Are you looking to discover the best bars in Honolulu?
Then we have you covered!
On this page, you’ll find the official shortlist of all the bars in Honolulu. (More in-depth further below). And, each with why it’s best to go.
Feel free to check out each bar’s official profile to find out more and to find out which is best for you.
We’ve also created separate shortlists for each genre you might like to visit on your time out.
So check out these articles as well:
- The Best Rooftop Bars in Honolulu
- The Best Cocktail Bars in Honolulu
- And finally: Our Complete Guide to Honolulu’s Nightlife
Furthermore, you can get on the guest list or book a table with bottle service on some of the more exclusive bars. We are happy to help you out with either.
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11. WorkPlay
WorkPlay is a hip, convivial restaurant featuring Mexican classics, craft cocktails, beer & patio seating. WorkPlay, located in Honolulu‘s fashionable Kakaako neighborhood, is one of the city’s most popular bars. The pub has a modern appearance, with live music performances every evening and lovely inside and outdoor seating.
You may book a table in one of the unique themed rooms, such as The White Room, The Parlour, The Whisky Library, or The Peacock Room, or you can dance the night away on the Main Floor and Patio. By day, it’s a coworking coffee shop; by night, it’s a hip bar. WorkPlay is not in the glitzy, hipster district commonly associated with Kakaako.
It’s only a few blocks away and a true gem. You can reserve one of their four-themed private rooms (our favorite is the Whisky Library) and enjoy a superb range of local craft beers or innovative cocktail alternatives. Try the Instagram-worthy Dragon’s Bouquet (including Killah Dragon from Paradise Cider) or the kick-you-in-the-teeth Jury Duty (a zing of tequila and spices plus a hint of a triple sec with cinnamon).
Most evenings include skilled live musicians who set the scene, or if you want to sharpen your singing skills, go to Monday’s live band karaoke. It is a premier cocktail bar and Live Music spot in the heart of Kaka’ako. Join them for Live Music, Live Band Karaoke, Acoustic Nights, Country Nights, Hawaiian Music, Singer-Songwriter shows, Drag Show, Burlesque nights, DJ Nights, ft. Hawaii Local Musicians, Artists, and Performers.
Make a reservation on their Main Floor, on the patio, or in their specialty-themed private rooms: The White Room, The Parlour, Whisky Library, and Peacock Room. They have Additional parking at the Kauhale Kakaako parking structure.
The entrance is off of Halekauwila St. The parking structure is open 24/7. While the back gate will shut down at 9 pm, you can enter the garage via the pedestrian gate with your parking ticket.
They ask that children be accompanied by their parents at all times. WorkPlay does not have accommodations for children. Their Garden Patio allows guests to smoke cigars during all business hours. Please be sure to make your reservation indoors if this is a concern.
10. Skull & Crown Trading Co.
It is a contemporary take on the tiki bar. Skull & Crown Trading Co.’s eccentric décor brings you back to the heyday of the tiki bar. Aside from the evocative environment, this establishment offers an extended variety of specialty drinks ideally suited to the theme. Make sure to try the Dole Float Rum Float, an adult version of the famous Disneyland drink. The Trader Noa, an Old Fashioned combined with smoking Kiawe wood — smooth and smokey — is our favorite. This Honolulu tiki bar features a lovely antique design and an outside sitting terrace with Hawaiian flora and a Koi pond.
Try the Zombie drink or the Black Pearl and sing along to some karaoke at Chinatown’s best! Noa Laporga and Angelina Khan are known for throwing a fun and creepy parties. The other projects include an annual Haunted Plantation and a pop-up Ghost Bar. But there is good news! So, Skull & Crown was reopened on March 13, 2021. I was lucky to be there on the reopening night, with a buzz in the air. Guests waited safely outside the entrance, and a happy Noa greeted everyone as they entered. For the time being, reservations are necessary. I had a couple of drinks and some veggie spring rolls from the restaurant next door and enjoyed the decor. While there are typical tiki cocktails on the menu, the specials of the night from guest bartenders Jacob and Art were too excellent to pass up.
I appreciated the wonderfully balanced ‘Olu ‘Olu drink (top center). Kuleana Hui Hui and Nanea rums, coconut water, white grape, lilikoi, lemon, and absinthe are used to make it. My second drink was the “Smol Kine Trouble in Lil China,” which was the beauty at the bottom. Smith & Cross, Plantation Pineapple rum, lime, grapefruit, guava cinnamon syrup, absinthe, and Angostura bitters are combined in this cocktail. Let’s hope one or both of them transition from specials to regular menu items. So, this is one of the best bars Honolulu has to offer! If you are in town, we recommend visiting this bar at least once!
