We had a most enjoyable evening at the Lounge. The service was outstanding and the poke nachos and Japanese chicken entrees were excellent. Drinks were eclectic and delicious. We will definitely be back. read more

Awesome hangout on Oahu and Located in Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, on the Eastside. Besides their Awesome Grinds and Great Cocktails, on the Weekends, we have Live Entertainment with Local Artist jammimg the Night away. Please if you find yourself heading this way, please do stop by and I guaranty you will enjoy it All and be a returning guest. Mahalo for taking the time to read my review, Now C'mon over and " Let's Party!!" read more

See all

What could be better than great food and music! The lounge at Island Studio has quickly become a favorite location for excellent live music in an intimate setting on the water in Hawaii Kai. Important to book ahead as the word is out and the venue sells out quickly! Apart from there not being a bad seat in the house....the kitchen here is turning out some amazing dishes perfect for sharing. We LOVE being able to order and pay using a QR code. Service is always super friendly and efficient. Don't miss their speakeasy The Velvet Monkey, one floor above...an even smaller venue featuring local and upcoming artists. Island Sound Studio is a full working professional recording studio that has hosted the likes of Elton John, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Eddie Vedder just to name a few! It's no wonder they have delivered a world-class live music venue. read more

See all

Even more cozy and intimate than Blue Note, this local gem, located right on the water in Hawaii Kai, is a lovely venue with great acoustics that provides quality entertainment for locals so you don't have to deal with traffic, parking, or the crazy crowds in Waikiki. There are actually 2 separate spaces in the same locale. The Lounge is the larger of the two with indoor and some outdoor seating. The Velvet Monkey is their "speakeasy", an even tinier and more intimate space tucked away upstairs in the corner. Both offer live music, beautiful cocktails, and delicious food created by Chef Karol. They also claim to have the best recording studios on the island. Tix were $30 for the event which you should order ahead of time especially if you want to get in and sit inside. It was booked so we got outdoor seating which was still nice but we had a semi obstructed view. We had P3 featuring Michael Piranha, a group of local rock musicians with a great sound and sense of humor. You order everything on your phone which is supposed to expedite service, one couple in our party had to wait because their order got lost. The staff was very apologetic and at the end, the chef personally came out to make it up to them. DRINKS: With the trend in creative cocktails these days, I often have difficulty deciding because so many look good and I love trying new things. I finally decided on the coconut mojito which was a new take on this minty favorite. It had toasted shredded coconut which added interesting texture and flavor. A little on the sweet side for me but I enjoyed it and it paired well with the venue. A lot of the drinks were accessorized with fresh flowers and pearl picks that made them IG worthy and very attractive! Loved how they were all different too! Our friend had a pretty pink lychee martini with a turberose garnish whereas mine came with a lavender orchid. FOOD; My friend and I both had the fresh catch, a mahi-mahi served in a butter sauce with asparagus. Fish was a little overcooked but the flavors with the texture with the toasted almonds were great! Our friends had the ahi carpaccio and chef's special flatbread which was like a pizza. DESSERT: Tiramisu was possibly one of the best I've had! It was a nice balance of cake and cream sprinkled with bits of chocolate on top and and served with raspberry and chocolate sauce and some fresh fruits. Pastry Chef's Kiss! SERVICE: Warm, friendly and very personable, they make it a point to check on the guests to make sure everyone is getting the best experience possible. The super chill, relaxed vibe and great sound, combined with perfect weather and a clear view of Venus and Mars in the night sky, made for a lovely evening out ! Will definitely check it out again! read more

