A trip to Maui is a special occasion in itself, but if you’re celebrating something extra special and looking for one over the top dining experience to mark the occasion, I’ve got good news…you’ve got good options! The best in Hawaii, actually.

Yes, Maui is known for its swanky resort areas and those come with endless options of nice (and expensive) restaurants…but really, when I’m looking for a special occasion restaurant…a big stand out experience, I think there are three top options.

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Best Special Occasion Restaurants on Maui

I won’t beat around the bush, these are my top picks:

Mama’s Fish House

Merriman’s

The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea

All things considered, this is probably the order that I would rank these in, too. But as you’ll see, these three are also all located on different parts of the island which could end up influencing your decision.

Let’s get into the details!

Mama’s Fish House

Mama’s Fish House is easily the most recommendable special occasion restaurant on the island. Ask 100 people who’ve been to Maui where’s the one place you should go for dinner and 95 of them will say Mama’s. It’s not a “hidden gem” or an out of the way place that nobody knows about. But it’s the best.

And it really does live up to the hype. Located on Maui’s north shore just past Paia, having dinner (or lunch!) at Mama’s Fish House is a full blown experience.

The setting is spectacular. The open air restaurant is beachfront so you’ll have views of swaying palm trees and vivid blue water.

Request a table with a window view if you’re dining early, but after dark (which is as early as 5:30 or 6 sometimes during the year), it doesn’t really matter where you sit. Since the restaurant is located on the north shore, you’re not going to see the sunset and some people complain about that. “Why pay all that money when you don’t even get a sunset view.” Trust me, you won’t miss it at Mama’s. There’s plenty else to impress you.

The service is top notch. From the complimentary valet to the hostesses, bartenders, servers, and support staff…the Mama’s family knows that every person through the door is celebrating a special occasion and they make every visit feel like an event.

And then there’s the food. A place like this could get away with a standard menu, but that’s not how they do it. Every time I go here I’m a little worried that it won’t be as good as I remember, but it never disappoints.

One of my favorite parts is that the menu is printed fresh everyday so they can list not only which fish they’re using in each dish, but where on the island it was caught and the name of the fisherman. I’ve never seen anything like that anywhere else.

I must confess, I get the exact same thing EVERY time I’m at Mama’s. I mean, when I’m paying this much for a meal and I find something outstanding, I just don’t like to mix it up.

Guava fizz

Crispy shrimp wontons

Mac nut crusted mahi mahi (stuffed with lobster and crab)

Coconut cake

Since it’s such a hot spot, you NEED a reservation. Prime dinner reservations book out almost six months in advance (they take reservations 18 months in advance) and lunch reservations are usually booked up about 3 months out. But good news- they have a waitlist and I’ve had pretty good success getting a reservation that way, especially for lunch.

Traditionally I’ve always preferred a reservation time of about 30 minutes to an hour before sunset, but on my last visit I could only get a reservation for lunch (1ish) and honestly, I really liked that too. You cannot go wrong here.

 

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Merriman’s 

When you’re looking for a “special” place to eat on Maui, Mama’s may be the first place people recommend but Merriman’s is always the second.

Chef Peter Merriman is pretty famous on the Hawaii food scene. He’s one of a handful of chefs that pioneered “Hawaii regional cuisine” and his restaurants (Monkeypod is the most popular these days!) are known for mixing local flavors with ingredients grown and raised right on the island.

There’s a Merriman’s on each of the main Hawaiian Islands now, but the one on Maui hands down has the best setting.

Perched overlooking Kapalua Bay in West Maui, this place has seriously impressive sunset views and while the setting could certainly be described as “romantic,” the vibe is a little more “lively” than Mama’s. There’s live music and the atmosphere is more chatty and social.

The #1 thing I recommend getting at any Merriman restaurant is the MAI TAI. They have lilikoi foam on top and they’re the best in Hawaii ; )

The menu changes a bit seasonally, and everything is delicious but after eating at Merriman’s (and Monkeypod) so many times I personally always find myself leaning a bit more towards the appetizers (pupus) and starters than the mains. Something good to know here – if there’s a particular appetizer that sounds good, they can often do it as a dinner portion.

