Best Brunch Spots on Big Island Hawaii

One of the great pleasures of life is sitting outside, with a gentle ocean breeze wafting over while you sip a mimosa, enjoying a beautiful brunch.  If this sounds great, & you’re visiting the Big Island anytime soon: know that there are dozens of amazing breakfast spots all around the island.  But here, the “Best Brunch Spots on Big Island Hawaii,” I’ll be focusing on restaurants close to two of the island’s most popular towns: Kailua-Kona & Waikoloa Village ~ which is close to high-end resorts like the Mauna Lani.

Read on to find out where all the great brunch & lunch spots are….

Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar is one of many oceanfront brunch spots on the Big Island…

Most of these brunch recommendations are located in downtown locations that are quite accessible ~ but some spots, like the Coffee Shack in Captain Cook, require renting a car to visit.

Map of Big Island Brunch Spots

Best Brunch Spots on Big Island Hawaii

As most people visiting the Big Island stay in Kona, or near Waikoloa Village ~ I’m going to focus on great brunch spots near those two areas.  Restaurants on the ocean or with ocean views are STARRED.

Best Brunch Spots in Kailua-Kona

Papa Kona is one of three oceanfront brunch locations listed here. Photo by Papa Kona.

• **Island Lava Java = Consistently Rated #1 Brunch with Locally-Sourced Food, Ocean Views + On-site Bakery!  Located right across from one of Kona’s beautiful bays, you can get a good Scramble here, Smoothies, Pancakes, with a wide selection of coffee drinks. Big patio with beautiful ocean views!!  Hours: 7:30AM-8:30PM DAILY.
• **Kalikala Cuisine = Fresh & Healthy Breakfast with Great People-Watching on Kailua Bay.  This is another oceanfront spot with a great menu: grab Avocado Toast, Banana Bread, Hawaiian Waffles, Eggs Benedict ~ & wash it down with a Bloody Mary. Watch the swimmers & paddle-boarders out on the bay, & COME EARLY!! Waits get up to an hour here.  Hours: 8AM-1PM DAILY.  
• **Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar = Located Next to Hale Halawai Park on the Oceanfront + FULL BAR.  This is a HUGE restaurant with two floors: including a beautiful upper lanai with stunning ocean views. Try their Big Island Omelet, French Toast, Corned Beef Hash, or Seared Ahi Benedict ~ then wash it down with a mimosa or Mai Tai. Brunch served daily until 3PM!  Hours: 7AM-9PM DAILY.
• Big Island Grill = Casual, Unassuming Restaurant Serving Local Hawaiian Breakfasts.  Big Island isn’t as *pretty* as other spots listed (& not on the ocean): but they’re well-liked! Come here for BIG portions, waffles, scrambled eggs, & local Kalua Pork. Located a few blocks inland from the ocean, downtown. Hours: 8AM-2PM DAILY.   
• 808 Grindz Cafe = Diner Vibes in a Cute Shopping Center + GOOD Food.  There’s no pretty view here: just simple, good breakfast & lunch food. Breakfast menu is HUGE: all kinds of Benedicts, Pancakes, Crab Cakes, & their specialty “Da Moca’s,” which feature gravy-covered dishes of all different international cuisines. Hours: 7AM-2PM Tuesday-Sunday (CLOSED Mondays). 
• **The Coffee Shack = Located South of Kona with AMAZING Panoramic Ocean Views!!  This is a personal favorite spot: I’ve written about it as the prettiest coffee shop on the Big Island. You’ll need a car to get here, as it’s located about 25-minutes south of Kona. But trust me ~ the views & vibe are WORTH IT!! Great breakfast & lunch food, & they make their own coffee. Great for photo ops. Hours: 7AM-3:30PM. 

No other coffee shop on the Big Island has views as staggering as the Coffee Shack: it’s worth the drive.

Island Lava Java has a friendly exterior with white railings & red umbrellas ~ with great ocean views.

Sit right along the oceanfront boardwalk at Kalikala Cuisine. Photo by HawaiianIslands.com

Papa Kona has an enviable oceanfront perch & TWO stories worth of panoramic views ~ & nightly live music. Photo by Papa Kona.

808 Grindz is an unpretentious spot with great breakfast food.

Best Brunch Spots on Big Island Hawaii

Best Brunch Spots by Waikoloa Village

We’re moving north of Kona now to Waikoloa Village, which is home to many of the island’s nicest resorts…

My brother’s favorite Big Island restaurant now serves SUNDAY BRUNCH: Lava Lava Beach Club.

• **Lava Lava Beach Club = Toes-in-the-Sand GORGEOUS Sunday Brunch on Waikoloa Oceanfront!  This is many people’s FAVORITE Big Island restaurant ~ & now they’re serving Sunday brunch. Their location can’t be beat, & they offer 4-5 rotating brunch offerings + a full bar + 9 different Bloody’s + all kinds of tropical mimosas. Hours: 12PM-9PM DAILY; Sunday Brunch ONLY: Starting at 10:30AM.  
• **Hawaii Calls Restaurant = Stylish Restaurant INSIDE the Marriott Waikoloa Beach Resort & Spa.  If you’re looking for a decadent daily hotel breakfast buffet with ocean views: head here. They also offer A La Carte ordering, including Eggs Benedict, French Toast, omelettes, & much more. Breakfast served until 11AM. Hours: 7AM-9PM DAILY.
• A-Bay’s Island Grill = Casual Cafe in King’s Shops at Waikoloa with Daily Breakfast + FULL BAR.  One of the only true breakfast spots in Waikoloa ~ get Two Eggs Your Way, Belgian Waffles, Corned Beef Hash….then wash it down with a Morning Mai Tai or Tequila Sunrise. Hours: 8AM-12AM DAILY.   
• HaLani at Mauna Lani = Beautiful Oceanside Restaurant in the Mauna Lani Serving Daily Breakfast. Set in a beautiful open-air atmosphere with teak furnishings & modern decor, HaLani is a great spot for an upscale brunch. Serving various cold-pressed juices, a Green Scramble, Veggie Hash, Acai Bowls, Pancakes, & all kinds of egg dishes: this is a great healthy place to start the day. Breakfast Hours: 6:30AM-11AM DAILY.
• **Brown’s Deli = Casual but Pricey Breakfast & Lunch Spot at the Fairmont Orchid.  Grab your morning coffee & a pastry here ~ or try their donuts, Blueberry Muffins, or banana bread. Ideal for those staying at the Fairmont ~ but pricey for what you get. Hours: 6:30AM-5PM DAILY. 

For daily buffet breakfasts in a stylish poolside setting: head to Hawaii Calls Restaurant, at the Marriott Waikoloa. Photo by Open Table.

For a more casual atmosphere & FULL bar: head to A-Bays Grill in the King’s Shops. Photo by A-Bays.

Enjoy high-end decor & outdoor dining at Mauna Lani’s HaLani ~ which serves breakfast daily starting at 6:30AM. Photo by Indagare Travel.

Brown’s Deli at the Fairmont Orchid is great for a quick breakfast if you’re staying at the hotel ~ but not really worth the trip otherwise.

Check rates at some of the hotel’s listed here, such as the Fairmont Orchid, or the Mauna Lani Resort ~ which is also my #1 choice for the top hotel with on-site snorkeling on the Big Island.

xoxo Noelia

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