Kauai is my favorite island, but the fine-food scene is tiny. The Tasting Room doesn't need to be as good as it is--but it is. The menu changes often, and when we return every year, we are always happy with our meal, wine and great service. All give a very European vibe. My kids are older now, but we still have one teen-aged picky eater. She always finds something she likes i.e. salmon, fries, steak, and the wine list and shop are diverse and fun. You could find this cozy wine bar in a foodie city like Houston, New York or Los Angeles and it would be a favorite. We are so lucky they decided to land in beautiful Kauai. read more

Has a lovely meal here last night. We got the charcuterie board, a Caesar salad, flat bread, and three entrees: the steak board, rack of lamb, and pasta with n mahi mahi. The charcuterie board had a nice array of cheeses and meats. It needed more crostini...but I feel like every charcuterie board I've ever had needed more bread! The Cesar salad was great. The flatbread was tasty, with home made tomato sauce and loaded with prosciutto, but it was overly salty. The lamb was excellent, the polenta that went with it was a little dry. The fish had a pesto coating. It was nice but nothing special. The steak was cooked perfectly with a nice crust while the inside was medium rare, and came with delicious mushrooms, potatoes and asparagus. Overall we were very happy. we debated rating this a three or four. It was a bit pricey for what we got, but everything in Kauai is! read more

The Tasting Room - Rack of lamb - Wine Bars Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Great wine selection, and very nice vibe inside. The chicken is amazing and the French Onion soup is delicious. Be careful not to burn yourself as it comes out very hot! The toffee was a great way to finish the meal. read more

Our dinner was fabulous. Great service. Wonderful wine suggestions. The onion soup was wonderful. The restaurant us charming with indoor and outdoor seating. read more

The Tasting Room - Wine! - Wine Bars Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

We looked forward to going back here because we enjoyed it so much last year. My husband got his favorite Kauai Beer Company Black Limousine, and I had 2 tastes of Chardonnay. We shared a Smoked Beet Salad, just delicious! Then we shared Chicken Marbella, which we loved last year, but this time it was too sweet, and no olive taste. Very tender moist chicken though. And I liked my red blend. read more

This restaurant is owned and managed by two sisters. Megan, was working the bar the night we were there and was such a lovely person to meet and talk to (we chose bar seating, which made that very easy). She also makes an excellent cocktail and is very knowledgeable about all things spirit and wine related. They have a wonderful bar selection and pride themselves on having unique, but very good, options. This is a fun idea - have some really good "standard options", but encourage people to try something new because they trust that you know your stuff and the decision will not be a waste of time or money. We started with a cocktail and a pour from their (made especially for them) Burning Chair barrel. After that we shared a light appetizer, artichoke dip, and a flight of 2oz pours that Megan selected for us. The dip was fantastic and easily enough for 4 to share. We followed that by sharing the Rib Eye Steak Board, a smoked beet salad and another couple of pours selected by Megan. Overall, the food was fantastic, the drinks were fantastic, the service was fantastic and we could not have had a better evening! read more

A fantastic spot for wine with an impressive 40+ bottles available by the glass. The menu included a great mix of sharable (charcuterie is a must) and main courses. Friendly, knowledgeable staff and a great addition to Kōloa Town read more

The Tasting Room - Small charcuterie board - Wine Bars Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Our new favorite place! We visited recently with our 4-year old. I wouldn't say it's especially "kid friendly" but everyone was so kind and patient we didn't feel uncomfortable bringing our daughter with us in any way. They even allowed us to order her meal first and course ours out a bit more. Our server made educated recommendations for wine and stopped by often to check in. She was so kind! We opted for the cheese board, rib eye, and cheesecake - all delicious! Our daughter ate an entire flatbread and she can be picky! We could not have asked for a better experience and are so grateful to have found such a great place for drinks, dinner, apps, dessert, etc. We will recommend to any/all visiting the island. Thank you TR crew - we hope to see you all again soon! read more

