Checking In: The Ritz-Carlton Waikiki

If where to stay in Oahu means refined luxury, smooth beaches, top-notch amenities, and being at the center of it all in urban Honolulu, you’ll find everything you wish for and more at the Ritz-Carlton Residences at Waikiki Beach Resort.

With unsurpassed ocean views that make this destination worthy of where to stay in Oahu, you will have an amazing time exploring all this property has to offer. From exceptional dining, a bountiful spa, an exemplary fitness center, lush greenery, sublime hospitality, and a bona fide Hawaiian style paired with true opulence, you can’t go wrong with booking your accommodations at this can’t-miss destination on Oahu.

Where to stay in Oahu: Ritz-Carlton

Accommodations 

With a multitude of options for accommodations at this resort, where to stay in Oahu includes a variety of amenities and choices. Sections are divided by Rooms, Deluxe Level Suites, Grand Level Suites, and Premier Level Suites. The hotel offers such a wide range of rooms, including a four bedroom, two story – perfect for groups or families. 

I had the pleasure of staying in a Deluxe Ocean View Suite King, featuring a spacious 624 square feet of space and unprecedented Pacific Ocean views from floor to ceiling windows that I never grew tired of! The private lanai, or balcony, is reason enough to book this property when you consider where to stay in Oahu. Lounging, enjoying breakfast, reading a great book, or just gazing at the epic sunrises and sunsets made for an incredible getaway in this private space.

The dining area and living space are separated from the bedroom by a glass sliding door, providing a sense of privacy. The design and style is clean, crispy, contemporary, and filled with neutral colors for a calming feeling, with elements of refined Island touches throughout.

The LED SmartTv’s are equipped with Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, and more to enjoy for endless entertainment. In-room coffee, tea, and bottled water service is available complimentary daily.

The softest bathrobes and Italian Frette bed linens provide a luxurious, comfortable, top-notch experience. The bathroom includes dual vanities, marble surfaces, soaking bathtub, and separate shower.

 

Amenities at the Ritz-Carlton Residences are perfect for a longer term option of where to stay in Oahu: with a fully equipped kitchen including Miele cooktop, a full-size refrigerator and dishwasher, as well as in-residence washer and dryer, all you could ever need for an extended vacation is available your fingertips. 

Dining

If where to stay in Oahu means living the good life for you, look no further than La Vie, the French restaurant located within the Ritz-Carlton Waikiki. This outpost reinvents classic French cuisine with modern techniques, local Hawaiian ingredients, and refined taste assembled by Executive Chef Shaymus Alwin.

La Vie offers breakfast service daily from 6:30 – 11:00am, with choices such as the Hawaiian classic “Loco Moco”: a burger, sunny side up egg, white rice, maui onion, and mushroom gravy, or try the Hawaiian Sweet Bread French Toast with spiced pineapple and vanilla anglaise, and of course, don’t miss the acai bowl!

Dinner selections include prix fixe compositions, with your choice among a seasonal menu including options such as American Caviar and Kona Abalone; Asparagus and Poached Egg with ali’i mushroom, buckwheat, and chervil nage; Escargot Dumplings; 21 Day Aged Duck Breast; or Tartare of Ni’Ihau Antelope. 

Even the classic French dessert, a perfect Souffle, is enhanced with local waialua chocolate and coumarou glace. There’s even a live piano for nightly entertainment during the dinner service, adding a classy element of fun for your enchanting evening and feeling like you’re being whisked off to France for a refined meal, when you’ve really found the greatest of where to stay in Oahu at La Vie.

Dean & DeLuca, the premium market full of gourmet selections highly-revered in New York City, has found its home in Waikiki. In search of exceptional cuisine with where to stay in Oahu? Look no further than the expansive selection of fresh-baked breads, sensational desserts, and intriguing snacks offered at Dean & DeLuca. You can even find a rich variety of ingredients to prepare your own in-room meal.

This iteration of Dean & DeLuca also includes a second-floor wine bar, The Artisan Loft, offering a menu of prepared options from Chef Kevin Carvalho. At Artisan Loft, try a Havarti Panini with Truffle Essence, share the Duck Prosciutto Flatbread, or stick with a more classic Buratta Caprese.

Chef also offers a catering menu, so if where to stay in Oahu means a gourmet feast fit for a crowd, look no further than the fresh variety here. There’s also an impressive brunch menu, served from 10am-2pm daily, and with choices like the Souffle Pancakes with O’Hia Lehua honey mascarpone and wild berry minute jam, or the Saffron Bouillabaisse with Kona Abalone and Kauai Prawn, you can’t miss the inventive dishes offered here. Paired with a glass of prosecco, pinot noir, or seasonal mimosa, there’s many options to try at this island outlet of Dean & DeLuca.

Experience an Italian renaissance of modern dishes and refined flavors at Quiora, located in the resort’s Diamond Tower and open daily from 11:00am to 9:00pm. Start with Calabrian Chili Garlic Shrimp, Toasted Polenta, or Jidori Chicken Wings for appetizers worth savoring, or sample among a divine Meat or Cheese board filled with the best daily selections.