9. Moani Island Bistro & Bar
Moani is a local spot on the Westside with delicious food and solid drinks. If you find yourself parched and hungry and craving to listen to some live music on the West side of Oahu, this is your spot. Food is ordered family-style — share generous serving sizes with your tablemates. But what about the libations, you ask? The Lilikoi Dutch Mule is a pleasant update on the typical Moscow Mule, with the bright tartness of the lilikoi (aka passion fruit). Try the Mimosa Colada for a bubbly pineapple delight. Located at Ka Makana Ali’i Shopping Center, this Bistro and Bar is the place to be if you are in west Oahu.
A short ride from Honolulu, Moani has brilliant food and a wide range of drinks. Try their specialties Yakoshiba, Teriyaki Ribeye, and Sizzling Spicy Pork Bulgogi. Noteworthy drinks include Lilikoi Dutch Mule, Makaha Sunset, and Sour Power. Visit during Happy hours between 3-5 PM for a bit of traditional music and a lot of Aloha! Their mission at Moani is to be a welcoming space where every customer feels like they’ve been personally invited into their home. Their commitment as a business is to provide a great environment with excellent food while maintaining a seamless quality of service. Their positive spirit is the driving force. The essence of who they are as a family connects us. They honor their legacy through this business by bringing people together to experience their heart-filled cooking and island music.
They infuse all they do with genuine Aloha so their employees feel valued and their customers leave feeling like family. They live by their mission and stand behind what they do and who they are. Their ohana had the vision to share their love for Ono food, live music, and hospitality with the world. So, in 2019, this dream became a reality when they opened Moani Island Bistro and Bar on the westside of Oahu. With the overwhelming support from their customers, Moani’s success has exceeded their expectations. Their family is thriving, their vision is growing, and Moani is expanding. Go and be a part of the family, enjoy their genuine Aloha, heart-filled cooking, and island music. Join them at their second location, in the heart of Waikiki!
8. Hana Koa Brewing
Delicious beers are now produced in a repurposed Coca-Cola syrup mill. Hana Koa Brewing, brand new, is the latest addition to Kakaako’s local craft beer industry. The light and open space offer plenty of seats and an upstairs section that would be ideal for a large party. If you want to sample before committing, the four-beer flight is the way. Try the newest in its Kettle Run Series, guava sour that highlights the omnipresent local fruit, or Espresso Your Inner Bean, a coffee stout. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, including pickled onion rings and smoked marlin toast. Remember that coffee stout we mentioned earlier? Save some space for dessert. The beer float is a fun adult treat that will make an excellent nightcap.
Hana Koa Brewing is Honolulu’s go-to pub for artisan beers! So, it is a fresh addition to the beer market, with a wide dining space and beer tasting opportunities. Try some of their delectable fast nibbles like salads, ramen, and shrimps, as well as family-size entrees like spaghetti, jerk chicken, and Texas Briskets. Breaktime Blonde, Green River, and Shaka Cloud are some creative artisan beers to sample. Hana Koa Brewing Company has a passion for adventure. They are always pushing the boundaries of the brewing craft, whether traveling the world for inspiration or developing new, surprising tastes at home.
Every pint carries a hint of their enthusiasm. It is, indeed, a demanding job. But it never seems like work when you’re doing something you enjoy. So pull up a seat. Take a chance on a bold new taste, raise a glass to the voyage, and together, let’s develop a pau Hana community one sip at a time. Here’s to the next exciting journey. They would love to join you in your celebration! Email them for more information about hosting your next party at Hana Koa Brewing Co.! So, this is one of the best bars Honolulu has to offer! If you are in town, we highly recommend you visit this venue at least once! Go with your family, friends, or loved ones for a memorable time.
7. Sky Waikiki
SKY Waikiki is one of Honolulu’s hippest lounges. It’s safe to say it has it all, serving as a rooftop bar, rooftop restaurant, and nightlife. It is an open-air lounge on the 19th floor of a skyscraper that serves happy hour and light meals. The outstanding aspect of this Waikiki tower on the 19th level is the fantastic views of Honolulu and the Pacific Ocean. Bright, modern, and open-air patio with comfortable lounge chairs where you can enjoy fresh seafood, upscale meals, crisp champagne, and handmade cocktails, all made with Aloha and enhanced by live music on weekends. Sky Waikiki has its own set of regulations.
