Oʻahu Nightlife

The Barrel Room Waikiki

Nikki's Sandbar

Upscale sports bar on Kalakaua Ave. 5.0 on Google. Great for watching games during the day and transitioning into nightlife. Popular with the mid-20s to 30s crowd.

Pigeonhole

$$

Chinatown's newest and most-buzzed-about cocktail bar — a curated-yet-comfortable space offering creative cocktails, innovative bar snacks, and warm hospitality in a relaxed, design-forward setting. Walk-in only (no reservations). The li hing margarita and matcha colada are early fan favorites. Wine, beer, and snacks r

Moani Island Bistro

$$

Surf Bar Waikiki

RM. 38

Speakeasy-style cocktail bar on Lewers St. 4.9 on Google. Small, intimate, great drinks. Perfect for a date night or a sophisticated start to the evening.

Lava Lounge Waikiki

Third-floor lounge at Tiki's Twin Fin Hotel. 4.9 on Google. Good cocktails, great views, gets lively on weekends. A solid pre-game or date night spot before heading to a club.

GOEN Dining + Bar

$$$

Bar Leather Apron

$$$

Tucked on the mezzanine level of the Topa Financial Center, Bar Leather Apron is Honolulu's most celebrated cocktail destination — a James Beard Award semifinalist and multiple Tales of the Cocktail honoree. Inspired by Japanese whisky bars, the intimate 20-seat space requires reservations and rewards guests with metic

Island Vintage Wine Bar

$$

Velvet Nightclub

Honolulu's upscale nightclub scene. Bottle service, VIP sections, dressed-up crowd. If you want the full club experience — not a bar with a DJ, an actual club — Velvet is it. 4.8 stars on Google. Ala Moana area, not Waikiki proper.

Wild Orange

$$

A speakeasy cocktail bar inside Hawaiian Brian's Social Club on Kapiolani Boulevard. Wild Orange serves craft cocktails and vegan small plates in a hidden, intimate setting. One of Honolulu's best-kept secrets — rated 5.0 on Yelp.

Ki Club

Korean-influenced nightclub near Ala Moana. Bottle service, upscale vibe, popular with the local Korean and Japanese crowd. 4.8 stars on Google.

Davy’s Evolution Bar Waikiki

Aloha Beer Company

$$

Kakaako's original craft brewery and brewpub, serving 13 styles on tap in a dog-friendly beer garden. Aloha Beer Company hosts Friday night live music and daily happy hour (2–6 PM). The beer garden is one of the best outdoor drinking spots in Honolulu. A staple of the Kakaako neighborhood.

Earls Kitchen + Bar - Waikiki

$$

Skull & Crown Trading Co.

$$

A dark, enchanting tiki bar and courtyard rum bar on Hotel Street. Skull & Crown Trading Co. features a life-sized mermaid, flickering amber lights, skulls everywhere, and a rum program that goes deep into the Caribbean and Pacific. The indoor tiki room requires Resy reservations; the outdoor courtyard is walk-in only.

Poké Bar Waikiki

$

Hawaii By Night Gentlemen's Club

Green Lady Cocktail Room

Tucked away on Nohonani St. Craft cocktails, good music, no tourist-trap pricing. The kind of bar locals actually go to in Waikiki. 4.6 on Google.

EP Bar

$$

A Japanese-inspired highball and vinyl bar hidden on Nuuanu Avenue in Chinatown. EP Bar is intimate, reservation-recommended, and focused on a tight menu of perfectly executed highballs and house cocktails. The vinyl soundtrack and warm lighting make it one of the most atmospheric bars in the neighborhood. Enter on Pau

Tikis Grill & Bar

Poké Bar

Mānalo Lounge

$$

Genius Lounge – Japanese Sake Bar & Restaurant

$$

Pint and Jigger

$$

Honolulu's premier whiskey bar and craft cocktail destination, located on the lobby level of the Ala Moana Hotel. Pint + Jigger is an award-winning bar with an encyclopedic whiskey selection and a cocktail program that has earned national recognition. A local institution for serious drinkers.

