Ryan F.
A trip to Honolulu, Hawaii’s capital city, is a memorable experience. From Pearl Harbor National Memorial to the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, there are incredibly fun and exciting places to see and do.
You’re sure to work up an appetite hiking to waterfalls and shopping at the grand Ala Moana Center.
Perhaps you’re visiting this tropical paradise on your honeymoon or a family reunion, and you want to be able to enjoy a quiet night out with the special people in your life.
A noisy restaurant bursting with tourists might not be the best way to enjoy each other’s company. Luckily, there are plenty of private dining restaurants in Honolulu to enjoy.
Best Private Dining Restaurants in Honolulu
- Chef Chai
- Hy’s Steak House
- La Mer
- Beachhouse at the Moana
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House
- 53 By The Sea
- Morton’s The Steakhouse
- Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant
- La Vie
- Senia
- Stage Restaurant
- Fête
- Duc’s Bistro
- MW Restaurant
- PAI Honolulu
From steakhouses to authentic Italian, there are many private dining spots in Honolulu to suit any craving or dietary preference. Check out the following list for the best private dining spots in Honolulu.
Chef Chai
1009 Kapiolani Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: 808-585-0011
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Chef Chai is located in Pacifica Honolulu, not far from the Ala Moana Regional Park. If you’re looking for authentic Hawaiian cooking, this is the spot for you!
Chef and owner Chai Chaowasaree is regarded as one of Hawaii’s top chefs for preparing regional cuisine. The menu at Chef Chai blends fresh Hawaiian ingredients with Asian flavors to represent the cultural diversity of Hawaii.
Chef Chai offers a tasting menu that features some of their most popular appetizers, including fresh Ahi tartar, mini duck tacos, and Kataifi and macadamia nut crusted jumbo black tigers prawns.
With the tasting menu, you also get to choose from three popular entrees and three of their desserts.
The Asian-fusion dinner menu has plenty more to offer, and you can taste the true flavors of Hawaiian cooking from this acclaimed chef.
For private dining, Chef Chai offers a private room that can seat up to 26 people with a comfortable, intimate ambiance. The private room comes with the chef’s signature menu offerings.
Hy’s Steak House
2440 Kūhiō Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: 808-922-5555
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Hy’s Steak House is a fine dining establishment that has been in business for over 40 years. They provide their guests with a wide range of cuisine, from American and European to traditional Hawaiian and Pacific dishes.
They are also known for their flavorful steaks, which are cooked over Hawaiian kiawe wood to accentuate the flavor of the beef without sacrificing the meat’s tenderness.
Hy’s Steak House has a more formal atmosphere, and guests are required to wear collared shirts, closed-toe shoes, and avoid hats or casual wear.
The food here served artfully on fine white china and cloth tablecloths is indulgent. During my visit, I started my meal with the seared Kauai prawns before digging into their classic garlic steak. The wine selection is extensive, with a wide range of red, white, and blends to choose from.
La Mer
2199 Kālia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: 808-923-2311
Located inside the Halekulani Hotel, La Mer is a classy and sophisticated restaurant that offers private dining in addition to their regular dining room.
This restaurant is the state’s only AAA Five Diamond, 5-star restaurant and combines incredible ocean views with luxuriously decadent food.
La Mer requires their guests to dress in elegant evening attire, which includes dinner jackets, long-sleeved shirts with collars, and close-toed shoes. Their private dining room, Salon La Mer, can accommodate groups of up to 16.
The menu is heavily influenced by the cuisine from southern France. I recommend starting your special private dining experience with the Saint-Jacques Roti, which is roasted scallops and cuttlefish leaf in an orange-scented caviar butter sauce. For my main dish, I had the Roasted Duck Filet and the Kalamansi Mousse for dessert.
Beachhouse at the Moana
2365 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: 808-921-4600
The Beachhouse at the Moana is a gorgeous venue that combines fine indoor and outdoor dining, breathtaking ocean views, and award-winning food and drink. The atmosphere is breezy and effortlessly charming, and the customer service is outstanding.
Private diners can experience three or four-course meals Wednesday through Sunday until 8:30 pm. These menus come pre-fixed, with a wide choice of appetizers, main dishes, and desserts to choose from.
During my stay, I ordered the Ahi Tartare, the Kalbi Braised Short Rib, and the Kona Coffee Tiramisu for dessert.
