My husband and I went here on a whim after finding this place online and we are so glad we did!…read more The speakeasy is inside the Hawaiian Brian's club, but hidden behind a door that looks like a vintage vending machine. The ambiance inside is a unique blend of Japanese and urban with musical tracks from artists like Nujabes to match. Fern and Elsa served us and were friendly and so welcoming, answering questions and the menu and making great cocktail recommendations. We thoroughly enjoyed our drinks (several of which are named after famous anime characters) which were a unique blend of Japanese inspired botanicals, and a couple of side dishes. The ube sake shot was dangerously delicious and the mushroom boa were savory and tasty. This was the most unique place we vision our trip and we hope to visit again on our next Hawaiian vacation. If you are in the Ala Moana area, definitely stop by!

Firstly, the vibes are IMMACULATE. 20/10…read more Wild Orange is a speakeasy hidden behind an old-school Aloha Maid vending machine. Apparently you're normally supposed to put a coin in to open the secret door, but it's broken right now, so the whole vending machine just swings right open. Slightly less secret, but still very cool. Inside is where this place really shines. Moody lighting, a giant orange tree in the middle of the room, Japanese hip hop playing in the background (I want to steal this entire playlist), and extremely cool and friendly servers and bartenders. I've been to a few other attempted "speakeasies" in Honolulu, but most are basically just dark bars with a fun door or code word. Wild Orange actually has the VIBES to make the whole concept work. Definitely worth coming just to hang out and chill. They have a full bar and an extensive specialty cocktail menu. Tried the Purple Dragon, made with ube liqueur and coconut cream. Very sweet--a little TOO sweet for my taste--but tasty and pretty. Probably should have listened to the menu and kept it as a shot, but I wanted something I could sip on for a while and chill. The Umeshu Highball was also very pretty and tasty. My friend who works as a sake distributor was impressed with their selection of good sake, so of course we had to order a bottle. Our server brought it out in an ice bucket, kept it off to the side, and completely served it for us throughout. Very classy. The food menu is fun and creative, but unfortunately not really for me because it's entirely vegan. Most times, but ESPECIALLY when I'm drinking, I want MEAT. Tried the Wild Musubi, a vegan Spam musubi. I'm not actually sure what the "meat" was. Possibly fried tofu? Whatever it was, it was definitely a passable alternative, but would have been 100x better if it were just plain old Spam. It also falls victim to what I find is a common problem with vegan attempts at Japanese food: anything teriyaki ends up being way too treacly sweet without actual meat or seafood to ground it in reality. Also tried the Char Siu Tofu Bao, fried tofu in a red Chinese-style char siu sauce on fluffy white buns. Again, fun and certainly not bad, but these would be 1000x better with actual pork. If Wild Orange had this exact same creative food menu but carnivore edition, this place would probably be 7/5 stars for me. That being said, I know being vegan will actually be a huge draw for some people, and I appreciate that the food is creative rather than just the usual sad vegan afterthoughts. Parking is pretty easy by Honolulu standards. It's inside Hawaiian Brian's, so there's a large shared parking lot. That being said, you might still have trouble finding a spot during peak gym hours since you're competing with all the 24 Hour Fitness customers. All in all, I LOVE this place. Definitely a fun stop--first, middle, only, or nightcap--on a chill night out. Will absolutely be adding Wild Orange into the rotation of places to bring out-of-town guests when I want to impress them with something cool and different. The vegan menu probably means it'll be a couple-times-a-year place for me rather than a regular haunt. But for drinks, service, atmosphere, and pure VIBES? 20/10.

The food and overall vibe were exceptional which makes it even more disappointing that the hostess…read moremanaged to ruin the experience for us. This place came highly recommended by fellow foodies, and we had genuinely been looking forward to dining here. Unfortunately, the hostess seemed to take her role and whole "speakeasy" concept far too seriously. We've been to plenty of speakeasies, and the best hosts know how to stay in character while still making guests feel welcome and having a little fun with it. Even when someone forgets the "password" or paraphrase. There usually some playful banter that adds to the experience. Here, there was absolutely none of that. The hostess came across as cold, rigid, and completely devoid of personality. What should have felt mysterious and fun instead felt unnecessarily pretentious and awkward. It's a shame, because the food and atmosphere were fantastic and after all the recommendations and anticipation, we expected the experience to be just as exceptional as the meal.