You don’t need to book reservations quite as far in advance here as you do at Mama’s, but you definitely need reservations. The only thing I don’t love about Merriman’s (at this location) is that they have a $50/person reservation fee. They tell you that they’ll charge your card when you make the reservation, but in my personal experience they actually only do it if you miss your reservation.

Merriman’s also has complimentary valet parking which you’ll probably want to take advantage of because there’s not much parking in the area, but if you’re staying in Kapalua you can also take the resort shuttle.

Also, if you can’t get a reservation (or don’t want to commit), you can eat out on “The Point” first come first serve and they have most of the menu there.

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Restaurant at the Hotel Wailea

The Hotel Wailea is quickly becoming one of Wailea’s swankiest spots (and that’s saying something!). The hotel and the restaurant have been racking up all kinds of accolades lately so on my last trip to Maui it was time to finally check it out.

First things first, the Hotel Wailea is TOTALLY DREAMY and unlike the big beachfront resorts in Wailea that you can kind of stroll through even if you’re not staying there, this place is pretty exclusive. Part of it’s the location. It sits up on the slopes of Haleakala above Wailea so it’s not right on the beach, but it’s got GREAT views. It’s also adults only and just has a very lowkey (but sophisticated) hideout vibe.

If you want the full blown experience, stop for drinks at the Birdcage first. Otherwise, plan your dinner reservation about 30 minutes before sunset.

The setting of the restaurant is definitely romantic and enchanting and it almost has more of a European vibe than Hawaiian.

The menu is really elevated, but still accessible. If you’re an adventurous foodie, or more of a plain jane…you’re going to eat well here.

Here’s how it works: the menu is a set $125/person for a first course, a main course, and a dessert.

And these aren’t tiny little portions where you’re going to leave wanting more. One of the things we like about this place the most was how much food we felt like we got to try. With three people, we felt like we were able to try a LOT of the menu and nobody went home hungry.

For first courses we had beet salad, risotto, and pork ribs.

For mains, we had the scallops, the wagyu ribeye, and the fettuccine with braised wagyu.

And for dessert, the chocolate mousse, tiramisu, and yuzu tapioca.

There wasn’t anything that we didn’t like. I would just base your choices on what you’re most drawn to.

If You Can Only Pick One

In a perfect world, I say go to all three ; ) But if you’re trying to narrow it down…

If it’s your first (and only) trip to Maui, go to Mama’s. It’s truly over the top impressive with the beachfront setting, the warm aloha atmosphere, and super yummy food. There’s really nothing like it.

Once you’ve done Mama’s, come to the Restaurant at the Hotel Wailea for a bit of a more refined setting and elevated menu or Merriman’s for a “vibe.”

If you’re staying in South Maui, I’d pick the Restaurant at the Hotel Wailea over Merriman’s and if you’re staying on the West Side, I’d pick Merriman’s.

All three are in the same price range, but in general, if you’re not used to spending $150+/person on a nice meal, Mama’s is the most accessible in making everyone feel very welcome. They’re very used to hosting people who are coming there for a once in a lifetime meal. Whereas the Restaurant at the Hotel Wailea and Merriman’s feels a bit more like a place that caters to people who just live this life. Does that make sense?

Want to read more posts about Maui? I’ve got plenty!

Things You Can ONLY Do on Maui // 4 Day Maui Itinerary // My Favorite Road to Hana Itinerary // Things to Do Upcountry // Tips for Sunrise at Haleakala National Park // Snorkeling Molokini Crater // Whale Watching

My Favorite Hotels on Maui // Where to Find Condos on Maui // Wailea vs Kaanapali // Every Resort in Wailea Ranked // Four Seasons Maui Review // Andaz Maui Review // Fairmont Kea Lani Review // Wailea Beach Resort Review // Four Seasons vs Andaz Maui // Andaz Maui vs Wailea Beach Resort

Best Restaurants in Wailea // Best Breakfast in Wailea & Kihei // Mama’s Fish House // Best Luaus in Wailea

My Favorite Things to Do in South Maui // Best Beaches in Wailea & Kihei // Road to Hana Tips // Driving the Backside of the Road to Hana // Where to See Turtles on Maui

Maui vs Kauai // Everything You Need to Know BEFORE you go to Maui