The Tasting Room - Flatbread - Wine Bars Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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It was transporting. The inviting warm vibe and the niche offerings made this a unique experience all its own on Kauai. The concept of the restaurant is clear. The ambiance allows you to relax and try new things, which creates a whole new experience here on Kauai. We started by journeying through the thoughtfully appointed drink menu and let our food choices follow. The flavors of Japanese gin (they smartly serve the tonic on the side) led us to the hamachi crudo. We had to try the artichoke dip! We sipped Seville orange vodka with the beet salad. A glass of Spanish (server suggested) red wine elevated the lamb. We just had to order the panacotta and then the aperitifs were described in such a way that it was easy to make our choice, leaving a wonderful taste in our mouths. (I'll be revisiting the adjacent wine shop for a bottle!) The service was knowledgeable and genuine and the opposite of steering you to the server's favorites. This was the first time here that I've been this impressed and felt like the value matched the prices since I can remember (and we've lived here for 25 years). They could easily charge more (being that it's in a tourist destination), but somehow, for now, it's still catering to the local community as well, which explains why the bar was full from end to end with regulars. Please don't stop diversifying and keep us coming back for unexpected tastings in an atmosphere where we know we know what we can expect. Can't wait to decompress here again. Mahalos read more

The best cheese board I've ever had! The best French onion soup I've ever had! Seriously. Fabulous wine menu and a fantastic ambiance. We sat outside and it was lovely. You won't want to miss this one! Our server was so wonderful. 10/10! read more

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Everything was so amazing. Charcuterie board was a treat! French onion soup was delish. Caesars salad was fresh. The main dish was cooked to perfection. The chefs special, pork chop with arugula on a bed of gnocchi. Filet was cooked perfectly. Welcoming staff, very attentive Very relaxed and happy atmosphere. read more

Pleasant experience, friendly service and simple menu. Enjoyed the tapas and wine, and would recommend for anyone looking for a break from the traditional Hawaiian food and some good wine. They do not have high chairs but can accommodate kids in the outdoor patio bench areas. I would give a 5th star if there was a high chair, as even the most upscale restaurants in Hawaii have them, a little more variation on the tapas, and maybe pairing recommendations for each plate, but that's purely personal opinion. read more

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All the best wine and delicious cocktails. The flatbread is the best pizza on the island. Thin and crispy with tangy red sauce and thin cut prosciutto and more. We love their chicken, fish and meat dishes too. We love the ambience with the cozy little restaurant so much. This is a staple for us when on Kauai. read more

Our second visit here on another trip to Kauai in the Poipu area. The food here is very good, and they have a nice selection of wines. What we had this time... * Artichoke Dip -- So good. Served piping hot with a nice bake on the cheese & breadcrumb topping. perfectly toasted crostini. * Smoked Beet Salad -- Also quite good. Arugula, goat cheese, and Mac nuts. * Chicken Marbella -- Roasted then braised chicken thighs with olives and plum, over green beans and black rice. Lovely balance of sweet and savory. Chicken was tender and juicy. * Ginger Soy Glazed Salmon Special -- Perfectly grilled salmon over green beans and Okinawa purple sweet potato mash. Excellent. Ordered a bottle of Belle Glos Rose to accompany our dinner which was very nice, but somewhat pricey at a 2.5x markup. Erika, our server, was friendly and helpful. Overall, one of the better meals we've had on Kauai. We look forward to returning on our next trip to Kauai. read more

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The Tasting Room is the best restaurant in old Koloa town, and one of our favorite on the island. We come here every trip. The servers are pleasant and knowledgeable. Start with the charcuterie board and some wine or Kaua'i beer and go from there. The menu is always appealing and executed well. We revisited some favorites for a light meal--the smoked beet salad, the house flatbread, the seared prime filet, and the ube panna cotta. read more

The Tasting Room - small charcuterie board March 2025 - Wine Bars Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

What an outstanding local establishment! My wife and I went to celebrate our joint birthday while visiting Kauai. We made a reservation which I would recommend as it has limited seating. Super friendly staff and great service. The ambiance is cool...not formal but intimate. We started with the hamachi crudo which was very nicely prepared. I had a two glass wine flight (2 ounce pours). My wife had the mahi mahi and I has the chicken Marbella...both were off the charts delicious! I never order chicken when we eat out but the reviews were so good that I went for it and was NOT disappointed. The flavors were amazing and the forbidden rice was outstanding. We received a complementary birthday dessert. The apple cobbler cheese cake was amazing and the panna cotta was good as well. A must go to if you are in Kauai! read more

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The perfect place for a girl dinner. Every bite was delicious! The cheese board and flatbread are a must.

