La Belle Époque meets Pacific teak and rattan against heart-achingly romantic views of the ocean and Diamond Head. Sometimes it’s all a little over the top, like when a red rose the size of your fist is perched on your cocktail, but those into haute French cuisine with a touch of the theatrical will love La Mer. Choose from three- or four-course tasting menus, or the menu dégustation, seven courses featuring luxe ingredients such as foie gras tiled with shiitake mushrooms, abalone meunière, lobster tail bathed in butter and lobster consommé, and a filet of beef with truffle. Luxe indeed. La Mer is one of the few restaurants on Oahu that requires men to wear a jacket or long-sleeved shirt.

At the Halekulani, 2199 Kalia Rd., Waikiki, Honolulu. www.halekulani.com. [tel] 808/923-2311. .