Secret Spot is a place worth knowing about! In the heart of Waikiki, it caters to a mixed local…read morecrowd and visitors alike. It's part art gallery, part bar, and live music venue. Depending on the time of day you come, it can be relaxing with sofa seating, bar seating, and cafe tables. They have a great happy hour menu, fun foods, and tons of drink options. I've been now also during concert nights and the place can get packed. If you really want to see a band, be sure to buy tickets early for entry as at-the-door entry may not be available. Prices are reasonable for drinks and tickets. Bartender Kama was super attentive and friendly all evening on a recent visit, mahalo! If you like pop culture art, local music, and contemporary Hawaii culture, this is a great place to come and have fun.

Went in for the convenience of being next door to where I am staying and for the $12 breakfast…read morespecial. To my surprise it's a hook to over charge you. 5 x specials came out to $118.48 and that was after I checked my receipt and notice that had added the charge for 3 additional drinks. They had already up charged $3 for cranberry juice which was not notified. They took my order after about 30 minutes after we were served our drinks, 30 minutes to serve our food. And they weren't even busy... looked like they took the order, served and then took next... etc. Not greeted, not thanked. Ridiculously overpriced for eggs, bacon, 1/2 toast and 2 slices or orange juice.. $6 juice. Regret leaving a tip at all.

Blue Note Hawaii was on fire for Mindy Smokestack's 10th Annual Amy Winehouse Tribute. The second…read moreyou walked in, you could feel that "this is gonna be a good one" energy -- and the performers delivered all night long Mindy Smokestack set the tone with a lineup that was stacked with talent. Kristina Bair came in with vocals that hit you right in the chest, Cardamom brought that warm, smoky vibe, and The Elevations kept the groove tight and clean. Every performer -- Kessa Armstrong, Kevin Brown, Ayano A McPeek‑Bailey, Tazra Gomes, Belen León -- added their own flavor, making the show feel like a full‑on celebration instead of a copycat tribute The crowd was locked in, the band was dialed, and the whole night felt like one of those "only in Hawaiʻi" experiences where the music, the room, and the people all sync up perfectly. And of course the food was fire

Came here to watch Courtney Barnett's solo show…read more You can dine-in and they have a dollar $20 minimum per person, food and/or drinks. JP was our server for the night and provided excellent service. The venue is cozy and some people, including my wife, complained about how warm it was. It ended up getting busy as the venue filled up, so service seemed a bit affected. The prime rib was delicious! My son enjoyed his...and most of mine. The wife had the shrimp scampi which she enjoyed very much.

Mahalo to Emi and Yelp Hawaii for another unique and educational experience! My +1 and I had a…read morechance to go to the Oceanic VIP Music Hall to see Ka'imi Hanano'eau who is the lead singer and guitarist for the band, HiRiZ. We got free validated parking across the street at the Dole Cannery parking structure! We waited in the lobby of the Castle & Cooke Building where our Escort checked our names off the list and led us to the 4th Floor. Along the way, the walls were filled with portraits of previous performers such as Jim Brickman and Na Leo Pilimehana. Impressive! After walking around to what seemed to be the back of the building, we entered a large living room full of sofas, ottomans, barstools and tables. We were warmly greeted and invited to partake in refreshments of shrimp platter, croissant sandwiches, fresh fruit, pasta salad and bottled water. The Emcee, Kevin Jones of Star 101.9, kept things lively by introducing the band members, asking engaging questions , and adding interesting trivia. He really helped make this event a more comfortable and intimate one. My friends and I sat in the first row where we could check out the jewelry and shoes (and bare feet) of the band. We enjoyed watching them communicate through gestures and eye contact and how they pressed the buttons of the amplifiers with their feet! I truly enjoyed watching Ka'imi's fingers glide over the frets of his guitar so effortlessly. ..He's a very talented songwriter even though he sang songs from the Doobie Brothers, Prince, and the Pixies, too. I was also amused by his playfulness as he approached the electric fan which blew his long hair wildly around his face! We're grateful to be invited to the Oceanic VIP Music Hall. It's a very special place! Hope to get another chance to return!

