Kauai Recommendations Quick Guide

Cheat sheet time! Here is a summary of all my recommendations for Kauai.

If you’re looking for more details, please head over to my Kauai posts.

Click here for a downloadable and printable version of this quick guide. You can also download this handy spreadsheet that summarizes everything by location.

North Shore

Restaurants

Avalon Gastropub
Kilauea
Our favorite restaurant on the island. Make reservations if you plan on going.

Tahiti Nui
Hanalei

Hideaway Pizza Pub
Princeville

Sandwich Isle
Princeville

Tiki Iniki
Princeville
A good place to go for late-night drinks.

Activities and hikes

Hanakapi’ai Beach Hike – Kalalau Trail
Ha’ena
An incredible hike to Hanakapi’ai Beach. Click here to make the required reservations.

Hanakapi’ai Falls Hike
Ha’ena
An extension of the hike to Hanakapi’ai Beach that leads to an amazing waterfall. Click here to make the required reservations.

Queen’s Bath
Princeville

Kilauea Lighthouse
Kilauea

Beaches

Hanalei Bay Beach
Hanalei
This beautiful beach is great for boogie boarding, paddle boarding, kayaking, and surfing. Equipment can be rented near the town center. On some days, you can grab some delicious food from Pat’s Tacos food truck located in the last parking lot.

Tunnels Beach
Ha’ena
This is our favorite beach. We park in the main lot at Ha’ena Beach Park and then walk back up the road about a half mile to a beach access road. This leads to clear, calm water that is great for snorkeling. It’s best to arrive early (by 8 a.m.) because parking fills up fast. There’s also a beautiful cove near the main parking lot, but the water is less safe for young children.

Ke’e Beach
Ha’ena
A permit is required to visit this beach.

Anini Beach
Kalihiwai
This is a fantastic beach for small children but also great for all ages.

Secret Beach
Kalihiwai

Resorts

Bali Hai Villas
Princeville

Ka Eo Kai Resort
Princeville

Coconut Coast and Lihue (East side)

Restaurants

Kauai Beer Company
Lihue

Mariachi’s
Lihue and Kapa’a

Lilikoi Bar & Grill
Lihue

Scorpacciata Restaurant & Bar
Lihue
On Tuesdays, they only have takeout, but they still serve beer and wine and allow customers to dine on their front patio.

Duke’s Kauai
Lihue

Napali Brewing
Kapa’a

Bobby V’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
Kapa’a

Lava Lava Beach Club
Kapa’a

Activities and hikes

Kilohana Plantation
Lihue

Smith’s Fern Grotto Tour
Lihue

Wailua Falls
Lihue

Ho’opi’i Falls Trail Hike
Kapa’a

Kuilau Ridge Trail
Kapa’a

Beaches

Lae Nani Beach
Kapa’a
A great ocean pool for kids

Lydgate Beach Pool
Wailua
A larger ocean pool for kids with a fun playground nearby.

Kalapaki Beach
Lihue

Resorts

Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy
Kapa’a

Banyan Harbor Resort
Lihue

South and West Shores

Restaurants

Da Crack Mexican Grinds
Koloa

Kauai Island Brewing Company
‘Ele’ele

Grand Hyatt Poipu
Poipu

Activities and hikes

Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls Hike – Waimea Canyon
Waimea

Pihea Vista Trail – Waimea Canyon
Waimea
This hike starts at the Pu’u O Kila lookout, and it’s a great way to see the Napali Coast from the West side.

Waimea Canyon (hikeless views)
Waimea
Drive to the last lookout, Pu’u O Kila, to see the Napali Coast from the west side, and then stop at the other lookouts on the way back down.

McBryde & Allerton Gardens
Koloa

Next up

Luau’s

Smith’s Family Luau
Kapa’a

Kilohana Plantation Luau
Lihue

Activities

Guided Wailua River Kayak Tour to Waterfall
Kapa’a

Kauai Mountain Tubing Adventure
Lihue

Kauai Mountain Ziplining Adventure
Lihue

Napali Zodiac Boat Tour
Kehaka

21+ Crowd

Kilohana Rum Safari
Lihue