Orchids Restaurant serves coastal Italian cuisine with a touch of Hawaiian flair. Considered one of the top restaurants on Oahu, Orchids is proudly considered one of the area’s most elegant oceanfront restaurants. It is known for its delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with offering a lavish Sparkling Sunday Brunch, one of the most unique and distinguished in Honolulu. Find this beautifully appointed restaurant inside the Halekulani Hotel on the Beach at Waikiki.
Executive Chef Christian Testa creates memorable and signature dishes that celebrate the sophisticated flavors of coastal Italian regions. Signature dishes by Testa include the Lasagnette, which includes handmade pasta, as well as local avocado, Kahuku prawns, and scallops. The Tenderloin Filet is another guest favorite, it is served with Hudson Valley Foie Gras, and Portobello Confit with a Barolo Reduction.
In addition to the fabulous menu options and signature dishes, Orchids also features a few unique experiences. One of these is the Cattleya Wine Bar. This takes place inside the restaurant at the magnificently appointed EarPod Wood Tree, a communal table. Situated here, guests can enjoy breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean while they enjoy global wines by bottle or glass paired with Executive Chef Christian Testa’s tapa-style dishes of Mediterranean influence. The Cattleya Wine Bar utilizes locally sourced ingredients from all over the islands to enhance their signature and unique flavors.
Another exclusive experience you can enjoy as a guest at Orchids is the time-honored tradition of Afternoon Tea. This event is located in the Garden Courtyard on the Veranda. The tea includes a choice of fine international teas, freshly baked pastries, and finger sandwiches that are all presented with gracious service that pays homemade to the early days of the hotel when afternoon tea was very much in vogue. Make a reservation for Afternoon Tea if you would like to enjoy this delectable experience for yourself.
Orchids also offers the aforementioned Sparkling Sunday Brunch, which is legendary throughout Honolulu. This award-winning brunch offers stunning views of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. It also features weekly seafood creations, additional carving stations, notable selections from the Halekulani Bakery, along with sparkling cider and prosecco. Reservations are not required but are highly recommended as this is an immensely popular experience at Orchids.
If you forgo the experiences mentioned above and instead simply want to come in and enjoy either breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Orchids, be sure to try the following signature dishes:
Breakfast
There are many options to enjoy on the breakfast menu from smoothies to filling Vanilla Bean Pancakes or Haulpa French Toast with Strawberry Compote. There are also many cereals and yogurt options as well as eggs and more.
Lunch
When dining at Orchids for lunch, you can enjoy some fabulous entrees like the Ahi Sandwich, Orchids Burger, Homemade Lasagnette (a chef specialty), Black Tiger Shrimp, Roasted Cornish Hen, Orchids Seafood Curry, and much more.
Dinner
Start off your dinner with an appetizer of Burrata Cheese, Lobster Salad, Hamachi, or Fresh Prawn Salad. Chef’s favorites for dinner include the famous Lasanette, the Braised Beef Cheek, or the Grilled Octopus Gallega Style. Other notable dishes include the Tenderloin Filet, the Mediterranean Branzino, the Veal Loin Scalloppini, and more. Add the Goat Cheese Mashed Potato Grain, Truffle Parmesan Fries, or Sauteed Seasonal Mushroom to various dishes.
Desserts
No meal at Orchids would be complete without trying at least one of their legendary desserts. Try The Tropics, which is a White Chocolate Mousse, Kalamansi Lychee Gelee, and Pineapple Sponge Cake. Guests also love Halekulani’s Signature Coconut Cake, which is a Chiffon Cake with Coconut-Amaretto Cream. There are also many Sorbet and Gelato options as well as other treats to try.
Insider Tips:
-At Orchids, there are specific attire restrictions. Tank tops, beachwear, t-shirts, exercise attire, and flip-flops are not allowed. For breakfast, lunch, brunch, and afternoon tea, guests are to adhere to casual resort attire. For dinner, women are required to wear elegant resort attire while men should be wearing dress slacks, collared shirts, and closed-toe shoes.
-You can make reservations for Orchids on OpenTable. Making reservations is highly recommended.
-Complimentary self-parking or valet parking is available.