Aurum Maui 

Aurum Maui just gave Wailea a new date night move.

We went for Valentine’s Day and it was a win across the board, warm, intimate, paced perfectly even with a full dining room, and genuinely attentive service (shoutout to Justin and the rest of the crew).

Aurum Maui
3750 Wailea Alanui Drive, B-27
At The Shops at Wailea
Wailea, HI
(808) 793-0054
Aurum Maui

We’ve been following Chef Taylor Ponte for over a decade, and anything he puts his mind to turns into something special. Due to his deeply rooted connection to Maui, the ingredients aren’t just good, they’re selected with intention. When a chef has real relationships with local vendors, the cooking starts with better raw materials, and it shows on the plate.

Also, huge respect to his crew here. You can tell it’s a team that’s proud of what they’re putting out, and that kind of energy matters.

The Vibe

Aurum feels like someone finally nailed “dress up if you want, roll in from the beach if you don’t.” Soft lighting, comfy banquettes, and that kind of room where conversation stays easy even when every table is full.

Start with the share plates

We went in sharing mode and honestly, that’s how I’d do it again. The starters here aren’t filler, they’re standout dishes worth the trip alone.

Roasted Bone Marrow with Homemade Sourdough

This is rich in the best way, silky, decadent, and meant to be scooped. What keeps it from feeling heavy is how smart the plate is, roasted garlic parsley sauce and the marinated tomatoes add to it but aren’t necessary. The sourdough is baked in-house and perfect!

Crispy Fish Collars

Order these immediately. The texture is unreal, shatteringly crisp outside, tender inside, and the sauces make it pop, bright truffle ponzu, plus a yuzu kōshō aioli are out of this world.

Roasted Beet Salad

I’d come back for this alone, and that’s not something I say lightly. It’s layered and balanced, whipped goat cheese, olive tapenade crumble for salty depth, candied macadamias for crunch and sweetness, and a vinaigrette that ties it all together.

The main we split, and it’s the one I’d recommend for first timers.

For the main, we went surf and turf, and it’s exactly what you want when you’re trying to get the full picture of a chef’s abilities.

24-Hour Short Rib

This is comfort food with a chef’s touch, deeply tender, rich, and the kind of braise that only comes from time and patience. Then there’s the truffled brown butter hollandaise, which, I swear, is going to become the thing people talk about here. We’re officially the thousandth guests to ask if they’ll bottle it and sell it, because it’s that good.

Saffron Butter Lobster Tail

A 4 oz lobster tail, buttery and sweet, laid over polenta with local vegetables. It’s indulgent but still clean, not weighed down.

If you’re going with someone who likes to share, this is a fun order because it covers everything, rich, bright, beef, seafood, and comfort.

Drinks

Aurum’s drink program matches the food. You can go classic, you can go tropical, you can go elevated.

If you like cocktails, this is the kind of place where it’s worth ordering one before the food hits, and another when you’re deciding whether you really need dessert (you do).

A few directions to go in:

• Whiskey or bourbon drinkers, order something in the Old Fashioned or Manhattan lane.
• Bright and refreshing, go citrus forward, something Collins style, or anything with passion fruit vibes.
• If you’re a Mai Tai person, this is a solid place to do it, especially when you want the “grown up” version, not the overly sweet poolside one.

They also have options if you’re not drinking but still want something that feels intentional, which I always appreciate (especially since my Damp January has turned into Dry February…)

Aurum Maui feels like the kind of place Wailea’s been waiting for, intimate without being stiff, stylish without trying too hard, and confident enough to let the food do the flexing. We went on Valentine’s Day, which is basically the stress test for any restaurant, and it passed with ease. Even with a packed dining room, the pacing stayed smooth, the room stayed warm, and the service stayed locked in. Justin and the rest of the staff were genuinely attentive, the kind of hospitality that makes you relax into your chair and stop checking the time.

If you’re looking for a new spot that works for a real date night, an anniversary, or even just a “we’re hungry and we want it to be worth it” dinner, this is it.