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On any given day, Waikiki is buzzing with activity. And there is no shortage of places to eat, shop, and have fun. But, if you are looking for a place where you can hang out and relax with some good food and beer and enjoy the cool breeze in a kid-friendly environment, then you need to head to the Maui Brewing Co.!
Location
Maui Brewing Co. has an awesome location right in the heart of Waikiki. You will find it perched atop the Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger. It is right across the street from Kuhio Beach on Kalakaua Avenue. The restaurant has its own street level entrance that leads up some stairs to the restaurant. There is a hostess posted at the bottom of the stairs to help you. As you ascend the stairs, you will see signs posted explaining the brewing process. They also have three other locations around the Hawaiian islands.
Decor
Maui Brewing Co. is decorated much as you might expect a brewery in Waikiki to be: Hawaiian design mixed with modern industrial. It is an open air restaurant which takes full advantage of the warm sun and tropical breezes. It is indoor/outdoor living at its finest. The only difference between the main restaurant and the patio is that the patio is not covered. You will find relaxed island furniture throughout. Along the interior wall, there is a huge bar running almost the entire length of the restaurant. On the patio, you will have a bird’s eye view of the street below, providing excellent people watching oppurtunities.
Food
The food at Maui Brewing Co. is excellent. It is mostly elevated pub grub with a big Polynesian twist. You will see lots of Hawaiian ingredients and dishes on the menu, such as macadamia nuts, poke, and aloha rice. If you are in the mood for seafood or a steak, they have you covered there too. And unlike many breweries, they have a dedicated kids menu! Now, they open early with a breakfast menu to enjoy! For breakfast, they offer some traditional plates, such as loco moco, steak and eggs, and biscuits and gravy, as well as some fun twists, including a breakfast pizza and bruleed apple banana pancakes. The breakfast menu sounds so yummy, it makes me want to go back for breakfast! For a look at the whole menu, visit their website.
When we visited, Chris and I split the nachos and the Forager flatbread. They were delicious! It was, by far, the best pizza I have ever had! It was ridiculously good. Our son ate a pizza off of the kids menu, which he loved.
Beer
The beer offerings at Maui Brewing Co. always includes their four flagship brews: Bikini Blonde, Big Swell, Coconut Hiwa, and Pineapple Mana. The menu also features approximately 20 other varieties of their own concoctions that are rotated periodically. Additionally, they offer 5-10 beers from other independent breweries. You can also find the Maui Brewing Co. non-alcoholic root beer, along with a decent selection of cocktails and mocktails on the menu. Chris really enjoyed his beer during our time here.
Service
To be honest, the service is the biggest negative of the Maui Brewing Co. It’s not that it is bad service, it’s just slow. But, I guess that is to be expected when you are on island time. Our waitress was very friendly and accommodating. But, it took her a long time to wait on us when we first sat down. And there were times when she just seemed to vanish. This would have been acceptable if the restaurant had been busy, but we were there in between the lunch and dinner rushes, so it wasn’t that busy. The slow service wasn’t bad enough to make us stay away, however. Just remember to pack some patience when you go.
Hours and Pricing
Maui Brewing Co. is open seven days a week from 7 am- midnight. You can get pizza, sandwiches, or burgers for $15-20, while big plates will cost you from $20-35. Most of the items on the kids menu are under $10. The beers range in price from $6.75-11. Cocktails are in the $10-12 range. While these prices are a bit high, you have to remember that this brewery sits in the midst of a high traffic tourist area, so the higher prices are to be expected.
To take advantage of the relaxing vibe and great food without the high price tag, try going during Happy Hour, which is from 3:30-5:30 everyday. During that time, you can get $10 pizzas, 50% off select appetizers, $2 off beer and $3 off cocktails. Plus, they offer live music everyday during Happy Hour!
Conclusion
Maui Brewing Co. is a fabulous place to stop when visiting Waikiki. You can find good beer, great food, and excellent people watching from its rooftop perch. The open air restaurant is relaxing with plenty of Hawaiian touches throughout. The restaurant is kid-friendly with a dedicated menu for your little ones. While the service is slow, the wait staff is warm and friendly. We enjoyed our time at the Maui Brewing Co. and will definitely be back during our next trip to Waikiki. If your family is like mine, with kids and beer lovers in the mix, the Maui Brewing Co. will be a hit. Also try eating at Lulu’s and Duke’s when you are in Waikiki. For ideas on what to do in Honolulu, see our posts on the Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, and things to do with kids in Waikiki. Happy travels!
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