There’s no shortage of restaurants on Kauai. From top-shelf, white tablecloth dining to roadside stands in Kekaha, you’ll be able to find close to anything you need while staying on the Garden Isle. Even though you’ll receive about 20 recommendations in the personally-written guest guide when you book with Poipu Beach Condo, I wanted to spotlight four South Shore spots that have definitively earned my recommendations.
Anake’s Juice Bar
Located inside the Kukui’ula market in Poipu (not the Kukui’ula shopping village!), Anake’s is one of the best spots in all of Hawaii for acai bowls, smoothies, and more. Open 8-3 every day (unless closed for short staffing reasons), this is where I would eat every single morning if I could. The Hulk is simply my favorite acai bowl of all time. Everything on the menu is made fresh and tastes amazing – and I always recommend eating as much fresh fruit as possible while you’re on Kauai.
The Funky Monkey bowl at Anake’s
The Beach House
Located right on the ocean next to the Prince Kuhio hotel, the Beach House is the go-to spot on the South Shore if you are looking for an unforgettable location for a special evening. The view from the restaurant is quite simply stunning. Featuring locally sourced ingredients and high-end service, The Beach House is high in the running for Poipu’s best restaurant. I’ve been to everything from wedding receptions to birthday parties here, and for good reason: it is a beautiful location with a fantastic selection of menu items. The Beach House books up very quickly (especially around sunset), so I recommend booking 30 days in advance if you can.
The sunset view from The Beach House’s dining room
Koloa Fish Market
The Koloa Fish Market cannot be passed up if you are a fan of seafood! The Koloa Fish Market only deals with fresh-caught seafood, and the selection really shows. Though you can get some cheaper pokē bowls close by (such as at Big Save Market), the KFM bowls are truly some of the best on the island. The quality of everything on the menu is through the roof, and it’s great value for money if you are looking for classic Kauai staples for lunch. KFM is only open for lunch so it’s a perfect meal when you need a break from the ocean.
Kalaheo Cafe
Open 7am to 2pm Wednesday through Sunday, Kalaheo Cafe is a classic brunch cafe. It’s about a 15-minute drive from Poipu, but well worth the trek. Kalaheo is a beautiful area of the South Shore that’s nestled a little more in the mountains. There’s a small stretch of shops around Kalaheo Cafe that are well worth visiting too, such as Aloha Exchange and The Right Slice (which sells pies and pie slices). I am a big fan of the breakfast bowls here, and the coffee is some of my favorite on island too. Parking is definitely a little tight here, but that’s a small price to pay for a fantastic breakfast and brunch – especially if you’re coming back from or on your way to Waimea.
Kalaheo Cafe has an authentic feel to it, a perfect compliment to their great menu
There are tons of great spots to eat on Kauai but I hope you enjoyed my four highlights here. Aloha oe and ahui hou!
Parker Biehn
Poipu Beach Condo, owner