One: Go for happy hour and skip the nightclub, which is a colossal flop. Two: Dress up since the bouncers may refuse you if they don’t like your shoes. Three: Don’t anticipate exceptional service. Four: Get them something they don’t have to manufacture, such as bottled beer, wine, or champagne. You can count on them. So, to be on the safe side, make a reservation. If you can tolerate all of this, you’ll be treated to one of Oahu’s most impressive vistas from the top of a 19-story skyscraper. The sunsets are unique (so go for happy hour) with unequaled views of Honolulu’s cityscape, and it’s a welcome change from all the tourist traps along the shore. It gets crowded here, but the atmosphere is excellent between 5 and 7 pm.
SKY Waikiki Raw & Bar elevates the visitor experience by combining fresh seafood, sparkling champagne, creative cocktails, and Aloha. The wrap-around rooftop terrace, located in the center of Waikiki, offers spectacular panoramic views of Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, and the city lights dazzling 19 stories below. Relax and enjoy the sunset while dining on enticing food at Hawaii’s greatest rooftop location. Join them for Happy Hour on our rooftop balcony, which has the greatest views of Waikiki. Daily until 5 pm, enjoy $2 oysters, $4 Heineken, and $9 bubbly. SKY Waikiki Nightlife is back! They have a party every Friday night from 9 pm – Late. So, there is a dance and party all night, 19 floors above Waikiki Beach.
6. Off The Wall Craft Beer & Wine
It is a South American cuisine with a self-service beverage bar. Off The Wall Craft Beer & Wine, a welcome addition to the South Shore Market shopping area, caters to the undecided. You may test a variety of beverages before ordering a full-size pour, or you can try them throughout your meal. All beer, wine, cider, and kombucha are manufactured in Hawaii and rotate regularly. The cuisine combines South American tastes with Hawaiian specialties (e.g., breadfruit hummus and Mahi ceviche). Following your order, your waitress will ask you to choose a card from the deck, and if you select the joker, your dinner cost will be waived!
Off The Wall Craft Beer & Wine, a new and stylish bar in the South Shore Market, includes a wine rack with self-service options and a variety of wine sampling opportunities. It’s where real South American food meets traditional Hawaiian cuisine! Don’t pass on the beer-aged NY strip steak or the Ahi sashimi burger. Killah Dragon, Waimanalo Farmhouse, and Aloha Blonde are among the beers on tap. They have self-serve local craft beers, wines, kombucha, & ciders paired with distinctive South American Fusion cuisine in a comfortable urban setting. They have Fresh Mozzarella/Smoked Gouda/Monterrey/Cheddar,/Breakfast Potatoes. They also provide Waffle Churro, created with mochiko dough and dusted with cinnamon sugar before being topped with dulce de leche whipped cream and caramel sauce.
This exquisite burger, cooked your way, is nestled atop a bed of creamy guac and nopales, topped with house-produced chorizo, smoked gouda cheese, and a flawlessly cooked sunny side up egg. Their Assorted Cheese Platter includes brie, blue cheese, smoked gouda, herb-crusted goat cheese, prosciutto, genoa salami on French baguette bread, walnuts, olives, grapes, and house-made apricot jam. It is a must-try. Their off-the-wall vegetarian burger is fantastic! Beyond meat patty, brioche bun, lettuce, mustard, avocado, caramelized onions, and tomato, it has a side of our papas and ketchup. Check their site for more information about Off The Wall craft beer and wine. So, this bar is one of Honolulu’s best bars! If you are in town, we recommend that you visit this venue.
5. DECK. at Queen Kapiolani Hotel
DECK is an upscale New American fare & craft cocktail served in a stylish, open-air space with a deck & views. The Queen Kapiolani Hotel, located just a short walk from Ki Beach, features a trendy rooftop bar Waikiki, surrounded by similarly stunning views. The lush and bright rooftop venue, DECK., is located on the third story and blends indoor and outdoor space. There you can enjoy fantastic views of the famed Diamond Head. The rooftop menu features locally sourced and sustainable American Pacific-influenced cuisine, fresh handmade cocktails, and locally produced beers, all served in a sophisticated yet informal lounge setting. The Queen Kapiolani Hotel’s 3rd story pool deck offers panoramic views of the landmark Diamond Head and the world-famous Waikiki beach!
This open-air location provides a gorgeous background for the chef’s one-of-a-kind American Pacific-inspired food, fresh, handcrafted cocktails, locally produced beers, and an extensive wine list. They are pleased to inform us that its outside areas are now fully operational, with additional latitude for masks and social distancing. They accommodate all of their visitors’ demands for the best pleasure. So, their interior part does need masks and social distance. DECK. is meticulous in its ingredient selection for our menu and handmade drinks. DECK. keeps things fresh by combining locally produced and sustainable products whenever feasible through relationships with local farms, ranches, distilleries, and brewers to create a dining experience that is completely immersed in the beauty of Hawaii.
