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The Sandbox

4.5 (104 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Updated 2 weeks ago

The Sandbox Photos

THE SANDBOX ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Outdoor seating

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Katherine K.

This was a maze to get to and I would say my experience was average, but the price was steep. Apparently, when you ask for a simple tequila soda/sprite, it is more expensive than their crazy concoctions on the menu. One of the bartenders rolled their eyes at me when I asked for a lime to replace the grapefruit I was given in my drink. Other bartenders were very friendly. I only got their Ahi Nachos, which they messed up the first time, and I thought they were good. I've had better, but I've also had worse. If they decrease the sweet chili sauce and increase the amount of avocado, the dish would have been soo much better. The ahi was fresh at least. Based on the proportions I was seeing of what other people ordered, most of the portions do not equal the price. I would say the ahi nachos and the pizza were the only exceptions I saw, but the pizza looks very doughey from what I could see.

Kami M.

Sandbox is such a fun pool bar and a perfect spot to hang out for the day. The drinks were delicious and definitely didn't disappoint. Brandon took care of us all day and he was absolutely fabulous. If you're into Long Island Iced Teas or mojitos, he makes them really well and doesn't skimp. Nice and strong in the best way. We didn't try the food this time, but we ended up meeting some great people sitting at the bar which added to the whole vibe. They also have two TVs, which is a nice bonus if you want to keep an eye on a football game while you're sipping a drink by the pool. Super relaxed, friendly atmosphere and a spot I'd happily come back to.

Kaua'i Grown Greens with Hulihuli chicken
Brenda O.

This restaurant is located by the beach within the 1Hotel Hanalei Bay. They have valet parking available which was luckily free if you're just going to eat at the restaurant. The food and drinks were tasty- my fiancee had the peperoni pizza and I had the kauai greens salad with hulihuli chicken, and we tried the lilikoi spritz for drinks! This is probably one of the nicest beach views in Hanalei so definitely recommend a stop here for dinner with a breathtaking view.

The Sandbox Smashburger
Kimmy U.

I can see why the Sandbox has such high ratings We were staying at the 1 Hotel (where this is located) and came here twice during our trip. They have a seated area, but you can also get their food/drinks if you are lounging at the pool since they have someone from the restaurant coming around often. There aren't very many good food options in Princeville, and this was definitely the best we had, so I was glad we were staying at the hotel. We came for lunch one day and got the sandbox burger and the healthy bowl. The burger was definitely my favorite! It was smash burger style and not too messy, and the fries were perfect. The healthy bowl just had way too much rice, and the dressing was a bit too creamy for me. We also came another night for dinner and ordered a bbq chicken pizza and crispy shrimp which was on a special menu. Both were just ok for us but if we were to go back again, I'd just go for the burger

Hal S.

Amazing location and ocean/beach views. Outstanding food and service. On the grounds of the 1 Hotel Princeville.

This is the Prickly Pear Paloma, apparently we gobbled up the food immediately, I didn't get a photo.
Allison H.

We had reservations here for our first night on Kauai. We loved our experience. The location is stunning. You have to use the hotels valet service, it is $20 for 4 hours. If you don't want to use valet you can find parking but be prepared to walk a bit. Our server was fantastic and our food was great!

Jennifer C. L.

We came here to lounge by the pool area enjoy the cool weather outdoors by the bar. We sat up at the bar and our bartender was kind and friendly full of Hawaii vibes. He found out it was our honeymoon so he gave us a free drink. All their drinks were great. We tried: -Mai Tai that came with Koloa Kauai White Rum, Koloa Kauai Dark Rum, pineapple juice, dry orange curacao, mac nut orgeat, with lime -My favorite was their Frose Pink Flamingo which was SO GOOD! This came with Rose, Titos Vodka, guava, and lilet This was a great place to sit and grab a drink to relax and enjoy the Hawaiian sun.

Food Menu
Jade S.

