Monkeypod Kitchen

Chef Peter Merriman's buzzing gastropub in Wailea Gateway Center is the kind of place that lives up to the hype. Everyone raves about their signature mai tai (made with hand-squeezed lime), but don't sleep on seasonal cocktails like the Cold Fashioned. The wood-fired pizzas are fantastic, but the real stars are dishes like the macadamia nut-crusted mahi mahi and those legendary lobster deviled eggs — squeeze lime on them, trust me.

The vibe is upscale-casual with live music most evenings and a gorgeous patio that's perfect for South Maui's year-round weather. It gets loud and energetic (open kitchen energy), but that's part of the charm. Service is consistently excellent — servers like Nick know the menu inside and out and aren't afraid to steer you toward the good stuff.