Hau Tree Lanai

With some time off I was looking for a lunch place open aired and with a view. A table right at the edge of a beach came to mind so I immediately looked up the Hau Tree Lanai. My last impressions of this place was back in the previous century. It was very good then, and I was hoping time had been kind to this place.

If you're a fan of the Eighties then you're in the right place.

You step through what was once a charming boutique beachside hotel lobby and descend some steps into the cafe. The Lanai is nestled right up against one of Waikiki's best swimming, sunning, and family beaches, Kaimana Beach, aka Sans Sochi to 20th century kamaaina. I had a wonderful table on the open terrace under the canopy of a couple of gnarled Hau trees. Descriptions like "Pacific Rim", or "Farm to Table" might apply to dinner but brunch or lunch is a throwback to days when all white serving plates to showcase the food, and an orchid/pineapple garnish were swish.

In this century, if you got game, you offer an Old Fashioned, all day, the right way. What I got was best described as bad. Bad, as in ... presentation: tiny cubes from an ice machine and a floating red maraschino cherry, bad ... looks: did I order a POG Old Fashioned?, bad ... taste: like a mystery tiki drink, overly sweet with the alcohol clearly not in sync with whatever else was in there, bad.
Clearly the price of your meal includes the price of real estate with a value added beachside vibe but my Islander Trio Of Sliders? Half dollar sized portions of teri glazed black angus beef patty, fresh island ahi medallion w tomato cilantro salsa, pulled kalua pork, with an overdressed, wilted, shredded green and red cabbage slaw missing any tang or brightness. Ouch.

I left my Waikiki beachside lunch feeling like I just left some vacation condotel along the Kuhio Highway in Kapaa ... back in the last century. Sad.

My wife found this restaurant through a Yelp search for our anniversary as she looked for something oceanfront. Street parking at 6pm was an issue as we searched for a short time only to turn around and head back towards the restaurant to realize they had valet parking. Validated valet was $5 and their parking was right there. Win win.

We entered and were promptly greeted and escorted to our table near the beach. Upon entering, you quickly notice the openness and tree in the middle of the restaurant. It's cozy and not exactly socially distanced like other restaurants but there is some distance. Employees did wear masks. Service wasn't fast but we weren't in a hurry so didn't notice any concerns. Warm bread and butter were served as we waited and enjoyed although a little flavor in the butter would have been ideal.

I ordered the Black Angus New York Steak ($48) and a Maui Coconut beer. The steak was beautifully cooked, tender, melted in my mouth, with some vegetables and garlic butter to add. The garlic butter while sounding tasty wasn't a factor in my opinion. I was hoping for more flavor in the steak but it was still good, tender, and I enjoyed it.

I guess they ask on the reservation if you're visiting for any special occasion which my wife identified as our anniversary. After dinner they brought us a tasty piece of cheesecake that was delicious and topped off the meal. We were stuffed already and wouldn't have ordered dessert but since it was there, we enjoyed it.

The location is right on the beach so a nice opportunity to just relax, talk, people watch, and view the ocean. My wife picked the time for the sunset but the clouds hindered a good viewing. Overall, a wonderful evening with my beautiful wife on our anniversary.

I booked the reservation through OpenTable, and I'd highly recommend you do the same! My partner and I happened to arrive a bit early at 5:20 PM. By 5:25 PM, there was a line already! The host asked us to form a single-file line. At 5:30 PM, they started bringing people in for dinner services.

We were lucky to get a table right by the sandy beach. It gets humid in Honolulu, so the open-air seating arrangement made it somewhat more bearable. I don't know if I would enjoy it as much during lunch hours if the sun is directly above us.

Our server Roger was very nice and kind. He offered to take photos for us since we were snapping pictures for each other after we got seated. He answered our questions about the menu since we were not sure if the entrees came with any starch. We then ordered the miso sake salmon ($35) and seafood fruittie de mari ($39). Both were delicious! It is expensive but we wanted a nice dinner place for a treat. This was perfect! Since we put down our reservation was for a birthday celebration, they even brought out a complimentary cheesecake slice for us! How nice!

It was the perfect dinner to have a relaxing evening. The waiter service made our evening much more pleasant. The tables around us got full very quickly. So make sure you make an early reservation and line up early to get a table right next to the beach.

The bathroom is inside the hotel, and decently clean. We walked over from Honolulu to this hotel. It is a bit far (about 20 - 30 mins), but could be a good stroll.

If you'd like to bask in a glorious Hawaiian Sunset while sipping on a specialty cocktail, drinking some vino, and enjoying an amazing meal then look no further than Hau Tree Lanai! Located in the New Otani Hotel on the outskirts of Waikiki, it allows easy access without having to fight through the normal Kalakaua traffic, once you step into the lobby, feel the ocean breeze on your face, your blood pressure instantly drops and a sense of relaxation settles in!