This is a cool bar at the beach level at One Hotel in Princeville which is one of the most beautiful views in the world of Hanalei Bay. The food at the Sand Box is a tad pricey, but food is excellent, especially considering that poolside food is usually horrible! Eric was our server on all three visits and he's great at his job.....he's friendly and calm even if he's mostly the main server and swamped with customers. We had the Ono Margarita, Lava Flow, Frose Pink Flamingo Frozen Cocktail and a Guava Lava Cider. For food we had the Hulihuli Chicken pizza, the Greek tomato salad, and the Tempura Shrimp Street Tacos. This is a fantastic poolside bar with great music. On our next trip back we are excited to try one kitchen!

Fresh Catch Ceviche*   The fresh catch was swordfish and it was delicious.
Dave A.

Sandbox bar was very good. It closes kind of early around sun down so you should be mindful of that when planning to eat by the pool. Brandon our bartender was very nice and personable. We chatted for a while about baseball and our food came out very quickly and it was delicious. Especially the ceviche which I thought was better at Sandbox over 1 Kitchen.

Burnt margarita pizza - we ate around it.  Manager offered us another pizza.  Really appreciated :))
Carolyn W.

Very pricy, but great vibe & food. Service was hit & miss. We saw manager more than server (who was really sweet, but too many tables?). Ceviche was stingy for price. More fish, please?

Hulihuli Pizza - No bacon and added fresh pineapple  sooo good!
Maral C.

The location by the pool at 1 Hotel is fantastic, especially if you're staying there. It was a busy day, so the service was a bit slow, so make sure to allow enough time to soak in the relaxing atmosphere! For drinks, I had the Frose and Makana Mana. I started with chips and guacamole, and for lunch, I enjoyed the hulihuli pizza without bacon and with added pineapple. Everything was delicious, especially the pizza!

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5 months ago

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7 months ago

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2 months ago

We loved the food and ambiance. The service was great. Very expensive and first class venue.

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4 months ago

5 stars must give a shoutout to chef rob, an absolute delight and amazing dough tossing skills, he is the reason we will be back again!

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4 months ago

Sandbox pizza is absolutely amazing we recommend trying it out, Rob puts tons of Aloha in his craft, thanks for an amazing experience!

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7 months ago

The food was great but the views were even better. A must if you find yourself hungry on the north shore.

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7 months ago

We all liked the cozy atmosphere very much, delicious pizza, pizza maker Robert a great guy will always tell you everything about pizza

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Welina Terrace

Welina Terrace

4.0
(229 reviews)
0.1 mi

Welina Terrace was the perfect setting to celebrate my 65th birthday. From the moment we arrived,…read moreevery member of the team made us feel genuinely welcome. Our server, Derek, was outstanding--professional, attentive without hovering, and his recommendations were excellent throughout the evening. Managers Imelda and Martin both stopped by our table to ensure everything was meeting our expectations, a thoughtful touch that reflects the hospitality of the entire team. Even Ms. Kai, the evening's DJ, came over to ask whether the music volume was comfortable. I appreciated the gesture, and despite being the birthday "old man" at the table, the music struck just the right balance between lively and enjoyable. The food was equally memorable. The Crispy Rice with Local Spicy Ahi was a terrific way to begin the meal, followed by flavorful Chicken Karaage. We also enjoyed an outstanding selection of sushi, including the Hamachi Roll, Local Ahi Roll, Chili Salmon Roll, and the beautifully prepared Seared Wagyu Nigiri. Each dish was fresh, thoughtfully presented, and showcased the quality of the ingredients. To finish the evening, the Black Sesame Mochi Cake with Burnt Cream Gelato and Hawaiian Red Salt was a wonderful birthday dessert and the perfect ending to an exceptional meal. Welina Terrace combines excellent cuisine, gracious hospitality, and a vibrant atmosphere overlooking Hanalei Bay. It was one of the highlights of our stay at the 1 Hotel Princeville, and we look forward to returning on our next visit to Kauai.

