If you're looking for a smart and stylish Mexican cantina inside Poipu's upscale and open-air Kukuiula Village Shopping Center, Tortilla Republic is just the thing. Moffat also operates the neighboring Hanalei Bread Co., a must-visit for breakfast. nightly (consider that downright night-owlish for this part of the world). Dining and drinking are enjoyed on a breezy covered lanai, and the bar serves until 10 p.m. It can be counted on for small plates of absolutely stellar farm-to-table fare as well as expertly prepared cocktails and a well-curated wine and beer selection. Bar Acuda is an unpretentious-yet-decidedly hip spot with a strong LGBTQ+ following. It's located in the historic heart of Hanalei-an enchanting North Shore community near Princeville Resort that you might recognize from the 1958 film South Pacific-and set amid a cluster of eateries and shops in the village center. Veteran San Francisco restaurateur Jim Moffat is the mastermind behind this chic tapas joint.
Many Kauai eateries are of the mom-and-pop variety, but not Bar Acuda.