Ah the Road Runner Music Hall, they renamed it, it's now called the Oceanic VIP Music Hall! Yeah…read moredifferent but i guess Road Runner wasn't fast enough. This has to be my FAVORITE part of Clear Channel! Posters on the wall from previous artists that have performed to the couches you can chill on, how can anyone not like it here? Sometimes it can get cold, it just depends. I don't know what else to say, if I had to pick watching an artist at the music hall or at a venue, I'd rather it be here. It's just cool like that.

Lovely anniversary evening here. Came for the live jazz music and they were stellar as usual. The…read moreambiance is lovely and service excellent Why I demoted them a star was the pretty cocktails I saw in Yelp are gone. There's no: "Moonglow" (Benny Goodman) or "That was my heart" (honor to Ella Fitzgerald), so I asked for my favorite aperitif, "Dubonnet" , no. But, they came up with my other favorite, sambuca Mist. I have to agree with another reviewer that the French baguette served with the charcuterie was hard as could be and inedible. I did not enjoy the choice of cheeses as they were both of the same hard boring tastes, unimaginative, mix it up. They olives should be pitted. The tiramisu dessert was very delicious, even though very small, but expected--after all its fine dining. I have no other way to tell new manager to up their game in the food and beverage department. Just wouldn't expect Halekulani to slip in these departments. Also, manager never came around or was seen checking in his or her patrons, not very 5 star there. Just being honest. The complimentary valet parking was exceptional. Thank you for a very enjoyable evening.

Very niiiiice. I love the ambiance here. Feel free to dress to the nines and bring someone special…read more This place is a stylish, low-lit jazz lounge with a cool atmosphere and smooth vibe. I immediately felt calm and relaxed here, much like everywhere else at Halekulani. The pūpū and drinks we ordered were special, thoughtfully prepared, and professionally delivered. We also ordered the hamburger, which was excellent, followed by two French press coffees and coconut cake. The staff was unpretentious and welcoming from the start--nothing stuffy despite the sophisticated setting. The musicians are so talented it felt more like a private concert or dinner theater. The pianist, Maggie, is a singer-songwriter who taught us a few things and kept us engaged the entire time. We caught up on our day, ate, and enjoyed the show. Reservations are for two hours, so there was no rush at all. Overall, this is a classy spot for a relaxed night out. Prices are about what you'd expect but even stopping in after dinner elsewhere would be nice. Reservations are not needed for the bar. The only thing I would do differently is arrive earlier to enjoy the grounds more before sunset. Valet park and enjoy your night!

Great place to hang out, eat and drink with current friends and meet new friends. The vibes are…read morealways amazing. The food and drinks and good. The drinks are expensive and the service depends on how packed the event is or not. There is street parking available. You can also reserve tables or sections when you call ahead. Checkout upcoming events on Eventbrite or their IG page.

I really wanted to check this place out tonight, but it looked closed. I parked in the lot and…read morewalked over to the address. It was dark and the gate was locked. It was across a climbing gym? Both Yelp and Google said it was open. I called and got an AI answering service that insisted they were open, which was probably the most irraz thing about the experience. I got a lot of "Describe the situation.. that's odd," and then proceeded to tell me the hours again. I hope all is ok. Maybe next time! Your AI answering machine needs improvements.

My friends and I adore HB!…read more It's a great place for concerts and shows. Their crew really puts their heart into their work and you can tell. There really is something for everyone. We love the options at Wild Orange. I've been sober from alcohol for the better part of 3 years and normally speakeasies don't have much to offer me. It's fun to still get to cry some craft drinks without the booze. Their vegan and veg bites are creative and delicious. I've had many a great night dancing, eating, and jamming out with people I love. They also host different pool and darts events that I've spectated at. Always fun just to play casual pick up, but some of my friends play more seriously in some of the tournaments and it's nice that their venue is large enough for the crowd. Parking can be tight but if you go to the top level there is normally something open. As long as you remember to get your parking validation (they even have a sign reminding you) it's very reasonable and cheaper than ride sharing if you have someone who's able to drive.