See all

A wonderful new addition to Hawaii Kai community -- intimate lounge and speakeasy to provide a musical escape to the east side... We went to the secret speakeasy called the Velvet Lounge which is located upstairs through a door with a lighted purple V outside. Walk up the stairs and you'll find a small speakeasy that holds about 20 seats inside. You'll be sitting pretty closely to the next person as it's 2 long booths with separate tables. Think Blue Note, but more intimate, classy, and less tourists. Nice lounge where you can dress up if you choose to do so...we really enjoyed the performance by Maui based musician - Anthony Pfluke who plays the ukulele beautifully. It was reggae based which was very different, but I really ended up enjoying it. You order drinks and food through the QR code on your table and they deliver it shortly to you! Small bar in the back. Food is made downstairs. There is a 2 drink per person minimum. The drinks were just okay, but I really enjoyed the poke nachos. Good to share. Prices for drinks/food are pretty similar to Blue Note. I look forward to returning to the speakeasy or check out the lounge downstairs for more shows! read more

See all

Not surprised 5 ***** star rating. One of if not the best intimate live music venues on the island. All genres of music featured here. Hawaiian, Jazz, R & R, blues, contemporary etc. Including a lot of well known big name artists as well as up and coming. Top quality from the music to the delicious food & drinks and awesome staff. If you haven't already checked out this place yet do it. You're gonna dig it! Lots of free parking doesn't hurt either. Mr Chow also gives 5***** stars! read more

The sleepy bedroom community of Hawaii Kai will have a new nightlife attraction - no need to go to town to enjoy live music shows, The Lounge at Island Sound Studios opens on Saturday April 27 with the first of its weekly lineup of performers that includes Amy Hanaiali'i, Henry Kapono and The Makaha Sons. See the lineup and get tickets at www.theloungeatislandsound.com. I was lucky enough to catch the April 27 debut act, Chadwick and the Elegant Endeavors at the April 20 soft opening - they KILLED a rendition of INXS' Never Tear Us Apart ... including a trumpet solo that lifted the hairs on the back of my neck. It's located in the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center (the one with the Safeway and McDonald's) at the corner of the Long's building, facing the water. As you turn into the center off Keahole, turn right into the Long's parking lot and find a parking spot at the far end. There's a neon sign at the corner of the building, but in daytime it's easy to miss. Parking is free and plentiful. It's very similar to the Blue Note, but a more intimate setting - there's a couch closest to the performers that can sit 6-8, and two tops that line the rest of the space. If you have a small group, I'd opt for that couch; next best seats are the tables right in back of the couch. You order cocktails and drinks, as well as food, via a QR code. Cocktails were free on soft opening night so I don't know how much they cost but they had a great variety; sodas and water were $4.50. When your menu comes up, the popular food options are listed: a vegan Truffle Garlic Pasta ($24), Charcuterie for Two that could easily feed 4 if you're drinking ($42), Classic Ceasar Salad ($16), French Onion Soup ($12) - but there is more on the menu if you scroll down. I had a Spicy Poke Nachos ($24) that I was more than satisfied with. The majority of Hawaii Kai residents are an older demographic on a fixed income so they are typically are cost conscious, and so I don't know how the Waikiki prices are going to go down with them - but this place really is comparable to the Blue Note in terms of the quality of the music and the space. The Lounge opening is actually the first phase of a bigger entertainment space in the works, which will include a speakeasy and dance club accessible by an outdoor spiral staircase, so you should sign up for their newsletter. Not affiliated with these guys at all, just a big fan of this new space, so excited for it to be in my neighborhood!! read more

See all

What a wonderful place to have here in Hawaii Kai. The food was good and the amazing sounds Tavana brings. Great drinks and atmosphere. Just what we needed read more

A great venue for live music. There are so few venues where you can catch a live jazz performance. The Lounge and the Velvet Monkey deliver. Intimate setting; no bad seats. read more

