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    Ko'olau Distillery

    4.8 (168 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Ko'olau Distillery Photos

    KO'OLAU DISTILLERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - Ko'olau Distillery

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    Old fashioned
    Cory Y.

    Came here a total of 2 times. First time was for the tour om my birthday, second time was just to stop by and have a quick drink due to just being in the area. Each time did not disappoint. Enjoy coming here even though it is no where near where I live. At least 40 minutes away from my house. But besides that, this place is great. In somewhat of an industrial area, but the distillery and lounge area are great. Awesome and friendly staff that are very helpful if you are unsure what to drink. They offer their in-house alcohol, but also offer other drinks including beers. Games available to play while you're there. Will for sure be back. Definitely a place to visit if you're into distilleries. Also recommend their tour even though it isn't very big big

    Ube bae cocktail
    Jami R.

    Amazing distillery! Staff were so kind and the cocktails were absolutely delicious. Whiskey was fantastic. We visited as tourists but this is definitely a hidden local gem(in the back of a business park). Enjoyed all the military paraphernalia as well. FYI, Google Map and Waze took us directly to the correct location.

    Beer Menu
    Denise L.

    The last time we were here, I wasn't able to enjoy the drinks because I was pregnant. This time, I didn't know how much of a treat I was about to give myself! The ambiance of this place is so cozy. I love that they have board games to play and are family friendly. We brought the kids because we had a couple family members go on the whiskey tour (which they loved, by the way!) We had a grand ol' time hanging out in the warehouse. I got myself a Bloody Mary because I can't help myself whenever it's on the menu and it definitely HITTT. We all love a blood Mary that's not so tomato-y. The bartender also made it with spicy tequila and mannnn, I'm surprised I didn't order another one! Apparently, they only sell bloody Mary's on Sundays so don't say I didn't warn ya. I love that it's a veteran-owned business too. You can see the craft that these guys have for whiskey. They have these cool 3D whiskey glasses that have the islands in the bottom of the cup. So dope. We're gonna have to make this a spot to bring the family when they come to visit.

    Nice space with comfortable seating
    Marcia G.

    Located in a warehouse type place so it took us a couple wrong turns to find it but glad we did. Nice space with comfortable seating inside and some picnic type tables outside. There's also indoor and outdoor games which was nice because we brought kids. Ordered a chili water drink, ube drink, espresso martini type drink and a creamy pineapple drink. All drinks were great and differently made to give it that Hawai'i touch. They also have mocktails available which were pretty good - my daughter had the mocktail margarita which was a little on the tart side. It is a distillery and they have tours available with tastings, but we didn't sign up for that and instead just sat and enjoyed the cocktails. Cocktails were same prices as if we were at a bar. Nice place to lounge and try some good drinks. Bartender was really nice and provided good service.

    Espresso martini

    This distillery is a gem !!!!! Surround by a beautiful scenery, this distillery is a must see!!! Cute and quaint, very cozy and the bartender is amazing. If you're lucky enough to get served by Lacey !!!! 10/10 Ps. Chili pepper water is dank

    Gorgeous copper still
    Brenda B.

    This distillery is so cool! Beautiful and comfortable interior that features a full bar and relaxing environment. We did a whiskey tour and tasting where we were taken on a behind-the-scenes tour of this active distillery- so glad we signed up. The tour was led by the Lead Distiller, Olivia. She shared such an interesting and abundant background on their unique location and distillery. However she also made it a comprehensive educational experience on the distillation process in general. All this information was served up with such a dry and witty humor that it felt like a tasting and a show! My son got to bottle and label a bottle of whiskey and even number the bottle that we took home with us. Such a wonderful way to spend a couple hours while exploring the island of Oahu. Highly recommend!

    Bar
    Leah H.

    Okay we just love this place!! Not only do they have great events but you and take tours, do tastings, or hand out with your friends and enjoy the amazing mixed drinks they offer! And I will say it again you HAVE to try the PINEAPPLE SIPPING JUICE!!!! oh it is soooooooo good!!!! Service is always great and everyone will always make you and your family feel welcome.

    Mary E.

    We always love supporting local businesses and this one was also veteran owned. Met the master distiller who was also our tour guide. She was funny and extremely knowledgeable. Learned about the process and tasted some spirits. Stayed after for a few drinks and loved the chill vibe. Def recommend checking them out when in the area for something different and fun.

