Cool Honolulu Hotel Bars Even Locals Love
From Waikīkī to Downtown, these ultra-hip lounges lure travelers and locals alike.
Checking into your room and hitting the hotel bar for a mai tai has long been step one for many travelers to Hawaiʻi.
And the next time they’re in town, those travelers might notice something different about their favorite watering holes. Throughout Honolulu and Waikīkī, hotels are reenvisioning basic lobby bars and swapping them for ultra-hip cocktail lounges. From open-air decks to swanky speakeasies, these cool hotel bars are great spots to gear up for a night out, wind down with a nightcap, or just enjoy specialty cocktails and vibey aesthetics.
The Lei Stand Waikīkī at Romer House Waikīkī
Tucked in the Romer House Waikīkī, The Lei Stand Waikīkī is effortlessly cool.
Photo: Courtesy of Romer Neighborhood Hotels
Formerly in Chinatown, this popular bar moved to the Romer House Waikīkī in May. The Lei Stand has always paid tribute to the legacy of lei in Hawaiʻi and now at its new location, it strings Waikīkī’s unique history into its story, too. From clever cocktails and creative local cuisine to retro-meets-modern Island style, the ultra-cool clubhouse fits right at home at Romer House Waikīkī, the sole adults-only hotel on Oʻahu. getleid.co.
READ MORE: Just in Time for Lei Day, This Cherished Cocktail Bar Reopens in Waikīkī
The Green Lady Cocktail Room at the White Sands Hotel
The Green Lady Cocktail Room is a glamorous and intimate speakeasy.
Photo: Courtesy of the White Sands Hotel
Walking into The Green Lady Cocktail Room is like stepping into the Roaring ‘20s. The speakeasy is glamorous and intimate—it only seats about 20 guests—with dim lighting, vintage vibes and a mix of velvet and leather textures. The beverage menu is an inventive ode to the Prohibition era of the 1920s and early ‘30s. Here, you can sip on riffs of juleps, Singapore slings and absinthe drips. To find this hole in the wall, ask the front desk at the White Sands Hotel to point you toward Room 8. greenladycocktailroom.com.
READ MORE: 15 Hawaiʻi Restaurants and Bars to Visit for Unforgettable Experiences
Hideout at the Laylow Waikīkī
Hideout recently debuted its Liquid Luxury line of cocktails. These elevated drinks are crafted with high-end spirits and presented in an over-the-top fashion.
Photo: Courtesy of Hideout
You can feel the electrifying energy of Waikīkī from the spacious open-air deck on the second level of the Laylow Waikīkī. Here, above the bustling streets, is the Hideout, where guests can enjoy daily live music and DJ sets during Hideout After Dark on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, a DJ spins vinyls as part of the establishment’s Vinyl Summer Series. Enjoy mimosas and brunch and maybe even something new from the bar’s recently debuted Liquid Luxury line of cocktails. These elevated drinks are crafted with high-end spirits like The Macallan 12 and Don Julio 1942—and you won’t soon forget the over-the-top-way they’re presented. See for yourself. hideoutwaikiki.com.
Lewers Lounge at Halekūlani
Lewers Lounge at the glamorous Halekūlani is known for its weekly lineup of jazz performers.
Photo: Courtesy of Halekūlani
Whether you’re looking for a place to spend an elegant evening or a sophisticated spot to grab a nightcap, you’ll want to visit Lewers Lounge at the glamorous Halekūlani in Waikīkī. The lounge is known for its weekly lineup of incredible jazz performers. But beyond its incredible live music, the place serves impeccable cocktails and Halekūlani’s famously fluffy coconut cake. halekulani.com/dining/lewers-lounge.
Yours Truly at the AC Hotel
The unique cocktails at Yours Truly in Downtown Honolulu.
Photo: Courtesy of AC Hotel By Marriott Honolulu/Yours Truly
Yours Truly is quite literally an underground cocktail bar. Located beneath the AC Hotel in Downtown Honolulu, this bar within a bar boasts a wild background story and two distinct cocktail menus (one for each bar). From spirit forward to tropical and fruity, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your cravings. https://www.yourstrulyhawaii.com.
READ MORE: How to Navigate Oʻahu’s Latest Speakeasy
Grace Maeda is the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.
