Restaurant in Kapalua, United States
Credentialed chef, Maui views, easy to book.
Merriman's at Kapalua is West Maui's most credentialed fine-casual option: a 4.7-rated New American restaurant built on Hawaii Regional Cuisine sourcing, with OAD Casual North America recognition and a setting at the Kapalua Bay Club that matches the food's ambition. Book it for a special occasion dinner or any night you want a meal that connects to place rather than just resort convenience.
Merriman's at Kapalua sits in the upper tier of Maui dining — a New American restaurant with a 4.7 Google rating across nearly 2,400 reviews, positioned on the grounds of the Kapalua Bay Club with views that do most of the first impression work. If you're deciding whether to book for a special dinner on West Maui, the answer is yes, with one condition: know what you're walking into. This is a polished, farm-to-table-rooted dinner experience anchored by Peter Merriman's name, a chef who has been synonymous with Hawaii Regional Cuisine since the early 1990s. The Waimea sister location earned a White Star on Star Wine List in 2022 and the brand ranks #327 on the Opinionated About Dining Casual North America list for 2025 — respectable credentials that put it clearly above the resort-filler category without claiming a Michelin tier. For food-focused travelers looking for depth in a destination better known for beach chairs than serious dining, Merriman's delivers.
The setting at 1 Bay Club Place does the visual heavy lifting from the moment you arrive. The Kapalua location sits against a backdrop of the Pacific, and the room is designed to make that view central to the meal , natural light, open sightlines, and a sense of place that grounds the food in its geography. Peter Merriman's culinary framework is built on sourcing from Hawaii's farms and waters, and that philosophy gives the menu a coherence that distinguishes it from generic resort dining. The progression through a meal here follows the logic of place: local proteins, island produce, and preparations that reflect the cuisine's New American identity without drifting into fusion noise. For an explorer-type diner, the interest is in how the kitchen articulates a Hawaiian sense of terroir through an American fine-casual lens , a lens Merriman helped create and has been refining for three decades. That longevity matters. It means the kitchen has a point of view, not just a concept. Compared to newer entrants in the Maui dining scene, there's a consistency here that only comes from time.
The wine program, informed by the Star Wine List recognition at the Waimea location, is worth attention. White Star recognition signals a list curated with real intent , expect bottles chosen to complement the local sourcing story rather than a generic resort wine wall. Bring that expectation and you won't be disappointed.
Within Kapalua specifically, Merriman's occupies a distinct position as the only restaurant in the immediate area carrying both a credentialed chef name and consistent critical recognition. For broader Maui comparisons, see our full Kapalua restaurants guide. If you're benchmarking against the wider New American category across the U.S. , places like Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg, Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, or The French Laundry in Napa , Merriman's operates at a different price and intensity level, but serves a comparable philosophical purpose: connecting a meal to its agricultural source. For travelers who have eaten at those restaurants and are wondering if Merriman's is worth a booking, the answer is yes on its own terms, not as a substitute. It's a different register , more accessible, less theatrical , but the sourcing commitment is genuine.
Reservations: Easy to book; no weeks-out sprint required, though weekend evenings at a resort destination fill faster in peak season , book a few days ahead to be safe. Address: 1 Bay Club Pl, Lahaina, HI 96761. Dress: Smart casual is the standard for a resort fine-casual setting of this profile; linen shirts and sundresses fit the room. Budget: Price range data is not confirmed in our records , expect resort fine-casual pricing, which at comparable Hawaii venues runs $80–$150 per person with drinks. Getting there: Kapalua is a 45-minute drive from Kahului Airport; a rental car is effectively required. For where to stay nearby, see our full Kapalua hotels guide. For what else to do around the visit, our Kapalua experiences guide covers the area.
Yes, straightforwardly. The combination of the Bay Club setting, ocean views, Peter Merriman's track record, and a 4.7 rating across nearly 2,400 reviews makes it one of the more reliable special-occasion choices on West Maui. It's not a tasting-menu production in the style of Alinea or Le Bernardin, but for a milestone dinner in a Hawaii resort setting, the combination of setting, sourcing, and consistent execution is well matched to the purpose.
