Our Quest to Find the Best Mai Tai in Maui!
What an adventure! We recently visited Maui with a few particular quests in mind. One primary pursuit was to find the best Mai Tai in Maui. What is a vacation without a goal, after all?
My Hawaiian Mai Tai learning curve was steep and fun! I am certainly not a trained cocktail connoisseur (nor is this actually a true scientific experiment but, hey, let’s have some fun with this shall we?).
Over our 10 days on the island, with each Mai Tai, we tasted our palate became more refined (and our livers more calloused), but our Hawaiian Mai Tai glows stayed in full illumination for the majority of our trip…
I hope this helps you find your new favorite Mai Tai on during your next adventure to Maui.
Materials and Methods
In order to locate most of the venues we chose, asked the valued opinion from both locals and other co-travelers as to where their favorite Mai Tai was on the island.
We quickly learned that there are two main kinds of Mai Tai’s you will find on the island:
A) Best Mai Tai Maui: The Fruity Mai Tai
This is likely the one you are most likely familiar with and will find variations of it at most restaurants in Hawaii (and worldwide). It is purely delicious, usually quite sweet but with plenty of rum to “tame” the sweetness. (My one trick is to ask for this blended; it is a whole new take on a Mai Tai!)
The Recipe: (many variations of the following): Light rum, topped with tropical fruit juice, usually primarily pineapple, drizzled with dark rum, sometimes grenadine, & topped with a fresh pineapple slice and a maraschino cherry.
B) The Knock-Your-Socks-Off, Traditional Mai Tai (pure alcohol)
Now…if you have had this sort of Mai Tai, I am sure you will remember (…or maybe you won’t!)
The Recipe: Aged rum (lots of it) & orange curacao, orgeat and possibly topped with some lime and mint.
Discussion
The history behind the Mai Tai seems to be somewhat controversial, so we will keep this simple. They are delicious and there are many sorts of deliciousness they have to offer.
Over our 10 days on the islands we visited primarily the west coast of the island including the following restaurants:
Aloha Mixed Plate , Dukes , Fleetwoods , Plantation House , Dina’s Sandwitch Shop , The Sea House , Merrimans, Pailolo Bar & Grill , Down the Hatch , Alaloa Lounge at the Ritz Carlton , Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill (Airport), Dolly’s Pub, and The Beach House
Conclusion: Best Mai Tai in Maui
The “Fruity Mai Tai” Winners
GOLD: 1944 Mai Tyler, $8 USD during Happy Hour Fleetwoods, Lahaina
**Note: If on Maui, DO NOT miss this spot for Happy Hour (or for the Mai Tai). My opinion is that this is the 2-5pm happy hour is BEST on the island, with 1/2 off all cocktails under $20, all beer and wines by the glass, amazing live music to boot and the BLT Bruschetta was delectable. After happy hour stroll upstairs to the rooftop for the traditional sunset ceremony.
SILVER: Mai Tai $8 USD during Happy Hour
Dina’s Sandwitch shop in Sugar Beach Resort, North Kihei
Go for lunch, her Sandwhiches (aka, sandwitches) are HUGE and delicious. I watched her bartender make this Mai Tai, and she had about 10 different things that went into it, all from scratch. We only knew about this place because we stayed at this resort last time we were here. Fantastic cocktails and the locals are a hoot.
BRONZE:Mai Tai $12 USD
Hula Grill Ka’anapali. . We found this on our last day after a long walk to Whalers Village. We were quite tired and dehydrated from walking for an hour in the Hawaiian sun, but that Mai Tai, okay, those two Mai Tai’s, at 10:30am in the morning were spectacular.
Our “Knock-Your-Sock-Off Mai Tai” Winners
GOLD:Signature Mai Tai $20USD
Ritz Carlton, Alaloa Lounge, Kapalua Kapalua
We asked for ours “not so sweet”. Not only was it served in this unique (actually, somewhat freaky-looking) mug, it was DELECTABLE.
SILVER:1944 Mai Tai, $21 USD
Montage Hotel, Hana Hoe Ocean Beach Bar,
Minus the fact that you may have to take out a home equity loan just to afford this particular beverage, at this pool bar, ours came in a plastic cup. Taking those two variables out of the comparison, this Mai Tai was absolutely unbelievable!!
This particular blogger does a fantastic review of The Montage and its entirety, we just touched the surface with the Mai Tai.
BRONZE:Merrimans Mai Tai , $9.00 Merrimans, Kapalua
During 3-5 daily Happy Hour (reg. $16.00USD), topped with a funky and tasty pineapple foam, and the ice is crushed to make it the most refreshing cocktail after a day on the beach. Grab one of these beauties, and head down to the lounge by the water, and listen to some live music, with waves crashing and whales breaching in the background.
Final Conclusion…
After reading a few more recommendations on, our list above, though accurate, it is not fully complete. After a few other fantastic conversations with locals and travellers over our last days in Maui, it’s apparent that we simply MUST return to Maui and extend our scientific Mai Tai research!
Mahalo, Aloha
As always feel free to reach out for any travel advice whatsoever!