Daily happy hour, brunch bubble deals, monthly specials, and live music are available! Check out their Calendar for future discounts and music lineups. Make memories that will last a lifetime by holding your event in their restaurant or the Leahi Room & Lanai for a private function. Weddings, reunions, birthdays, and business and social gatherings may be held in an open-air environment meters from Diamond Head, with an indoor and outdoor area for up to 150 guests. They are strictly adhering to Oahu rules. They have also implemented tight procedures that adhere to CDC recommendations, and all personnel must complete training to keep visitors and the community safe.
4. Hideout at the Laylow
Hideout Waikiki is a lush and lovely rooftop bar and restaurant that sits above the bustling Kuhio Avenue. Inside and out, it’s bright, natural, and spacious, especially on the rooftop patio flanked by palm trees and the Waikiki skyline. Hideout, now open both morning and night, serves Hawaiian cuisine with Asian and Modern American influences, well-crafted creative drinks, and local breweries on tap. Everything is presented in a relaxed, pleasant, yet lively setting. A boutique hotel has an indoor/outdoor rooftop coffee shop/bar/restaurant. Perhaps this mid-century paradise seems too lovely to be true: Stumptown coffee, handcrafted drinks, and a menu full of fresh Pacific Rim food, but without the crowds?
Craft drinks are also available at the open-air, low-key café. The Mai Taime, their variation on the ever-popular mai tai, is combined with Old Lahaina Silver, Myers Dark rum, lime, house-made orgeat, tiki bitters, and a fluffy lilikoi foam. Make your new favorites, such as the Lime in the Coconut, a spicy and delightful mixture of Lime and Coconut combined with Old Lahaina rum and mango boba. The Laylow resort’s Hideout is a bar and restaurant. Hideout offers a calm mood and a terrific ambiance, thanks to its extended open patio, outdoor dining, and poolside tables. Try a variety of traditional Hawaiian meals, wines, artisan brews, and drinks. Happy hour is daily from 5 to 6 p.m.; don’t miss the Laylow “Hawaiian Style” Mai Tai!
The Hideout is located at The Laylow hotel. While the bar also offers Stumptown Coffee (from Portland, OR) and breakfast, it morphs into a casual open-air pub in the evenings. I would have remained all night if I hadn’t been on such a tight schedule. I also had some tuna poke, which was delicious. Because the bar is just around the corner from the pool, the queue begins before it opens. While the cocktail menu is short, the beverages are excellent. The offers are fresh, tropical, and one-of-a-kind. Pau Maui vodka, Ancho Verde, lilikoi, ginger & Lime tea syrup, and pineapple juice are used to make the cocktail. It was mildly peppery and made me eager for Shaker & Spoon’s open vodka box.
3. Grace in Growlers
Grace in Growlers has a lovely ambiance and a unique social cause- a non-profit that donates all of its revenues to finance a homeless shelter! It’s a bright, high-ceilinged space with self-serve craft beers, outdoor chairs, and board games. You can bring your food or buy some from neighboring eateries and spend quality time with friends at Grace in Growlers, playing board games and sipping beer! Thundera, Nitro Obsidian, and Stout Sweet Malt & Crisp Sunshine are delicious! It is a mission-driven non-profit craft beer tasting room. Grace In Growlers has various distinct features. First and foremost, all revenues go to the owner’s non-profit, One Ninety-Nine, which helps the homeless in the area.
In addition, after you have obtained the wristband (linked to your payment card), you can serve yourself through the automatic wall dispenser. Then it’s BYOF (bring your food)! Choose what you want from neighboring eateries such as Kono’s or Pieology). Furthermore, the cozy seating makes it feel like Grandma’s house – and, just as Grandma would desire, there is a 36-ounce limit per person, so select your sampling wisely. Grace in Growlers lives up to its slogan, “craft beer with a cause.” All earnings benefit community programs such as providing free washing services to the needy. The self-pour, pay-by-the-ounce beer wall has 15 taps with a constantly rotating assortment of predominantly local beer, kombucha, and cold-brew coffee.
Eclectic furniture adds a Grandma’s-house feel with many comfortable seats for every taste. The bar, founded by couple Holly and Tim Veling to raise funds for their favorite causes, has become a local living room for this region of Oahu, northeast Honolulu. Empty Elle Bagels, a restaurant company, has recently added hand-rolled, honey-boiled brunch classics for dine-in or to-go. The family-friendly ambiance includes board games and a beer restriction of 36 ounces per person, which encourages strategic thinking. (“Choose wisely,” they advise.) A refurbished ancient chiller houses an assortment of bottles and cans. It’s worth visiting Windward Oahu, as it’s within walking distance of breweries and renowned eateries. So, this is one of the best bars Honolulu has to offer!
