3 Best Restaurants in Hawaii, USA

With spectacular Diamond Head views and an elegant, art deco–tinged interior, La Mer is an epic dining experience, where the second-floor restaurant's windows are open to the breezes and the sounds of the ocean and Halekulani Hotel's nightly hula show. Ideal for special occasions, the three-, four-, or seven-course French-influenced dinners might feature steamed Big Island kampachi (amberjack) tartare with fennel soup, Chilean sea bass with a vegetable "sphere," roasted duck breast with kumquat confit, or rib eye with vegetables. For romance and fine dining without the staggering price tag, visit the restaurant’s L'Aperitif bar, where sophisticated cocktails can be paired with gourmet bites.

A nondescript office building, just to the south of town, is home to this quiet, country-style bistro with dark wood walls and private booths. This popular, longtime local favorite offers such classics as escargots, frogs legs, filet mignon with a Cabernet Sauvignon sauce, and slow-roasted lavender rabbit with a Chardonnay sauce. It's a very nice splurge for a special occasion. The prix-fixe menu includes three courses full of choices and three wine pairings. Call well in advance for reservations.

This romantic restaurant on Waikiki's tranquil Gold Coast features beachside sunset views and traditional French fare. It opened in 1962, and the surroundings reflect this, with lots of wood and stone, bow-tied servers preparing the restaurant's "famous" lobster bisque and steak tartare table-side, and a charm that's beloved by old-time locals but sometimes lost on younger diners. Among the French classics (garlicky escargots, mustard-crusted rack of lamb) are local twists, such as yellowfin ahi tartare with tobiko (fish roe) and Hawaiian salt or steamed mahi mahi. Brunch is served the first Sunday of every month. For a premium table with a jaw-dropping view, reserve weeks in advance.