Date night? Hanging with friends? Pau hana with colleagues? Just want your own moment but you also…read moreenjoy history and well made drinks and pupus? This is your stop. Plan for reservations well in advance because you're going to want to sit at the bar. That's where the storytelling is center stage. From the outside, you'd easily miss it. But once you step inside, you realize you're stepping into an experience. Every drink comes with a unique story and the bartender is not simply a storyteller but an artist as well.

Months before my trip to Oahu, I tried to book a reservation to Bar Leather Apron but was unable to…read moredo so because the reservations were immediately scooped up right as they were released. To my surprise, on a Sunday evening after having dinner nearby at Maze, my wife and I walked over to Bar Leather Apron and we were able to get seated right away! In fact, around 7:30 p.m. when we stopped by, there was actually a ton of seating available in the bar. Who would've guessed. If you're in the same boat as me and are unable to find a reservation for your upcoming visit, I would encourage you to stop by and try a walk-in. The first page of the menu lists a wide variety of whiskey based cocktails. Most -- if not all, of the cocktails are pre-fixed with BLA (Bar Leather Apron), and represent a collaboration with the named distillery. If you're fan of whiskey, you'll definitely have a difficult time picking only one. I ultimately ordered their "Take Warning" -- 2021 BLA Knob Creek BLA Single Barrel, Cynar, Carpano Antica, Mezcal, Bergamot Salt. Drinks here are not cheap -- averaging $20 to $25 per drink. Although my drink was very spirit forward, it still felt very well balanced. I appreciated the hint of smokiness from the mezcal that rounded out the end of a sip. Service here quick and friendly. When we received the check, a cute small chocolate snack was brought over as well, borrowed from the menu at Maze. Overall, I can see why Bar Leather Apron has earned so many accolades in its field. Definitely worth a stop by if you enjoy the art of mixology.

Cocktail tastes to new heights! First time here and I really…read moreloved the vibes coming in. Entire vinyl wall full of great music and area you can play and listen to music. The cocktails that are served are also extra delicious. They all sound super funky, but I challenge you to try them all. It was a mixed bags of flavors that cater to a lot of different taste buds. There would be one I really like, but my friend wouldn't like it. Then she would like the next one, and I wouldn't like it. It wasn't an overall standard, it was how the drink mixed with the persons taste buds. That was something I enjoyed. I could sit at this bar for ages and just have the bartenders make me what ever they want. Also the bartenders listen to options and keys that you like. I let one of them know I like a mezcal smoky, but give me something different then the usual. He gave this amazing mix that I honestly couldn't describe, but I for sure loved it. Can't wait to take more of my friends and try all the cocktails again!

Great atmosphere, but very small interior. Not too quiet but also not too loud for conversation…read more Service is friendly, menu is impressive and there are a lot of drinks that I want to come back to try!! No food options so don't come hungry, or grab a bite after in Chinatown!

We went to Upstairs at Pier 38 last week. They had some awesome hamburger sliders on their happy…read morehour menu from 4pm to 5:30pm. They also had killer French fries, with a combination of garlic, parmesan, and truffle oil. Impressive! Also the angry ahi tartare and escargot were delectable. We asked for seconds on almost all the above (had enough snails in one serving lol). Food options are limited to HH menu items, but everything we tried was wonderful! Bartender was cool, servers were gracious. The place was pretty empty, since dinner service doesn't open up til 5pm. We really felt like we had the place to ourselves! Probably a total of 35-40% of the bar/lounge seating capacity was used. Of note, HH seating is only at the bar or in the nearby lounge seating area.

First visit for us at Upstairs at Pier 38, we were celebrating my companions Birthday Month. We…read moretook the elevator up to the second floor and as we exited surprised at the nice restaurant. The restaurant is beautiful and even though we had no view of the Sunset, the restaurant was elegant and dark. Our server was Elliott and when we had questions about menu items, he was quick to give us ideas on what to order and the size of dishes to let us know if they were shareable or if we needed to order more plates. We had the Cioppino and that fed two of us. I wish they had bread to serve with the soup but you would have to pay for it. The dish was $70. This is not somewhere we would go every day but for a celebration, it was worth it.

