Great / artisanal / handmade / mixology cocktails in Maui?

[kathryn]

I did a search and I guess this topic has never been discussed (I found threads on Oahu and the big island).

Looking for great cocktails in Maui. We will probably have a car and be able to drive around, but we're thinking of staying in Kihei, and closer is obviously better.

I'd love to find a place that uses good ice (like Kold Draft), measures with jiggers, and uses good ingredients. I'm thinking nicer brands of liquor, freshly squeezed juices (not sour mix), and hopefully their own syrups/etc instead of bottled grenadine, orgeat, etc. Along the lines of (or maybe a notch down from) PDT/Death & Co/Milk & Honey/Pegu Club in NYC, Violet Hour/Sable in Chicago, Drink in Boston, Passenger Bar/The Gibson in DC, etc. We're willing to pay a premium for quality and balanced non-sugary drinks (maybe up to $15-17).

Can be tropically themed or not. In fact, my husband is a tiki buff, but we're not really expecting to find a place w/ great tiki atmosphere AND great non-sugary drinks, since it's hard to find that on the Mainland, and tiki is more of a Mainland invention.

How is Fairmont Kea Lani's cocktails? They look great:
http://bayzest.com/travel/maui-week-our-favorite-island-cocktails/

Or Mama's Fish House?
http://mauidish.com/maui-restaurant-r...

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Mama's Fish House
Paia HI, Paia, HI

[pilotgirl210]

We tried mai tais all over Maui during a visit in March and we liked, by far, the ones served at the Mai Tai Lounge on Front Street in Lahaina. And, being right on the beachside, you can't get a better view!

[terijoy]

Dschlacty, definitely try the MonkeyPod mai tai, not their Tropical mai tai which has POG juice. The MonkeyPod mai tai is traditional and delicious with fresh lime and good local rums. The lilikoi foam on top adds a wonderful touch imo, but I'm sure they would make you one without it and with crushed ice if you want to be completely traditional. Maybe you could try it both ways and give us your opinion. Here is a link http://m.monkeypodkitchen.com/cocktai.... Happy hour is very good here. Some places on the island make smaller or cheaper versions of their cocktails at happy hour. Not MonkeyPod. They care about quality. Good half price pupus too. We always stay west on Maui but may try south next time to be near MonkeyPod!
Kathryn's suggestion of making your own cocktails is a good one. Most bars use mixes. Get fruits and herbs at farmers markets, and booze is reasonably priced in the stores. Try Longs Drug.

[Dschlachty]

Kathryn,

I am a fellow cocktail enthusiast and found your thread when I was wondering the exact same thing. Where can I find craft cocktails when I visit Maui in a couple of weeks. We have the same taste in bars. I am looking for somewhere with a good authentic Mai Tai (crushed ice/real orgeat/good rum/etc.) But I am also looking for good craft cocktails incorporating the local ingredients. I am wondering if you found any places that you really liked when you were there. Drop some science on me.

[kathryn]

The only place we tried and liked was Monkeypod Kitchen (but not all drinks there are equally good). Mama's Fish House had drinks that were only OK. Hali'imaile General Store actually served us something with a local rum that tasted oddly; they replaced it and the server said it happened quite often. The rum tastes a bit rubbery/plasticky. Lahaina Grill was decent but not great.

Lots of free pouring in Maui and very few bartenders taste their creations before sending them out.

If you're in a condo, bring some shakers, a barspoon, and jiggers, and make your own.

Our trip report:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/829797

[Juji]

Check out Monkeypod Kitchen too, they have a pretty impressive bar.

[kathryn]

What about South Shore Tiki Lounge? Any recent reports?

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South Shore Tiki Lounge
1913 S Kihei Rd Ste L, Kihei, HI 96753

[scottca075]

Hawaii is all about sugary drinks, not Manhattan or Los Angels style cocktails. Three of the four cocktails at the Kea Lani in that article are sugary drinks.

