Top 15 Spots To Get A Drink On Maui

December 05, 2022

Top 15 Spots To Get A Drink On Maui

If you’re anything like me, a vacation involves an occasionalor regular alcoholic beverage. And fortunately, if you’re heading to Maui, there are endless places to indulge. So where to drink on Maui? From craft breweries to trendy hole-in-the-wall joints, here are the top contenders for bars on Maui.  

Here are the 15 best places for a drink on Maui.

Where To Drink On Maui Beer Taps

Spacer

Mahalo Aleworks

Pukalani

Where To Drink On Maui Mahalo Aleworks

Spacious and bright, this new Upcountry brewery serves up “hyper-local” beers and stellar bi-coastal views. The two-story space is sleek and trendy: gloss-polished surfboards made by local shapers hang from the walls, digital nomads retreat to quiet nooks, and a Vestaboard above the bar, displaying what’s on tap. Beers here are brewed with local, seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farms. And because of the brewery’s commitment to local ingredients, taps frequently change depending on what’s available. (Although you can almost always expect to find staples like the English Brown, which earned Mahalo Aleworks accolades within months of opening). Come here to watch the sunset from the second-story patio, put your knowledge to the test on Tuesday Trivia night, or enjoy weekly live music from some of Maui’s top artists.  

Spacer

Pint & Cork

Wailea

Where To Drink On Maui Pint And Cork

This aptly named gastropub in the Shops of Wailea features 20 rotating taps, an extensive wine list, over 100 whiskeys, and 30 specialty cocktails. It’s enough to make your head spin, but it also means you’re all but guaranteed to find something you like. The many TVs give the place an upscale-sports-bar vibe, and it’s often packed with hospitality industry people late at night. The eats here are delightful too, with offerings such as fresh fish tacos, shrimp and grits, and burgers.

Spacer

Maui Brewing Company

Kihei

Where To Drink On Maui Brewing

There’s something for everyone, young or old, at Maui Brewing Company in Kihei. The 42,000 square foot facility is where Maui Brewing Company Beers are born— but the space also includes an enormous restaurant where craft beers and cocktails are plentiful. Solo visitors can plop themselves down at the elongated bar or mosey over to the adjacent tap room. If you’ve got kids in tow, head to the garden seating, where the kids can stay occupied with yard games like cornhole.  

Spacer

Esther’s Fair Prospect  

Wailuku

Where To Drink On Maui Cocktail

This chic tropical bar sits at the mouth of Iao Valley in Wailuku. The modern aesthetics— colorful tropical wallpaper, hanging plants, and wicker pendant lights— attract a younger crowd. But those who appreciate craft cocktails will certainly relish Esther’s ingenuity— especially since the bar is headed by two bad-ass females who are highly successful in the restaurant industry. Try the fresh ceviche, and wash it down with a Velvet Elvis: tequila, mezcal, calamansi, aperol, rosalio, and absinthe.

Spacer

Colleen’s at the Cannery  

Haiku

Where To Drink On Maui Colleens

This always-happening bar is the place to be on Maui’s north shore. Located in a defunct pineapple cannery, Colleen’s is often packed with an eclectic crowd: grizzled regulars hunch over their seats at the bar while young locals squeeze into tables pressed against the floral wallpaper. Every night from 5 pm, the bartenders sling vibrant specialty cocktails like the Pink Smoke— mezcal, dragonfruit, grapefruit, and Hawaiian chili pepper-infused honey. If you can’t get a seat at the bar— or don’t feel like waiting— you can also enjoy a cocktail and a hearty meal from the restaurant on the opposite side. 

Another option would be to head across the street to Ace of Cups and check out their witchy wonders like tarot and oracle decks, dream journals, smudge sticks, pendulums, crystals, magic wands, brooms, and more!

best Maui luaus

 

The Dirty Monkey

Lahaina

Where To Drink On Maui Beer

Part whiskey bar, part sports bar, part live music venue, there’s always something on at The Dirty Monkey. Plus, the second-story location on Front Street presents prime people-watching opportunities. The place can get rowdy, especially late at night. But in the afternoon, The Dirty Monkey is an excellent spot to grab an ice-cold craft pint, play a game or two of shuffleboard, and listen to some of Maui’s best live music acts.  

Spacer

Monkeypod

Wailea

Where To Drink On Maui Monkeypod

World famous mai tais, dozens of craft beers on tap, pizza, and pie— what’s not to love? Monkeypod Wailea is perpetually busy, with daily live music, an epic happy hour, a buzzy mix of locals and tourists, and an unceasing wait at the door. Don’t fret; the large dining room also opens up to an outdoor garden seating area, and tables are constantly turning over. But it’s not just the colorful foam-topped cocktails and craft beers that bring in the frenzied crowds every day; it’s the delightful menu crafted by master restaurateur Peter Merriman.

Spacer

Lobby Lounge at the Four Seasons Resort

Wailea

Where To Drink On Maui Four Seasons

The Lobby Lounge at the Four Seasons Resort serves up superb views, exquisite craft cocktails, and plenty of class. This airy bar boasts a craft cocktail program that honors the tropical flavors of the Hawaiian islands. Try the Talisman— the Lobby Lounge’s signature cocktail— with rum, lime, pineapple, mango, coconut, and orgeat. Arrive before sunset to enjoy the bar’s nightly hula show and stick around for live music to follow. Since it is the Four Seasons, expect well-dressed patrons and top-notch service.  