The best food always, great relaxing ambiance super relaxing. Always great service from The full staff read more

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Looking for a great place to have a drink and a great dinner on Kauai? Check out The Tasting Room in Koloa. Lots of parking in the back or right in front of the building. The establishment is run by two sisters, Megan and Dani. Both are knowledgeable on their whiskey. Give a lot of credit to their dad Danno who owns a liquor store next door. The place is layed back and you might wanna make a reservation if your party is big. Before you order your dinner ask for the special, they just might have Rabbit Stew. I always gotta have their French Onion Soup, broke da mouth!! I live on Oahu but will stop by The Tasting Room whenever I'm on Kauai. One thing you'll need to watch out for... You just might make a lifetime friend or two. So stop in and support these two local girls. read more

Besides having a very diverse and interesting wine list, we were blown away by the quality and thoughtfulness of the food. The chef certainly knows their way around a kitchen, the tenderloin starter and lamb chops were perfectly prepared. The highlight was their version of chicken Marbella. The sauce was a caramelized take on the original, rich, slightly sweet and lucious. Our server Blake was great and made sure we had seamless service. Best meal on our trip so far, we will be back. read more

The Tasting Room was by far our best meal on the island this trip. The food was elegant, refined, and executed to perfection. We loved the flight of the week wine - of two reds and a white. It was helpful given the robust choices of wine and my slightly decision paralysis at selecting from so many great options! We shared the burrata and a salad to start - I loved the flavor of the burrata dish and tomatoes including the crispy and seasoned bread. The buttermilk dressing on the salad was excellent. Most of us got the short rib special for dinner - the meat was super tender and tasty and we liked the green beans on the side. For dessert, we got the toffee, expresso panna cotta, and apple cobbler cheesecake. None of them disappointed! The ambiance is cute and our server was friendly. I'd recommend a reservation since the space isn't huge. I will 100% be back the next time I visit Kauai. read more

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Great food, great service, great selection. Love the Hamachi carpaccio. Olive tepanade, charcuterie board, beef carpaccio, their salad dressing and the apple pie cheesecake! read more

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Best ribeye I've ever had anywhere!! I don't remember what fish we had but that was also excellent! Make sure to make reservations the place is small but worth it! read more

The Tasting Room - Wine Bars Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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We made reservations at the bar and my wife and her brother did a whisky tasting type of deal. It was really neat! We learned about the different whisky's and how they were made. We had the charcuterie board and artichoke dip; both were delicious! The ambiance was refined, yet not too boujee. We can't wait to go back! read more

The Tasting Room - Charcuterie - Wine Bars Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Quaint little place with great food, a great wine list and very engaging and friendly staff. The owners are ever present and are working as part of the team. The atmosphere is conducive to meet old and new friends. read more

Ok! I'll be direct and very honest. We chose The Tasting Room to celebrate our 37 year anniversary! We were greeted and seated right away. Our server, whom I learned later on, was a part owner of the restaurant. I ordered a cocktail and my wife ordered a flight of 3 wines. So far so good! Then we ordered the small charcuterie plate which was VERY good! As always I try to chat with the servers and ask questions about the area. Like are you from here etc! Questions answered but nothing in return! Ok! Maybe I'm being too sensitive! :-) Then we ordered the Pesto Mahi Mahi and the Roasted Rack of Lamb! The Lamb Rack rocked it except the carrots were WAY under done! The Mahi over pasta was blah! Over cooked Mahi and the pesto had no flavor and the pasta was very bland. I make my own pesto and home made pasta at home! More pesto and garlic and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese I'd recommend! They also were offering a higher priced wine that was normally only available by the bottle. It was being offered by the glass in 2oz and 5oz pours through a special device that aerates the wine and measures the pour exactly. Well the device broke when I ordered a glass so the server said " I can also just pour it straight into the glass! What? Was that special machine just a BS ploy? Anyway! Give it a try! Nice location and very nice atmosphere! Maybe try the Beach House first! I also notice this establishment doesn't respond to the less favorable reviews. Only responds to the 4-5 star reviews! I also run a business and I always respond to ALL reviews. Good and bad! read more