I forgot to take a photo here but this place is pretty legendary and one of the cooler speakeasies…read moreI've been to. Super dope vending machine entrance and very interactive with the coin. The interior was also well designed but I wish our group was sat in a different area of the bar. We got sat in this one corner and it was dark with like translucent lights, kinda like Jinx's lair from Arcane. Idk just wished we sat somewhere else with more light and visibility of the bar. The drinks were pretty good. It's a large menu and honestly I wanted to try multiple drinks but can't be getting all drunk and stuff you know the vibes. Also I know it's unrelated to this establishment but it's next to a billiards hall and that was legendary. Great vibe, great place, highly recommend.

Firstly, the vibes are IMMACULATE. 20/10…read more Wild Orange is a speakeasy hidden behind an old-school Aloha Maid vending machine. Apparently you're normally supposed to put a coin in to open the secret door, but it's broken right now, so the whole vending machine just swings right open. Slightly less secret, but still very cool. Inside is where this place really shines. Moody lighting, a giant orange tree in the middle of the room, Japanese hip hop playing in the background (I want to steal this entire playlist), and extremely cool and friendly servers and bartenders. I've been to a few other attempted "speakeasies" in Honolulu, but most are basically just dark bars with a fun door or code word. Wild Orange actually has the VIBES to make the whole concept work. Definitely worth coming just to hang out and chill. They have a full bar and an extensive specialty cocktail menu. Tried the Purple Dragon, made with ube liqueur and coconut cream. Very sweet--a little TOO sweet for my taste--but tasty and pretty. Probably should have listened to the menu and kept it as a shot, but I wanted something I could sip on for a while and chill. The Umeshu Highball was also very pretty and tasty. My friend who works as a sake distributor was impressed with their selection of good sake, so of course we had to order a bottle. Our server brought it out in an ice bucket, kept it off to the side, and completely served it for us throughout. Very classy. The food menu is fun and creative, but unfortunately not really for me because it's entirely vegan. Most times, but ESPECIALLY when I'm drinking, I want MEAT. Tried the Wild Musubi, a vegan Spam musubi. I'm not actually sure what the "meat" was. Possibly fried tofu? Whatever it was, it was definitely a passable alternative, but would have been 100x better if it were just plain old Spam. It also falls victim to what I find is a common problem with vegan attempts at Japanese food: anything teriyaki ends up being way too treacly sweet without actual meat or seafood to ground it in reality. Also tried the Char Siu Tofu Bao, fried tofu in a red Chinese-style char siu sauce on fluffy white buns. Again, fun and certainly not bad, but these would be 1000x better with actual pork. If Wild Orange had this exact same creative food menu but carnivore edition, this place would probably be 7/5 stars for me. That being said, I know being vegan will actually be a huge draw for some people, and I appreciate that the food is creative rather than just the usual sad vegan afterthoughts. Parking is pretty easy by Honolulu standards. It's inside Hawaiian Brian's, so there's a large shared parking lot. That being said, you might still have trouble finding a spot during peak gym hours since you're competing with all the 24 Hour Fitness customers. All in all, I LOVE this place. Definitely a fun stop--first, middle, only, or nightcap--on a chill night out. Will absolutely be adding Wild Orange into the rotation of places to bring out-of-town guests when I want to impress them with something cool and different. The vegan menu probably means it'll be a couple-times-a-year place for me rather than a regular haunt. But for drinks, service, atmosphere, and pure VIBES? 20/10.

I went here for my birthday and didn't realize I should've made a reservation for a larger group,…read moreespecially since it was my first time. Thankfully, Michael and his team were able to accommodate us, which I really appreciated. From the moment we walked in, the place had a great vibe, the interior is beautiful. Throughout the night, the staff and Michael (the owner) were incredibly welcoming, funny and attentive. The cocktails were amazing. I had the expressing my love all night and even though the place was busy and there was a bit of a wait for food, it was honestly worth it. We had the crab dynamite, the ahi brioche, and the prosciutto and burrata. SO GOOD! My friends and I had such a great time and will definitely be back.