Spacer

Fleetwoods on Front Street

Lahaina

Where To Drink On Maui Fleetwoods

Since its inception in 2012, Fleetwoods has become a crowd favorite among Maui visitors and residents— and it’s not hard to see why. The popular rooftop bar overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the hubbub on Front Street and hosts nightly sunset ceremonies and live music. Although, the speakeasy-esque bar downstairs shouldn’t be ignored, especially if you’re after a more sophisticated ambiance. Like everything else at Fleetwood’s, the cocktails deliver— in fact, they’re award-winning. Namely, the Mai Tyler, made with rum, fresh pineapple, and house-made lilikoi foam. 

Spacer

What Ales You

Kihei

Where To Drink On Maui Beer Flight

Tucked in an inconspicuous corner of the Kihei Kalama Village, What Ales you is somewhat of a hidden gem. But if you like craft beer, pub food, and a low-key local vibe, What Ales You is your place. A variety of hard-to-find craft beer and kombucha pours from the 20 taps. Grab a seat in the oasis-like outdoor seating area, or savor the ice-cold AC inside while chatting with the bartender or watching the game. Stop by on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday evenings for food specials and live music.  

best Maui luaus

 

Kahales – Maui’s Local Dive Bar

Kihei

Where To Drink On Maui Coconut Porter

If you’re a fan of divey haunts, you’ll love Kahales. This bar is proudly low-key and without airs, decorated with NFL posters, TVs, and little else. Despite its unpretentious atmosphere, Kahales is Maui’s oldest dive bar— open since 1994— and still draws serious crowds. You can expect nightly live music, friendly bartenders, and a local crowd. Plus, if you’ve been hitting up bars in upscale areas or hotels every night, you’ll certainly appreciate Kahale’s reasonable prices.

Spacer

South Shore Tiki Lounge

Kihei

Where To Drink On Maui Margarita

Palapa roofs, lauhala ceilings, Hawaiian decor, and flowing mai tais… South Shore Tiki Lounge is Maui’s quintessential tiki bar. This Kihei bar has been named Maui’s best bar for seven years in a row— and for a good reason. Cocktail prices are reasonable, there are DJs and live music every night, and the place is unceasingly crowded. Things get especially fun Thursday-Saturday night, with drinks and dancing until 2 am.

Spacer

Lima Cocina y Cantina

Paia

Where To Drink On Maui Paia

The buzzy surf town of Paia is full of tequila joints, kava bars, and open-air cafes. Expertly crafted cocktails? Not so much— until Lima Cocina y Cantina came onto the scene. Lima boasts a cocktail menu designed by the founder of one of Maui’s top cocktail bars, Esther’s Fair Prospect. Various pisco cocktails are featured— on theme with the restaurant’s Peruvian concept. Plus, Lima is as trendy as bars come, with tropical wallpaper, a vertical fern garden, and a neon sign that reads “bad decisions make better stories.” We agree, Lima. And we also think that this stylish restaurant and bar is precisely what Paia needed.

Spacer

Lineage

Wailea

Where To Drink On Maui Lineage

When beloved Hawaii chef and Top Chef contestant Sheldon Simeon opened Lineage in 2018, it quickly became the new hotspot in Wailea— not just for the mouthwatering Asian fare, but the visually stunning (and tasty) cocktails. Opt for a seat at the bar, where you can peep the chefs creating magic in the open kitchen, and order an Auntie Kine Tings— a combination of Sake, Akashi Ume, ginger liqueur, plum, miso, and lemon, which speaks to the restaurant’s Asian theme.  

Spacer

Barefoot Bar at Hula Grill

Kaʻanapali

Where To Drink On Maui Hula Grill

When you imagine Maui’s bar scene, you might picture thatched roof tiki bars on the beach, pouring up Pina Coladas and other umbrella-clad drinks while a musician strums a ukulele. But those environments are rare on Maui— unless you visit Hula Grill’s Barefoot Bar. The menu features an assortment of tropical cocktails— some classic, some craft— and a variety of local beers. Stop by for “Aloha Hour” from 2:30 pm to 5 pm for $7 cocktails and $5 drafts.

best Maui luaus

 

Maui Restaurants

 

Macadangdang Maui Review

Macadangdang Maui Review

Macadangdang Maui Review. We spent a wonderful day on the West Side of Maui that finished at Macadangdang Maui in Kaanapali.

Cafe Mambo Review

Cafe Mambo Review

Cafe Mambo Review. Cafe Mambo in Paia on Maui’s North Shore upholds the funky, artsy vibe of the town and also serves great food!

The Maui Cookie Lady

The Maui Cookie Lady

The Maui Cookie Lady Review! Quickly becoming world-famous, The Maui Cookie Lady is serving up huge and delicious cookies you must try!

2 Comments

  1. Richard Ernest

    What about Kohola Brewery in Lahaina? Easily one of the best breweries on Maui! Not much to look at, and not much people watching available since it’s back in an industrial park. But they do have great beers! Can’t wait until they are able to ship to the mainland.

    Reply
    • Dining Maui

      We haven’t visited them yet! Time to make a west side trip!

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Free Maui eBook!

Sign up for our free monthly Maui newsletter, and we'll send you a 280+ page Maui ebook.