Nature

When you need an escape from the highrises and tourists in Waikiki, make a reservation at Nature. Follow the lilikoi vines up to the second floor of a 1930s garden courtyard apartment building, and you’ll find a cozy space that feels like the kitchen in a country house, decked out in warm, dark wood. One side of the restaurant is a formal and intimate 10-seat chef’s counter serving a French and Japanese-inspired tasting menu (with a vegetarian option available, too), while the other side is a more casual bar with high tops and an a la carte menu. We prefer the casual side, where preparations are less fussy and the menu might include a Molokai venison in a bolognese or seared opakapaka bouillabaisse.