The Avocado Toast is served on house-made focaccia bread, and the Arugula and Kale salad comes with red wine ricotta, fried black pepper, marcona almonds, and a red wine vinaigrette. Sink your teeth into classic Paparadelle, served with milk braised pork, tomato, chili, soft cheese, and basil gremola, or opt for Orecchiette Carbonara, with pancetta, egg, parmesan, and pecorino.

Whether you choose an Italian classic or a reinvented twist, the warm service matches the inventive dishes with sophistication, grace, and a fun environment for you to enjoy your meal. Pair your meal with an Island Cocktail, or if you’d prefer something more modern with an Italian flair, go for the Chamomile Aperol Spritz, topped off with prosecco and soda. You’ll be immediately transported to the center of Rome, but still along the Pacific in beautiful Waikiki.

Many search the world for the freshest, most succulent sushi preparations, and you can experience the work of a sushi master at Sushi Sho by the innovative chef Keiji Nakazawa. Meals are served omakase style. The atmosphere is elegant, intimate, refined, and classic.

The hospitality is exemplary and service is remarkably attentive. Omakase is quite popular across Japan, and this iteration will surely be a sublime, memorable experience worthy of your investment. There are only 16 seats in the restaurant, reservations are required, and the experience is available for $300 per person, excluding taxes and beverages. 

The Lounge offers an all-day affair for you to find a new experience at each time of day, making it an ideal venue when you consider where to stay in Oahu.

Open from 6:30am until 10pm daily, the menu offers a selection of Toasts, Charcuterie, Artisan Cheeses, Island Ahi Tartare, Shrimp Cocktail, and more. Sip a divine cocktail with your savory bites, such as “Le Jardin” with Hendricks Gin, St. Germaine Elderflower Liquer, Ginger Simple Syrup, and Lemon Juice. With an extensive list of wines by the glass, you can visit The Lounge any time for an instant getaway.

Highly recommend the “Paradise Cidy” cocktail – you won’t be disappointed! 

Room service is available 24 hours a day with an expansive menu to order from. In fact, the menus are listed right on the TV in your room for each period of the day. 

Special Requests

If you are looking to take your trip up a notch and enjoy something special, reach out to the hotel. The sky is the limit on what amazing things they can help you with. Looking for a private breakfast on the beach with all the bells and whistles? No problem. Want to do a private on site dinner with a local chef? Done! Just make sure to reach out in advance to the hotel concierge and they can help bring your idea to life. 

The hotel really puts together fantastic experiences, so don’t be afraid to ask them for help. 

Breakfast on the beach

Private dinner dining on site

Swimming Pools

Deciding on where to stay in Oahu means a perfect pool in Waikiki for an unforgettable vacation. Swimming pools are a welcome respite from a day of shopping, travel, or other activities on the island.

Sit back, relax, take a dip in the cool water, order your favorite beverage, make progress on a novel, whatever suits your mood. There are two infinity pools at this property, located at Waikiki’s greatest heights on the eighth floor of this resort, so if where to stay in Oahu means a day spent poolside, you’ll love what’s in store here.

Both pools are open from 6:00am – 10:00pm, while the Family Pool welcomes all ages, the Adults Pool welcomes guests 18 years and older. Heated pools, power showers, water loungers, sun deck, private cabanas (available for rental) and more available, including an exclusive Island Ritual treat during Low Tide served at 2pm daily: a sweet surprise indeed with where to stay in Oahu, like the ube (purple yam) ice cream) or guava sorbet to satisfy your mid-day sugar cravings.

Spa

The Ritz-Carlton Spa is a can’t-miss destination no matter where you travel in the world in search of relaxation and refreshment, but if where to stay in Oahu is defined by your tranquility, book a promising treatment or service at this destination.

Expert therapists bring together local elements from the islands, utilizing traditions and modalities to achieve ultimate wellness. You’ll find rainforest leaves, ki plant, volcanic stones, ‘olena, lehua blossoms, wild lehua honey, and much more immersed in your therapeutic experience.

Try Ho’omalu, which will surely bring you peace and zen with a grounding leg and foot mask, deep lomilomi massage, and invigorating scalp treatment. I had the opportunity to try the Manoa Mist, a full body sugar exfoliation with energizing lomilomi massage, including the use of healing ‘olena, a Hawaiian type of turmeric with restorative properties. You won’t be able to travel to Hawaii and miss the best of rejuvenation at this renowned Ritz-Carlton Spa.

Overall

This property is beautiful with its open air concept. While it is a short 5 minute walk from the beach, it is absolutely worth the stay. The room amenities alone are worth it, not to mention the fantastic staff, food on site and walking location within the city. There are so many beaches and bucket list things to do while visiting Oahu – so make sure and rent a car to get out and explore!

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Disclaimer: this post is written in collaboration with the Ritz Carlton Waikiki. As always, opinions are entirely my own.