Stage Restaurant & Amuse Wine Bar

$$

Tiki's Grill & Bar

$$

Arnold's Beach Bar

Waikiki's legendary dive bar. Open-air, cheap drinks, live music every single night. This is where locals and tourists actually mix. No pretension, no cover, just good vibes. If you want the real Waikiki nightlife — not the resort lobby bar — start here.

ADEZ Steakhouse & Lounge

Howzit Brewing

$$

A Kakaako craft brewery open seven days a week from noon. Dog-friendly, casual, and focused on well-crafted local beers. Howzit Brewing is a neighborhood staple for the Kakaako community.

Waikiki Tiki Bar

In Between

The dive bar's dive bar in Waikiki. Pool tables, karaoke, cheap drinks. Where hotel workers go after their shift. If you want to meet actual locals in Waikiki, this is the spot. 4.5 on Google.

Olohana Brewpub by Kalihi Beer

$$

A Chinatown brewpub from the Kalihi Beer team, serving house-brewed organic and sustainable beers alongside pub menu favorites. Everyday Hoppy Hour (4–6 PM, $6 house beers and cocktails). A newer addition to the Chinatown drinking scene with a focus on local craft beer.

Bevy

$$

Kakaako's most dynamic cocktail bar and music venue, located at SALT at Our Kaka'ako. Bevy brings Honolulu's most vibrant music scene to the neighborhood — from Soulgasm's house music nights to live video game music concerts and touring international DJs like Nicola Cruz. The cocktail program is excellent, happy hour r

Honolulu Tavern

Neighborhood bar on Nohonani St with craft beer and live music. Right next to Green Lady. The Nohonani block is lowkey the best bar strip in Waikiki — no tourists, all locals. 4.5 on Google.

Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room

$$

Hawaii's first dedicated craft beer bottle shop and beer café, located at SALT at Our Kaka'ako. Village Bottle Shop carries an extensive selection of local and imported craft beers to drink on-site or take home. The tasting room is a relaxed, knowledgeable space for beer lovers.

Eleven

$$$

A sophisticated cocktail bar inside Foodland Farms Ala Moana. Eleven is a destination for serious cocktail lovers — a focused menu of inventive, beautifully executed drinks in an intimate, design-forward space. One of the best cocktail bars in Honolulu for a quiet, upscale evening.

Hana Koa Brewing Co. / Moon Room

$$

A full-production brewery in the heart of Kaka'ako with two full bars and a full kitchen. The Moon Room is Hana Koa's dedicated event and live music space, open Thursday–Saturday from 4:30 PM. Exclusive pours on tap, live music on the lanai, and a rotating calendar of events make this one of the best brewery experience

Anura Hawaii

$$

Hawaii's only two-story afterhours warehouse. Sound by Traction Audio — it hits. This is where Honolulu's underground electronic scene actually happens post-2am. CENTERED Hawaii runs their afterhours series here and the booking is legitimately world-class for a market this size. Not on the tourist radar, not trying to

100 Sails Restaurant & Bar

$$

Kona Brewing Hawaii Kai

$$

Tanto Gyoza and Ramen Bar

The Butcher Bar by Aloha Steak House

$

The Beach Bar

Leahi Bar & Grill

Off The Wall Craft Beer & Wine

$$

A craft beer and wine tap house in the Ward Village area of Kakaako, serving a unique fusion of local craft beer, wine, and Latin American-inspired cuisine. Off The Wall is a neighborhood favorite for casual drinking and dining, with a relaxed atmosphere and an extensive tap list.

Black Shamrock Tavern

$$

A slice of Ireland in Honolulu's Chinatown. Black Shamrock Tavern is a neighborhood Irish pub and pizzeria on Nuuanu Avenue, serving craft beers, pub food, and a welcoming atmosphere. A neighborhood spot for a casual pint away from the Waikiki tourist scene.

Redfish Poke Bar by Foodland

Lewers Lounge

Waikiki Brewing Company (Kakaako)

$$

The Kakaako taproom of Waikiki Brewing Company, Oahu's first and only Waikiki-based craft brewery. Serving award-winning craft beers alongside a full food menu. Daily happy hour 3–6 PM.

