From the traditional, to upscale, and beach food, Oahu has something for everyone! Our list has our favorites stops you can't miss. All are delicious, fun, and beautiful.

Eat/Drink

Hawaii has a mix of restaurants and food places all its own. Here's a list of our favorite and best places to eat and drink on Oahu!

Waikiki

Basalt

$$. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Usually is possible without a reservation, this refined alley side restaurant has gourmet dishes with local and European flair. Choose to sit inside or on the covered outside patio.

Deck.

$$, Pupus, Pool bar

Come before sunset for a terrific view of Diamond Head. Reservations recommended. Validated valet parking at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel.

The Seafood Luau or whatever the new name for it is delicious. Make a reservation if you can, otherwise, you can pop in around 3:45pm to put your name in and they will call you when a table becomes available.

Parking is valet or validated at the Ohana East across the street.

HeyDay

$$$, Casual

New restaurant in the newly renovated, super retro, White Sands Hotel. Same team as Fete, a fun dining experiment in a super cute locale.

House Without a Key

$$, Hawaiian Fusion, Happy Hour

Go early to get a good seat and to watch the sunset.

Hula Grill

$$, Breakfast, Lunch

Great for breakfast or lunch, get a seat on the balcony if you can!

La Vie

$$$, Modern French Cuisine, Dinner, Special Occasion.

Fully customizable prix fix menu. Amazing ambiance and service.

Came here for my birthday and had an absolutely incredible experience. Very kind and accommodating waitstaff, beautiful piano music, unique, unobstructed view of Waikiki. If you are a party or four or less, ask to sit near the balcony for a beautiful sunset view.

Momosan

$$, Ramen

There are a few ramen places in Waikiki that we really like but Morimoto's Momosan, while a chain, is really hard to beat. The outdoor dining is beautiful and the Tonkatsu is on point! Don't forget to get a frozen beer and sticky ribs!

Musubi Cafe Iyasume

$, Beach Food

Nakamura Ramen

$$, Dinner

Authentic Japanese ramen, there is usually a line! Tiny restaurant with only a few seats, they accept dollars and yen!

Quiora

$$$, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We love it for dinner. Order the pasta in the family size, you won't be sorry.

What special place. Probably my favorite restaurant on the island. The service is impeccable and not stuffy. Simple and casual tables meet incredibly prepared and thoughtful dishes. The food is amazing every time, no matter what you order. Can't say enough.

Stripsteak

$$$$, Steakhouse, Dinner

Waikiki Brewing Company

$$, Lunch, Dinner

Casual, Walk-In

Don't have a reservation and looking for an easy dinner? Waikiki Brewing just opened their new location in Waikiki and their beers and large enough food menu are perfect for an unplanned evening.

Kapahulu/Kaimuki (Just beyond Waikiki)

Bogart's Cafe

$$, Breakfast/Lunch

This casual local favorite is our suggestion for breakfast near Waikiki. Service occasionally can be slow but only because everything is made from scratch. Their large menu has something for everyone and everything is delicious. Outdoor and indoor seating.

Diamond Head Grill

$, Plate Lunch

Leonard's Bakery

$, Dessert

Come for the world famous malasadas! Make sure to eat them hot!

Ono Seafood

$$, Poke

Rumored to be the best Poke on the island. They have the crowds to prove it but it is worth the trip. Fish is super fresh and delicious!

Rigo

$$ Spanish Italian Tapas, Open Late

This tapas restaurant is such a fun experience. Great service and delicious food. Extensive wine menu with bottle specials. Don't forget to order the garlic bread.

Side Street Inn

Multiple Locations: Kapahulu, Ala Moana

$$, Large Portions, Local Food

Get the Family Sampler, yes, it feeds more than the suggested 4.

Uncle Bo's

$$, Pupus, Hawaiian

Kaka`ako

Aloha Brewing Co.

$$, Beer, Pizza, Salads, and More!

Bring your pup, great wines and cocktails as well as beer. Sit inside or outside in their Aloha Biergarten!

Indochine 1938

$$ Vietnamese Fusion, Dinner, Happy Hour

Stunning and fun interior. Make sure you order the imperial roll. The Sabai Sabai is on point!

Instanbul

$$, Dinner

Moku Kitchen

$$, Farm to Table, Small Plates

Thyda's Tacos

$, Mexican Tacos, Lunch

Taco food trunk in Kaka`ako. Cheap eats, delicious tacos, incredible salsa!

Honolulu

Bangkok Chef

Multiple Locations: Nu`uanu, Moana, Nimitz, Ewa Beach, Moiliili

$, Thai, Anytime

Great, casual Thai for for takeout or sit down. Nimitz has the best sit down location but our go to for takeout is Nu`uanu. All are great.

Cafe Julia

Downtown Honolulu

$$, Lunch

Beautiful, out of the ordinary setting.

Fete

Chinatown

$$, Modern Mix, Dinner

Come here a nice, night out! Delicious French/Local fusion.

Helena's

Kalihi

$, Hawaiian Food, Lunch/Dinner

Cash only, family owned.