    Old Fashioned
    Pauline T.

    This was our first time visiting Ko'olau Distillery, and it's a fantastic hidden gem near Kailua! This veteran-owned spot offers a relaxed, local experience that is definitely worth seeking out. We were impressed with the cocktails! My Whiskey Tai was perfectly balanced and refreshing, and hubs loved his Old Fashioned made with their signature spirits. They also host Trivia Night on Thursdays, which sounds like a fun way to spend an evening! Highly recommend stopping by for quality drinks and a great local atmosphere! We will definitely be back, maybe for Trivia Night!

    Flyer
    Sarah-Lorraine K.

    WHY WE WENT HERE: - after a day of fails, why not end it with a drink or 2 THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE): - located off Kapaa Quarry Pl THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE): - I think because we came in the later hours, the distillery itself was closed; however we only had access to the outdoor seating/food vendor onsite, the bar and karaoke section inside - love the living room vibes of the couches by the karaoke area THE MENU: - flights - whiskey - non-alcoholic - cocktails - beer WHAT WE ORDERED: - Ube-Bae - Moonshine Margarita - Crushed Oranges THE TASTE: - the cocktails were very tasty! presentation (other than the Crushed Oranges) was very nice as well! CUSTOMER SERVICE: - drinks made promptly - karaoke was OK, the song choices of the people were just not in our personal arena, so it didn't make me feel like getting up to sing myself

    Menu
    Suri S.

    Roaring 20's / Prohibition Party! Gave me a reason to stop by again. Everyone arrived dressed up in vests, flapper dresses, accessories, the whole shebang! It was nice to see people dress up for the event. The live music playing 20s tunes was great too! The espresso martini (not on the menu) was an event special using their very own chocolate vodka and coffee liqueur made in house, along with Traditions Coffee from next door. Yum! I pray they make this a regular cocktail item. Not many places do cocktails well here, but Ko'olau Distillery definitely knows how to make a mean drink. Nice for a change of scenery and company. Hopefully they have more themed events like these in the future!

    AJ S.

    Well if you have a love for distilleries and a taste for good spirits this is a must. We got here pretty early little before they opened and waited. So welcoming once we walked in. It's owned by military owner Veteran owner business of the year! If you are in the area on vacation I highly recommend coming. They do tours and the inside is filled with RECON paddles , beautiful surfboards hanging from the walls. The seating area outside is truly nice sit out there and look at the Oahu mountains simply breathtaking! Love this place!

    Allison J.

    Wow! What a cool hidden gem! For our honeymoon we were gifted this distillery tour! Olivia was the best host and absolutely hilarious! The tastings were yummy and I have never learned so much about how something is made! Like literally down to the science of every part of how they make their spirits! Cool veteran owned spot with a lot of memorabilia on the wall and a down home feel!

    Inside the distillery

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    Good drinks, fun local ambience. Good music when we were there. Everyone was very friendly.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Ko'olau Distillery

    ALOHA! What food trucks are available outside? Menus to browse online, ahead of time? Asking for the non-drinkers/designated drivers! Ha! I'm in it for the FOOD...& a good time for all! MAHALO!

    Check their instagram! The food trucks vary and are typically Thursday-Sunday.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Ko'olau Distillery

    This place is known for their Old Pali Road Whiskey, but I loved the floral notes of their Barrel Aged Gin!

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge - Ox tail pot pie.  Definitely can't call this a pie. But was good.  Consider the bones are big but the meat is delicious and tender

    Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge

    4.0(132 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Banyan Crafts Kitchen and Lounge was a beautiful restaurant with life-like banyan trees in the…read moremiddle of the two dinning areas. Beautiful decor of imitation plants that even the bathrooms were beautiful especially the women's bathroom by the kitchen. Even the Men's bathrooms were decorated. It's something you should see! You wouldn't even think there's a place like this in Kailua. There were a few steps to the door of the restaurant but as we exit the waitress let my mom through the back which had no stairs but a ramp leading to the side parking along the restaurant right side, since she was using a walker. I first came with my friend for dinner and I came with my mom for brunch after her dentist appointment, because I wanted to show her what became of the beloved Four Star Chop Suey decades ago. Brunch menu was not the usual breakfast items that we were used to, but I ordered what I thought she would like best. We had Breakfast Hash with potatoes, sausage, cheese, eggs, bell peppers but the sauce was a little spicy for mom. There were ingredients in the sauce which maybe was too much for mom. Citrus mint fruit salad, and Southern Chicken Biscuit and Gravy. The gravy was different.fitness good but, I preferred the dinner selection when I came with a friend who traveled all the way from Kapolei for some shared dishes and appetizers. She really liked it and it was flavorful and unique. We had the following dishes: Local Braised Oxtail Patatas Bravas Seared Poke nachos Seasonal Hummus Deconstructed Baklava Cheesecake Hiusemade breads Citrus mint fruit salad I would order everything again! The Oxtail was flavorful and delicious, The homemade breads were so warm and fresh. The breads were served with the seasonal hummus, and I love the citrus mint dressing on the fruits! So refreshing! Night time was busy and we didn't have reservations, so we were lucky we didn't have those high top table and chairs . Best to have reservations for dinner. Weekends have night entertainment in the bigger dining area. We came earlier, but as the night went on, it got busier and our waitress was also assisting other customers in the other room, so we were missed . Service could have been better. Not too many of my townie friends had made it to this side but it's a nice place to dine at to experience their food and beautiful ambiance! There were a few side parking stalls along the right wall of the restaurant, otherwise you would need to find street parking. There's a nearby 24 hour municipal parking lot and it's still a quarter of 20 minutes. This restaurant is not in the main Kailua town area. If you haven't been to Kailua, Kailua is a nice town to try all these different restaurants. You be surprised and pleased. They are closed on Monday & Tuesday. Brunch is on weekends from 9 am to 1 pm. Otherwise they open from Wednesday thru Sunday from 4pm to closing at 9pm and on Friday & Saturday nights they are opened til 11pm.

    We decided to try this place out for valentines dinner. This was our first time and I was excited…read moreas I heard good things. The setting: I really like the vibe they went with for valentines and the decor, I like the lowlight setting as well. The banyan tree decor in the middle of the restaurant was a nice touch. Service: our host and our waiter were awesome, very pleasant and helpful. The food: it was a fixed menu due to Valentine's Day, I guess I did not see that when I booked the reservations or it was listen on the open table app. I wish I had known because I wanted to try other dishes. Anyways.. we got to each choose an appetizer so we got the coconut shrimp which omgggg really good, that sauce was a perfect touch, the shrimp was nicely crispy. We also got the beef tataki which was another fav I must say. The main entrees was ok, I only say this because we got the lamb and fish. The lamb came with 4 pieces but 2 were cooked good and the other 2 seemed like it could have been cooked a little longer. The fish to me was also over done and a little touch and hard. I will go back because I do wanna try other things on their menu. Overall we still made it a great night and will come back again.

    Photos
    Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge - Smaller room by kitchen and bar with high top tables.

    Smaller room by kitchen and bar with high top tables.

    Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge - Beet & Orange Salad

    Beet & Orange Salad

    Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge - Larger room

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    Larger room

    The Boardroom

    The Boardroom

    3.9(234 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Located on the corner of Kainehe and Kihapai Street. May the parking gods be in your favor…read more Happy Hour is available from 5p-6p, Wednesday through Sunday. When you arrive here, head to the host stand that is located outside on the outskirts of where the turf grass meets the pavement. Ample open air seating outside, though the day that we went it was warm, and we opted to eat inside by the bar. We made reservations online beforehand just in case. When we were seated inside, there's a few seats at the bar, and also bench/2-top seating on the opposite wall. We were a party of 3, though we were seated next to each other, the gap was rather large, so we physically pushed our tables together. Low cocktail round tables (thus the spacing of the dishes/drinks was a bit awkward later on in the evening). The bartender came by to take our drinks but also asked us if we had reservations, because the area that we were seated in was reserved for another party at a later time. We thought this was strange, because the host up front was the one who confirmed our reservation and sat us in that very spot. Shortly after, the bartender then came back to say that it was ok for us to stay there and then proceeded to take our order. After that occurrence, the service didn't necessarily get exponentially better, but it also wasn't absolutely horrible. **NOTED UPDATE: We were at this establishment in June 2025, these pictures were not taken from 3 years ago. I have nothing to gain by 'lying'** As for the food and drinks, they were much better than we had expected which saved the whole experience of it all. The food menu is short and sweet, to which we enjoyed all the dishes that we ordered. All in all, we had a good time.

