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Exterior - Cafe Portofino, Lihue, HI

Cafe Portofino

4.2 (2527)
$31 to $50
Italian
3481 Ho'olaule'a Way, Lihue, HI 96766

Make a reservation

A photo of Cafe Portofino restaurant

Cafe Portofino

4.2
$31 to $50
Italian
Lihue

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 23 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Great for scenic views
  • Romantic
Authentic Northern Italian fare, also specializing in seafood and steaks. Cafe Portofino is a beautiful upscale restaurant overlooking the ocean located at the Royal Sonesta Resort. Please come and enjoy our award wining cuisine and breathtaking views. Official parking for the restaurant is available at the Royal Sonesta Resort.

Please note, all seating is first come, first served- no special seating requests can be honored. For parties over 6, online reservations are not accepted, please call the main number.

If you have children in your party, please leave a note on your reservation or message the restaurant so that we can better accommodate your seating. Grazie.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Seafood, Pizzeria
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Resort Casual
  • Neighborhood
    Lihue
  • Cross street
    Rice Street
  • Parking details
    Free valet parking at Royal Sonesta.(Street Parking and Beach parking also available)
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Cafe Portofino.

4.2

4.2
(2527)
  • 4.1Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 3.8Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Kauai

    Great for fine wines

  • Kauai

    Romantic

  • Kauai

    Great for scenic views

  • Kauai

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Cafe Portofino offers a "delightful" Italian dining experience with "delicious" food and a "beautiful" oceanfront view. Guests appreciate the charming ambiance, often enhanced by live violin music. The "great service" and "wide-ranging menu" cater to diverse tastes, making it a "favorite" for both locals and visitors.
2,527 Reviews
  1. George

    San Diego12 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on October 26, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Food is really mediocre. Very disappointing, bland and underwhelming. Save your money and go next door to Dukes

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  2. Tom

    Minneapolis6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 24, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was wonderful, I don't understand why it has some negative reviews.

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  3. Marty Gold

    Tucson116 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 24, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Cafe Portofino was excellent as always. The live violin makes for a charming atmosphere. Chicken Piccata was well prepared and served hot. The fettuccine bolognese was also perfectly prepared and tasty. Profiteroles for dessert were also very good. Service was prompt and attentive overall. Giuseppe is a gracious host.

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  4. Claire

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 24, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was my second time at Cafe Portofino. Great service and hospitality. Delicious food with a view of the beach. To start I had the caprese salad which had the best pesto I have ever had. For my entree I had the Scampi a Limone which was perfection. The garlic bread had the perfect amount of garlic (definitely not for the faint of heart!). I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and the background music, specifically the violinist, was exceptional. I will definitely be making my way back my next time on Kaua’i.

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  5. Jeff Gold

    Seattle7 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 21, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was what you would expect. Service could have improved with more staffing.

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  6. Jim

    Las Vegas5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 21, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    The server we had was extremely pleasant, and very friendly. The food we ordered, pizza, was outstanding. Our only issue was the time it took to be recognized as sitting at the table. We waited in excess of 5min to even get water glasses filled. Had to flag down the server several times for refills and other requests. Only checked on us when it was time to issue the check. This aspect really made our experience underwhelming.

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  7. sarah

    Utah1 review

    2.0

    Dined on October 18, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    Service was very slow, food was mediocre at best.

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  8. Margaret Gold

    Rhode Island62 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on October 16, 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    We went to this restaurant anticipating a great experience based on reviews. It was terrible. Our waiter took 15 minutes to come over to take our order. the food was delivered pre-heated within 5 minutes. Staff were rude. There are plenty of other great places to go.

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  9. Ileana Gold

    Las Vegas9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 14, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent locations and food good. Portions could be a bit bigger.

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  10. Amber Gold

    Dallas13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 13, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Cafe Portofino is consistently delightful. The food is delicious, they have a nice wine list, and the service is attentive but not intrusive.

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Seafood, Pizzeria
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Resort Casual
  • Neighborhood
    Lihue
  • Cross street
    Rice Street
  • Parking details
    Free valet parking at Royal Sonesta.(Street Parking and Beach parking also available)
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

For the nicest experience, plan dinner around sunset, guests say the covered patio and balcony offer breathtaking ocean views at sunset, often accompanied by a live violinist that adds to the evening ambiance.

Yes, families are welcomed: the restaurant asks guests to note children on reservations so they can better accommodate seating, and multiple reviews describe children being served and a children’s menu noted on the website.

Cafe Portofino does not have an ADA‑compliant entry, the dining room is on the hotel's second floor and requires climbing two flights, but the restaurant asks guests with children to note that on reservations so staff can better accommodate seating.

Guests describe portions as nicely portioned or generally solid, particularly for pasta dishes like the Bolognese and lasagne.

Yes, Cafe Portofino is a lovely choice for date night, with oceanfront views, live violin accompaniment, and several guests celebrating anniversaries in a quiet, romantic atmosphere.

The restaurant notes that all seating is first come, first served and special seating requests cannot be honored; for parties over six you should call the main number, and you can leave a note or message your reservation about children so they can better accommodate seating.

Cafe Portofino pairs sweeping oceanfront views with live violin music and open-air balcony dining, creating a romantic, seaside setting many guests praise.

Resort casual is the guide, light, comfortable attire is appropriate and nothing formal is required.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Hawaii
  4. Kauai
  5. Lihue

Make a reservation

A photo of Cafe Portofino restaurant

Cafe Portofino

4.2
$31 to $50
Italian
Lihue

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 23 times today
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