I've been waiting for this cocktail spot to iron out its flaws and become as good as it should be…read more Sadly, I don't think it will happen. That's a shame because it has the potential to be very good. When you start with a cocktail concept that is deliberately kept low key with no signage, and a drink menu that rotates and evolves, you have a pretty good floor to start. Having a cozy place to settle in and being able to enjoy food from Chris Kajioka should give 430 Pkwy a high ceiling. If you like an espresso martini try something a little different. Their Espressing My Love batches espresso with Averna, black walnut bitters, and a unique monkeypod syrup. Unfortunately, there is no espresso machine so you cannot get fresh drawn espresso to make a Carajillo the way Cafe Miro use to. The ahi brioche is a carry over from all Chris Kajioka places. The grilled cheese is excellent. Hotdogs are kicked up - it used to be a black truffled miso chicken sausage but the current one is a little different. The problem is the food preparation totally undermines the whole place. Without a separate kitchen you have frying being done just a few feet away from where cocktails are made. If you sit on the right side of the bar you will quickly understand why this doesn't work. I would come here more frequently if i didn't have to smell like cooking oil afterwards. Fix that problem and this place would rock.

The best tiki bar on the island! I was a little overwhelmed by the menu at first, but the bartender…read moretook the time to ask about my flavor preferences and allergies, then recommended a few drinks that fit perfectly. I ended up trying something completely outside my comfort zone, and it was absolutely incredible. The space is on the smaller side, but that's part of its charm. They often have outdoor seating available, and despite the lively atmosphere, it's still easy to have a conversation without shouting. The energy is fantastic. Everyone is having a great time, and the flaming cocktails being served around the room make the experience even more fun. The drinks, service, and overall vibe were outstanding. It's the perfect spot for a night out with friends, and I'll definitely be back many times. Just wow!

Walked in at around 6 PM on a Tuesday as a party of 8 and they squeezed us in outside which was…read moresuper appreciated! Lapu lapu and u-bae (nonalcoholic) were my favorites. Great vibes/decor.

This place feels like a great stop if you want fresh local seafood without the fuss of a fancy…read morerestaurant. It's right on the water at Pier 38, so there's a nice harbor atmosphere and plenty of seating. There's also parking! The menu has a good variety of seafood and Hawaiian style dishes, and they also have a fish market if you want to take some of the fresh stuff home. The fish of the day options are a fun way to try something local. The restaurant has a casual, counter service kind of feel, so don't come expecting a fancy sit down experience. It's more of a grab your food and find a table situation, which I actually think works well for the location. You get quality entrees quickly! We loved the furikake crusted tuna fish, the garlic shrimp and the mochiko chicken.

Good eats, portion sizes, affordable, beautiful view, and live music. It's open air seating so it…read morecan get hot. Bring a portable fan. You order at the front as you enter, they will give you a buzer after you finish ordering. Try to ask for the menu before hand so you can decide what to get before you get to the front. I came with my brother and his family. Parking is free. I was deciding between the fried ahi belly and crab cake burger. I asked the cashier what she would choose from between the two and she suggested the crab cake burger. It's served on a brioche bun with spicy basiley, jardiniere spread, tomato and arugula and I asked to sub the french fries for salad. It was a good size crab cake. The briouche bun was soft. I also ordered a pepperoni pizza to share with my niece. It was okay, my niece gave her a two thumbs up approval. I wish they had a menu next the register for the dessert that was availble. I was suprised to see so many choices near the pick up area. I decided with the red velvet cake. It was moist, nice amount of frosting, and I would order it again. My brother ordered fresh poke from the fish market and it was so good! Seasoned well and so fresh. Overall, a great place that we will continue to enjoy.

We're only about a five or six minute walk to this most interesting bar…read more We arrived at 5 PM, and were the first and only guests for the duration of our visit. Our host invited us to choose our seats. Being the only guests, the service was unparalleled. Likewise the ambiance. We ordered a charcuterie board, which came from Livestock restaurant downstairs. It was okay but nothing memorable. Also, it seemed that Livestock didn't put any priority on Tchin Tchin orders. Normally, I would've been thrilled that we could converse without yelling, but with an empty bar, it seemed odd. I don't think I can recommend this establishment.

