Orchids

The story

Orchids Honolulu: Coastal Italian Dining at Halekulani

Orchids is the oceanfront Italian restaurant at Halekulani, located at 2199 Kalia Road in Honolulu. The coastal Italian menu earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2023, and the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.

Chef and cooking style

Executive Chef Christian Testa was born and raised in Genoa, where he learned to cook alongside his grandmother. He trained at the Splendido Hotel in Portofino and at La Coquille in Bermuda. He still makes his pastas by hand every day. Dishes are lightly seasoned so the ingredients carry the flavor.

Standout dishes

The Sea Urchin Tagliolini pairs black squid ink spaghettini with a sea urchin sauce. The Goat Cheese Raviolini comes with seasonal mushroom, veal jus and rosemary. The kitchen sources from farms across the Hawaiian islands, including shrimp from Kauai and beef from Kunoa Beef on Oahu.