    I recommend this place if not for the service alone! Ivana…read morethe hostess was amazing and quickly helped me with deciding on what to order. I like the fact that on the other side is a guarded where they have pizza and dull whip, so I was able to indulge in both types of cuisines! I ordered the coconut shrimp which was delicious featured in my pictures.

    Photos
    The Boardroom - Shared plates and local farm flowers are our love language

    Shared plates and local farm flowers are our love language

    The Boardroom - Spicy Mellon margarita with Hawaiian

    Spicy Mellon margarita with Hawaiian

    The Boardroom - Prime ribs special

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    Prime ribs special

    Podmore - Smoked salmon

    Podmore

    4.4(414 reviews)
    8.4 miDowntown
    $$$

    What a relief to find a place like this in Hawaii!!! We love all the food here, but to have this…read moreexperience with exceptional British classics on their menu with excellent cocktail combinations that will give you all the cozy comfort feels!!! The English toffee pudding. It's so so hard to find one made with dates. A ton of places call a lava cake with caramel sauce as English toffee pudding which it's not. But this is amazing, and pretty authentic cooking techniques. The cocktail menu is incredible! Their smash burger for lunch is wonderful!!! The brisket burger was very good. Then we had this mushroom bacon toast as an appetizer. We should have ordered two!!! We were basically fighting over it! Service was perfect and the waitstaff was attentive. Food came out fast. This place is so nice and beautiful inside. So lucky to have found this place. Cannot wait for a date night!!

    I've realized that when a bar has a more complex cocktail menu, pre batching is almost necessary,…read moreand that does seem to be the case here. The space itself is small and really cute, and clearly popular. They were fully booked even on a Tuesday. That said, it does make for a pretty tight environment. Tables are close together and you can easily hear conversations from across the room, so it does not feel very intimate or quiet. The drink itself was just okay. I am usually a vodka person and had the Romantic Lead. It was good, but nothing particularly memorable, and the portion felt very small. On the positive side, the staff was great and the crowd had a really good vibe. Overall, the service and people were wonderful. It was just the atmosphere that felt a bit off for me.

    Photos
    Podmore - Halloween themed

    Halloween themed

    Podmore - Smoked salmon dip

    Smoked salmon dip

    Podmore - Halloween decor

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    Halloween decor

    Mud Hen Water - (fs) Kiwi Bean Brownie, Sesame Gelato - this was a little too sweet. The gelato didn't have a strong sesame flavor.

    Mud Hen Water

    4.1(676 reviews)
    7.9 mi
    $$

    Fried ulu, chicken long rice croquette, roasted carrots, he'e luau, hand cut ragu pasta, lemongrass…read moreclams & sausage, meatballs, sourdough cornbread. Everything was delectable. Standouts were the clam & sausage, he'e luau and hand cut ragu pasta. Service was friendly without being intrusive. Only wish the lighting was a little brighter as my old eyes struggled a bit. There is a back area with brighter lighting, next time we may request that. Wished we had bigger stomachs or more people so we could have ordered more bc so many dishes on the menu looked tasty! I really enjoyed seeing the John Young artwork on the walls - a mix of his well known horse and children works and some abstract pieces too - such a fantastic local artist. Highly recommend! Parking can be tough but is possible, just may have to walk a little. The parking lot in back is small with only a handful of spaces.

    Favorite place visited this trip! Interesting food, well balanced drinks, and plenty of gluten free…read moreoptions. Service was great. Cozy neighborhood feel. 5/5 fried ulu (fan favorite for a reason) 5/5 okra dish (fresh veggies) 5/5 fried chicken (reminded me of peking duck) 5/5 octopus (coconut greens were a nice touch) 5/5 brownie with sesame ice cream (gluten free yum, warm and cold) Drinks - 5/5 shrub a dub dub (refreshing) 5/5 tumeric drink (interesting)

    Photos
    Mud Hen Water - Nice ambiance

    Nice ambiance

    Mud Hen Water - Peanut Tofu ($13) - pickled mushroom, ginger, sesame, sweet shoyu. This was my fav dish.

    Peanut Tofu ($13) - pickled mushroom, ginger, sesame, sweet shoyu. This was my fav dish.

    Mud Hen Water - (fs) 1/2 J. Ludovico Fried Chicken - lime salsa verde, tsukemono. Doesn't taste overly fried, almost like baked chicken.

    See all

    (fs) 1/2 J. Ludovico Fried Chicken - lime salsa verde, tsukemono. Doesn't taste overly fried, almost like baked chicken.

