5 Best Sunset Dinner Spots on Maui
Can you name anything better than watching the sun drop into the ocean with a good meal and delicious drink in front of you. Maui has no shortage of oceanfront restaurants, but not all of them nail the timing, the view, the food and service all at once. Here are five that do — book ahead, because these tables go fast.
The iconic Mama’s Fish House Restaurant in Kuau.
The most iconic restaurant on the island, and for good reason. Right on Kuau Cove near Paia, Mama's pairs a postcard-perfect setting with some of the best fresh fish you'll find anywhere on Maui. My personal fav’s are tied between the Curry and fresh Ahi specials. The menu even tells you where it was caught and by who! It's a splurge, worthy of a big celebration or special gathering, and reservations can be tough to land, but it's worth planning around.
2. Sea House Restaurant (Napili Bay)
It’s hard to be more beach front when this place is right on the sand at Napili Kai Beach Resort. The Sea House has been racking up Maui Magazine Aipono Awards for a reason — Best Oceanfront Dining, Best Happy Hour, even Restaurant of the Year. Get there for the 5:30pm opening and ask for a table by the open-air windows for the best view of the sunset. Resort-casual, island-style cuisine and about as classic a West Side sunset as it gets.
3. Mala Ocean Tavern (Lahaina)
Mala might not be on a beach but it practically hangs over the water. Panoramic views that make it feel like you're dining on the ocean itself. A little more relaxed than Mama's or the Sea House, but the sunset show is just as good. Even better with the Ube Hot Bread and Seared Scallops.
4. Pilina at the Fairmont Kea Lani (Wailea)
Technically a lobby bar, but don't let that undersell it. After a massive renovation, the Fairmont Kea Lani hotel created Pilina, an open-air lounge with a long bar facing straight out at the ocean, fantastic sushi and raw bar offerings & a hot rock experience if you want to cook your own ahi or wagyu tableside. There’s also nightly music, which only adds to the romanic rustic ambiance. It's first-come, first-served (no reservations), so swing by early for sunset and grab a seat at the bar. A great, less-formal alternative if you want an incredible view without committing to a full sit-down dinner.
5. The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea
Not beachfront, but it doesn't need to be — perched up on the hillside in Wailea, the upper lanai delivers jaw dropping, panoramic, unobstructed ocean views that more than make up for the lack of sand between your toes. Plus the menu changes from time to time, so it can make for an exciting foodie experience. Elevated, award-winning dining with one of the most dramatic vantage points on the island.
Honorable mention: The Birdcage Bar, also at Hotel Wailea. This open-air lobby bar has 180-degree ocean views, playful bird-themed cocktails and sunset seating that's tough to beat if you'd rather keep things casual with drinks and small plates instead of a full dinner.
Got a favorite sunset spot I missed? Hit reply and let me know — I’m always looking for new places to add to my own rotation.