J. Dolan's

$$

New York-style pizza and a full bar on Bethel Street in Chinatown. J. Dolan's is a late-night staple — open until midnight daily, serving hand-tossed pies and hand-poured drinks to a mix of locals, creatives, and bar-hoppers. The Kaimuki location (4210 Waialae Ave) serves the east side. A reliable post-bar food stop.

Proof Public House

$$

At the edge of Downtown-Chinatown on Fort Street Mall, Proof Social Club (formerly Proof Public House) is a female-owned, LGBTQ+-friendly neighborhood bar with a century-long history on Chaplain Lane. By day a casual cocktail spot; by night a rotating cast of DJs, live music acts, and monthly drag brunches. Happy hour

The Gatsby Hawaii

$$

Dance the night away at The Gatsby Hawaii — Honolulu's nightlife destination featuring live music, craft cocktails, and cigars. Located in Kakaako, The Gatsby offers a sophisticated late-night experience with a lively dance floor and an upscale lounge atmosphere.

The Walk In

$$

A speakeasy hidden in the back of a Chinatown restaurant on Hotel Street. The Walk In is a reservation-recommended cocktail bar with a hidden entrance, intimate seating, and a focused cocktail menu. One of Chinatown's best-kept secrets.

Ko Tiki Terrace

SPLASH BAR

$

The Lei Stand Waikīkī

808 Craft House

$$

NextDoor

$$

Chinatown's underground music venue, tucked next to Bar 35 on Hotel Street. NextDoor hosts a rotating lineup of local and visiting DJs and live acts in a dark, low-ceilinged space that feels like a proper underground club. Events vary week to week — check Instagram for the latest lineup. A staple of Honolulu's independ

Red Bar Hawaii

$$

A Chinatown DJ bar and lounge at 1111 Nuuanu Ave. Red Bar Hawaii hosts regular DJ nights with house music, hip-hop, and R&B. Thursday nights feature DJ Haskel spinning deep house all night. Ladies' nights with free entry before 10 PM on select nights. A newer addition to the Chinatown scene with a loyal local following

Cuckoo Coconuts

Maui Brewing Co Waikiki

$$

Bacchus Waikiki

Waikiki's LGBTQ+ bar. Karaoke, dance floor, welcoming crowd. Everyone's invited. One of the few spots in Waikiki that feels like a real neighborhood bar. 4.1 on Google.

Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar

The Broth Bar

Tipsy Pig II Bar & Grill

Piko Kitchen & Bar

$

The Row Kaka'ako

$$

A Kakaako sports bar and late-night spot open until 2 AM daily. The Row Kaka'ako is a go-to for watching games and late-night drinks in the neighborhood.

Smith's Union Bar

$

The oldest operating bar in Honolulu — open since 1935. Smith's Union Bar (Smitty's) is a no-frills dive on Hotel Street that opens at 6 AM and closes at 2 AM, seven days a week. Cold cheap beer, a jukebox, and a clientele that spans dock workers, artists, and everyone in between. A true local institution and a piece o

Fyre By Night

Shorefyre Beach Bar & Grill

The Dragon Upstairs

$

Chinatown's late-night entertainment lounge, perched above Hank's Café on Nuuanu Ave. The Dragon Upstairs hosts live jazz, open jazz jams, DJ nights, and karaoke in an intimate upstairs setting. A rotating roster of local jazz musicians, including the McJazz Band's weekly open jams, makes this the go-to for live jazz i

Tipsy Tiki

SKY Waikiki Raw & Bar

Rooftop bar with panoramic Waikiki views. Great for sunset cocktails. Gets club-like on weekends with DJs. Dress code enforced. The Instagram spot for nightlife in Waikiki.

Hank's Café

$

A classic Chinatown dive bar on Nuuanu Avenue, directly below The Dragon Upstairs jazz lounge. Hank's Café opens at 7 AM and serves cold cheap beer to a neighborhood crowd of regulars. No frills, no pretense — just a dark bar, a jukebox, and Chinatown's full cast of characters.

