Where we stayed
Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort - I had a ton of Marriott Bonvoy points so I ended up using them for this stay. The Sheraton is conveniently located on the beach in the center of Kapaa and is within walking distance of many shops and cafes. Kapaa is only 10 miles from the Lihue airport which was an added bonus. We didn't spend much time at the resort but I did enjoy the onsite workout facilities since I'm such an early riser. We also spent a few evenings at the Crooked Surf restaurant. They had a great bar menu and were super accommodating when it came to so some of my plant-based requests. All the bartenders were also very friendly and fun to chat with. We also ran into quite a few Kauai residents at the bar which is always a good sign. We also loved the beautiful fire pits surrounded by heliconia plants glowing around the property at night.
Where we ate
Kauai restaurants got hit hard with the recent island shutdowns related to Covid-19. Many businesses were short-staffed and because of this, they were unable to keep normal business hours. For instance, many establishments that would normally be open for lunch only offered their dinner service. Many places were also closed for business 1 or 2 days a week. Luckily, I made a couple of reservations well ahead of our trip but there were a couple of nights that we couldn't find a place to eat for dinner or were unwilling to wait in a long line. Good thing for Foodland in Princeville haha. In spite of the island's Covid-19 restrictions, we did have some fantastic food on the Garden Island. Here's a list of my favorites!
Ama in Hanalei - Definitely a must! Ama has an Asian-influenced menu with a variety of ramen bowls, kushiyaki, yummy salads, and bao. The cocktails were super tasty too. Ama reminded me esthetically of a lot of some of the restaurants we enjoy in Indonesia. The building itself is beautiful with a large outdoor and semi-outdoor seating area. Definitely, a romantic and exotic vibe going on.
The Bistro in Kilauea - My husband LOVED this place! Especially the Fish Rockets. I had to make a few alterations to my plates to make them dairy-free but it was minor. The Bistro is cozy and casual but also elegant. My favorite part was seeing Mr. Chow ( the restaurant’s big gray kitty cat ) roaming free and playfully greeting all the patrons. Everyone seemed to know everyone at The Bistro. Definitely seemed like a local favorite.
Trilogy Coffee in Kilauea - I think we went to Trilogy every single morning. I loved the vibe of the place ( and the surrounding shops ) so much so that when I returned home, I went on a massive hunt to find the Indonesian stone pots scattered throughout the property. We have also decided to use the same puka lava stone they used to pave our backyard as well. As for the food and drinks, it was all delicious. I ordered the Avocado and Pesto toast almost every morning ( pictured above ) but I also tried some of their yummy raw vegan desserts. They also have adaptogenic elixirs as well as coffee and teas sourced from family-owned farms and smallholder co-ops and estates.
Kauai Juice Co in Kapaa, Kilauea, and Koloa - If you've followed me for a while on Instagram @mauimandy, then you will know that I'm a huge fan of Kauai Juice Co. Kauai Juice Co was my first experience with fresh, cold-pressed, artisan juices and kombucha. They also make insanely delicious fermented hot sauces and sambal which you can order from their online shop and they will ship them to you on the mainland. I'm also obsessed with their cute selection of t-shirts, trucker hats, stickers, glass juice bottles, their beautiful bird of paradise logo, and all over general vibe of the shops.
Sushi Girl Kauai in Kilauea - it's easy to miss the little food truck tucked behind a small shopping center in downtown Kilauea ( it's in the same complex as The Bistro if that helps! ) She has a nice selection of maki rolls, large sushi burritos, poke bowls and musubi. Lucky for me she had some great vegan options.
The Hanalei Gourmet in Hanalei - Nice casual lunch option in the center of Hanalei. We always end up eating here 2-3 times every trip. I always get the garden burger and fries! This place always seems to be busy so expect a bit of a wait.
Nourish Hanalei in Princeville - Another hard-to-find little food truck but worth the hunt. Nourish Hanalei has a nice selection of delicious Acai bowls, salad bowls, and wraps. Go for the healthy food but stay for the incredible view overlooking Hanalei Bay.
Where we shopped
My husband and I tend to shop a lot on vacation. We keep saying we're going to stop doing this but honestly when you live on a small island with limited selections, it's hard to resist shopping for our home ( or ourselves ) when on vacation. What we love about shopping in tropical locales is the fact that so much of what we find works so well for us back home on Maui. Let me just say, our suitcases were much heavier on our return flight home per usual.
Hunter and Gatherer in Kilauea - I'm obsessed with this place. Located right next to Trilogy Coffee, it was easy to stumble into this shop almost daily. Hunter and Gatherer is stuffed with some of my favorite brands like Mt. Washington Pottery, Humble Ceramics, and Sundry clothing. They also sell tons of crystals, unique books, incense holders, jewelry, food condiments, and even some surf surfboards. Basically, everything I love.
Ohana Shop Kauai 2 locations in Hanalei - These places are just so cute! Loved all the beautiful shells leis ( ended up buying one ), the delicate local Niihau Momi shell jewelry, the finely woven lauhala Papale ( hats ), and a variety of bikinis, one-pieces, dresses, pareos, and local t-shirts.
Sway Hanalei in Hanalei - Great selection of clothing, ceramics, books, stationery, baskets, candles, jewelry, linens, and artwork. Everything in this shop was beautifully curated and fun to browse through. I ended up purchasing some nice dresses and some small ceramics for my kitchen collection back home.
Have you been to Kauai? If so, let me know your favorite places to visit, eat, and shop. Aloha!
