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    The Hidden Nene

    4.6 (140 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    The Hidden Nene Photos

    THE HIDDEN NENE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - The Hidden Nene

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    Annie D.

    Hands down the best bar in downtown Hilo. The cocktails are so creative, each drink is an adventure. My husband ordered the Spam Dram which is reminiscent of a Mint Julep with butterscotch undertones. The Advice was fruity, herbaceous and smooth. The Ko Cane is a spirit forward rum cocktail. Staff are super nice.

    Smoking drink
    Terrance R.

    Love how hidden this place is, you can't tell from the outside that it is there once you step inside you're transformed to a whole new place. With a vibe of class, relaxation and touches of Hawaii. The staff ALL were so incredible. Since it was our first time going they gave us the time to decide what we wanted and was very helpful. I love that you can design your own board so you're able to get exactly what you want and nothing that you don't. We got a few boards to try different items. I LOVE the lilikoi it is like candy and it great mix with the spreads, cheese and beverages. The popping liquor choice was by far our favorite for our celebration get together. The birthday girl enjoyed a few of those and were my favorite. They had a variety of options including smoky ones, ones on fire and more. The bartenders really made it a creative fun and enjoyable experience. I almost don't want too much people to know so I will be able to get a spot every time but this is too good of a spot to not share. Love having something like this in Hilo.

    Works of art!
    Scarlett M.

    Wow, what a great place. Our drinks were a masterpiece. Fun place for a cocktail and friends. We were visiting and were brought here by a local. Staff is great.

    Smoky Bear, an old fashioned featuring Birdseye pepper and smoke

    This was the coolest cocktail bar I found on my trip to the big island. It had a lot of creative craft cocktails, many of which utilized local flavors and Hawaiian made spirits. It had the nice ambiance you'd expect from a speakeasy, and even had live music. The drinks were pretty good and unique but I found a few of them a tad too sweet for my tastes, with the Spam Dram and Moonlight being a bit syrupy. To me it felt like the sweetness hid some of the unique flavors in the drinks. This is the main reason I have rated 4 instead of 5 stars. However, I'd highly recommend the Iwakaluakumaha, which I found perfectly balanced and as of writing, is available for $10 during happy hour!

    Foood was Ono!!!!
    George R.

    After a day up on Mauna Kea & our last day back home we decided to go our favorite bar in Hilo to top off our trip! Kinda want to keep this place a hidden secret so shhhhhhh. Took my Gf & her brother from Maui 1st time in Hilo and at hidden nene for him. My GF's brother is also a bartender on Maui! He was very impressed with the selection of drinks and of course the ambiance of the bar. We all agreed hands down the best bar and happy hour. Ambiance and speakeasy vibe is our type of bar with the hidden bar. The creativity of the drinks, live music and pop up events make this bar very unique Shoutout to our bartender Tasha!! She was awesome! Made our visit pleasant and welcoming! My gf's brother was amazed of the preparation and presentation of drinks! Tasha and staff sets the bar high for sure! We originally found this spot after seeing my friend Keoni Payton (Pain killers) (Farmers Market Hawaii) post story on IG a while back now officially our third visit. This place is bomb kinda don't want to share it but keep this place in business! Mahalos Tasha & Hidden Nene! Can't wait to be back!

    Tarta Da Lima was phenomenal!
    Billy B.

    Amazing experience at this gem in Hilo, it's like stepping into another world, and the cocktails are seriously next level! Excellent service, beautiful interior and lighting, I live on Maui so I will be visiting sooner than later!

    Juniper
    Amber S.

    Menu has changed a bit since last visit. They have a full menus with bites and cocktails. My group just got cocktail. They still have some of their classics and some new additions. Still a great place to get a drink before dinner reservation. This place is spacious and cozy, if that makes any sense. Servers are attentive and everything was delightful. There was a mix up on our bill but they were quick to fix.

    The vodka drink (complete with the Playlist changed to chumbawumba)
    Taylor B.

