Are you coming to Hawaii for your wedding, honeymoon, or a romantic getaway with your partner? Or, are you planning to propose or to celebrate an anniversary? Well, I’ve got you covered today, with an excellent romantic dinner idea to make your vacation in paradise even better.
My husband and I love to celebrate our anniversary and birthdays by going out in Waikiki. We like to get a drink somewhere with a view and walk along Waikiki beach. We top off our evening with dinner somewhere quiet and romantic. For our birthdays, one of us will plan out a special dinner in as a surprise for the other.
With world-class cuisine, sweeping ocean views, and sunsets that take your breath away every single night, to me, Waikiki is a great place for a romantic getaway.
For my birthday this year, my husband booked us a night at the Royal Hawaiian. We spent the day sipping Mai Tais by the pool and laying on the beach. It was a perfect day.
At night, we went back to our room and changed. Then, we walked along Waikiki beach and watched the sunset. Soon, it was time for dinner at Azure. We had been to Azure a few years ago for my birthday. We had such a great time that my husband decided we should go back again!
When people who live here go back to the same restaurant again and again, that’s all you need to know about it. But read on for more details about our romantic evening at Azure.
About Azure
A dinner at Azure is definitely a splurge. But, if you love food, want to eat local ingredients and the freshest fish on the island, and if you are looking to top it off with a romantic atmosphere, come to Azure.
Part of The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Azure sits right on the beach. A perfect view of Diamond Head is accompanied by the sound of the waves, gorgeous sunsets.
Inside the restaurant, an ambiance of romance awaits. Think – candles on the tables, pillows on the seats, and semi-private tables for those wanting an ultimate private romantic evening.
The Food
Every morning, the chefs at Azure attend the Honolulu Fish Auction. They handpick the best of the best to ensure that their patrons get the highest quality fish. Each day is different, but they are usually on the lookout for ahi, opah, onaga, opakapaka, or moi. These locally caught fish are cooked each night. It doesn’t get much fresher than that.
My husband made our reservation way in advance. He asked the restaurant for a table with a view of the ocean. If you call Azure in advance and tell them that you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or honeymoon and that you would like a nicer table, they will work with you to get you a more private table.
The tables inside the restaurant are just as nice, but they just don’t have the same gorgeous views. So, even if you can’t get a table with a view, I recommend going here because the food is incredible and the ambiance inside the restaurant is just as romantic.
Our Experience
We sat down at one of the private tables that my husband had reserved for us with a view of the water. The sun had already set, so the lights of the city sparkled against the water, and the moon lit up Diamond Head.
We decided to order the tasting menu. Whenever we go out for a romantic evening, we like to get the tasting menus for a couple of reasons. First, it makes the evening last longer, so you have more time together to enjoy the restaurant. At Azure, the meal is relaxed, so you feel like you really get to enjoy the gorgeous views and the food at your own pace. I think it’s a good bang for your buck.
The second reason why we like to do the tasting menus is that we love food! I love having smaller courses but more dishes because I love to try different things. In Hawaii especially, I think it’s great to do a tasting menu because it enables you to experience lots of different local flavors. You will notice lots of local food and flavors on the menu, like fish, Hamakua mushrooms, macadamia nuts, lavender, and taro. These local ingredients are prepared with Azure’s signature twist for something that is truly unique.
There is also an a-la-carte menu available for those who don’t want a tasting menu. You really can’t go wrong at Azure. Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed!
The Tasting Menu
The tasting menu at Azure changes depending on what is available. But when we went, our first course was keyhole lobster and brioche with Meyer lemon preserve, truffle aioli, and chervil brown butter sauce. Next, our second course was kafir scented hearts of palm vichyssoise and Kauai shrimp with compressed cucumber, pickled hearts of palm, sourdough croutons, and smoked trout roe.
For our third course, we had crispy skinned Pier 31 fish with Hirabara Farms radish, Hamakua maitake mushroom, sweet corn Dauphine, and foie gras dashi. Next, we had our fourth course, the main course. We had Prime 45-day aged Stripling of beef with marrow croquette, Ali’i mushroom, taro, and Kabayaki Butter.
For dessert, we had a Meyer lemon cheesecake with lavender strawberries, macadamia nut pavlova, and basil syrup. Since my husband told them it was my birthday, our waiter brought out our dessert with a candle inside so I could blow it out and make a wish.
We ordered wine pairings, so each of these dishes also came with a small glass of wine. Let’s just say, I was glad that all we had to do was walk back to our room after!
But what really made this a romantic evening for my husband and me was the atmosphere of Azure. The waiters paced the meal perfectly, so we didn’t feel rushed. We spent a couple of hours drinking wine, eating, looking out at the views, and enjoying each other’s company. It was the perfect evening to talk, laugh, and connect with each other.
Book a Romantic Vacation with Hawaii Aloha Travel
Whether you are coming to Hawaii for your wedding, honeymoon, a proposal, or anniversary, we offer romantic packages. Of course, our local travel agents can easily customize any aspect of your trip.
Our Hawaii All Inclusive Romance/Honeymoon Package includes five nights at a top four-star hotel, all breakfasts and dinners, daily excursions and private tours, private airport transfers, VIP hotline service, and our signature Hawaii Aloha Travel Welcome pack. We will take you on a 5-star dinner cruise, a spa day, and private Tour.
And we know that dining experiences are all part of the romance. So, we will make sure you have a romantic breakfast in bed and a private picnic on a beautiful, quiet beach, and dinner at one of Hawaii’s top restaurants specializing in Asian Hawaiian cuisine.
Or are you coming to Hawaii to get married? Check out our Hawaiian Destination Weddings and Honeymoons Packages.
What do you think? Would your splurge on a romantic dinner at Azure?
