I love finding places that feel like a hidden discovery, and the speakeasy inside Vintage Books…read moreHawaiʻi is exactly that. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels warm, intimate, and welcoming. There's something special about enjoying a thoughtfully crafted cocktail surrounded by books, vintage décor, and a neighborhood vibe that feels completely different from the typical bar scene. Everyone from the host to the servers, treat you like you are a VIP... What I appreciated most was how relaxed everything felt. It wasn't overly crowded or loud, making it easy to have a conversation and actually enjoy the experience. The cocktails were well-balanced, creative, and clearly made with care. This is the kind of place that's perfect for a date night, catching up with friends, or simply unwinding after a long week. It feels like one of those hidden gems that locals hope stays under the radar, but is too good not to share. If you're looking for something unique and a little different from the usual nightlife options, I highly recommend checking it out. I'll definitely be back.

Vintage Books! Love this hidden gem…read more The ambiance is amazing, and the food is absolutely delicious. I have been a few times now, including most recently on my birthday, and each visit has been such a great experience. Some of our favorites are definitely the crab cakes, karaga chicken, taco flight, old fashioned, and the lychee martini. Everyone from the hostesses to the wait staff is always incredibly friendly and professional, which really adds to the overall experience. It's the kind of place that makes you feel welcome from the moment you walk in. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. If you're local or just visiting, this spot is definitely worth checking out. Love this place!

Great Experience with Courtney!…read more Small 12 seat bar with a great vibe!! Run don't walk and make a reservation!

Stopped by this bar recently and really enjoyed the vibe. It's a nice, relaxing spot--perfect if…read moreyou're looking to unwind without a loud or crowded scene. The drinks were crafted well and tasted great. That said, it is definitely on the pricey side--two drinks came out to about $60, which might give you pause if you're planning to stay for multiple drinks. Overall, it's a good place for quality over quantity: great atmosphere and solid drinks. Service was great.

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.

Food was delicious. Our server Lopaka was excellent. He was quick, funny and very attentive…read more Adriana also was very sweet and helpful. Over all great atmosphere with a great view.

Such a cute vibe!! Gorgeous view of diamond head! Delicious cocktails!!! Our server LOPAKA was so…read morefun and charismatic, he made our night!!! Will definitely be coming back!

Some places you find, others you have to earn, and 430 Parkway is one you'd miss if you weren't…read morelooking for it. Tucked on the second floor of a Piikoi Parkway building, it feels like stepping back in time, a true bespoke bar with vintage art, moody lighting, and comfy couches that make it perfect for couples or a night out with friends. We sat at the bar, which was a highlight, Michael and Tony were welcoming, easy to talk story with, and clearly know their craft. I went with the Barreled Old Man, a smooth, layered mix of bourbon, rye, and brandy that just worked, while my wife's Sesame Veil brought a nutty, balanced flavor that stood out. For round two, the Espressing My Love was a great take on an espresso martini, and Michael built my wife a custom drink off her favorite flavors and nailed it again. We paired it with the smoked mozzarella and salami grilled cheese and Ho Farms tomato soup, and this is where it really hit. The sandwich came out hot and crisp, and when you took a bite the cheese pulled away just right, that perfect melt, with the salami adding a savory kick. The tomato soup was fresh, bright, and made for dipping you didn't want to stop. We were welcomed with a table that had our name on it, a small touch that goes a long way. Prices are on point for the quality and experience you're getting. It's a bit of a hidden, hip spot, not for a quick drink but for when you want to sit, relax, and enjoy it. Parking is tight, but you can park at Ala Moana and walk over, and it's worth it. Next time we're coming back for Grandma's Old Fashioned and the pork belly bao buns. This isn't a bar you stumble into, it's one you come back to.

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 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.

Super cool speakeasy in Ala Moana…read more It was a bit confusing on how to get here, but if your Lyft drops you off at 24 Hour Fitness, go up to the 2nd level, walk out into the parking garage & go across to Brian's. Brian's was an interesting vibe. There is security out front, dark, several pool tables, other sections I did not explore & then, Wild Orange. The entire area was kind of sketchy. Wild Orange, fortunately, was a cool spot. Friendly bartenders. Japanese inspired cocktails, anime & pinball machine art.

The best mai tai ever! Gabriella was friendly, fast and made a great drink. Super fun and great…read moreenergy!

I was looking for a casual bar to grab some drink and found this place in the food hall. Bartender…read morerecommended their tipsy mai tai and decided to go with it. Presentation was nice but it was a little light on the alcohol and a lot of ice. Overall I was ok to have some drinks and hang out.

Great service and yummy food... Tucked away at the Laylow…read morehotel, is a chill restaurant with fun Hawaiian vibes. We started our vacation with dinner at the Hideout, and upon entering you could immediately hear live music. We received a warm welcome, and brought over to our booth where our server Kai was quick to greet us. We ordered cocktails (I don't remember the name of mine. It's something spritz, and my husband tried the banana bread old fashioned) and we shared the appetizer platter (brussel sprouts with pork belly, kalua pork egg rolls, poke tacos, and edamame)to share. We also ordered the garlic shrimp dumplings. Everything was super tasty. Lots of other items on the menu that I want to try during another visit to the island.

Stressful from the start…read more I called to inquire about parking a week prior to my rsv and was told they were sold out for the night. I mentioned that it was just a general question and i wasn't coming that night. They informed me that it's validated for two hours and it's first come first serve. After the 2 hours its $14 an hour. Getting into the valet area was stressful enough as there was a car parked right before you turn and pedestrians that walk back and forth from their main driveway entrance. I also had to wait for valet for a bit too as there was 2 other cars in front of me and probably only 2 valet on duty trying to move cars forward. Reservations can be made on open table, but there was really no point to doing that since it's open seating during happy hour times. We ended up just picking a table that was in the shade, and noticed they only have their menu by QR code which is kinda annoying. The server was pretty nice tho and he brought my dog some water mid way. Their happy hour runs from 2-6 and the menu is slightly less expensive. The food was kind of standard hotel type of food and nothing really stood out. Otherwise the vibes at the restaurant was nice and i do like that they allow dogs to join you. it seems like they have live music after a certain time. I was even more annoyed and stressed with the valet when i went to pick up my car. They literally just handed me my keys. My car was parked along the wall probably 20 steps away, but they could have at least taken out my car cause it was so hard to get out, but i guess it's nice they trust that i wont bang the car in front of back of me i guess even tho im a pretty terrible parker. at the time they didn't look as busy as when i first arrived, so i dont know why they couldn't have just done the bare minimum with just pulling out my car from the stall.