Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery

The Makai is not a traditional dark escapist tiki hole. It is beautiful and scenic and fantastic in its own way. They have excellent drinks, and the owner is very passionate about rums, and had collected over 600 including these rare ones. They have a beautiful rotating bar, and they are a rare good tiki bar in an otherwise touristy location. Jeremiah is one of the most attentive and aware bartenders I’ve ever encountered and it’s always a joy to experience his service. They also have great mugs. Highly recommend if you’re passing through the Bay Area or the Central Coast of California. Also, big props to them for making it through five years after starting in 2020.

Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery definitely nails the Hawaiian vibe. The space is beautiful and fun, especially the rotating bar section and the glass floor windows where you can watch sea lions below—such a unique and memorable experience. The atmosphere alone makes it worth checking out. The service was excellent throughout our visit—friendly, attentive, and welcoming. Drinks were a highlight as well: well-crafted, refreshing, and perfect for the island-inspired setting. As for the food, it was decent but not fabulous. Nothing bad, just not particularly memorable compared to the standout ambiance and drinks. The menu delivers solid flavors, but it didn’t quite match the excitement of the space. Overall, Makai is a great spot for drinks, atmosphere, and service, especially if you’re lookin

The atmosphere and environment here is excellent I will say that, however the prices for the amount of food that was given was a little too much. Would definitely recommend coming here to people who want to experience a good atmosphere with friends and join in on the trivia they hold, however the price for the quality of food we got didn’t match and they didn’t even allow us to split out check more than 3 ways which was a little odd. If you do come here id recommend the pupu plate the most since the food is good and the most bang for your buck. The beyond burger was amazing aswell!

Awesome Hawaiian inspired dishes served up in huge portions, fantastic extensive cocktail menu. Fun and friendly atmosphere. Decor is so awesome and loved the rotating bar and floor views to the sea lions! Went with my local cousins and would definitely go back on our next trip.

I absolutely loved this place. The food is full of flavor, super fresh, and very cultural you can taste the quality in every bite. The seasonings, the sauces, everything felt authentic and made with care. The atmosphere is fun and welcoming, and the service was great too. Definitely coming back! Laura was amazing.