So " Bryan S" , the owner of this place, told me I was "wrong" in my review, then proceeded to" invite " me back. I have pictures to prove that cups were plastic. This place advertised a Jazz concert in Hawaii Kai that I paid like $50 per ticket, yet when we arrived, it seemed like a way to charge local customers way too much for cheap food and "pretty drinks" for your "friends" to play jazz and party for free (I have pics of the crowd and band as well). It seems like your "restaurant" changes a lot, too? Maybe it has changed since I went there? Seems like you have many "good" reviews as well, curated perhaps? A lot of these "reviewers" look a little young and local, different from what I saw when I was there. I also do not appreciate you privately messaging me to tell me my experience " was wrong" . I felt my original review was being gracious because the band was so great, and their vibes were fantastic, and I did not want to hurt THE BAND I PAID TO SEE. I suggest you take the reviews seriously and STOP bullying LOCAL LIVING customers. I will not join you, and I will be leaving another review with a screenshot of this message. read more

There last night 1/18/25 for P3 Excellent cocktails. Wife said crab rangoon the best ever! Sound guy is aces. Super hip venue. Love it - we will be back! read more

What a wonderful bistro with live music. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have seen top musicians here such as Makana, Ledward Kaapana, and Makaha Sons. My favorite dishes are the Poke Nachos, flatbread, and chocolate gelato. The service has improved greatly . What a local treasure!! read more

The Lounge at Island Sound Studios - Ledward Kaapana - Music Venues Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is an exciting new LIVE MUSIC venue in Hawaii Kai for up and coming local musical artists and bands. They also have an awesome menu of superb drinks and a wonderfully crafted delicious pupus and entrees by European chef Karol! Check out the link below to their website to review their entertainment calendar, food and drink menu, and pics of the intimate mini showroom -- think Blue Note, but smaller and more intimate and with a superior food menu! The space is cool because you get to sit "up close and personal" with the band as they perform. My review: the live bands were excellent and the music sounded great and was not too loud thanks to the excellent female sound engineer. Waitress/table service was prompt and courteous, and the food and drink selection was really great as well. I really enjoyed Chef Karol's dishes, every one was totally delicious. Check out the menu here. https://www.theloungeatislandsound.com read more

Great place that is on the rise. Small venue that makes every seat intimate and enjoyable. Food was very well done and drinks are pricey but worth it. Admission for practically a front row seat to see an artist is really reasonable, so eat and drink at your will. We hope they find success and continue to operate this gem in Hawaii Kai. read more

The Lounge at Island Sound Studios - This view is from the back corner so literally the furthest spot from the stage and yet still so close. - Music Venues Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

What a wonderful intimate venue . We went to see our favorite Amy H . Great seats , Amys wines , very tasty food and super wait staff . Never knew about this place ! Can't wait to go again for other shows . read more

First time at this establishment. All I can say, what a night! Checked it out for a karaoke event and really enjoyed my evening of great karaoke! Great singers and a chance to listen to many different genres of karaoke singing. To order was convenient. Drinks on the pricey side but expected. Service for the drinks and food came out quickly via an app/qrf scan you could use. Very nice cozy place. The fee of $15 to enjoy a night of listening to karaoke was a bit interesting. There was a contest to begin at 6:30pm. The karaoke time was overwhelming as many singers wanted to showcase their talent. The contest was announced it started I believe due to many karaoke singers. The KJ was good as he wanted to make certain everyone sang at least one before the contest started. Again, informed it started. It was 745pm and they announced the winners. It was announced that they would extend the karaoke and have a karaoke night. Not disappointed with that news and the again, the talent of singers to listen to made it a great night. Met some people who enjoyed so that was an added bonus. A bit far for me driving from the West side but definitely would come back again. Thank you! read more

Really sweet little place to have drinks and enjoy a show. Swanky and hip, this is a fun date night spot.

Fantastic venue for a classy night of live music and crafted cocktails with an excellent chef designed menu. it's an intimate vibe with phenomenal artists/musicians from the islands. Awaken your adventurous side in the newly implemented Speakeasy. Excellent staff & Mixologist. loved it! read more

The Lounge at Island Sound Studios - (Live music) (mixologist) (Pupus) - Music Venues Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Wonderful time! Great ambience and service. Enjoyed the music. So glad this intimate concert venue has opened in Hawaii Kai.