The East Side of the island is crowded and wonderful.

With great shopping, hidden beaches, outstanding food and easy access to the east and north shores of the island, the East Side is a good home base if the North Shore is too sleepy for you. The stretch of road between Lihue and Kapa’a sees some pretty heavy traffic during rush hour as commuters on the East Side commute downtown for work, so try to plan your travel to avoid peak hours.

(Must-sees are marked with an asterisk!)

Wailua

The coast along the east side of the island is beautiful, but rough. Lydgate Beach is completely enclosed by a stone wall, making the beach perfect for small children and snorkeling. Check out the massive pieces of driftwood on the coastline nearby! 

Outstanding coffee at Imua Coffee Roasters and Aloha Roastery.

Must-have dinner and cocktails at Avalon Gastropub*. Cute casual outdoor dining and vegan cuisine at Russell’s. Great local-style burgers at Kenji Burger. Cute, basic breakfast on the beach at Lava Lava Beach Club.

Best shave ice on the island at Wailua Shave Ice*, which was so good as a food truck that it now has a brick-and-mortar store.

Kapa'a

The island’s main “highway” slows to a crawl as it bisects Kapa’a’s main drag. It’s worth stopping for an hour or two to explore the many shops, art galleries, and restaurants here. 

Cocktails, Lunch and Dinner at Fish|Bar|Deli*, a truly outstanding restaurant and vibe - everything is good, but their fried chicken is out of this world! Breakfast/Coffee at Java Kai, Coffee at the Small Town Coffee truck, and get rejuvenated at one of the many Kauai Juice Co locations on the island.

Hee Fat General Store is a shave ice mainstay in Kapa’a. Pay the extra couple of dollars to get the real fruit syrup!

Pono Market has poke, spam musubi, and delicious bento (boxed lunches), but their specialty is a baked good called “manju,” a local favorite. They have a number of flavors, including coconut, red bean, and sweet potato. The market is usually sold out of manju by noon, but if you call the day before, you can give them your name and reserve a batch for pickup the next day!

Bike paths are generally not a thing on Kauai, but there is a stretch from Wailua to Anahola where you can rent a bike from one of many rental outfits and ride along the bike bath past beachside restaurants, amazing beaches, and hidden coves. It’s a short ride but can take up half a day if you allow yourself to stop and see the many attractions!

Anahola

Anahola Beach* is one of our favorite beaches; top three on the island. Never too crowded with lots of shoreline, there is a cove on the eastern side that protects it from the rough waves - great for kids!

Moloa’a Beach is under-the-radar and absolutely gorgeous. The drawback is a lack of facilities (no showers or restrooms) and side-of-the-road parking, but this truly is one of the island’s less-appreciated gems.

Kalalea Juice Hale* has the best acai bowls in the world. Their fruit is unbelievable, and every menu item here is outstanding. Think of the Juice Hale like a toll - you cannot pass this stretch of highway without stopping here and getting something.