The District

Fyre by Night (Shorefyre)

Kiki's Tiki Bar - Night Club

Skybox Taphouse

$

Play Bar Night Club Waikiki

Bar 35

$$

Chinatown's home bar. Huge beer selection, patio seating, and the happiest happy hour downtown. Fills up fast on Fridays — the patio is the move early, then it gets loud inside. Local DJs, occasional live acts, and a crowd that's actually from Honolulu. Clean, comfortable, and consistently good. Drewbyrd live on April

Mai Tai Bar

$$

Artistry Honolulu

$$

Kakaako's EDM club. Versatile space that hosts everything from DnB nights to EDM parties. The World of Drum and Bass Hawaii event here on March 28 is one of the biggest DnB events the Pacific has seen — Flava D headlining. Smaller than HB Social Club but the sound is good and the crowd is into it.

The Manifest

$$

Coffee shop by day, craft cocktail bar by night, and a proper club on weekends. One of the best whiskey selections in Chinatown. The vibe shifts completely after 10pm — the lights go low, the music gets louder, and the crowd gets interesting. Located in the heart of the Chinatown Arts District. Not the loudest room in

The Study

$$$

PEWA by Pono Potions

$$

Chinatown's newest cocktail lounge, opened March 2026 by the Pono Potions team. PEWA features an espresso bar in the morning, lunch service, and hand-crafted cocktails all day — many incorporating Pono Potions' local botanical spirits. A gin-forward menu with local ingredients. One of the most exciting new openings in

Best Drive-In

$$

Echoa Ridge Festival Grounds

Official Wet’n’Wild venue page identifies Echoa Ridge Festival Grounds as an open-air concert and entertainment venue in Kapolei on West Oʻahu.

Limelight Hawaii

Concert and event venue at Ala Moana Hotel offering concerts, DJ sets, themed parties, sports watch parties, a bar, cocktails, and island bites.

Jazz Minds Honolulu

Hawaii's only dedicated jazz club. Six nights a week of live jazz — that's the whole deal. The room is small, the music is the focus, and the crowd actually listens. Not fancy but not trying to be. If you want to hear real jazz in Honolulu without the Blue Note price tag, this is where you go. Note: the original locati

Anna O'Brien's

Been open since 1969 and it shows — in the best way. Pool tables, darts, the best bartenders in Hawaii (they'll tell you themselves), and live music that actually slaps. Near UH so the crowd skews younger but the regulars are lifers. It's a real neighborhood bar, not a concept. The kind of place where you go for one be

HB Social Club

Two floors, billiards, darts, multiple bars, and the best EDM booking in Hawaii. Audiophile Entertainment runs the electronic music programming here and they genuinely bring heat — Gareth Emery's Cyberpunk Tour, Borgore, YOOKiE, Bolo, JSTJR. The Crossroads room is the main stage, the Slack Key Lounge is the smaller roo

Hula's Bar

$$

Off The Lip (Turtle Bay Resort)

$$

Bob's Bar-B-Que

$$

Haleiwa Beach House

$$$

The Republik

Concert and events venue with an active official calendar of evening music, electronic, and other live events.

Pitch Sports Bar

$$

A sports bar on the second floor of SALT at Our Kakaʻako, at 685 Auahi St, open until midnight and until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday. It shows University of Hawaiʻi football for free, plus NFL, NBA, MLB and MLS games, and has dartboards and a sushi counter with a chef's-choice omakase by reservation.

Sunset Pool Bar at Turtle Bay

$$

Lei Lei's Bar & Grill

$$

Haleiwa Distilling Co.

$$

Lanikai Brewing Company

$$

Gaslamp Kailua

$$$

Mekiko Cantina

$$

Waterman Bar at Four Seasons

$$$

Blue Note Hawaii

Live music and comedy venue inside Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort with a current schedule of ticketed shows.

Banzai Sushi Bar

$$

RumFire

$$$

Gordon Biersch

$$

Havana Cabana

Barefoot Bar

$$

Kaneohe Bay Sandbar Tours

$$

Scarlet Honolulu

$$

Hawaii's #1 rated drag palace, home to the World Famous Pineapple Stage. Two rooms — front is pop/dance, back goes harder. Go-go dancers, drag shows, full bars. The front of house is chaos in the best way. $20 at the door, no reservation needed, but tables book up. 21+. If you want to see Honolulu's queer nightlife at