Gaslamp absolutely deserves 5 stars! It is a hidden speakeasy steakhouse with reservations only. My…read moreboyfriend and I were here for dinner to celebrate his birthday back in July. Dress code is enforced, but it really makes for an intimate night out especially for a special occasion. Be prepared to spend a lot! My boyfriend and I were seated in a cozy 2 top table close to the bar. We had a good view of the bar and the live jazz music entertainment just above. It adds to the atmosphere really well. The speakeasy is two floors. For our drinks, we both ordered wine, his was red and mine was white. I honestly don't remember which kind it was, since I am writing this review two months later. However, for our main entrees my boyfriend ordered the "French Laundry" which comes with table side presentation and performance. I ordered the black truffle risotto with lobster tail (an up charge $$). My boyfriend loved the French Laundry main, he devoured the tomahawk and sides. The lobster tail really made the risotto so much tastier, it was a whole flavor bomb. Usually I'm not one to eat truffle, but this was amazing! To finish off our meal, we ended with a tiramisu dessert. It was presented so nicely sealing my boyfriend's birthday celebration to a wonderful close. The bartender also provided a dessert pairing with a high end whiskey from what I recall. Overall, this speakeasy restaurant was outstanding, service was spectacular, and this experience exceeded our expectations.

Everything was perfect except for the smell. Not sure what had happened but it smelled musty…read more The service and the food were great!

Okay, the concept of Yours Truly is everything. So many cool little details that make it a great…read moreexperience. First off, it's just right below the AC Hotel Honolulu, which already gives it that hidden gem feel. There are two areas: the main bar and a speakeasy. Both have access to the full drink menu. My favorite part? The cocktails served in animal shaped glasses, so freaking cute. The turtle one was my favorite The main bar has more of a classy, elegant vibe, while the speakeasy leans tropical, almost tiki-style. Also, no bartenders or servers in that back area but you actually order by marking your drink on a letter and putting it on a mailbox that goes directly to the bartenders... How cool is that? Big shoutout to the bartenders, you guys were amazing!! Definitely a spot worth checking out if you're in Honolulu

Really enjoyed ourselves here on a busy Saturday night at the bar. My wife will tell you, I hate…read moresitting at the bar in general, but today it was 10/10. Awesome bartending staff, male bartender was kind as can be, kudos to the spunky short haired server for the lovely vibes as well. Burrata salad, ribeye with chimicurri, chef was nice enough to sauté some veggies for us as well which was appreciated. Half a dozen of oysters for good measure. Shareable apps is the vibe here. Cocktails were great, good beer selection dependent on taste of the drinker. Will certainly be back when we are in the area. Mahalo

We made a reservation. Got multiple texts about it being confirmed. A text 30 minutes prior to…read moreremind us and to tell us their no show policy. Just to show up and there being a tiny sign off to the side that says closed. It was weird because we've never been there before. So tons of people were in the garden drinking. The closed sign was hidden and didn't specify WHAT was closed. So we asked the bartender and he said he has no idea what happened but yeah, no one showed up today. So frustrating that nothing was said to reservation holders and that the situation wasn't made more clear. Parking sucks. I don't think we will try again.

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.

Catching up on an old review I never finished when this place first opened 2 years ago !…read more Of course the menu has since changed. The former 3660 has been totally transformed into a vintage bookstore in the front, followed by a bar in the middle, and a "speakeasy" behind door number 3. Not sure what to expect, the food totally exceeded my expectations with creative and tapas style dishes and beautifully crafted drinks. We enjoyed sharing these tasty dishes: Tofu with mushrooms, Gold Curry Clambake, Taco flight, cochinita pibil with masa cakes, and Cowboy Beef Salad. It had a fun vibe with dim lighting and vintage style decor, a great choice for my bday dinner with the gurls!

