here include a house-made Hawaiian Ahi Poke that is served with fresh Ogo, Maui Onions, White Shoyu, and Sesame Oil, and BBQ Octopus that comes served atop a mini grill with Cucumber Namasu on the side.
Once you two have finished your desserts, make sure to take advantage of this restaurant’s location and enjoy a post-meal walk down the resort’s pristine beaches.
Brown’s Beach House Restaurant
Brown’s Beach House Restaurant is also a fantastic spot for a romantic dinner on the Big Island. It lies just on the outskirts of the small town of Puako. This wonderful date night location is located within the Fairmont Orchid resort. However, you’ll find it at the very back of the facility’s outcropping of buildings, with a full open-air patio. Yes, you will walk through an entrance building where the kitchens are located. Nonetheless, Brown’s Beach House Restaurant itself is a single open-air patio that overlooks the beach and the resort’s gorgeous tropical landscaping.
This is a AAA Four Diamond signature restaurant. The available entrees certainly enhance the views and further add to its popularity. Brown’s Beach House Restaurant prides itself on offering farm-to-table meals, with a changing menu that highlights premier seasonal food options. Top food choices include a Five Spice Duck Breast paired with Molokai sweet potato hash and topped with pineapple Kuleana rum and Kona Kampachi that features Dungeness crab, Chinese cabbage, and coconut rice porridge.
Whatever you and your significant other choose to eat, enjoy the fantastic dining with a view and be serenaded by live music at this romantic Big Island restaurant.
CanoeHouse
The CanoeHouse boasts a contemporary atmosphere both inside its open-air patio and out on its deck. You’ll find this Big Island restaurant on a small cliff overlooking the ocean waters at the Mauna Lanai Bay Hotel. During the evening hours, the restaurant sets up tiki torches along its perimeter. This creates a magical and highly romantic dining environment amidst their soft and mesmerizing glows.
The interior of the CanoeHouse is designed to reflect Polynesian and Hawaiian woodwork. Though, on the other hand, the dining menu here features strong Japanese influences. Sink your teeth into corn rips, warayaki with tuna, or a fresh 24 oz prime ribeye cooked perfectly to your or your partner’s desired temperature. Or, choose the Chef’s Tasting Menu and both of you can enjoy a wide selection of the CanoeHouse’s most popular and delicious menu items.
Napua at Mauna Lani Beach Club
The Napua at Mauna Lani Beach Club is a more secluded resort and restaurant. It is located just southwest of the unique Kalahuipuaa Fishponds. Here, the focus really is on promoting a superior dining experience as well as offering an exceptionally romantic dinner experience on the Big Island. However, due to their desire for a smaller, more intimate dining experience, you do have to make reservations early. In many months, seats may be reserved fully as much as 30 days in advance.
While creating the menu for this romantic Big Island restaurant, the chefs at Napua at Mauna Lani Beach Club strived to mesh together the nostalgia of old Hawaii with more modern culinary techniques and recipes. They have also worked hard to build a complete menu featuring as many local products as possible. Much of the produce served here comes from Kaunamano Farms. Which is also owned and operated by the restaurant’s owner, Brandon and Head Chef Keoni. Some local ingredients they can’t source directly. So, the team at Napua at Mauna Lani Beach Club gets from other local farmers and fishing outfits.
In the end, the Napua at Mauna Lani Beach is an ideal dining choice for those looking for a more exclusive dining experience. A secluded experience featuring fresh, local ingredients, some sourced from Chef’s own farm, all in one place.
Residents’ Beach House
The Residents’ Beach House is conveniently located in the popular Kalua-Kona community. Though, it is tucked away at the back end of the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. You’ll find it overlooking the ocean on one side and the 18th hole of the Hualalai Golf Course on the other. This Big Island restaurant features the most casual dining experience on this list. Yet, its location paired with its fantastic happy hour options make it a fantastic spot. Especially if you are looking for a more light-hearted romantic dinner. We recommend going early for that cocktail hour and enjoying a more extended, relaxing dinner with your significant other here.
Learn More About the Big Island and Its Many Dining Options
We hope this select list of premier restaurants to enjoy a romantic dinner on the Big Island has helped you narrow your choice for dinner. Just know that they certainly aren’t the only dining spots worth mentioning. Be sure to view our other pages to learn about other fabulous options on the Big Island, including where to go for a top-rated luau!