JJ Dolans

Downtown

$, Pizza, Open Late

One of our top picks for pizza on the island! Irish pub meets pizza joint, where the bartender is wearing a tie and you eat on paper plates.

La Tour Café

Honolulu

$, French Southeast Asian, Lunch

Great for lunch.

Opal Thai

Downtown

$, Thai, Anytime

The Pig and the Lady

Chinatown

$$, Vietnamese, Lunch/Dinner

We love it for lunch, the pho dip sandwich and $ chicken wings are out of this world!

Sugoi

Kalihi

$, Plate Lunch

Sushi Sasabune

Honolulu

$$$$, Sushi, Dinner

If you are looking for an authentic and elevated sushi experience in Hawaii, this is the place for you.

Waioli Kitchen and Bakeshop

Manoa

$, Breakfast and Lunch

Locally run, simple and delicious food in a serene location.

Young's Fish Market

Honolulu

$, Hawaiian Food, Lunch/Dinner

Kailua

Buzz's Original Steakhouse

$$, Steak/Fish, Lunch/Dinner

Ask to sit outside, order the calamari steak. For lunch, we love the Teriyaki Steak Salad. To drink, the 38 Minutes. Make reservation if you can, but otherwise, walk in and ask to to "pupu's. Pupu's are Hawaii's version of tapas and they serve almost their full dining menu.

Island Snow

$, Dessert, Anytime

Kalapawai Cafe

$$, Farm to Table, Anytime

Always delicious. We love to come here for dinner. Everything is incredible.

Lanikai Juice

Multiple Locations: Kailua. Kahala, Kakaa`ko, Kapolei

$, Smoothie Bar

Delicious açaí bowls. We like to order the Coco Champ smoothie.

Nico's Kailua

$$, Lunch, Dinner, Ocean Grill

Great sit down lunch spot for fish sandwich in Kailua. We also love to get takeout and head over to the beach.

Over Easy

$, Local, Breakfast/Lunch

Locals breakfast spot. Get there early if you can.

Taqueria El Gallo Rosa

$$, Mexican Tacos, Lunch/Dinner

Delicious tacos! Make sure to come early because they close at 7pm.

North Shore

Giovanni's Shrimp Truck

Kahuku

$$, Shrimp, Lunch

Order the scampi, no one has ever tried the other versions. Cash only.

Do

Beaches

Kailua

Kailua Beach - Located just outside of Kailua town, this calm and long stretch of sand is prefect for the whole family.

Kalama Beach - Head north from Kailua Beach and you will come to Kalama's. This section has a few more waves making for awesome boogie boarding and body surfing.

Lanikai Beach - Great place to rent a couple of kayaks and head to the small islands offshore.

North Shore

Sunset Beach - Catch the perfect sunset here. Great for swimming in the summer and surfer watching in the winter.

Waimea Bay - One of the most iconic images of the North Shore.

Waikiki

Waikiki Beach - This gorgeous strip of beach stretches from Ala Moana Beach park to Diamond Head, you can go wrong. Park at the Zoo, the International Marketplace or at Fort Derussy Park.

Hikes

Diamond Head Crater

Waikiki/Kahala

Some many say this is touristy. I love this hike for the history, uniqueness, and views. Don't miss it if you can!

Kuliouou Ridge

Hawaii Kai

Five mile, moderate difficulty hike. Park at Kuliouou Beach Park.

Friendship Garden Trail

Kaneohe

Lanikai Pillbox Hike

Kailua

This hike has become more and more crowded over the years but the view is still worth the crowds. Parking is difficult and sometimes prohibited in Lanikai, but you should be able to find parking just outside the neighborhood at Kailua or Lanikai Beach Park.

Makapu`u Lighthouse Trail

Waimanalo/Hawaii Kai

Hike Makapu`u Lighthouse Trail. If you have extra time after your hike, from the parking lot, follow the path down the hlll to the ocean. This spot, known as Alan Davis is off the beaten path and a sweet spot to discover.

See

The Blue Note

Waikiki

Live music venue in Waikiki! Check the calendar as there is always a great variety of musicians. Come early to get a good seat if you can!

Bishop Museum

Discover the history of Hawaii in a stunning three story display.

Luau

Our recommendations:

Pearl Harbor Memorial/USS Missouri/Pacific Aviation Museum

Aiea

A historical must do. Spend the day and do all three, each are unique and worth your time.

Tantalus Drive and Punchbowl Cemetery

Honolulu

Spitting Caves and China Walls

Hawaii Kai

These off the beaten path, residential overlooks are beautiful and perfect for a quick stop. Spitting Caves is a bit harder to reach down a steep path so if you are looking for a quick peek, stick to China Walls.

Stay

Waikiki

Ritz Carlton Waikiki $$$$$

The Royal Hawaiian $$$$

White Sands Hotel $$$

Kaimana Beach Hotel $$$

Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club $$$

The Laylow $$$

The Coconut Waikiki Hotel $$

Ko`olina

Four Seasons at Ko`olina $$$$$

Marriott's Ko`olina Beach Club $$$$

North Shore

Turtle Bay $$$$