Came here for drinks with a friend and we enjoyed the experience. We met Rick, the manager, and he…read morewas so welcoming and friendly. I've been here before and have ordered food which is usually good! This time around we had dinner before coming. Great place to chat with a friend. Good idea to make a reservation but you might not need one.

Such a fun hidden gem in Waikiki!…read more Tucked inside the White Sands Hotel, Green Lady has that true speakeasy feel. Look for "Room 8" to your left--finding the entrance is part of the fun! Once inside, you're greeted with a clean, intimate space, low lighting, and moody vibes. There are only a handful of seats in the indoor bar, so it feels cozy and exclusive rather than like your typical crowded Waikiki bar. The mixologists are fantastic at their craft. Every cocktail we tried was creative, flavorful, and deliciously strong--definitely drinks you want to sip and enjoy! If you love hidden bars, creative cocktails, and a chill, intimate atmosphere, definitely add Green Lady to your Honolulu list.

Fun speakeasy inside a hotel. I came alone a sat at the bar and the bartender (I believe her name…read moreis Hailey) was so wonderful! I ordered a 'bartender's choice' and she nailed it! The place is relatively small and intimate, drinks are yummy, price is typical specialty cocktail price. There are street parkings, but I walked there, it's within walking distance if you stay around Waikiki. 100% recommend!

The best tiki bar on the island! I was a little overwhelmed by the menu at first, but the bartender…read moretook the time to ask about my flavor preferences and allergies, then recommended a few drinks that fit perfectly. I ended up trying something completely outside my comfort zone, and it was absolutely incredible. The space is on the smaller side, but that's part of its charm. They often have outdoor seating available, and despite the lively atmosphere, it's still easy to have a conversation without shouting. The energy is fantastic. Everyone is having a great time, and the flaming cocktails being served around the room make the experience even more fun. The drinks, service, and overall vibe were outstanding. It's the perfect spot for a night out with friends, and I'll definitely be back many times. Just wow!

The wife and I did a tour at the Ko Hana Rum Distillery and Dustin over there recommended we check…read moreout Skull and Crown for drinks. Be advised that this spot is in Chinatown which doesn't look like the best area. When we drove by there was a lot of garbage along Ala Moana Avenue and some of the buildings look like they've been burned. But we didn't have any issues. Skull and Crown wasn't the easiest to find and we ended up parking in a paid lot about a block away. We had made reservations and the place was pretty packed when we got there so I would recommend making a reservation. Especially if you want to sit at the bar. The place pretty much has a full menu but none of the dishes really spoke to me. We just ended up sharing the Salmon skewers and a side of rice. $15 for 2 skewers is pretty expensive though. The drinks at this bar are creative though and that is definitely the best part of the place. We each had 2 drinks and even combinations of flavors that seemed weird did indeed work. We liked all the drinks we had. I would certainly come back.

Not sure why this joint isn't on Yelp, but happy I get to introduce it. It's a speakeasy above the…read morekaka'ako Aloha Beer that's open only Fridays and Saturdays. They serve a selection of the popular beers from downstairs as well as craft cocktails. The cocktails are mostly classics such as painkiller, old fashioned, paper plane, with some of their own like the aloha. What sets this place apart is how well each drink is made. It's order at the bar and find your own seating type of place so don't be shy and make friends in the lounge seating enclaves. Be friendly with an aloha spirit like the bar staff so no worries sista/brah. Love the dark and gothic ambiance, but not sure what to think of the fairy tail looking reindeer over the stage/fire except that I found it funny once told it wasn't real. There's valet or self parking next to the place and the fee is reduced with validation. If you're really overzealous you can visit Aloha Beer until 11 pm and come up here til midnight. Only recommendation I'd have is to improve the ice. They use regular ice versus large cubes or balls. Regular ice melts too fast, especially on the island.

This space is both a private room above Aloha Beer and is also used as a "speakeasy" on Friday and…read moreSaturday nights. Great service, unique cocktails and a fun atmosphere.