9 special occasion-worthy restaurants in Honolulu

Taormina is a go-to for special date nights and anniversaries thanks to its dimly lit, white-tablecloth vibes. Make your way through executive chef Hiroyuki Mimura’s solid Sicilian-inspired menu, which includes crowd favorites like beef carpaccio and spaghettini with sardines, fennel, and anchovies. The restaurant’s deep wine list is curated by Roberto Viernes—one of Hawaiʻi’s few master sommeliers—and filled with toast-worthy Italian bottles, white burgundies, and plenty of Champagne.

Orchids at Halekulani has hosted memorable graduations, weddings, bridal showers, and birthdays for decades. The Honolulu classic stands out for a gigantic Sunday brunch buffet that features a carving station, an ice-cream sundae bar, and favorites from the Halekulani Bakery. Don’t miss the hotel’s signature popovers, which have single-handedly drawn locals for years. Add sweeping Diamond Head views and you’ve got one of the most iconic photo ops on Oahu.

There’s no better celebration combo than dinner and a show—especially when dinner is the show. One of Honolulu’s most popular teppanyaki spots is well-loved by groups and families for lively performances from master chefs who flip knives, toss shrimp, and make onion volcanoes. Celebrate over salmon steak, scallops sauteed in lemon and butter, and more. This festive and roomy restaurant opened its doors in 1978 and now has three locations, including one in Ala Moana Center, the largest open-air shopping center in the world.

Locals have turned to Roy’s for celebrations ever since it opened in 1988. James Beard Award-winning chef Roy Yamaguchi, who helped define Pacific Rim Cuisine in the ’90s, is fluent in fine-dining food like slow-braised beef short rib and Hawaiʻi-style sushi rolls. His namesake restaurant has expanded to include a number of locations in both Hawaiʻi and on the mainland, but the Hawaii Kai edition is the undisputed OG. Away from the hustle of Waikīkī, its serene dining room is all about celebrating in an inviting space warmed by sea breezes from the nearby shore.

If your idea of a proper celebration is a handsome cut of beef and a stiff martini, Hy’s Steak House is the ticket. The old-school restaurant is dressed in mahogany and leather and decorated with oil paintings in ornate wooden frames, making this one of the most regal spots in town. Go all out with shareable seafood towers, tableside salads, and the stars of the show—kiawe-broiled prime beef cuts served in filet mignon, porterhouse, or ribeye form.

Deck. is a blockbuster brunch spot that attracts crowds for top-notch poke, fish tacos, and burgers, plus half-off bottles of wine and Champagne. The stylish New American restaurant lives in the freshly revamped Queen Kapiolani Hotel and has an award-winning outdoor setup featuring a postcard-perfect lanai and uninterrupted Diamond Head views—a super scenic pairing that’s earned it all sorts of wedding and reception cred.

Insta-worthy Honolulu Pier views are one of the many festive perks at this Waikiki stunner. So are luxe American and Asian dishes by chef de cuisine Aaron Furuto, who cranks out an impressive buffet that includes a prime rib station, unlimited temaki, crab legs, and more. Enjoy it in a window-wrapped dining room and watch the sun slide into the Pacific above Ala Wai Harbor—a setting that’s sure to add magic to whatever you’re celebrating.

One of Oahu’s top luxury resorts also aces the special occasion test: The Kahala’s high-ceilinged, open-air Veranda is a gorgeous setting for a celebratory English-inspired afternoon tea spread—with some Hawaiian touches, of course. Case in point: scones with passionfruit curd and pineapple marmalade, black tea from Maui, and other locally accented high-tea treats. Add a glass of bubbles to take your celebration up a notch.

Come to La Vie for an especially chic celebration. The airy Waikīkī Ritz-Carlton restaurant churns out seasonal French-inspired fare featuring luxuries like dry-aged kampachi and duck breast with jus a l’orange—plus celebratory add-ons like caviar service, A5 wagyu, and a cheese cart, if you want to pull out all the stops. The dining room is loved for its ability to shapeshift from a relaxed happy hour backdrop to an occasion-worthy candlelit escape at dinnertime, complete with live piano performances to dial up the elegance.