In past years when I did the circle island tours we always came here for lunch and it was always…read moregreat, so when I planned a family trip I reserved dinner here as I knew we'd have a good view of Kilauea. The food was good overall - but you are paying touristy prices. Things my party tried: - Kona kampachi and lobster - this was my pick and it was great! The fish was perfectly cooked and loved the sauce. They include ginger and Japanese pickled veggies, which I love, but it may not be everyone's cup of tea. The lobster tail half was also a good size and hit the spot. My only gripe was I didn't have a small lobster fork, so had to dig into the lobster with my fingers. - my BiL devoured the rib eye and said it was good. - my brother really enjoyed the stuffed chicken. It was my second option.. and I won't lie it looked really good. - my SIL for the pesto pasta and added steak. The pasta was meh, but the steak was great. - the kids menu were hits. The mahi mahi comes with fruit, but the hot dog doesn't. It was just odd that fruit wasn't available for all kids menu options. - shrimp scampi pizza was pretty good. Nice flavors. All in all a great family dinner spot with great views. The staff was really friendly too! Would I come back - definitely!

We went there last minute while visiting during a live episode. It was crowded and packed. Parking…read morewas difficult, so be patient if there is a live episode. Be nice to the staff, they are working fast and the best they can. You need to make reservations ahead of time for the restaurant. There is a walk up option at the bar with a limited menu, but still good. Again, be patient. The staff moved fast and got us in quick. Our wait was not too long for walk up at the bar, despite how packed and busy it was. Food was good and came out quick. Staff is friendly and shared some suggestions to visit locals places as we were visiting from the mainland. No matter if you eat in the bar or restaurant, you will have amazing views of the volcano. There's an outdoor area for photos and the amazing views. There's a gift shop. Please be sure to visit and support. There is beautiful art of the volcano in the lobby for you to view and enjoy.

Super stay and comfy kitschy place with great views. We also really enjoyed our meal here…read more We ticked a bucket list item off with this stay! Mahalo!

Updating my review based on our experience last October. This hotel has really improved. The front…read moredesk is great and very helpful. An excellent stay for viewing Kilauea!

Excellent meal right on the rim at the volcano in the famous Volcano House!…read more We sat right by the window and watched the lava light up at dusk and observed the beginning of what looked like a small eruption outside of the crater opening where the largest steam event had been occurring! The food was very good and we enjoyed the crab cakes and the NY Steak - the kids had hotdog and pasta. We had crème brûlée for dessert and everything was excellent!

This used to be my favorite place to get amazing steak, especially the Rib Eye…read more I went recently with my partner and we finally got a reservation and ordered our favorite $54 steak, (the Rib Eye) only to be extremely disappointed. We ordered it medium, it came out well done, rubbery and not much flavor. I don't even know if they put salt on it. The best thing about the dinner was the view (the volcano was erupting!) and the butter. Spending $120 on a dinner you didn't enjoy hits differently. We have been noticing steak menu changes for a couple years now and we hope this is just a fluke because usually they're excellent. But none of the current steaks are as good as they weee 2 years ago. The waiter didn't seem to want to do anything about it when we said we were dissatisfied. We hope to come again and will just try one steak next time to test the chef and the quality of the steak and if it's cooked correctly.

Our respite stay after a full day of chasing Volcano Craters and remote petroglyphs…read more Ten minutes from the park exit, just had dinner in the park. Works out great , self check in. Old fashioned but just right for the Area.

This was a great fond for us. We have never been on this island. Literally 3 minutes from Volcano…read moreNatl Park. We stayed in Rm 9. Convenient path to car and hot tub. We used the hot tub 2x and it was perfect temp. I thought it was crazy for a gas fireplace in room. We used it 3x because it was rainy here. Staff was helpful by providing us ice and utensils and glasses that we could leave in room. They don't want you drinking the water so they provide a 5 gal jug of water. Good to bathe in but not drink. They provided a small fridge, coffee maker, toiletries. The room was big enough that they could have added a coffee table by fireplace to set your drinks on. No TV but we had our own electronics. WiFi was on point. Ample parking. They don't do daily room service unless you ask. The sound of the birds at night is amazing. They communicate right away via text for anything you need. I would definitely stay here again.

We just had a late lunch after a busy day in the park. Everything we had was fantastic and service…read morewas very friendly and food came super fast. Absolutely everything about the experience was what we needed before headed to the airport. We had a Teri beef plate, hamburger, and veggie stir fry with chicken. Even the salad dressing on the side salad was very nice. Thank you!!

Great service and food…read more I had the fish tacos - they came with just the right amount of coleslaw on the side. Also had the lilikoi cheesecake which was an explosion of wonder on my tastebuds.

Fresh fruits are served with your meal. I have ordered pancakes and their homemade tropical syrups…read moreare so delicious! Highly recommend

Don't know where to start. Wonderful relaxed atmosphere, amazing selection of locally sourced menu…read moreitems, we were welcomed with a complementary Sunday baked starter (three wonderful selections), server was amazing, food was delicious, and our 13 year old finicky eater declared best eggs, hash browns, and sausage he's ever had. Island veggies are the best we've had on the islands. We will be back here every time we return to Hawaii and will do the farm tour next time. Strongly recommend.

