A day of snorkeling, swimming and sunning in Poipu, Kauai, can easily turbo-charge your appetite. Guests enjoying a serene stay at Whaler’s Cove, in its idyllic location, find the distinct advantage of accessibility to the Poipu’s nifty eateries.

Whether traveling as a group, couple, solo or family, Poipu on Kauai’s South Shore is home to a unique range of choices, from a shack dishing up roadside comfort foods to the finest and freshest upscale cuisine reflecting artistry on a plate. Ambiances as exotic and quietly pleasant as gardens are part of the dining landscape. The ocean’s constant movement makes seaside dining thrilling, with plenty of time to wine and dine while watching waves. Sun-dappled, reminiscent of old Hawaii, Poipu, Kauai restaurants offer dining parallels to dining traditions on the mainland…instead of mint juleps on a wraparound porch try tropical drinks on a wraparound lanai, instead of tapas are amazing pupus.

While you may expect dishes prepared with macadamia nuts, coconuts, taro, pineapple, and the freshest fish, restaurants near Whaler’s Cove deliver all that and more. Plantation Gardens Restaurant & Bar creates handcrafted drinks with ingredients we love, but with a twist—cucumber mojitos and lavender pina coladas. If it doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, try conventionally preferred cocktails with a variety of ingredients such as mint, mango, prickly pear, or tangerine. Their ahi tuna tacos, made of taro root taco shell and avocado mousse, are one example of island spin on popular favorites. Surrounding you are 1,000 orchids on this restored plantation, which somehow enhances the taste of the local lilikoi cheesecake.

Cash only, take-away and an opportunity to eat like a local awaits at Sueoka’s Snack Shop. Try the loco moco, which is a native Hawaiian dish that originated from a need to eat cheap. It consists of rice, a hamburger patty, fried egg, and brown gravy, with variations. This is a not-so-hidden budget find among the restaurants in the Whaler’s Cove vicinity. The kalua pork and cabbage plate lunch is a favorite, as are the fried fish dishes and the fries. Conveniently, this place is part of the Sueoka Store where you can grab some basics for your condo stay.

A departure from the casual are some excellent upscale restaurants in the Whaler’s Cove region in Poipu, some of which you’ll find at the nearby resorts. Aptly named, The Beach House offers a bounty of local and seasonal island food and has won a multitude of awards. Signature items include their wasabi-crusted snapper, molten chocolate dessert, majestic mai tai and tikitini. Other popular dishes include the watermelon salad and the togarashi fried calamari with Hawaiian guava cocktail sauce. Needless to say, it’s an oceanfront restaurant so drink in the sunny shores and dramatic sunsets alongside great meals.

Roy’s is a top-notch restaurant that should be one of the highlights of your dining experiences while staying in Whaler’s Cove. The Hawaiian Fusion is an incredible presentation plus melding of European techniques, Asian cuisine and Hawaiian hospitality.

The area has its share of restaurants with typical tiki torches and open air scene (Keoki’s Paradise—try the hula pie), plus a fish market and Koloa Rum Company’s tasting room, rounding out Poipu’s drinking and dining options.