Groups are generally manageable at a restaurant of this scale and profile. Specific private dining or group policy details are not confirmed in our records , contact the restaurant directly before booking for parties of 6 or more. The Bay Club Pl address is the right starting point for any group inquiry. For broader planning in the area, our Kapalua restaurants guide includes alternatives if capacity is an issue.
A kitchen built on local farm sourcing typically has the flexibility to work with dietary restrictions, but specific accommodation policies are not confirmed in our data. Call ahead for anything beyond standard requests. The farm-to-table framework does mean the kitchen is working with whole, identifiable ingredients rather than processed components, which generally helps with restriction-based cooking.
Smart casual. At a resort fine-casual restaurant in Kapalua , with the OAD Casual ranking and the Bay Club setting , the expectation is a step above beachwear but well below black-tie. Linen, sundresses, collared shirts, and clean footwear all fit. No jacket required. For reference, think of the dress standard at other credentialed casual restaurants in U.S. resort destinations.
Within Kapalua itself, alternatives are limited , Merriman's is the area's primary fine-casual option. For broader Maui dining, our full Kapalua restaurants guide covers the category. If you're willing to drive, the Maui dining scene has expanded meaningfully in recent years. For mainland New American comparisons, Craft in New York City and Bayona in New Orleans share the accessible-but-credentialed register that Merriman's occupies.
Bar seating at Merriman's Kapalua is not confirmed in our current records. At comparable resort-adjacent restaurants in Hawaii, bar dining is common and often the better choice for solo diners or couples who want a more informal experience. Call ahead to confirm availability and whether the full menu is served at the bar.
Three things: First, Merriman's is a local institution, not a resort afterthought , Peter Merriman has been one of the defining names in Hawaii Regional Cuisine since the 1990s, and the kitchen reflects that history. Second, the sourcing story is real; the menu is built around Hawaii farms and waters, which gives it more coherence than most resort-adjacent dining. Third, book ahead for weekend evenings , it's easy to get a table, but not walk-in reliable at peak times. For context on the wider area, our Kapalua restaurants guide is a useful companion.
Yes, especially if bar seating is available (confirm when you book). The fine-casual tone and farm-forward menu make it a good fit for a solo diner who wants a serious meal without the formality of a tasting-menu restaurant. The 4.7 rating and OAD Casual recognition suggest consistent execution rather than hit-or-miss nights, which matters more when you're dining alone and have no one else's dish to fall back on. For solo travelers building a broader Kapalua itinerary, our experiences guide covers what else is worth your time.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Merriman’s | — | |
| Le Bernardin | $$$$ | — |
| Atomix | $$$$ | — |
| Lazy Bear | $$$$ | — |
| Alinea | $$$$ | — |
| Atelier Crenn | $$$$ | — |
Comparing your options in Kapalua for this tier.
Dietary accommodations can vary. Flag restrictions in advance via the venue's official channels.
Yes — it's one of the stronger cases for a special-occasion dinner in the Kapalua area. Peter Merriman is a named, credentialed chef with recognition on the Opinionated About Dining Casual North America list (ranked #327 in 2025), which gives the meal a grounding beyond resort-adjacent dining. The Pacific-facing setting at 1 Bay Club Place adds to the occasion without requiring you to work for it. It won't feel as ceremonial as a tasting-menu format, but for a landmark dinner on Maui, the combination of chef reputation and setting makes the booking easy to justify.
Groups are manageable here — it's a resort-adjacent, full-service New American restaurant rather than a counter-format or intimate tasting room, so larger parties are generally workable. For groups of six or more, check the venue's official channels at 1 Bay Club Place, Kapalua, to confirm table configuration and any private dining options. Weekend evenings in peak season fill faster, so advance coordination matters more than at a city restaurant.
Peter Merriman built his reputation on farm-to-table New American cooking, which typically means a kitchen comfortable adapting dishes around dietary needs rather than rigidly locked into a fixed format. That said, specific dietary accommodation details aren't documented in current venue data — contact Merriman's at 1 Bay Club Place directly when booking to confirm. Giving notice at reservation is the practical move regardless of cuisine format.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