2. Moku Kitchen
Moku Kitchen is a relaxed urban restaurant and bar that serves locally sourced libations. Peter Merriman’s Moku Kitchen is noted for its emphasis on locally produced food. It also has a 46-foot bar with 36 craft beers on tap and a unique keg wine system with 12 biodynamic and sustainable wines on tap. Every day from 3 pm to 5:30 pm, there are beer deals and 50% off all apps. It’s a terrific time to sample the Monkeypod Mai Tai, which is well-balanced with a hint of tangy taste from the honey-lilikoi foam, or one of the delightfully cold beers on tap (29 degrees Fahrenheit). It’s a terrific spot to bring a group because there’s live music every day. Moku Kitchen is a bar in Honolulu where rural meets urban and is the creative brainchild of Chef Peter Merriman.
The menu has a variety of Pizzas, Burgers, and Tacos, along with wines, cocktails, and beer. Try in-house cocktail specialties like the Monkeypod Mai Tai, No Ka Oi, Paloma, and The Painted Lady. Happy hours are daily between 2:30- 5 pm, with attractive prices on drinks. Moku Kitchen is situated within SALT, just around the corner from Bevy. The cuisine features items obtained from local farmers and craftspeople. I had a delicious fresh lunch. It was pretty tasty and healthy, which is not usually easy to come by. The Szechuan Stir-Fry Green Beans with Mac Nuts and the Roasted Squash Ravioli with spinach and walnut-sage pesto were both delicious. I almost went back for another round because it was that good. Moku Kitchen’s Mai Tai riff is well-known on the island of Oahu.
Kula organic silver and dark rums, macadamia nut orgeat, curaçao, lime, and honey-lilikoi foam make up the “Monkeypod Mai Tai.” It’s tangy, sweet, and delectable. Vacation in a glass is the foam sliding down the drink, packed with a fresh pineapple slice. Moku Kitchen is a chef-driven concept that integrates Hawaii’s rich upcountry agricultural and ranching traditions into the metropolitan lifestyle of downtown Honolulu. The upcountry way of life harkens back to a specific period when food was acquired locally and cooked on an open fire at the ranch. So, At Moku, they aim to keep things simple, and their vibrant rotisserie oven will deliver Chef Peter Merriman’s touch on upcountry specialties.
1. Piggy Smalls
Piggy Smalls is a hip, relaxed restaurant offering creative Vietnamese sandwiches, noodle dishes, pho & other eats. Casual restaurant with a short yet good beverage menu. This global-inspired café, the sister restaurant of the famed Pig & the Lady, provides a tailored beverage menu to compliment its family-style breakfast, lunch, and supper options. You’ll find crafted mixed adult beverages like the Summer Breeze, a refreshingly sweet cocktail made with Hawaii shochu, fresh watermelon, and hellfire bitters, or the smoky Play with Fire, made with bonded bourbon whiskey, peach, charred lemon, and fresh orange juice, in addition to beer, wine, and house-made non-alcoholic beverages.
The slushy of the month, on the other hand, is a rotating, house-made slushy combined with your choice of tequila, vodka, gin, or rum. So, make a reservation online, over the phone, or walk-in! Piggy Smalls is the second restaurant from The Pig & The Lady’s award-winning chef Andrew Le and his team. In line with Andrew’s culinary philosophy, this new incarnation will have a distinct and diversified cuisine that will differ from the flagship restaurant in Chinatown. Piggy Smalls is a sit-down restaurant that serves supper and brunch (on weekends). It has a whimsical bar menu and a dessert menu that includes a slushie and soft serve program that will grow its plethora of flavors.
Piggy Smalls’ goal is to become a staple and eating attraction for Kaka’ako growing urban centers. Dine at the Ward Village Shops. Spend your Sunday brunch with your family and dog or relax in their outside dining area. The Pig and The Lady spin-off Piggy Smalls at Ward Center. The menu includes pastas, noodle dishes (such as vegan pho), banh mi sandwiches, and family-style platters such as grilled branzino amandine and roasted chicken. When discussing cuisine in Honolulu, you can’t avoid mentioning The Pig and The Lady, a renowned pop-up that opened five years ago. People talk about its farmers market booth or the new informal location in Ward Village. In any case, you must taste a piggy meal when visiting the islands. So, this is one of the best bars Honolulu has to offer.
