AMA BAR & GRILL
Casual poolside lunch-and-drinks spot at Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea with ocean views and a relaxed resort feel. Best for daytime meals, cocktails, and easy-going snacks rather than dinner.
- Poolside resort setting
- Ocean views
- Open-air lanai seating
- Swim-up bar
AMA Bar & Grill is the Fairmont Kea Lani’s easygoing poolside lunch spot in Wailea, and that is exactly what makes it memorable. It is not trying to be the most elaborate restaurant on Maui; it is built for an unhurried daytime meal with ocean views, a breezy lanai, and drinks that fit a resort afternoon. For travelers staying in South Maui, it stands out as a convenient place to settle in for poke, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and cocktails without leaving the property.
What it does best
AMA is at its strongest when the goal is simple: a scenic lunch with a decent amount of choice and very little fuss. The menu leans into casual resort fare with Hawaiian touches, so it works well for mixed groups that want something satisfying without committing to a formal dinner. Poke bowls, salads, burgers, and sandwiches are the core appeal, with fruit smoothies and tropical cocktails adding to the pool-day feel.
The setting matters as much as the food. AMA sits beside the Upper Pool with ocean views and open-air seating, which gives it a distinctly Wailea rhythm: bright, relaxed, and built for lingering a little longer than planned. The swim-up bar is part of the personality, and the whole operation feels tuned to daytime ease rather than culinary theatrics.
The feel of the experience
This is a resort restaurant in the best and most literal sense. Guests arrive for lunch, a drink, or a break between pool and beach time, and the atmosphere reflects that. It is casual, sunlit, and social, with the kind of environment that suits families, couples, and groups of friends who want a pretty setting more than a destination tasting menu.
There is also a practical advantage to being inside Fairmont Kea Lani: parking and access are more straightforward than at many standalone Wailea spots. The venue’s lunch-first schedule reinforces its role as a daytime stop, and its broad-appeal menu makes it easy to use as a flexible fallback when everyone wants something a little different.
Tradeoffs to keep in mind
AMA’s main strength is also its main limitation. It is a hotel venue, so the experience is shaped by resort traffic and pool activity. That makes it lively and convenient, but not especially intimate or quiet. It is not the place to plan a serious dinner or a special-occasion night out.
The hours also make the intent clear: this is a lunch-and-drinks restaurant, not an all-day dining room. Travelers looking for a more ambitious chef-driven meal, a quieter room, or a more dramatic evening setting will likely be happier elsewhere in Wailea.
Who it suits best
AMA Bar & Grill is best for travelers who want a scenic, low-stress meal built around resort comfort. It is a strong fit for families, pool-going guests, and anyone who values easy access, ocean views, and a menu with enough range to keep everyone happy. It also makes sense for visitors who want a casual Hawaiian vacation lunch without overthinking it.
Those seeking a more intimate dinner, a more refined menu, or a destination restaurant built around evening dining should look beyond AMA. But for what it is—a polished, poolside lunch spot with a relaxed island feel—it does the job very well.
