Toes in the sand at A-Bay, watching the sunset paint the sky while digging into sesame-crusted ahi or that ridiculously juicy NY strip everyone raves about. Lava Lava Beach Club on Waikoloa's Kohala Coast is the Big Island beach restaurant that converts first-timers into regulars — open-air dining right on Anaeho'omalu Bay where the views steal the show but the food actually delivers too. Skip the burger (trust me on this) and go for the macadamia-crusted fish, coconut shrimp, or those finger-licking ribs that locals keep ordering. The bamboocha mai tai comes in a souvenir cup and packs the punch of three drinks, which explains why there's a two-drink limit. This is where a sunset dinner turns into a three-hour hang with live Hawaiian music floating over the waves.
💡 Insider Tip
Book a beachfront table a week ahead for prime sunset seats. No reservation? Hit the bar for that legendary bamboocha mai tai while you wait — the souvenir cup and potent rum will make the time fly.
11 AM – 9 PM daily
$20–$45
Free at Waikoloa Beach Resort
Sunset, reserve a beachfront table