We have been regular patrons of Hilo Bay Cafe for years, usually dining here at least once a month,…read moreso this review is long overdue. The view from the restaurant's lānai is truly like no other in Hilo. It is one of our favorite places to slow down, enjoy the beauty of Hilo Bay, and spend time with good family and friends. The food is consistently ʻono, the drinks are excellent, and the service always makes us feel welcome. For us, Hilo Bay Cafe is more than a place to enjoy a meal, it is a place where we have shared many wonderful moments with the people we care about. We always look forward to returning.

I made a last minute reservation for dinner at Hilo Bay Cafe, but am glad I did. Although there…read morewere no tables available to book for the lanai, we still had views of Hilo Bay from our table inside. Overall the food was really good. I couldn't resist trying their hamakua mushroom pot pie with chicken. It had a curried vegetable filling and a very flaky crust. It was really delicious! If you're staying in Hilo or even just passing through, Hilo Bay Cafe is a great choice for a meal with a (potential) view and delicious food. It's also right next door to Liliʻuokalani Gardens which is a great choice for an after dinner stroll (though beware of mosquitos!).

Way cool stop after our guided tour of the caldera rim and a short hike from the rim. Drinks are…read moreavailable and JUST what I needed. I'm not used to the altitude or using this much energy at this altitude. The gift shop has a good variety for what you will likely need. There are park rangers to answer your questions. I fond just standing back and listening in, there is a lot to learn!

The visitor center had historically been the first venue you come across when arriving to the park…read more Now that it is under construction, you are diverted to the former military facility that has barracks for rent. There are still guides there to greet you and manage the Junior Rangers program and to instruct you of the hazards associated with the active volcano.

We loved our time at the Volcano Tree House! Gary, the property owner, was amazing. He was…read moreincredibly friendly and personable. Our room, the Tree Top Suite was great. We really did feel like we were living in a tree house! The surrounding rainforest was amazingly beautifully, particularly in the morning during sunrise. The sounds of the birds in the morning were very pleasant. Maurice, Gary's cat, was our little buddy in the Tree Top Suite. He greeted us when we arrived and slept in our room every night. He loved being petted and just hanging out with us. We really enjoyed our time at the Volcano Tree House and would highly recommend it. It was a really fun getaway, removed from the hustle and bustle we dealt with in Honolulu.

We came here for a week in August after not taking vacation for a couple years....we really needed…read morea place to relax and enjoy and get away from our daily stresses. This was definitely it. We stayed in the Tree Top Suite, 3 stories up in the canopy of a tropical rain forest. Windows on all walls, shades we never bothered to pull because it was very private and we did not want to block our unobstructed view of the jungle. Wrap around porch, complete with heater, comfy chairs, a quiet secluded place to read or watch birds or simply sit in the sun streaming through the upper branches. Big comfy bed with dual control heated mattress pad (it gets chilly at nights as it is above 5000 feet elevation). I spent a lot of time here reading and resting. Convenient kitchenette, walk in shower, books about birds and local history, good lighting on the stairs and walkways, I would not change a thing. Breakfast is at the sister property, Bamboo Orchid Cottage, a short walking distance away. Wonderful coffee, papaya fruit boats, homemade pastries, bagels, a good selection of granola, hardboiled eggs, yogurt, make-your-own waffles with strawberries and whipped cream. Susie and her niece took good care of us. We had the Volcano Adventure package complete with a helicopter tour, a self-guided audio driving tour of Volcano National Park, and a private tour from a local guide of the Puna coast. A good choice. We ate just about everywhere in the town of Volcano and liked it all, went to the Volcano Winery, went to the Park which is open 24-7, saw the petroglyphs (a long hot walk but worth it), ventured out to see the new lava flowing out of tubes into the ocean one night - spectacular, natural fireworks! We would definitely come back and try the new birder package. If you do go to this part of Hawaii, bring a fleece jacket and be prepared for daily rains. It's a rain forest...sun and heat are a short drive in any direction.

From the moment we ran into a few unexpected hiccups with our reservation, Carlos and John went…read moreabove and beyond to make things right. They treated us with such kindness, patience, and genuine care, never making us feel like we were an inconvenience. It was obvious they worked as a team, communicated well, and were committed to making sure we had a wonderful experience. What could have been a frustrating start to our stay quickly became a reminder of how much exceptional hospitality matters. Their professionalism, empathy, and positive attitudes turned the situation around completely. They made us feel welcomed, valued, and truly cared for, and because of them, we'll remember this stay for all the right reasons. Thank you again Carlos and John for the outstanding service you provided and making such a meaningful difference in our trip!

We had a unique and wonderful experience at Volcano Village Lodge. The rooms are located in the…read moremiddle of a rainforest with floor-to-ceiling windows so you feel you're right in the middle of nature. The friendly and helpful staff made sure we had a great experience. Breakfast each morning was filling and delicious. They were even able to accommodate my dairy-free diet, which I really appreciated. If you're lucky, the moist and rich homemade brownies will also be available in the lobby. Just be sure to stock up before the office closes each day. We ordered picnic lunches from the lodge for our day hiking at Volcanoes National Park. While the sandwiches were average, the lunches included wine and an impressive number of snacks. The snacks lasted all day and we even had enough to bring some home on the plane. The property is only a 10-15 min drive to Volcanoes National Park making it easy to get there. One thing to note: the wifi was very unreliable during our stay. This could be a pro or con depending on your needs.