    As a senior General Manager and sommelier of a large restaurant group, the hidden nene was by far the highlight of our Hawaiian vacation. Char's service and drink menu blew me away and left this sommelier beyond impressed with a camera roll of beautifully garnished drinks that I couldn't have imagined ever creating myself on my best day. I know the next time I come to Hawaii, I will for sure be back to see Char and company, and to be honest I can't wait!

    Hummus wrap
    Darian K.

    This place is the cats pajamas! Definitely stop by for lunch, I tried the hummus wrap, YUM! Great portion size, wonderful accompaniments of sweet potato chips and pickled asparagus. Service was great from Crystal and the owner Char herself! The cocktail list is so creative, you'd have to come back to try 1 of everything! The place itself has such a cozy, speakeasy atmosphere. Definitely the ultimate hidden gem in Hilo. Everything was 10/10. This will be one of my stops every time I am on island.

    tarte de lima
    Morgan S.

    stopped by a happy hour and had the best time! We ordered 2 happy hour drinks and got a charcuterie board and it was amazinggg! The staff was so fun and kind, restaurant was clean and trendy, highly recommend!!!

    Tarta de Lima - highly recommend
    Sarahbeth M.

    Cute little place and good happy hour with some snacks. Strong and delicious drinks. Don't get upset as these drinks are a work of art and does take some time so when it gets slightly busy it'll be a wait.

    "Figment" drink + bar interior
    Hadley E.

    Incredible speakeasy with excellent food and service. The drinks and delicious and made quickly, the food is also delicious but can take a while since there's only one person preparing all of the food orders. This is a beautiful little place conveniently located in the center of Hilo. I went twice during my stay and had the drinks Figment and the drink with the impossibly long name that started with an i. Both were phenomenal and unique - you can't find anything like this anywhere else. Additionally. I had the ahi melt, the carpaccio, and salami wrap and I enjoyed every bite of each. Wish I could just live at this place and was sad when I had to leave!

    fire place, I like
    Kaliko P.

    Good Help (Is So Hard To Find) [Official Video] - Death Cab for Cutie A good cocktail is also hard to find, so when I saw this place online prior to arriving in Hilo, I was bent on going, it did not matter that it was 12 noon on a Friday afternoon! Happy hour 12-2 PM on Friday when we went. Just a few blocks from the Hilo Farmer's Market and Pineapple's. Right across the street from KTA. Shady guy on the corner, kept looking at us and I kept looking at him. I see you, bud. Descending into the depths of the quiet darkness was soothing. There was no greeting, so we just sat anywhere. There were two ladies behind the bar, one was mixing up drinks and the other was filling up bottles and ice and such. There were 3 other customers in the bar besides us - two on the couch and one at the bar. It wasn't crowded at all. It took a while before the mixologist came up to us and took our orders. She was nice. The Tea - $10 happy hour price ($16 reg price). A cute drink. The ingredients are listed on their website but it's not easy to read as it scrolls really fast, but without having to list the fancy ingredients like Suntory Roku (gin), matcha, orange blossom, mamaki, lemon, lime and wasabi, the flavor was very straight-forward, not complex at all. It tasted very nice but mostly citrus, strong citrus. The lemon and lime overpowered everything. I could not taste anything else. The presentation was beautiful with the dried mamaki leaf and the white orchid. Buzz factor 2/5. Smoky Bear - $10 happy hour price ($16 reg price). A sweeter drink made of bourbon, birdseye pepper, sugar, wood smoke. My husband said it reminded him of something he's had a kid, like Easter candies. The presentation was really nice, with a charred rosemary and a white orchid. Strange mix of sweet candies and smoky smoke. Buzz factor 3/5. Service: here's where it gets knocked down one star from a 5. The lady mixing the drinks was doing 99% of the work. We felt bad for her. The lady stocking things was just bustling around without being aware that another group had walked in, and was sitting in the corner and waiting awkwardly. I kept looking at them looking at her. They were waiting a long time. She finally saw them when she went to stock something else in another room, got their orders on her way back, and gave the order to the lady bartender. We didn't want to keep waiting for another drink, so we left cash with tip at the counter and left. Return factor: not sure. Would like to try the other drinks in the future but only if we had hours to spare (or waste).