They have a wide range of signature cocktails, such as the Cafe in Manhattan, which features Moana signature single barrel peerless rye, coffee, and orange oil. For those not in the mood for a cocktail, they also offer wines by the glass or the bottle.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Multiple locations
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Located at the corner of South Street and Pohukaina Street sits the popular Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
Here you’ll experience decades of steak cooking perfection along with incredible seafood, flavorful sides, and a great glass of wine. Happy hour is available for all patrons Monday through Sunday from 4:30 to 7 pm.
Although steak is not everyone’s preferred choice of meal, I couldn’t make a trip to Ruth’s Chris Steak House and not take advantage of one of their USDA Prime cuts of steak. I ordered the Filet, 11 ounces of tender, juicy beef that was expertly prepared.
For sides, which were just as flavorful and well prepared as my steak, I chose creamy garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus in their signature hollandaise sauce.
To finish off the meal, I tried their Chocolate Sin Cake, a flourless chocolate cake with ganache and a tart raspberry sauce.
53 By The Sea
53 Ahui St, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: 808-536-5353
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53 By The Sea opened in 2012, a fine dining restaurant with memorable ocean views and a grand staircase you’ll want to photograph.
Here guests can enjoy hand-crafted cocktails and fresh, high-quality ingredients to create unique recipes inspired by Hawaiian and Japanese traditional dishes.
The private dining here is worth every penny. There are several private dining rooms available, each with floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for views of Diamond Head and the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean. The rooms seat anywhere from five to 150.
For starters, guests can enjoy a variety of fresh seafood dishes, from caviar to oysters. I recommend the crab cakes made with blue crab, Japanese pickled relish, and caper aioli. There is also lighter fare like soups and salads.
I also tried the Sweet & Savory Braised Short Rib, a delicious 6 oz short rib with mushroom risotto, pickled carrot, and nuoc cham caramel.
Morton’s The Steakhouse
1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: 808-949-1300
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Morton’s is a legendary fine dining establishment in Honolulu, known for its superb hospitality, incredible meat and seafood dishes, and desserts so delicious you’ll dream about them for weeks.
The restaurant is located just outside the famous Ala Moana Center, with private dining options for groups of 10 to 120.
I loved the atmosphere and black and gold aesthetic of Morton’s. It had a fun and funky 1920s art deco vibe, from the large bar to the luxurious private dining room. But the food I tried here was what was truly memorable.
I was in a seafood mood the night I visited Morton’s, so I tried the Maine Lobster Ravioli in addition to the Miso Marinated Sea Bass. I recommend the Baked Corn Souffle as a side, as well as the onion rings.
Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant
1030 Auahi St Bay 1, Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: 808-591-0800
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If you think you can’t get authentic Italian food in Hawaii, you’d be dead wrong. Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant is one of the best places to eat in the city.
The restaurant is located only a couple of blocks away from the Kewalo Basin Harbor and Ala Moana Regional Park.
Semi-private dining is available at Buca di Beppo for large parties and intimate gatherings. This is a great place to host a loved one’s surprise birthday party or to celebrate a special anniversary. They are also open for lunch and dinner.
I sampled a couple of appetizers at Buca di Beppo, including the Fried Calamari and the Spicy Shrimp.
For my main course, I tried the eggplant parmigiana, which was perfectly cooked and accented with basil and oregano.
La Vie
383 Kalaimoku St, Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: 808-729-9729
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Modern French cuisine is available in Honolulu at La Vie, an open-air dining room located on the eighth floor of The Ritz-Carlton.
Not only does this restaurant serve up delightfully fun and modern French food, but they also do so in a spot with gorgeous views of Waikiki Beach.
Guests can choose from three or four selections of a large menu. I chose the Kona Abalone Gratin, a sea urchin with wilted spinach potato leek fondue, the Maui Venison Loin, and the Lychee Rose Case.
The dessert was a delightfully decadent white chocolate mousse topped with a raspberry glaze and toasted almonds.
Senia
75 N King St, Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: 808-200-5412
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Delicious food and drink, served up in a warm and hospitable environment, are available at Senia.
This restaurant is located at the corner of Smith Street and N King Street, across the street from the Stewbum & Stonewall Brewing Company.
