To booze or not to booze? That is the question. These five brunch spots, scattered around the Hawaiian Islands, offer diners the option to bring their own booze to pair with the drowsy late-morning sun and a bite to eat. Whether or not you decide to top off your guava juice with a splash of champagne, or bring your own Bloody Mary to the mix, the dishes you decide to order will set you and your partner up for a brunch win that will keep you going all day.
Moke’s Bread and Breakfast (Oahu)
Moke’s Bread and Breakfast, just a short drive from the Lanikai Pillboxes hike, is a great place to regroup and restart your day after a hearty sunrise hike and before a paddle out to the landmark Mokulua Islands located just off Lanikai beach on the east side of Oahu. If plans are leaning towards a mellow day at the beach, start your tippling early with a screwdriver or mimosa alongside hearty pancakes made from scratch and topped with a tangy cream sauce made with lilikoi from the Big Island. Or, to prepare yourself for that paddle or some volleyball on the beach, dig into one of the many fluffy omelet options or one of the many varieties of loco mocos (including one made with local Shinsato Farm rabbit). You can’t go wrong in paradise.
Moke’s is located in Kailua at 27 Hoolai St. For more information, visit mokeskailua.com.
Image courtesy of The Nook.
The Nook (Oahu)
Whether you and your partner are looking to quell the effects of a long night of partying or alleviate hunger pangs after some rigorous fun in the sun, The Nook offers the perfect remedy. Found in a corner of Puck’s Alley just off University Avenue, The Nook offers healthier favorites to keep your figure in check, like an eggs benedict made with kale or a three-egg soft scramble made with spinach, goat cheese, and sundried tomato. Gut-busters like the malasada breakfast sandwich, which comes with sausage and egg stuffed between a Portuguese fried doughnut or the pork belly benedict are perfect for slapping you out of your alcohol-induced stupor. And since the best cure for a hangover is, well, more alcohol, BYOB your way back to life with a bottle of Prosecco and guava juice for a fun spin on the mimosa.
The Nook is located in Honolulu at 1035 University Ave. For more information, visit thenookhonolulu.com.
Kilauea Bakery & Pau Hana Pizza (Kaua‘i)
Pastries and pizzas and desserts, oh my! A warm summer’s atmosphere pulls any would-be traveler to Kilauea for this tempting delight. Outside is seating shielded from the sun and a patio that leads indoors, where hungry travelers recently awakened from slumber can place their orders in an interior lit up with fresh bread on display. For brunch, snag the cinnamon rolls or bread pudding for a filling start to the day. You decide if it’s too early to add some whiskey to your coffee, or just order pizza to go with your BYOB Kona Brewery beers. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Kilauea Bakery & Pau Hana Pizza is located in Kilauea at 2484 Keneke St. For more information, visit kilaueabakery.wordpress.com.
The Strawberry Patch (Big Island)
Dine indoors aside sunlit-colored walls or outside on wood tables at this establishment that very much matches its name. This restaurant, turning four this month, is run and owned by Italian chef, manager, and self-proclaimed foodie Amelia Antonucci-Fisher, who is keeping with her family legacy by naming her restaurant after her family’s own back home in Ohio. The seafood crepes pair great with a bottle of crisp champagne. Or, order freshly squeezed lemonade or lilikoi lemonade to create a satisfying brunch cocktail. Antonucci-Fisher says their shelves are fully stocked with wine glasses, great for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Strawberry Patch is located in Kealakekua at 79-7491 Mamalahoa Hwy. For more information, call 808-322-9060.
The Gazebo (Maui)
A hideaway gazebo-like hut located in the Valley Isle, this nestled-away secret is not so secret now that word has gotten out and locals and tourists alike flock to it at Outrigger Napili Shores Resort along Honoapiilani Road. The wait for this family-owned-and-operated restaurant can be a little long—naturally so for a fourteen-seat establishment—but good things happen for those who wait, like finally sinking your sweet tooth into banana macadamia nut or white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes. If you’re not a pancakes fan (gasp!), other breakfast foods, burgers, and fried rice are some of many more selections the spot has to offer. Pair it all with a pre-mixed Bloody Mary brought along to start the day with a hearty kick.
The Gazebo is located in Lahaina at 5315 Lower Honoapiilani Rd. For more information, call 808-669-5621.