    The Garden at Boardroom

    The Garden at Boardroom

    4.2(101 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $
    Live music
    Hipster vibe

    Perfect spot for a girls night out. Loved that the food was served pupu style so we all could share…read moreplates. Shout out to Nate the bartender for the cocktails. They were phenomenal. Will be back again soon!

    Yay for being yelp elite. We got to visit this place for our yelp elite experience. This particular…read moreestablishment is tucked in one of the side streets of Kailua, opposite side from Hamakua, where get Oh My Grill, LexBreezy, KFC.. at that end street on the corner. They don't have parking so you have to find street parking. We went to go visit today, Wednesday. They open 8AM to 9PM everyday, and we got there around 10AM ish. Upon entering, you enter through the short wooden gate by sliding it lol. Was all confused because signs said "the Garden to your left, Boardroom to the right", so we kind of passed the entrance, going around the corner, and noticed that there wasn't another entrance on the other side, and that's when we figured the short wooden sliding gate was the entrance lol as you walk in, it's an outdoor establishment, lots of seats everywhere. With this yelp elite experience, we got to have a pizza and a dole whip. They have a menu posted up, and you order at the truck. They don't start serving pizza till 11, so we left cuz we was too early, and wanted to take advantage of our yelp perk, so went to go run errands and came back around 2PM ish. We got a pepperoni pizza, vanilla dole whip, and I ordered a maitai. Pizza was good. Dole whip was good, and Maitai was good. Everything was good! I loved that we got to make our way here to take advantage of my yelp elite perk because if wasn't for this yelp event, on any other normal day, we would just pass this place, not even knowing what this place has to offer! One thing about this place is that it's hotttt, if u go in the day. And for me, alcohol and hotness does not go together lol Since they open till 9, I would think it's probably cooler when sun is down. Love pet friendly places. We got to bring our jellybean with us. Cool spot to chill, have a few. Shout out to Eric for taking care of us. Awesome customer service. Only had him working all morning. Go check this place out. Don't forget to tip :)

    Photos
    The Garden at Boardroom  - Pepperoni pizza

    Pepperoni pizza

    The Garden at Boardroom
    The Garden at Boardroom

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    Gaslamp  - Wagyu tamahawk

    Gaslamp

    4.1(507 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$$$

    I've eaten at places with $200 plates of steak and Michelin star locations when I was in the…read moremainland, and have often been disappointed. Being in the food industry for many years I believe good food doesn't have to cost that much, and I'd leave most fancy places hungry cause they give you small portions (I'm 6'6. A big dude who loves to eat). While this place is on the pricier end for my taste, I do think it's completely worth it. We ended up here for our anniversary and I think this spot is great for special occasions. It's an intimate atmosphere with live jazz music, the bartender Clark was very knowledgeable about drink recipes, the food was delicious, and the service was amazing. This place was an experience. Not just getting served expensive food. We probably spent $400 that night for 2 people, but thats what you would spend at a nice steak house anyways. Definitely recommend checking this place out if you haven't already.

    My experience here started rough but it really did get better through the night, and the food was…read morethe saving grace. The bad: we received our "pass phrase" to get in for our reservation, but when we arrived at the telephone door they just asked for our name...defeating the point of a speakeasy experience. Then the waitress had us stand in a very crammed and busy walkway in the pub for 10/15 minutes only to tell us they had no tables available and that we have to sit at the bar (the barstools had no backs and were uncomfortable). It was very loud and small in the actual restaurant, and as they bussed all the other tables dirty plates they were staging them right in front of us at the bar? Not really what I want to look at all night if I'm paying over 130+ per person. Fortunately someone was a no show and they moved us to a table. I recommend stating you want a table when making reservations. The food: our food came out really fast and most of it was top tier and delicious in every way possible! Although, I did not care for the crab and artichoke dip. The crab was shredded and could easily be replicated with canned crab. If it were lump crab/chunky and bigger pieces of artichoke it would be way better in my opinion. The charred octopus was good but one tentacle was very rubbery while the other was soft and cooked well, I wouldn't get this again. The Yacht: hands down the best seafood tower I have ever tried. The seafood was bursting with flavor and most surprisingly it was grilled. The meat was still warm but placed on top of a bed of ice. The variety of lobsters, crab, shrimp, and the oysters were phenomenal. The mignonette and melted butter were perfect. Dutch Veal Chop: possibly the best piece of meat I've eaten in a very long time! The veal charred to perfection and the meat was so tender. The flavors were on point. Desserts: we tried the creme brûlée and butter cake. Again, I think this is my favorite crème brûlée! The flavor, texture and toppings were perfect. The butter cake was warm and melt in your mouth. Gaslamp is very expensive. If you come here knowing it's tucked in the back of a very crammed dive bar, and the actual restaurant it self is tavern-like and you probably can't see half the food you're eating you'll be fine lol. Oh yes, there was also a fire dancer on top of the bar in the middle of our meal, which was pretty cool!