The food here is modern American cuisine, combining the traditional flavors and fresh ingredients of the Hawaiian islands with a constantly evolving rotation of family-style meals. Everything is moderately priced, with large portions.
I sampled the Parker House Rolls, made with truffle, sunchoke, and smoke before digging into a large plate of Potato Gnocchi and a side of Spaetzle.
There were a couple of desserts to choose from, and I ended up going with the Millefeuille, a mix of chocolate, hazelnut, and chestnut.
Stage Restaurant
1250 Kapiolani Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: 808-237-5429
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Stage Restaurant is a sleek and modern dining establishment that serves Asian-American fare. The restaurant is both a place to eat and a wine bar that has over 80 wines to choose from.
They are located on the second floor in the Honolulu Design Center, on the corner of Kapiolani Boulevard and Piikoi Street.
The food at Stage is largely farm-to-table, with an emphasis on worldwide flavors. I tried the torched Hamakua ali’i mushroom appetizer and the BBQ spiced kurobuta pork chop with whole grain mustard, dijon cream, and crispy Brussel sprouts.
Amuse Wine, their wine bar, serves wine from all over the world. However, they also have a full bar with rotating beer and cocktail specials, as well as a Happy Hour every 5-6 pm Tuesday through Saturday.
Fête
2 N Hotel St, Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: 808-369-1390
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The combination of local island flavor and big city vibes is what sets Fete apart from the other restaurants in Honolulu.
The restaurant has a homey feel, combining reclaimed wood, brick, lush greenery, and beautiful natural light into a space with a modern farmhouse feel.
They have several spaces for those interested in private dining. The Library Room is a special space that can accommodate both small and large gatherings.
There are also outdoor spaces for wedding receptions, company parties, or more intimate family dinners.
The folks behind Fete believe strongly in the farm-to-table movement. They focus on providing food that is created with fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers and other community partners.
The quality of the food here is incredible, not to mention flavorful. During my trip to Fete, I started my meal with the chicken liver mousse and a glass of wine, followed by the Beef Bourguignon Pot Pie made with grass-fed Hawaii Meats shank.
Duc’s Bistro
1188 Maunakea St, Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: 808-531-6325
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In downtown Chinatown sits Duc’s Bistro, a unique restaurant that combines traditional Vietnamese food with classic French cuisine.
They have been in business for over 30 years, serving locally grown food to their guests.
I was impressed with the menu selections, which range from hearty appetizers, soups, and salads, to seafood, poultry, and various meat options. I began my meal with foie gras, seared duck liver with a splash of cognac.
Definitely check this restaurant out when you’re looking to host a wedding reception, graduation dinner, or family reunion.
MW Restaurant
888 Kapiolani Blvd, Commercial Unit, Suite 201, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: 808-955-6505
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MW Restaurant is located on Level 2 of the luxury car dealership in Velocity Honolulu. You can also access the restaurant by entering through their sister restaurant Artizen.
The restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner and is known for its constantly rotating menu. They also provide catering and private dining options, as well as unique tasting menus.
I stopped by MW Restaurant for dinner and tried the Unagi Butterfish Arancini, the Kona Abalone & Lobster in a brown butter caper sauce.
For dessert, I tried the MW Candy Bar, a layered dessert that included peanut butter crunch, a Macadamia nut caramel with Hawaiian sea salt, covered in a Valrhona chocolate ganache.
PAI Honolulu
55 Merchant St #110, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: 808-744-2531
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PAI Honolulu is led by Chef Kevin Lee, a supremely talented chef and former food scientist who has worked in top restaurants all over the country.
The menu is extensive and features a wide variety of dishes that also has vegetarian and vegan options.
I ordered from the Prix Fixe menu, which comes with an appetizer, pasta, an entree, and a dessert in addition to the chef’s famous buttermilk cornbread.
This place is perfect for hosting your next private event like a wedding rehearsal dinner, cocktail party, or anniversary celebration.
Final Thoughts
Honolulu is a beautiful city located in one of the most incredible places on Earth. If you are lucky enough to visit, you will be both impressed and satisfied with the number of fine dining restaurants with private dining options.
There are plenty of other amazing places in Honolulu to eat. If you’re looking for something a little less fancy, consider trying some of the best steakhouses in the city.
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure to leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!