[kathryn]

So these threads are wrong?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/712992
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/734970

I don't mind a fruity cocktail that has simple syrup in it (some tiki drinks are sweet but still balanced) but I don't want an apple-tini.

[scottca075]

I guess sugary is a matter of getting the definition right. All the places mentioned in the thread you reference specialize in what I would call sugary drinks because they are mostly rum based. I think of an apple-tini being more tart than sweet.

The ice is generally really good in Maui because the water source is pretty pure.

While I am not a fan of the TS Restaurants (Duke's, Hula Grill, Leilani's & Kimo's) for dinner, I do love them for lunch or Happy Hour and they have a pretty good drink menu that includes a lot of vodka drinks.

http://www.hulagrillkaanapali.com/docs/Drinks_Page%20052511.pdf
http://www.dukesmaui.com/docs/Wine_an...

[kathryn]

I don't mind rum based drinks as long as they are balanced with enough citrus... I like my daiquiris to be 2 oz rum, 3/4 oz freshly squeezed lime, and 3/4 oz simple syrup. For the tropical drinks I usually go with Beachbum Berry's recipes. Fruity and rum does not always mean sugary or out of balance.

Thanks for the links, not a vodka fan. Looking to avoid places with too many vodka drinks and the "-tini" suffix for every drink name on the menu.

[MRG58]

I would suggest:

Merriman's Kapalua
One Bay Club Place
Lahaina, Maui
808-669-6400
http://merrimanshawaii.com/pdfs/maui_specialty.pdfhttp://www.merrimanshawaii.com/pdfs/maui_dinner.pdf
"Locavore Specialty Cocktails" Locally sourced ingredients, juices are extracted from local fruits, mint basil from their own garden, etc. Our favorite place for dinner/cocktails on Maui. Cliffside oceanfront location with fire ring at oceanfront point, near Kapalua Resort. A must stop. Peter Merrriman is a leader in the Hawaiian Regional Cusine, farm to table concept. We have always enjoyed our meals both there and in Waimea on the Island of Hawaii.

Other dinner suggestions:

Bev Gannon's
Hali'imaile General Store
900 Hali'imaile Road
Makawao, Maui
808-572-2666
http://dreamteamhosting.net/~wwwbevga/haliimaile/menus/
pinapple upsidown cake a specialty. Visit Makawao town, specialty shops, Komoda's bakery, famous for cream puffs and jelly donuts.

David Paul's Island Grill
900 Front Street
Lahaina, Maui
808-662-3000
http://www.davidpaulsislandgrill.com/content.php?content=cocktails

i'o
505 Front Street
Lahaina, Maui
808-661-8422
http://iomaui.com/
Oceanfront
You'll find most of these on Open Table, convenient given the New York time difference.

Kula Lodge
15200 Haleakala Drive
Kula, Maui
808-878-1535
Quaint lodge for breakfast,wood fired pizza, spectacular 100 year old garden, views. Make a right our of their lot, go to the end, see farmstand with outrageous strawberries, vegetables and flowers.

Flatbread
89 Hana Highway
Pa'ia, Maui
808-579-8989
Pizza for lunch.

Mamma's is not a prioritychoice, imho, where we woud go for the view, not the food. We found the food at Kea Lani to be a disappointment, the cocktails were not memorable.

Have a great trip. I'd love to hear your reviews.

E Komo Mai

Michael

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Kula Lodge & Restaurant
15200 Haleakala Hwy, Kula, HI 96790

505 Front Street Shops & Restaurants
, Lahaina, HI 96761

Merriman's Kapalua
1 Bay Dr, Lahaina, HI 96761

David Paul's Island Grill
900 Front St Ste A101, Lahaina, HI 96761

[manomin]

Great list! I would also suggest the Alaloa Bar at the Ritz Carlton, very nice cocktail list.

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Ritz Carlton
Maui, HI, Maui, HI

[kathryn]

Thanks! We're not going for a few months but I figured I'd start researching now!