"Well, listen, if you bring 'em by, maybe we could interest you in a game of pool.. Yeah, Frank…read morehere - he's got his own billiard room." - Cosmo Kramer, Seinfeld da Scene: Revisiting old haunts and took my daughter here to play some pool and tell stories from my old (and her recent) youth. It's a far cry from the original spot on Ke'eaumoku I used to go; right across from Like Like Drive-Inn... it was more like a old school "Color of Money" pool hall back then. There is ALOT going on in this spot now. Event space for concerts/club, 2 pool rooms, full bar, darts, and a hidden speakeasy (see review of Wild Orange). da Play: Came in early afternoon/evening and was already busy, tables were a little worn, but true and spaced nicely, there were mostly regulation-size tables and a few smaller bar-size ones by the darts. Good cues were a little sparce and for some reason a lot of "keiki-sized" ones... then I realized why when some kiddos walked by. I think it's great that you can bring your kids, now I get why the "21 band" gets issued at security. There was a lecture/event w/ Hawaiian music in the event space when we got there, turned into a club with music thumping through the walls later on. Played almost two hours, with three rounds of drinks, very reasonable. da Service: Park, check in, parking validated, hit the bar, drop your name for a table and wait for the pager to vibrate while sipping on cold drinks... Bartenders were nice as was the very diverse crowd. 20 somethings groups chatting it up, date night couples, bros drinking more than playing, families w/ kids, and a few semi-serious guys "in session". GREAT PEOPLE WATCHING. Security is visible and on top of things; couple of times a rowdy group got rambunctious and got a firm talking to... you don't wanna get a scolding by any of the bulls in yellow security shirts!!

I was blessed enough to experience various shows at the Hawaii Theatre Center, the most recent…read morebeing a showing of Nosferatu (2024) for Halloween, which was a special experience with some friends who are also into horror flicks. The theater supports both movies as well as live shows, which makes it a unique cultural space. You're not supposed to eat in the theater itself, and if you want to drink you would need to buy a sippy cup-like container from the bar. I suppose it is meant to protect the theater from decay, all these protective measures. The bartender who served us wine was friendly enough. I loved seeing the art around the theater.

Walking into the Hawai'i Theatre, you're instantly transported into another era. An era of soft…read moreelegance and timeless artistry. From the moment you pass through the doors, you're surrounded by a blend of old-world elegance and Hawaiian warmth. Built in 1922, the theatre has hosted everything from silent films and Broadway plays to concerts and Hula performances. Today it seats about 1,400 guests, offering an intimate experience where every seat feels close to the stage. The acoustics are excellent, the seats are comfortable, and the staff and volunteers are friendly, welcoming, and genuinely helpful. There's also a small bar and lounge with high-tops, perfect for enjoying a drink and conversation before the show. Inside the theater, you see tall, fluted Corinthian-style columns that are richly detailed. The curved arch overhead is decorated with mosaic-style tiles in warm tones,and I absolutely LOVE the lush deep red velvet curtains that frame the stage. They add so much warmth and elegance. Having attended many shows throughout the years, I've always been mesmerized by the mural above the stage and decided to do some Googling while waiting for the show to begin. I learned it's Lionel Walden's Glorification of the Drama. The painting depicts a grand procession of mythic figures -- a golden-robed muse in her chariot, attendants, musicians, a lion handler -- all celebrating the power of theater. The central figure, often interpreted as the Personification of Drama, leads the way. Knowing that part of the mural was once lost to water damage and later painstakingly restored makes it even more meaningful. Parking is easy at the municipal garage on Bethel Street, just a block away. The short walk is now well-lit, a welcome improvement from years past when it was dark and sketchy. Entertaining audiences for over 100 years, the Hawaii Theater is a recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Attending a show here, you're not just watching a performance, you're also living and breathing a beautiful piece of Hawaii's historic culture.

If you're looking for a real nightlife experience in Honolulu, The District Nightclub is easily one…read moreof the best spots to go out. The energy is unmatched. From the moment you walk in, it feels like you've stepped into a mainland-style club, something you don't always get in Hawai'i. The space is huge, with multiple rooms and bars, so it never feels too cramped even when it's packed. What really stands out is the music. The DJs do a great job blending hip-hop, Top 40, and dance tracks, and the vibe naturally builds as the night goes on, starting chill and turning into a full-on party by late night.

ALWAYS such a good time!! Music is fire, people are awesome! Love it here drinks are great as wellread more