Visit Hawaii: Cliffs at Princeville

1. Location

The Cliffs at Princeville (also known as The Cliffs Kauai) is a luxurious condo resort on the North Shore, next to the famous 45-hole Princeville Golf Course. It was named after its dramatic setting on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Grounds at The Cliffs at Princeville are beautiful, you will see expansive lawns, flowering trees, shrubs, and a lot of shaded spots to read a book or relax. The beach is a short walk away.

The nearby Hanalei town is a 'must see'. You will find a few good restaurants and shopping, not to mention some great beaches.

2. Rooms

The Cliffs at Princeville is an upscale resort but not snobbish at all. It feels very quiet and private, a perfect place if you want to get away from the crowds.

There are 202 1-bedroom condos with garden or ocean views. They do not have a/c, but with paddle fans and sliders, evening cross-breezes cool the rooms well. The Cliffs Kauai was last renovated in 2000, so all rooms are in very good condition.

Each condo has:

Beds: 1 king or queen, and sofabed
Ceiling fans (no a/c)
2 private lanais (off the living room and bedroom)
Full kitchen
Wet bar
Color cable TV
2 full bathrooms
Daily maid service

3. Restaurants

The Cliffs at Princeville does not have an on-site restaurant, but there are quite a few restaurants and cafes located within 1-2 miles from the condo. Here are our 5 favorite places:

1) The Winds of Beamreach - located at Pali Ke Kua
This restaurant/cocktail lounge has charming old Hawaiian decor. It is open for dinner, fresh island seafood, steaks, and lighter fare such as locally grown organic produce, homemade salad dressings, desserts, and soups. The food is pretty good, however, many of our customers have thought it was way overpriced.

2) Cafe Hanalei - located 1.3 miles away, at Princeville Resort
Cafe Hanalei is possibly the world's most romantic restaurant. The beautiful reflection pool confuses your eyes, blurring sky into the crashing waves of the magnificent Pacific Ocean, and making the tables look like they are set in the middle of the ocean.

Every morning, they serve an impressive breakfast buffet. Two large center service tables are piled high with fruits, pastries, bagels, lox and all the trimmings. A hot service line includes French toast, meats, waffles, pancakes and made-to-order omelets. The buffet is decently priced at around $22-25 per person.

They also serve lunch and dinner, with special Seafood Buffet on Friday nights and Champagne Sunday Brunch. With innovative menus (how about Steamed Hawaiian Snapper with Ginger, Cilantro and Shiitake Mushrooms?) and breathtaking views of Hanalei Bay, you may never want to leave this scenic terrace.

3) Bali Hai Restaurant - located 1 mile away, at Hanalei Bay Resort
This is another one of Kauai's most romantic restaurants. The views of the ocean, setting sun, and the rugged Bali Hai peak are so gorgeous that you can hardly concentrate on the food.

The restaurant's specialty is Pacific Rim cuising made from fresh island ingredients, many of the herbs are grown in the resort's own garden.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

4) La Cascata Restaurant - located 1.3 miles away, at Princeville Resort
The restaurant takes its name, "The Cascade", from the spectacular mountain waterfalls that you see from your table. The entrance to the restaurant features dramatic iron gates, with hand-painted murals of Italian villages and ivy hanging down from the ceiling. The inviting aromas hint an evening of fnie food, gracious service and warm hospitality.

Menu features Fresh Manilla Clams, Fresh Island Ahi with Corn Cake and Charred Summer Vegetables, and Grilled Rack of Lamp on Soft Porcini Mushroom Polenta.

La Cascata's international wine list will satisfy even the most discriminating taste. After dinner, you can stay for a hand-rolled cigar and aperitif.

Open for dinner 6pm-10pm.

5) Living Room Lounge - located 1.3 miles away, at Princeville Resort
This signature lounge has towering floor-to-ceiling glass walls, many conversation areas and sofas. In spite of classic European estate decor, it makes you feel comfortable to prop your feet on the pillows or curl up just as if you were in your own home. The outdoor patios with blazing torches are favored spots for watching the sunset.

From 5:30 to 9:30pm, this lounge is also a full-fledged sushi bar. The fish is incredibly fresh, probably caught that same morning. The "Green Flash" roll, an original creation of the Living Room sushi chef, is most delicious.

Live entertainment is also amazing. The sax player and piano man fit right into this plush environment.

4. Things to do

On-site facilities include: