Why Postcards Café is One of Kauaʻi’s Most Beloved Restaurants

The gateway to Hanalei Town and a foodie’s paradise, Postcards Café  lives up to its motto as a place “where time stops and memories begin.” The small plantation-style diamond in the rough is just past the one-lane bridge from Princeville. Hanalei, the last town on the North Shore of Kaua‘i, is rich in history, peppered with taro patches and home to some of the most famous and breathtaking beaches in the world, all framed by lush, waterfall-streaked mountains.   

“I love Postcards, it just feels like old Hawai‘i,” pro surfer and local celebrity Bethany Hamilton says of her favorite restaurant on the island. Don’t be fooled by the unassuming exterior: Here you’ll find one of the best dining experiences on Kaua‘i—and a place that feels like home. Through the white wicker entryway arch are ti leaf plants, hibiscus flowers and a fragrant plumeria tree—and a surprisingly spacious outdoor dining area. On the side lānai (veranda), complete with string lights, guests can enjoy an evening under the stars.   

“It feels like having friends over for dinner every night,” new front-of-house manager Chelsea Bobowicz says. 

03: Crispy Leek Salad (left) and Seasonal Fish Offering (right).
Photo: Kicka Witte

Inside, the high-vaulted ceilings and clean minimalist look allow guests to enjoy the atmosphere for what it is—simple and authentic. Wicker basket fixtures illuminate the tables and small pops of color from carefully placed orchids contrast against the white walls and large paned windows. The plantation-green bar and black-and-white photos on the walls complete the vintage look.   

The building itself has a romantic past. Built in 1864, the plantation-style structure was home to a family of Chinese immigrants who started a legacy in Hanalei. During their courting, the Chinese couple exchanged love letters from their respective homes (he on Kaua‘i, she in China,) until they came together in Hanalei. Built with love and home to a growing family, the building itself has lived many lives and is considered a historical building. At one time it was a museum, at another time a deli, and in 1995, a new family made a home there.  

Marti and Joe Paskal have been owners at Postcards Café for over 30 years now, and married for over 40. Now in their 80s, Joe reflects back on the life that he and Marti built together in Hanalei. And he says he has no regrets, not even the “seven years we served breakfast and never earned a penny.” It was Marti’s vintage postcard collection that sparked the name for Postcards Café, with her cards lovingly tucked under the glass tabletops in the café’s early days. “The vision was to cater to people who really love good food,” Joe explains. A wallflower by nature, Joe found his place at the restaurant. Every night, he sits in his usual spot on the bench outside, eager to welcome customers on the way in and wish them good night as they leave, as he has for the last three decades.  

After the devastation of Hurricane ‘Iniki in 1992, the Paskals chose to preserve the building’s history by rebuilding an exact replica of the original. Photos from the late 1800s still hang on the walls, and the landmark anchor sits out front as a proud representation of a building that has anchored itself to Hanalei town for almost 160 years.  

As a restaurant that prides itself on cuisine inspired by travel, the addition of chef Javier Melendez four years ago was a game-changer. With 18 years of experience in the industry, Melendez’s humble beginnings in Puerto Rico sparked his passion for food.  

Watching his grandfather cook after Mass on Sundays and learning about pastries from his grandmother launched what would be a lifelong interest in self-expression through food. After attending culinary school in San Juan, Melendez became an apprentice and started to work his way up in the industry. It was an uphill journey riddled with hard work, deep connections, and a little bit of luck.  

Melendez has worked for celebrity chefs such as Nobu Matsuhisa in New York City, Alain Ducasse in Puerto Rico and most recently Jean-Georges Vongerichten here in Hawai‘i. Although a seasoned professional, Melendez says joining the Postcards ‘ohana is a privilege he doesn’t take for granted. “I learned a lot as an individual and professional from Joe,” Melendez says, “our relationship is give and take, and we’ve gotten to a place of synergy and trust.”  With seasonal ingredients and complementing flavors, Melendez’s creativity thrives, but his back-of-house team and endlessly supportive wife are equally important to his success. Says newcomer Bobowicz: “I feel like I inherited a really solid group of people. Because the back-of-house standard is so high, it made it easy for me to reflect that in the front-of-house as well.”

By combining locally sourced fresh seasonal ingredients with French and Japanese techniques, Melendez has created a unique fusion of cultures and flavor profiles. In classic Postcards fashion, he pulls inspiration from his travels to various parts of Asia as well as his affinity for Caribbean and Spanish cuisine to create an unparalleled culinary journey.

Bleecker Street Old Fashioned (left) and Polanquito (right).
Photo: Kicka Witte

Reservations are recommended, but Postcards also accepts walk-ins. Also, guests can rent out all of the place or just part of it for intimate rehearsal dinners or private parties. Coming this fall, a chef’s table will be available for reservation as well. Postcards’ quaint bar provides a number of travel-related cocktails ($15 each) such as the Bleecker Street Old Fashioned with Maker’s Mark bourbon, rosemary syrup and fresh orange juice, and the Polanquito, a playful Mexico-inspired cocktail with Don Julio Silver tequila, dry CuraÇao, guava juice, organic basil, Aleppo pepper, and ‘alaea salt. The bar is also stocked with a number of wine and beer choices to complement any meal.

The appropriately priced and portioned food selection is wide-ranging and as fresh as it is creative. It’s highly recommended to start with the crispy leek salad of cold soba noodles, Pecorino Romano, asparagus, yuzu, truffle oil and Tosazu ($21). There is enough to share, and the balance of acidity, sweetness, and texture is indescribable. The hamachi sashimi is a beautiful starter as well, with fresh and expertly presented sashimi topped with local greens, red radish and a sesame-onion ponzu ($24). New to the menu is the roasted duck breast, served with a balance of sweet berries, tangy pickled onions, crisp Brussels sprouts and a hibiscus mole ($45). The seasonal fish offering is cooked to melt-in-your-mouth perfection, with a radish melange, bok choy and scallion ginger salsa to complement the fresh catch ($36). The chèvre cheesecake is unique: Made with goat’s milk, this silky cheesecake has a butter cookie and coconut crust and is served with liliko‘i (passion fruit) gel and topped with an apple compote ($12).

Chèvre cheesecake.
Photo: Kicka Witte

Postcards Café opens the mind and satisfies the soul, and the quiet nights of Hanalei remind us to slow down and appreciate the simplicity of good food, good company and the journey that brought us here. “We are the first to greet people entering town, and the last goodbye on their way out,” Melendez muses, “and there is no rush. You are home here.” 

Postcards Café, 5-5075 Kūhīo Highway, Hanalei, (808) 826-1191, postcardscafe.com 

This story was originally published in the Fall 2023 issue of HAWAIʻI Magazine. Get your copy here.