Top 10 Cocktails on Maui

The mai tai is considered to be the drink of the island; but, not all mai tais are created the same. Trust us when we say we have done the research on this one and sampled mai tais near and far for the perfect, tropical concoction. The mai tai that hits all the right spots, and keeps bringing us back for more, is the famous mai tai created by Chef Merriman.

This mai tai can be found here at the Kapalua Resort at Merriman’s restaurant, or, at his Monkeypod restaurant in Kaanapali. What sets this mai tai apart from all others is not only the local Lahaina rum, the house made macadamia nut orgeat, fresh lime juice and triple sec, but the honey-lilikoi foam on top. Paradise in a glass!

This award winning mai tai is well worth the drive all the way to the Wailea Resort. Rarely do we find a mai tai that comes close to Merriman’s mai tai, but this mai tai is a top contender and provides a very unique twist all its own!

Located at the Lobby Lounge in the Four Seasons resort, this mai tai features Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, house made mai tai mix, lime, mint and a bin cherry foam! This is the type of drink that will leave you lost for words! It might be one of the best drinks you’ll ever have.

Frida’s is one of our all-time favorite oceanfront restaurants and with Mark Ellman as the owner, it is no surprise why. Mark is a legend in the food world on Maui, owning the 5-star restaurants of Honu, Mala, Maui Tacos and Penne Pasta.

Frida’s is located just adjacent to the ocean, offering guests unobstructed ocean and island views. During whale season you’ll be treated to some of the best seats to watch the whales at play while you sip on your cocktails.

Our favorite cocktail here is their classic margarita. You can’t go wrong with a really well made classic, along with ocean views and fantastic food. “The Classic” margarita is made with Traditional Silver Tequila, Orange Liquor and fresh lime. If you are a tequila lover you can find over 40 variteis to choose from!

Down the Hatch has quickly become a number one spot for Happy Hour on Maui and one of our favorite places for tropical cocktails. They are located across the street from the Banyan Tree in Lahaina at the Wharf Cinema Center, making it a perfect location to take a break after after sightseeing on Front Street. They have even been featured on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” and serve fantastic food with an even better Happy Hour.

Their bartenders don’t skimp on the good stuff and they even make an adult shave ice, complete with rum! However, we come here for the lava flows. A lava flow contains light rum, coconut, pineapple juice and strawberry puree. The strawberry puree mixes into the pina colada to look like lava and is as much fun to drink as it is to look at. Served in a tropical tiki glass, this lava flow is truly paradise in a glass!

The Burger Shack is a hidden gem at the Kapalua Resort; it sits right off DT Flemings Beach at the Ritz Carlton. This outdoor eatery serves incredible burgers and some of the best “crazy shakes” on Maui. We also love the Burger Shack for one of the most unique drinks on Maui, the Welken’s Mai Tai Shake. That’s right, an alcoholic mai tai shake!

This drink features Kula toasted coconut rum, house made orange pineapple jam, dark rum, Tahitian ice cream and coconut whipped cream. It’s basically happiness in a large glass!

With a focus on Italian cuisine and hand crafted urban drinks, Taverna is dishing out some of the most talked about meals on Maui.

Tiki torches line the outside patio, and the open air restaurant creates an ambiance that is both warm and welcoming. With a stylish bar with seating for up to thirty-two, this is the perfect place to grab some drinks and pupus.

Taverna has some of the best mixologists on the island; they create works of art on a daily basis! They love creating custom drinks. Just make the request and they will deliver!

One of the many drinks for which Taverna is famous is their Burning Han-Hattan. This sophisticated cocktail features Bulleit Rye, Carpano Antica, House Bitters and Smoke Seasonal Wood. If you are more of a traditional Manhattan drinker, the Makers Manhattan is the best on the island!  

The Montage Hotel is just a quick walk from the Ridge Villas and wonderful place for cocktails! We love the Lilikaloma which can be found at their Hideaway Lounge and the Hana Hou Bar and Sunset Patio.

The Lilikaloma easy on the eyes and features tequila, pink grapefruit liqueur, passionfruit and soda.

Sit back, relax and sip on your beautiful, pink cocktail as you enjoy the gorgeous grounds of the Montage Hotel.

Fleetwood’s on Front Street is owned and operated by legendary musician, Mick Fleetwood. Not only is Fleetwood’s famous for their award-winning food, but also for their sought-after ocean views and rocking live music!

Their rooftop bar offers guests unobstructed ocean views, and a happy hour that does not disappoint.  The Kokomo is one of our favorite cocktails at Fleetwoods. It features Ciroc Coconut Vodka, Calahua Coconut Cream, pineapple juice, housemade lime sour, and a pineapple slice. Bottoms up!

One of the best locations for breakfast and brunch is The Plantation House Restaurant, located in the Kapalua® Resort at the Plantation Course.

With views of the island of Molokai and Lanai, your meal`s backdrop could not be any more perfect. During whale season, it is exciting to watch the whales at play as you indulge with a Mahi Mahi Eggs Benedict and sip on their incredible Plantation Bloody Mary!

You can’t go wrong starting your day with a kick start from this fabulous cocktail. The Plantation Bloody Mary includes New Amsterdam vodka, house-made bloody mary mix, Ellie`s pickled asparagus.

Maui Brewing Company brews some of the world’s finest craft beers. With numerous awards and world titles under their belt, Maui Brewing Company produces all their beer on Maui. In their brewpub you will find a large selection of fresh beer; try their award winning Coconut Porter, Bikini Blonde, Pineapple Mana or Craven Triple. 

However, when we’re talking about cocktails, there’s a special drink that makes our list – the POG Cooler. POG stands for “Passionfruit, Orange, Guava” and is considered the drink of the state. POG gets a grown-up makeover with the creation of this tasty cocktail! The POG Cooler features Kupu white whiskey, MBC island ginger beer, POG seltzer and POG juice.