    Key lime pie cocktail

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    Business owner information

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    Charlene M.

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    5 months ago

    Drinks were amazing! Live music, overall fun and great atmosphere. Highly recommended

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - The Hidden Nene

    They advertise a happy hour from 5-7 - but what *is* their happy hour? (What does it cover, and how much off!)

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Hilo Burger Joint

    Hilo Burger Joint

    3.7(1k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Solid burger and vibes! Can be a little dim in there for older people or people with bad eyesight…read morebut the ambiance was nice and there's an outside dining area. I got the bleu cheese burger medium rare, a solid choice that I was satisfied with and the crispy fries and sweet potato fries were yummy too! They offered a free birthday burger so that was such a lovely addition to my night, and the selection of beer was solid as well. Shout out to the bartender working on 6/18 when a drunken patron bothered our group. We were close to leaving anyways and I made sure to speak my mind to him, but the situation was handled well by the bartender and the staff was apologetic despite it not being their fault so hopefully the rest of their night went well! I will be back to try out more appetizers and other burgers as well

    We're going to start by taking a star off right from the beginning. Why? If you log on to the…read morewebsite they have an immediate prompt about ordering online via the Toast platform, except t's never currently enabled. Whatever. We're staying close by so I drive over and make the takeout order in person. Super easy and a member of staff is there to take my order as soon as I walk in the door. After taking my order and payment, I'm told to hang outside at a red bench in their courtyard which I guess you could also eat at but also serves as their de facto holding pen as another guy is also out there doing the same thing I'm doing. After 15 or so minutes everything is brought out to me. Caprese Burger - California Burger - Bacon Cheese Burger Let me start with what's good. The burgers were all cooked to their requested temperatures. The fries were also decent as well and many packets of ketchup and mayo were put in the bag if needed. What's not good. The buns are not toasted so in a takeout environment they become straight up wet diaper soggy and it's also disconcerting when you ask for the bacon to be cooked crispy and it's served white/soggy/limp and barely cooked. Everything seemed nice enough inside and if ever back on the Big Island I would probably try HBJ again, but if you're taking online orders, please enable the platform and if not, remove the website prompt that you do and cook the bacon dammit, wet noodle is never fun. (3.5 rounding down)

    Photos
    Hilo Burger Joint - Dining Area at Hilo Burger Joint

    Dining Area at Hilo Burger Joint

    Hilo Burger Joint - Jalapeños poppers w/Thai chili sauce

    Jalapeños poppers w/Thai chili sauce

    Hilo Burger Joint - Mushroom burger

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    Mushroom burger

    Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine - Dynamite fish bowl

    Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine

    4.3(2.6k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    from one tourist to another, this is the perfect lunch/dinner place. We got the grilled chicken…read morewrap with mango coleslaw and grilled chicken sandwich with fries. Both have amazing flavors. highly recommend! friendly staff and open concept which lets a lot of fresh air in!

    TIKI DAVE of TIKI DAVE TRAVEL / TIKI DAVE'S TERRIFIC TRIPS highly recommends PINEAPPLES!…read more There is a reason this place has such great reviews. You definitely want to make a reservation in advance, especially if there are cruise ships in port. Otherwise, you're going to wait in line. I would say that the very best thing on the menu is the Teriyaki Flank Steak Appetizer ($19)....this thing is SICK. We ordered the appetizer and it is the most unique Teriyaki steak I have ever had. The teriyaki sauce is rich and just amazing. Just order it. I am still craving it. We also ordered the Lilikoi Hoisin wings and SON OF TIKI DAVE ordered the Lemon Macadamia Chicken ($28) which was delicious, too. They have a full bar and the Mai Tais are awesome. We ordered a couple a piece. Ambience and service is great. And with your receipt, you get at 10% discount at Wilson's Shave Ice across the street. TIKI DAVE from TIKI DAVE'S TERRIFIC TRIPS absolutely loves PINEAPPLES! I will be making a video of my experience so...and here it is! https://youtu.be/yVi4ZEcMw3g?is=0GTf-vESLcn0BX0_ Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/@TIKIDAVETRAVEL And follow! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565274777775&mibextid=ZbWKwL https://www.instagram.com/tikidavetravel/?__d=1%2F%3Fhidemenu%3Dtrue

