At 1 Kitchen, the signature restaurant of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, guests are invited to experience the hyper-local and sustainably driven menu as they explore the islands’ tastes, textures, and traditions. Executive Chef Daniel Palumbo oversees the food and beverage program at the resort, ensuring it aligns with 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay’s mission of being a sustainable luxury resort based on the principle that travelers should also care for the world they explore.  “By collaborating with high-profile guest chefs, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay has a more visible platform to celebrate Kaua‘i’s farmers, ranchers, and growers,” says Chef Palumbo. At the resort, the New Jersey native skillfully combines local flavors with modern techniques, ensuring that every dish narrates the story of a place while highlighting his commitment to sustainability and seasonality. 

Start your morning in the sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere of the 1 Kitchen dining area. The modern, open-concept space features indoor and outdoor dining areas with expansive views of Hanalei Bay, for which the resort is renowned. Some guests opt for the breakfast buffet, a staple of the 1 Kitchen menu. A balance of sweet and savory options is provided, all carefully sourced from local purveyors to highlight the fresh, regional, and sustainably sourced farm-to-table cuisine that is fundamental to the restaurant. Another highlight on the breakfast menu is the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, which feature three fluffy pancakes topped with lemon zest and a light dusting of powdered sugar. Equally delightful are the cultured butter, maple syrup, and berry preserves accompanying the dish, allowing you to create various flavor combinations with each bite. Aromatic coffee, assorted teas, and a selection of daily juices are available to complement your breakfast, along with options from their Sunrise Cocktail Cart. Enjoy a celebratory start to your day with the 1 Kitchen Mimosa, available with the local favorite POG (Passion, Orange, Guava) or the Princeville Sunrise, which blends mango, prickly pear, and hibiscus.

The fresh, flavorful dishes on 1 Kitchen’s lunch menu will satisfy and delight. From vibrant salads packed with island-grown produce to hearty main courses, their lunch menu offers a variety of options to fuel you throughout the day. An excellent main dish is the Wellness Bowl, which is loaded with nutrient-dense ingredients, including a rice and quinoa blend that provides the base, as well as toppings such as sweet potatoes, pickled red onion, roasted mushrooms, a soft egg, and roasted red peppers. The dish combines a flavorful umami sauce and toasted sesame seeds. Another tasty lunch option is the fish tacos, which start with freshly caught fish tucked into tender blue-corn tortillas and topped with avocado salsa, pico de gallo, cabbage slaw, and lime wedges. Hearty burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and a selection of desserts complement their energizing lunch menu, offering options to cater to diverse tastes.

As evening approaches, guests can enjoy a memorable dining experience through 1 Kitchen’s menu that changes seasonally to highlight Kaua‘i’s vibrant flavors. Start your meal with their revered scratch-made bread or one of their hyper-local dips and spreads. An excellent choice is the Smoked Marlin spread that features bits of watercress and macadamia nut gremolata. Another fantastic way to start your dinner is by sharing a few selections from their Small Plates portion of the menu, like the Beet Cured Snapper that is artistically plated with fennel, melon, arugula and tarragon vin, or the Truffle Arancini served with a luscious black truffle aioli. House-made pasta is another highlight of the dinner menu. From delicate bucatini, a timeless pasta shape known for its hollow core and ability to hold sauce, served with Kona shrimp, to the hearty rigatoni tossed in a spicy vodka sauce, their pasta dishes offer a superior texture that is perfectly complemented by the thoughtful pairing of sauce and flavors. 

The dinner entrées are where 1 Kitchen’s farm-and-ocean-to-table menu truly shines. With seafood freshly caught from Hawaiian waters, vegetables and herbs from nearby farms, and proteins obtained from local purveyors, the dinner entrées celebrate the island’s rich bounty of ingredients. From the Prime Filet Mignon served with endive, tomatoes and zhougsauce to the Coffee-Crusted Yellowfin Ahi accompanied with Hamakua mushrooms, farro, kale and an orange gastrique, 1 Kitchen’s commitment to locally sourced and sustainable ingredients makes each dinner option not only a treat for the palate but a meaningful reflection of the island’s culinary heritage.

To accompany your dinner, the mixologists at 1 Kitchen’s bar offer an array of handcrafted cocktails, beer, wine, sparkling wine, and champagne to complement each meal course. A highlight of the cocktail menu is the collection of mai tais, which celebrate the stories and people of Kaua‘i. From the Princeville Mai Tai, featuring Mt. Gay Black Barrel Aged Rum mixed with Carpani Antica, lime, pineapple, orange, and liliko‘i (passionfruit), and finished with orgeat and a Kō Hana Kokoleka Cacao & Honey Rum Float, to the Kaua‘i Tai, bursting with the bright flavors of yuzu (Japanese citron) and local Hamakua macadamia nut orgeat, their selection of mai tais will infuse your meal with a bit of island spirit. Staying true to the wellness-focused philosophy of the resort, 1 Kitchen also offers non-alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks on its menu. One exceptional non-alcoholic and sustainable option is the Kaua‘i Creamsicle, which combines Slow Island Co.’s passion fruit, orange, and guava culinary syrup with yuzu and coconut water, creating a perfect balance of bright citrus, natural sweetness, and creamy smoothness. 

As your meal concludes, the chefs at 1 Kitchen present a delectable selection of desserts to provide a satisfying finish and leave a lasting impression on your evening. If you’re in the mood for something indulgent, choose their Chocolate Sponge Cake, flavored with Kaua‘i coffee and accompanied by a Hawaiian stout ganache. For a lighter option, you may prefer their local gelato and sorbet selection. However, if you’re seeking a unique and unforgettable dessert, try the Kunana Farm Fresh Goat Cheese with honeycomb, poha berries, and ash oil. This dish features a harmonious blend of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors, along with contrasting textures. 

Dining at 1 Kitchen goes beyond just a meal; it offers an immersive experience that honors the flavors of the islands through thoughtfully crafted dishes made with the finest, locally sourced, and sustainably harvested ingredients. Whether you start your day with a nourishing breakfast, recharge at lunch, or indulge in an elegant dinner, 1 Kitchen provides dining experiences that showcase the flavors of Kaua‘i in every bite.

1 Kitchen at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay; 5520 Ka Haku Road, 8th Floor, Princeville; (808) 977-1154; Open daily for breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and bar open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; 1hotels.com/hanalei-bay/taste/1-kitchen.