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This place came recommended from a few locals... and while it is a cute spot, we were under impressed. The food was good. We expected something a bit different for the sardine starter - like maybe they'd do something besides put sardines in a bowl. The chimichurri was good, but you could hardly taste it when paired with the sardines. My pesto broiled Mahi Mahi barely had any pesto. It did have tasty cherry tomatoes with it - that were cold, which was odd given that everything else was hot. He had the Chicken Marbella and thought the deduce was interesting, and he was surprised that both pieces were dark meat. The most disappointing was the lack of wine recommendations. Since the website states that did and wine are better when paired together, we anticipated either a menu that included pairing suggestions or a wait staff ready with recommendations. The dessert was amazing. Apple Cobbler Cheesecake... delicious. read more

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Obviously a legendary place, in a ridiculously gorgeous location and a great Kauai vibe...but the prices are insane especially given the portions and they charge for re-fills of iced tea!? Wtf. Worth visiting but go more than that and you'll soon be broke and hungry if you do go, catch the sunset. Epic views. read more

Another 2 visits to our favorite Koloa restaurant, this time with friends who loved it as well! The special Branzino was superb, as well as our usual soup and salads. Tried some new wines from South Africa that were yummy. The only downer was the hard (loud) sell that realtor Jay was giving to our neighbor table.... Couldn't have a conversation with him holding forth. Can't wait for our next visit! read more

This was a wonderful experience. The food is high end and blends the taste a of this beautiful island Kauai into every morsel. The service was wonderful and the array of wines available was a delightful surprise. I could not recommend it more highly. read more

Wonderful again & again! Wine list is curated by someone who appreciates quality. Local inspired farm to table meals and appetizers. Attentive and engaged staff. Ambiance is warm & inviting. We highly recommend and always tell folks coming to Kauai that this is a restaurant not to miss! read more

The food was really good. I didn't get pictures of everything. The restaurant is cozy and quaint. The seating is really nice. One side is a bench with pillows and very comfortable. We had brushetta appetizer was very good and the tomatoes on it was very flavorful. We had the Mahi Mahi dinner and it was very tasty, a little chewy on a couple spots. Beet salad was good too. The dessert we chose was apple crumb cheesecake and it was very good. They have a nice wine selection and you can do small 2 ounce pours, or 5 ounce pours, or a bottle. They also offer a tasting flight. They were busy when we arrived, almost all tables were full. They did have a table for us as there was just two of us, though. It took a bit to get our order in as the server was busy and then when our order was taken felt a little rushed. As the restaurant cleared out the server became more friendly. Nice finish. read more

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We ordered espresso martinis, tasting room salad, lamb chop dinner and the chef special that night, everything was excellent and the service was great too. We went back again the night before we left and tried other items. You need to try this place, everything is excellent! read more

The restaurant is conveniently located on the Koloa Rd. I feel it's a welcoming place with nice service. The food was tasting. I like the Portuguese sardine filets. The Mahi Mahi was a little bit dry to me. read more

Love this place. If you sit at the bar they help guide you through the wines. Food doesn't disappoint. Would not recommend for kids. But for a great glass of wine and good apps or even dinner with the stop. read more

The Tasting Room - 2 oz tasting pours. - Wine Bars Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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Drink - Paper Plane (Tasty! Not sweet just the right balance and surprisingly refreshing) French Onion very delicious as well as the Mahimahi with pesto. Mahi was cooked to perfection not dried out.Nice flavor and not too salty read more

One of our best meals on Kauai. Our server, Malia, was friendly, knowledgeable and funny. Wine list was unique and I had the wine flight from South America which was featured on the blackboard. We split the burrata with rustic Italian bread, my husband had the short ribs special, and I had the rack of lamb. Both dishes were plated nicely and the meat was very tender and tasty. For dessert, we split the apple streusel cheesecake. Food, wine, atmosphere, I would definitely make this your top dinner choice on a visit to the island! read more

Outstanding in so many ways. Exceptional menu. Exceptional food. Exceptional staff. Perfect for folks looking for outstanding food and libation selections! Not to missed!! read more

Been many times. Always good eats. Great ambiance. Service with an aloha smile. Koloa town is charming.

Oh my goodness! This restaurant is amazing! The service, the ambience in old Kaloa town, but most of all the absolutely fabulous food was truly amazing. Our first time there, but we can't wait to go back. Servers are enthusiastic, efficient, and knowledgeable. And the amount of wines they offer as 2 or 5 ounce pores is amazing. Definitely try to go there if you can. Even if you are not a wine lover, you will love the food. read more