Restaurant review · Waikiki
Orchids at the Halekulani: Brunch by the Sea
The Halekulani’s oceanfront dining room serves coastal Italian six days a week and, on Sundays, the brunch Honolulu books for birthdays and anniversaries.
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Diamond Head from the Halekulani, the view Orchids looks out on. Photo: ErgoSum88, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
The 30-second verdict
Book Orchids for Sunday brunch if you want the big one: oysters, snow crab, a carving station and the Halekulani coconut cake, with Diamond Head out the window. It is $125 a head before drinks, tax and tip. For the room at a lower price, come for a weekday breakfast.
Orchids at a Glance
- Address
- 2199 Kalia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815
- Where
- Oceanfront at the Halekulani, west end of Waikiki
- Cuisine
- Coastal Italian with Hawaii flair; handmade pasta
- Price tier
- $$$$ (dinner mains $49 to $76)
- Hours
- Breakfast and lunch Mon to Sat; dinner nightly 5:30 to 8:30 PM
- Sunday brunch
- From 9 AM, last seating 2 PM; $125 adults, $67 ages 5 to 10
- Reservations
- OpenTable, up to a year ahead, or (808) 518-2019
- Dress
- Casual resort by day; collared shirt and closed-toe shoes for men at dinner
- Parking
- Hotel valet or self-parking, validated for restaurant guests
Hours, dress code and prices from halekulani.com and its menus (brunch menu Apr 2026, dinner menu Sep 2026), before tax and tip. Checked Sep 27, 2026.
Best for
- CouplesGreatOceanfront tables, Diamond Head views and an anniversary-grade brunch.
- FamiliesGoodKeiki menus for 10 and under, but dinner has a dress code.
- FriendsGoodBrunch suits a celebration; cocktails are $15.
- SoloGoodA weekday business lunch runs about an hour.
- GroupsGoodLarge parties book by request; six or more pay a 20% service charge.
Pros
- Oceanfront with Diamond Head views.
- The Sunday spread: oysters, snow crab, suckling pig, prime rib and 15 desserts.
- Honolulu Magazine’s 2025 Hale ʻAina gold for best brunch, per the hotel.
- Handmade pasta under Executive Chef Christian Testa.
Cons
- Brunch is $125 per adult, and drinks are extra.
- Dinner dress code: collared shirt, long pants or dress shorts, closed-toe shoes.
- Cancellation fees apply; the amount isn’t published.
- No mobile payments.
Known for
Sunday brunch
The hotel calls it Honolulu’s most legendary brunch and relaunched it on April 19, 2026 with new action stations. The spread runs from the Ocean Harvest Bar to a gelato bar.
Sunday Brunch
Brunch runs Sundays from 9 AM, with the last seating at 2 PM. The menu prints $125 for adults and $67 for children 5 to 10, plus tax and gratuity. The stations cover an Ocean Harvest Bar of shucked oysters, snow crab legs and shrimp, poke and sashimi, sushi, Waimanalo suckling pig, herb-crusted prime rib, paella, omelets and eggs Benedict, then a patisserie table of 15 desserts ending with the Halekulani coconut cake. Brunch cocktails are $15. The hotel says reservations are highly recommended, and OpenTable books up to a year ahead. For more of the island’s best tables, see the best food on Oahu.
What to Order at Dinner
The chef’s signature is the Lasagnette ($51): handkerchief pasta with Kahuku prawns, scallops and avocado. The sea urchin tagliolini ($54) and Mediterranean branzino ($51) keep to the coast; the tenderloin filet ($76) comes with foie gras and a Barolo reduction. Start with the Kona lobster bisque ($24). At breakfast, order the Halekulani popovers ($11), on the menu as an island favorite since 1917.
Prices from the hotel’s menus, updated Sep 8, 2026.
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Vibe, Dress Code and Hours
The room is casually elegant and open to the ocean. Breakfast (7 to 10:30 AM) and lunch (11:30 AM to 1:30 PM) run Monday to Saturday in casual resort attire: no tank tops, beachwear, exercise clothes or flip-flops. Dinner, nightly from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, is the dressy one: men need a collared shirt, dress slacks, long pants or dress shorts and closed-toe shoes, and women are asked for elegant resort attire. Lewers Lounge next door has live jazz for after dinner.
Getting There and Parking
Orchids is at the Halekulani, 2199 Kalia Road, about 7 minutes on foot from the Royal Hawaiian Center. The hotel validates its valet or self-parking for restaurant guests, and the Hale Koa garage next door charges the public $10 for the first hour; our Waikiki parking guide has more. Staying over? Read our Halekulani review, and for sunset drinks after brunch, the hotel’s House Without a Key is steps away.
Orchids on Instagram
Could be better
Brunch is expensive, and drinks are not in the price. The menu prints $125 per adult plus tax and gratuity, brunch cocktails are $15 each, and parties of six or more pay a 20% service charge. Two adults start at $250 before tax, tip and a single cocktail.
Consider Instead
- La Mer is the Halekulani room for the bigger night: French set menus at $265 and $340, Tuesday to Saturday, with 2026 AAA Five Diamond status, a stricter dress code and no children under 8.
- Plumeria Beach House is the buffet alternative at The Kahala, $97 an adult against $125 here: Sunday brunch with live Hawaiian music, a Friday and Saturday seafood buffet, shorts allowed, and four hours of free parking with a $50 purchase.
- Hau Tree is the everyday beach brunch: served daily on the sand at Kaimana Beach from 8 AM (7:30 on weekends), at a $$$ tier, with free valet for diners.
Tips for Orchids
- Book brunch early. OpenTable takes Orchids reservations up to a year ahead.
- Arrive by 2 PM. That is the last brunch seating.
- Pack for dinner. Men need a collared shirt, long pants or dress shorts and closed-toe shoes.
- Want the room for less? Weekday breakfast runs 7 to 10:30 AM; the popovers are $11.
- Bring a card. Mobile payments are not accepted.
- Validate your parking. Restaurant guests qualify at the Halekulani.
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Orchids: Questions
How much is the Orchids Sunday brunch?
$125 per adult and $67 for children 5 to 10, plus tax and gratuity, per the current menu. Brunch cocktails are $15 each.
What are the Orchids brunch hours?
Sundays from 9 AM, with the last seating at 2 PM. Reservations are highly recommended.
What is the dress code at Orchids?
Casual resort attire for breakfast, lunch and brunch, with no tank tops, beachwear or flip-flops. At dinner, men need a collared shirt, long pants or dress shorts and closed-toe shoes.
Can kids eat at Orchids?
Yes. There are keiki menus for children 10 and under, and brunch has a children’s price for ages 5 to 10.
Where do I park for Orchids?
At the Halekulani, with validation for restaurant guests. The Hale Koa garage at Fort DeRussy is the nearest public option.
Sources, checked Sep 27, 2026
Researched from the sources above, checked Sep 27, 2026. We never claim a visit we did not make; first-hand notes are marked as Stew’s. How we research and review.
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