Food: Specialty cocktails and an ample wine list greet you as you peruse the menu. Fresh local ingredients expertly prepared awaits you. On this evening we chose the Seafood Mixed Grill and the Island Beef Sampler. They had no issue with use asking to replace the starch with an assortment of steamed veggies. The Seafood Mixed Grill was stacked high with generous portions Lobster, Shrimp, Scallop, and Fish all in an amazing creamy sauce. The island beef sampler included a petite filet, strip loin, and a melt in your mouth beef shank. Everything was amazing, finished off the meal with their Kaimana Berry Tartelettes.

Service: Great service, it's not a huge space but the number of staff truly ensures that someone is frequently checking in on your needs.

Atmosphere: Here is where it goes next level. We made a reservation early and I requested a beach side table which provides the BEST sunset views. Check to see when sunset actually is Hawaii varies from 5:30 pm to 6:45 pm. In this case sunset was at 6:29 pm, our reservations were at 5:30 pm. Our dinner took about 2 hours meaning we were able to watch the sunset as we were enjoying our meal. I would actually recommend making a reservation about 30 minutes prior to sunset which allows you to enjoy some the tiki torches and less crowded beach side.

Value: Pretty solid value for dining a mere foot from the sands of Waikiki Beach with amazing menu options. The wines by the glass were decent and priced very reasonably.

Overall: While we don't dine here often we always ask ourselves at the end of the meal why we don't come here more often. Beautiful views, amazing food and drink, excellent service makes Hau Tree Lanai a definite repeat for us!

My boyfriend made reservations here for my birthday! I feel like this place is hidden and underrated since it's away from the Waikiki madness! More closer to the Diamond ahead area. It's own little hidden gem.

I ordered the angus steak and it was so delicious and tender. I also got a complimentary birthday cake which was very tasty. Our waiter was very nice and attentive! Great service.

I love the outside seating of this venue. It's very nice and relaxing next to the beach. We watched the 7pm fireworks on a Friday which made my birthday even better! I will return again and hopefully try out their breakfast menu!

I was imagining a big fancy dining area at Hau Tree Lanai looking at the pictures the business puts up on guide books and such. The reality is that it is kinda small old dining establishment. Yes the view of Kaimana beach is great. But there isn't really fancy about this place at all.

Since it is very small, AI highly recommend making a reservation. We were lucky and got a front row of ocean view tables. The service is really good. Everyone is very nice and good comes out fairly quick.

I ordered a classic egg Benedict and my mom had pancakes and my husband had coconut French toasts. My egg benedict, I wouldn't say the best I had like some say, but pretty good. My husband's French toast was not bad either. But I was not a fan of the pancakes at all. It is pretty classic pancakes just gigantic topped with fruits. Nothing special but just big and overpriced.

If the weather is not too hot, it is a nice walk along Kapiolani park from Waikiki. It is about 15min walk from the zoo. There are tons of street parking along the Kapiolani and they also have parking at the hotel $5 for 3hours.

Luckily we chosen this place to celebrate our anniversary. Our meals were excellent, large portions and service was great! Everything was lovely! Stunning vista, fabulous chef.
A definite must if on Oahu. Dinner menu was great. Highly recommend!

I hadn't been out to eat in over 3 months and was still a bit scared to go out. My best friend was leaving the island to move to Ohio, so it was very important for me to have a nice dinner with her before she left. We decided on Hau Tree Lanai because we felt safer eating outdoors.

This was a great choice for us. They have valet parking, but will spray and wipe down the inside of your car before you leave after dinner. The restaurant only books a few tables for dinner, so there was good social distancing. Servers were masked and we were screened upon entering to ensure that we had reserved a table.

Seated right on the beach, this lovely restaurant has a beautiful view. During the time we went, which was a couple of weeks ago, the menu was limited and only beer/wine was available from the bar. This was fine. We had a choice of 2 beef dishes and some fish dishes as entrees, there were a few salads, and a couple of dessert options. We started off with some very good bread and butter and had a delightful dinner salad. Our mains were beef shank, strip loin, and tenderloin steaks with steamed veggies and potato puree. We drank glasses of chardonnay while watching the sun set.

My beef was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and my friend and I had a bit too much to drink. I met her in NYC, we both ended up living here, our kids are close friends, and I miss her terribly. We were not rushed and spent a few hours just chatting and sipping wine while enjoying the beautiful sunset. My first time out was a wonderfully magical evening. If you are looking for a special place to enjoy dinner, I highly recommend this place for food, service, and the lovely ambience. A solid 5 stars!

This restaurant is at the top of my list for favorites anywhere in the world but especially Waikiki. I have been going here since 2005. The view, the food and service cannot be beat. Not only is the place fantastic but they make you feel welcomed while here, and relaxed when you go. I love the staff here!

It has been many moons since I've dined here! I'd say over 10 years so I was excited to have lunch a couple weeks ago! Let me say it has not changed! At all! Everything looks exactly as a remember!
Our service was up to par with the servers constantly refilling our coffee and waters. Our food was delicious! The view of the beach was beautiful!

Tip: there are metered stalls right across the street for up to 3 hours so I filled my meter and leisurely strolled around the park after we dined.