Love this patio bar located on Hotel Street, next to Bar 35. It's up a super steep flight of…read morestairs. My first thought was hmmm... if someone's really drunk it could be tragic. Anyways when you get to the top it's like being in another city (ok that's seriously what I think...) it's beautiful! There's an indoor section and an outdoor rooftop with greenery on the walls. Seating outside and inside is beautiful. We went around sunset, sat outside and there was a nice city feel outside with buildings all around. I loved it. When the sunset the lighting outside on the patio beautiful & relaxing. I don't drink but I love food and it was good, perfect pupus! We had the charcuterie board, fries, and a few others. Huge plus, they had mocktails!!! Service was good. The bartender was knowledgeable about the menu and drinks & gave recommendations. He even made hot water for my friends at the end. It wasn't crowded - like we were the only ones there. We stayed for awhile talking and it was comfortable and relaxing!!! I would've never known this beautiful place existed on Hotel Street. It's really an amazing relaxing experience. Parking: we parked in the municipal parking lot by Hawai'i Theatre.

Happy Friday! Our boss took us out for a farewell lunch for…read moremy best coworker friend. Poutine and Lasagna were the best choices today!! Burger was also pretty good. Forgot to take a picture of Carbonara, pretty good too. Service was excellent, and we all had a great time. The ambiance is always charming, honestly the best lunch spot in downtown Honolulu in my opinion.

Velvet chic. Thoroughly designed w/ a chic European vintage…read moreaesthetic, yet filled w/ the modern downtown hnl patron - Podmore's juxtaposition offers a unique dining atmosphere for any occasion. Take a screen break and relax in one of their cozy velvet seats (: . the Sheppards Pie is stuffed with lamb and served on a lipped plate - different from the expected bowl - but the pie was still just as rich, filling, and delicious. the Seared Ahi Sandwich comes with a hefty cut of ahi and thick cut house made fries. The chunky sweet ketchup was the surprising spotlight and made an impressionable difference. Apparently it's also made in house from scratch...cute! The cold brew (straight) effectively combatted the possible post lunch nap. A wise order considering my stroll back to work wouldn't be enough to battle the snooze. . Excellent service, excellent food, and am excited to return. Cheers!

Food and service were so good here! We came on a Friday night and it was packed, with such a lively…read moreatmosphere. Side note, it could be a little hard to hear each other since tables are placed pretty close to each other. We started with the roasted eggplant and grilled sweet corn, and both were great appetizers. I feel like you can't go wrong with anything that's grilled/roasted haha. We got the soft shell crab pasta, which had lots of crab flavor and meat mixed in--perfect for seafood/crab lovers. The pasta portion is definitely generous for one person and can be quite filling. The fried whole moi was spectacular, fried perfectly and the fish itself was delicious. The house fried rice was also perfect, with lots of seafood flavor. The beef carpaccio came a little later than expected, which was a bit of a miss for me. The beef was sliced so thin that you could barely get any texture from it, and with the Thai chili/herb mix, I think the American/Italian-style preparation is more for me. The beef was also uncut, so we had to slice each piece ourselves, which was a bit unusual, but it was fine. We shared everything between the two of us and were very full and satisfied with the food and flavors! Service was friendly, attentive, and just overall very pleasant to interact with. Lastly, we'd say the price point is a good value for what you're getting in terms of taste, portions, and quality. If you're thinking of trying here, just do it! We will be back for sure!

So glad I finally got to eat here. The ambience was modern and cozy. The service was phenomenal…read morerecommendations by the waiter excellent. So glad that we chose to get the spicy beef. I think it was but most happy about the Moi. Wow. I could eat that every time. Both of them. But the beef is only available on Sunday so glad we went on that day. The four of us agreed that on our own, we would be coming back again real soon. There were so many other items on the menu that still needed to be tasted. I recommend reservations because they are pretty trendy.