Food: We had various dishes off the menu to include karaage, edamame, shishito peppers, brussel…read morespouts, hamachi kama and various sushi rolls....all of which were delicious. Service: we did note on our reservation that we were celebrating 2 birthdays and our wedding anniversary which our server did acknowledge but I was surprised he did not bring out any type of complimentary dessert considering the celebration. This is typically something establishments will do especially if we spent close to $400 on our bill. I suppose this is not standard practice for Welina Terrace. Ambiance: The restaurant itself was lively, had nice decor and the views were spectacular which is what I think you are truly paying for with a dining experience here. They also had live music which was great. Overall, we were impressed with the location and food and they could have earned 5-stars if they were to throw in a complimentary dessert for the occasions we were celebrating but a 4-star review is still worth the visit if youre in Kaua'i.

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Sunset View
Sunset View
Sushi and a view
Sushi and a view
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Happy Talk Bar & Restaurant

Happy Talk Bar & Restaurant

3.7
(687 reviews)
0.2 mi
$$

Such a cool place with amazing music and atmosphere! Huge shoutout to the musician who was covering…read moremodern hits in a Hawaiian style - honestly, that alone is worth coming here for. The bar bites were also really good. We ordered the coconut shrimp and chicken wings, and the wings were so tasty we ended up getting a second order. Service was great and respectful. My friends got beer and really enjoyed it. I ordered a cocktail and didn't have the best luck with it - lots of ice and a bit too bitter for my taste. I wouldn't recommend the Hanalei Sour. One thing to note: the restroom isn't inside the bar, it's on the hotel property, so you'll need to take a short walk. Overall, I'd recommend this place mainly for the vibe and live music - such a fun experince!

If only the food tasted as good as the setting of this restaurant looks, it'd be a five star dining…read moreexperience. Unfortunately, we don't eat the restaurant setting, so this is a 2 star experience instead. Came in with a group of 4, and between all of us we ordered: 1.) Coconut Shrimp 2.) Homemade Mac-Nut Hummus 3.) Fried Calamari N' Shrimp 4.) Happy Talk Loco-Moco 5.) Happy Talk Smash Burger 6.) Volcano Poke I only got to try #'s 1-4, and from those, only the hummus was any good. Unfortunately, the loco-moco was bland. There was no seasoning, and there was no flavor. My party seemed to really enjoy the burger and that was probably the best food from what we ordered. Overall, I wasn't happy with the meal and would give this a 2/5

Photos
Dinner seating is adjacent to the upper level bar.
Dinner seating is adjacent to the upper level bar.
Lava Cake with ice cream
Lava Cake with ice cream
Bali Hai Tai!  Yuuuum....

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Bali Hai Tai! Yuuuum....
Tiki Iniki

Tiki Iniki

3.5
(1.3k reviews)
1.6 mi
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Tiki Iniki was a fun, flavorful stop with exactly the kind of island/tiki atmosphere we were hoping…read morefor. I ordered the Teriyaki Burger with fries and a Lava Flow, and both really hit the spot. The burger had a great sweet-and-savory balance from the teriyaki glaze, pineapple, slaw, and shoyu mayo. It was messy in the best way, with plenty of flavor, and the fries were a solid side. The Lava Flow was also a highlight: tropical, creamy, fruity, and very photogenic. It felt like the perfect vacation drink. Overall, Tiki Iniki is a good pick if you want a casual meal, fun drinks, and a lively tiki-bar vibe. I'd definitely recommend stopping in for a Lava Flow and a burger.

It's such a shame, because my wife and I love trying tiki bars whenever we go to a new place, but…read moreTiki Iniki just feels like no one cares. At all. Service is slow. Slooooowwwww. Slow. The worst mai tai I have ever had. My god. Ordered the "top shelf" Mai tai, and it was absolutely brutal. First, it wasn't shaken OR stirred. What does this mean? It was served one ingredient on top of the next, room temperature, and tasted like a hot mess. We actually felt sick from it. The amount of syrup this bartender used was crazy. She's either not tasting her drinks, or has just fried her taste buds doing god knows what over the years. Please, for your customer's sake, train the bartenders.

