Hanalei
The legendary Nui (rendered famous by its cameo role in The Descendants) is a tiki dive bar with heart and history, and a rather tasty dinner menu…
Must-see nightlife in Kauaʻi
Kapaʻa
Always busy, this Kauaʻi-based micro-roastery is best for grabbing a cup of joe or a fruit smoothie to go. The muffins, scones, banana bread and coconut…
Poʻipu
Don’t miss Po‘ipu’s most memorable ocean view at the makai (seaward) end of the Hyatt’s vast open atrium. In early evening, a torch-lighting ceremony…
Poʻipu
The island’s most creative juice bar is tucked at the back of the Kukui‘ula Market grocery store. As well as great-value, piled-high acai bowls, you can…
Lihuʻe
For a convivial, Waikiki-style tropical bar with live music every night, hurry and grab a beachside table before the nonstop evening queue. Happy hour…
Hanalei Bay & the North Shore
A link in a healthy, happy chain that reaches across the island, Kaua‘i Juice Co offers 14 cold-pressed juice combinations, along with hand-pressed nut…
Lihuʻe
Everyone kicks back with a hoppy Kaua'IPA, a refreshing Lihuʻe Lager or a knock-your-socks-off Sleeping Giant Barley Wine at Lihuʻe's beloved craft…
Kapaʻa
This oft-overlooked espresso bar in the Java Kai roastery is a nice place to belly up for a shot of morning life.
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
This excellent brewpub stands just up from the jetty at Port Allen. Sample its hoppy, high-alcohol IPAs, the lauded Pakala Porter, light liliko‘i-infused…
Wailua
On the (very) short list of (semi-) reliable island nightspots. It offers fresh oysters on Tuesdays, cheap martinis at happy hour, pub grub such as po…
Kapaʻa & the Eastside
Across from the post office, this juice shack has cold coconuts, raw noni juice (a Polynesian elixir), acai bowls, green juice, lilikoʻi lemonade, and a…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
The California-style ‘third wave of coffee’ vibe might be incongruous in funky Koloa, but there’s no disputing this little cafe serves the best coffee for…
Hanalei Bay & the North Shore
A good-eating, great-drinking wine bar with a one-man open kitchen (mains $16 to $32) that produces creative flatbreads (including one with mac-nut pesto…
Hanalei
In a red shack at the west end of Ching Young Village, this irresistible juice stand is renowned for its thick fruit smoothies and fresh veggie juices;…
Lihuʻe
The hippest coffee shop on the island combines cool surf-meets-Scandi decor with locally-roasted beans and excellent homestyle baking that is also…
Kapaʻa
Another foothold in the benevolent Kauai Juice Co empire which pushes addictive green and fruit juices, freshly pressed nut milks and coconut mana. 'You…
Wailua
One of the best indie coffee roasters on the island, this friendly spot is well located for those on the northern end of the Wailua swirl. There's relaxed…
Princeville
Complete with thatched roof and trappings from Kaua‘i’s long-gone Coco Palms Resort, rocker Todd Rundgren’s tiki bar, created with wife Michele, is the…
Wailua
Adjoined to the Kauai Shores hotel, the Lava Lava Beach Club offers sand-between-the-toes eating and drinking, so kick off those slippahs and ease into…
Wailua
With some of the Eastside's best coastal views, Mamahune's keeps things straightforward with an outdoor gazebo and wise-cracking bar staff adept at making…
Kapaʻa
A somewhat less than authentic Mexican joint, but one with a solid tequila selection behind the bamboo mat and wood bar. It's especially popular when big…
Kapaʻa
Historically, people have long packed this spacious 2nd-floor sports bar to enjoy perched views of the Coconut Coast. With a full bar, copious draft beers…
Lihuʻe
A popular Lihuʻe haunt, this airy, high-ceilinged cafe is enlivened by retro travel prints and local art hanging on the walls. Maple-cinnamon rolls,…
Wailua
This stylish recent opening pairs an interesting selection of crafty brews from Hawaii and mainland US with superior bar food. Secure a seat in the clubby…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Watch Waimea’s world go by from the spacious front porch of this ramshackle plantation-era building facing the town park. Inside, a large gallery-lounge…
Poʻipu
The sushi and Thai food at this open-air Po‘ipu Shopping Village eatery are passable (mains $15-17). This is also one of the few places hereabouts with a…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Thanks to its ocean-view patio, this laidback harborfront bar is a great place to hang out before or after a boat tour – especially for a sunset cocktail…
Kapaʻa
This indie coffeehouse brews organic, fair-trade coffee for the hippie-boho crowd, who also enjoy the fresh kombucha and chai tea. Good tunes perpetually…
Wailua
All that funky, hippy energy that swirls around Kauaʻi has coalesced in this psychedelic Indian kombucha bar where the often-sweet fizzy brew is on tap…
Kapaʻa
A big old stucco barn of a dive bar. Appropriately dark and dank with happy-hour specials from 3pm to 7pm, burgers and chicken wings on the menu, and…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Tucked into an alleyway in the middle of the mall, and attached to a beachwear store, this little cafe makes a handy stop-off to grab a coffee or açai…
