Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery - Santa Cruz, California

Yuri C.

Stopped by Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery at the end of the Santa Cruz Wharf for a quick bite on a weekday evening around 6 PM.

It’s a lively pan-Asian spot with a fun Hawaiian tiki-style setup, and we were seated right away at the rotating area in the back, which gave us beautiful water views (plus some cute seagull sightings!).

The vibe was relaxed and the staff was friendly, which made it a nice break in our day. I tried the ceviche (forgot to take a photo!), and while the presentation was nice, the flavor was a bit soggy for my taste, and the chips didn’t quite match.

The kalbi was delicious, flavorful and tender, and I actually thought it would have made a great filling for the lettuce wrap, which instead came with a soupy chicken mixture that felt a little too heavy. Also, the macaroni salad served with the kalbi didn’t quite fit for me flavor-wise..maybe better without it! (Just a few suggestions from someone who loves a good food experience!)

Overall though, it’s a fun and unique place to relax, enjoy the views, and catch your breath while exploring Santa Cruz. The rotating seating and tiki bar setup definitely makes it memorable!

Vente N.

I had the coconut shrimp here and it was perfectly crispy and delicious. The ahi poke bowl was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had — so fresh and flavorful! The view and atmosphere really stood out to me, too. With the tasty cocktails and the whole vibe, I genuinely felt like I was soaking in the tropical warmth of Hawaii. Definitely a great spot to relax and enjoy good food!

KERRY S.

Went for our first time and sat at the rotating bar. The bar and restaurant is Tiki themed. We tried four tropical drinks off the extensive drink menu and they were all delicious and well prepared. Ordered the coconut shrimp as an appetizer with our drinks. We will definitely be going back so we can try other drinks on the menu.

Jen C.

Love this place! The drinks are phenomenal, the food is delicious, good options for vegan/vegatarian, nice service and great atmosphere. Fun drinks on a secret menu treasure map. Love the theme and great Hawaiian food. Only thing is, they frequently run out of certain menu items due to high demand. So you can't always get exactly what you want, but when everything's so good, you always have options.

Jeff M.

We really enjoyed our dinner here and were nicely surprised to find ourselves seated in the rotating bar area. First time here and didn’t realize the slowly moving floor was a thing, but it ensures you have a nice window seat at least part of the meal.
We got two different MaiTais, the 1944 MaiTai and the Hawaiian, we both preferred the more traditional Hawaiian.
Our steak and salmon were both good, well cooked and seasoned.
The overall tiki theme is great, and the metal octopus sculpture outside is a nice touch.

Victoria O.

Awesome drinks, service, and ambiance! Stopped here before the dinner rush, wasn’t too crowded or loud. They have an extensive menu with really fun cocktails. Highly recommend sitting at the rotating bar if you can! Great views and great drinks!

Kshitij B.

Such beautiful views of Sunset from this restaurant. They got the revolving bar too which was a fun experience.

Great food, nice ambience and warm hosts. Made our birthday dinner special!

Laurie D.

Absolute gem! Great food, great cocktails with fun names, a revolving floor, ocean views, Hawaiian music... What's not to love?! Try the squid drink and the bulgogi! ❤️❤️❤️