Photos
The Tiki Iniki and the flaming drink (forgot the name)
The Tiki Iniki and the flaming drink (forgot the name)
The inki
The inki
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Stinger Ray's Tiki Bar & Lounge

Stinger Ray's Tiki Bar & Lounge

3.8
(11 reviews)
19.3 mi

Jamie W and I have yet to explore the island of Kauai, but we did have a longer-than-scheduled…read morelayover at Lihue Airport on the way back home from Honolulu. Three hours to be exact, and the airport was unsurprisingly quite small. There was a mini-market, a couple of places to eat, and this casual tiki bar. Of course we were drawn in even though it was crowded due to several concurrent flight delays. The bartender was busy, even providing table service without any staff assistance. We managed to snag a window-side table, and while we balked a bit at the price, we ordered a pair of $22.49 Macadamia Nut Espresso Martinis, a luscious libation of vodka, Borghetti espresso liqueur, macadamia nut honey, and nitro-infused espresso (Photo 7). It kept us going until our flight finally took off. COCKTAIL - 4 stars...pricy yet top drawer AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...it's the airport after all SERVICE - 4 stars...as attentive as possible TOTAL - 4 stars...last tiki stop before leaving the islands RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/n9JWu5nlzl

Food is the same through the entire airport (burger is good!) but our bartender was fabulous…read more Friendly and helpful. Best way to burn a flight delay ever Coronas were plentiful and cold

Photos
Photo 2: Front of the lounge
Photo 2: Front of the lounge
Interior (05/12/23). #StingerRaysTikiBarAndLounge #LihueAirport #Kauai #Hawaii #Airport #Lounge #Bar
Interior (05/12/23). #StingerRaysTikiBarAndLounge #LihueAirport #Kauai #Hawaii #Airport #Lounge #Bar
Photo 4: Wall decor

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Photo 4: Wall decor
The Bistro

The Bistro

4.0
(752 reviews)
5.8 mi
$$

We had a wonderful dinner at The Bistro and would definitely come back…read more We arrived during happy hour (3-5 p.m.), which was a great bonus--draft beers were only $3, making it an excellent value. We also loved the atmosphere. The restaurant is open and airy, with plenty of fresh air, creating a relaxed island vibe. We started with several small plates. The beet salad was fresh, beautifully prepared, and large enough to share. The highlight of the appetizers, however, was the local Kauai prawns. They were perfectly cooked and served sizzling in an iron skillet with a rich, lemon-butter sauce that was absolutely delicious. Definitely a must-order! For our entrées, we had the Catch of the Day and the Chicken Marsala. The Catch of the Day was outstanding--fresh, expertly prepared, and easily the star of the meal. The Chicken Marsala was flavorful and well-cooked, though it was just a little saltier than I personally prefer. Overall, the food quality was great, the service was friendly and attentive, and the entire dining experience was outstanding. If you're visiting Kauai, don't miss the Catch of the Day--it was exceptional! We highly recommend The Bistro for delicious food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Made a reservation for 8 by emailing the restaurant a week or two in advance. An open air casual…read morerestaurant, it has a small bar area & decent size seating area. The group started with Caesar salads, house salad & the beet salad. For entrees, 2 chose blackened sea bass, 2 chose the pork chop w/ pineapple whiskey sauce. Also chose chili pepper chicken & mushroom risotto croquettes. Kids had fettuccine Alfredo. All were good except we found a piece of plastic in the croquettes. Obviously those were returned. The pork chop was served with perfectly cooked sautéed spinach. However, the sauce was thin & had no hint of whiskey. The chicken was kind of dry - it needed a dipping sauce. Lilikoi cheesecake was good, not great. The berry compote served on side overpowered the lilikoi sauce drizzled on the plate. Service was friendly & fairly prompt. Overall, a nice dinner, but not anything to rave about.

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The Bistro
Prosciutto with goat cheese
Prosciutto with goat cheese
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The Sandbox - pizza - Updated July 2026

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