    Photos
    Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine - Bar with loads of fresh pineapples

    Bar with loads of fresh pineapples

    Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine - Hilo Local Plate

    Hilo Local Plate

    Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine - Dr. Pepper

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    Dr. Pepper

    Puna Chocolate Company - Chocotini and old fashion

    Puna Chocolate Company

    4.5(127 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Puna Chocolate Company is one of my favorite local chocolate artisan shops, conveniently located in…read moreDowntown Hilo. Since my time away, they have beautifully renovated the interior to have a sit-down booth area. I love the abundance of nene decor honoring our state bird, along with high quality chocolates made in Hawaii. The store clerk was very knowledgeable and described how each cultivars of chocolate differ in their taste profiles. We had the horchata 50% milk chocolate bar, and I don't have a picture because we devoured it in one sitting! Overall, Puna Chocolate Co. is an elegant, delightful, and elevated experience that rivals big names like Big Island Candies and Dandelion Chocolates in San Francisco. Highly recommend in stopping by!

    Apparently I was wrong about the service! Lol. The owner angrily ranted at me about how there…read morewasn't any AI in his shop, despite the fact that when I visited, nearly every single poster on the walls advertising events either utilized AI generated art or was wholly generated by it. You'd think that as the owner of a small business, he'd want to support the many local artists to create promotional material and consider customer comments with some grace and humility, but I suppose this isn't that kind of place. Genuinely embarrassing for the owner and the company he's representing.

    Photos
    Puna Chocolate Company - Entry to Puna Chocolate Company & Cafe

    Entry to Puna Chocolate Company & Cafe

    Puna Chocolate Company - Inside Puna Chocolate Company & Cafe

    Inside Puna Chocolate Company & Cafe

    Puna Chocolate Company - Storefront for Puna Chocolate Company & Cafe

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    Storefront for Puna Chocolate Company & Cafe

    Hilo Town Tavern

    Hilo Town Tavern

    4.0(345 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Came here on a night where they had live Hawaiian music. The speakers were super loud, but the…read moremusic was fantastic. It took a while for the waitress to take our orders. One waitress said that she was going to come back and then didn't return for over 15 minutes plus. My friend got the Loco Loco over tater tots, which was very filling and delicious. I got the ribs. Initially the only rib that was hot was the end piece and as soon as I cut it, the remainder was ice cold. I told the waitress who took it back to the kitchen, and they reheated it. The ribs overall were tasty, though not the most tender ribs I've ever ever had. I did like the French fries though it was cold after they reheated my ribs.

    After spending some time at Lyman Museum, we desired lunch and a Yelp search led us to Hilo Town…read moreTavern. Walking through the entrance we were greeted by a server who also doubled as a bartender. We proceeded to order the following: Mai Tai's, Jamaican Jerk seasoned chicken tenders (wife) and the Lava burger (me)...both orders with the hand cut tavern fries. Since the restaurant was fairly empty, our orders came out fairly quickly. Both of our orders arrived hot and were very flavorful. As we enjoyed our meals and sipped our deliciously strong Mai Tai's, we enjoyed people watching and eavesdropping on the conversations held by locals. Throughout our visit, the server did a great job of checking in on us. If you're in Hilo and have a yearning for some delicious food and strong drinks, I recommend checking out Hilo Town Tavern. My only regret is that we did not visit during a karaoke night!

    Photos
    Hilo Town Tavern - Dim lights and brew

    Dim lights and brew

    Hilo Town Tavern - New owner!

    New owner!

    Hilo Town Tavern

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    The Hidden Nene - cocktailbars - Updated September 2026

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