    Photos
    Gaslamp  - Upstairs

    Upstairs

    Gaslamp  - Tomahawk.

    Tomahawk.

    Gaslamp  - There's drinks are amazing b it's all about presentation !

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    There's drinks are amazing b it's all about presentation !

    Faria - Pasteis De Nata // Portuguese Custard Tarts

    Faria

    4.7(117 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$$

    I come here weekly. The menu is special, just come on in and see for yourself. The staff is more…read morethan just special, they're a family and will make you feel apart of it too! Bar is open seating but best bet is to make a reservation. You can't make a wrong decision while ordering so don't worry about that. The e restaurant itself is cute, small and comfortable.

    Cute date night place in Kailua! Very romantic vibes and I love how it isn't too loud like some…read moreplaces. The big downside for me was that we were seated right where the AC was blasting so it made the experience not as enjoyable. Thankfully I brought my jacket but even then, I was freezing. I was looking around to see if we could move somewhere else but they don't have much two seater options; the best one was the table against the wall so it avoids the AC... another small downside was our server's attitude. She kinda seemed like she didn't want to be there. She wasn't the worst but a more friendlier, welcoming attitude would of been nice We ordered a decent amount of food: Bolinhos de Bacalhau (Cod + Potato Croquettes), Salt and Vinegar Onion Rings, Caldeirada De Pescadora (Fisherman's Stew), Alcatra (Pot Roast), and Pasteis De Nata (Portuguese Custard Tarts) The two appetizers were one of our favorites! I don't know how they get it so light and crispy and paired with the herb mayo sauce (from the croquettes) gave it a nice tanginess. The entree portions were huge! We could of easily shared because we came out super full. I was pretty shocked by the amount of seafood the Fisherman's Stew came with and for $30, it was so worth it! I definitely recommend adding a bread basket to soak up the extra soup (they only give one) or I wish they had rice to pair alongside with it. You can also tell how popular a dish is when you look around and see almost everyone eating it! I wouldn't mind coming back again but they do get booked up so always best to make a reservation ahead of time

    Photos
    Faria - More rosaries!

    More rosaries!

    Faria - Pasteis de nata

    Pasteis de nata

    Faria - Storefront... with 3 parking spaces right in the front

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    Storefront... with 3 parking spaces right in the front

    Creekside

    Creekside

    4.3(54 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $

    I love a good dive bar as much as the next gal but - this isn't my neighborhood joint, so I don't…read morehave that Kailua pride and nostalgia that Creekside has honestly earned with their regulars. One of my friends is a regular here-- and she got a round of tequila shots for everyone. I tried to get the attention of the bartender on my own without luck since it was so busy, so it's nice to be rolling with a windward side friend. We did end up leaving shortly after because it was very crowded (on Halloween, as expected) and just wasn't the vibe. People may say that 3 stars is harsh, but for a dive bar that's exactly where the bar is. I would go again, but not without a good group with me.

    So Pam said she wanted to take me to a dive bar close to Whole Foods in Kailua. We went to…read moreCreekside just a 5-minute walk or 2 minute drive away. She described it as a place out of a Stephen King novel and she was right. It was a wonderful mix of a biker bar, military bar and a few locals. The drinks were good, bartenders were friendly music was happening and there's dart boards to keep you entertained. It's definitely a fun place to visit. They have a small parking lot right in front of the place and Apple street parking and other parking nearby. There's even a food truck that parks close by on weekends if you want something to snack on. They also sell chips and beer nuts. It's not my kind of place but definitely worth checking out if you are into a authentic dive bar experience.

    Photos
    Creekside - 2023

    2023

    Creekside - Bar view

    Bar view

    Creekside - There is a creek on the side

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    There is a creek on the side

    Ko'olau Distillery - distilleries - Updated May 2026

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