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.

This bar did not disappoint. It not only had great drinks, but the vibes were high. The best way to…read moredescribe my experience is: imagine entering the 36 Chambers, and the first thing they hand you is a double fish of highballs We had such a great time with the drinks, the vibes, and the friendly staff that after our initial visit, we brought another friend group two days later. The drinks are crafted with care, and all of them were hits. I would highly recommend either the Cantaloop or the Sticky Fingaz. Bangers left and right. A perfect bar for a millennial who enjoys a great DJ set alongside even better drinks.

Cocktail tastes to new heights! First time here and I really…read moreloved the vibes coming in. Entire vinyl wall full of great music and area you can play and listen to music. The cocktails that are served are also extra delicious. They all sound super funky, but I challenge you to try them all. It was a mixed bags of flavors that cater to a lot of different taste buds. There would be one I really like, but my friend wouldn't like it. Then she would like the next one, and I wouldn't like it. It wasn't an overall standard, it was how the drink mixed with the persons taste buds. That was something I enjoyed. I could sit at this bar for ages and just have the bartenders make me what ever they want. Also the bartenders listen to options and keys that you like. I let one of them know I like a mezcal smoky, but give me something different then the usual. He gave this amazing mix that I honestly couldn't describe, but I for sure loved it. Can't wait to take more of my friends and try all the cocktails again!

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful dinner at Upstairs to celebrate my birthday…read more He booked a reservation for 5:30pm on a Thursday and it was a relatively good time as the restaurant was fairly quiet due to the nice spacing of the tables and the high ceilings. Appetizer: Half Dozen Oysters - very creamy and flavorful, I really liked how the oysters complemented well with the cocktail sauce. The lilikoi mignonette was a bit too sour for me but it still was pretty good. Ceasar Salad: the lettuce was really fresh and the flavor combination of the egg yolk and parmigiano reggiano was great, one of the best-tasting salads I've had. Entree: Cioppino - the STAR of the evening. The tomato broth tasted great and I felt warm inside, similar to having a homemade meal after a long day. All the seafood inside taste fresh and yummy. Perfect with white rice. Steak - right amount of flavor and the tenderness was great, the herb butter was really good too; however I feel like it was outshone by the Cioppino Bacon-chimmi brussels: great complement for the steak. Roasted well, not very salty. Our server was very kind and accommodating, and he even gave us a birthday dessert, which was perfect to cap off the dinner. Overall a great experience, I'm excited to go back next time to try other items on their menu, and re-order the Cioppino :)

First visit for us at Upstairs at Pier 38, we were celebrating my companions Birthday Month. We…read moretook the elevator up to the second floor and as we exited surprised at the nice restaurant. The restaurant is beautiful and even though we had no view of the Sunset, the restaurant was elegant and dark. Our server was Elliott and when we had questions about menu items, he was quick to give us ideas on what to order and the size of dishes to let us know if they were shareable or if we needed to order more plates. We had the Cioppino and that fed two of us. I wish they had bread to serve with the soup but you would have to pay for it. The dish was $70. This is not somewhere we would go every day but for a celebration, it was worth it.

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.

I went here for my birthday and didn't realize I should've made a reservation for a larger group,…read moreespecially since it was my first time. Thankfully, Michael and his team were able to accommodate us, which I really appreciated. From the moment we walked in, the place had a great vibe, the interior is beautiful. Throughout the night, the staff and Michael (the owner) were incredibly welcoming, funny and attentive. The cocktails were amazing. I had the expressing my love all night and even though the place was busy and there was a bit of a wait for food, it was honestly worth it. We had the crab dynamite, the ahi brioche, and the prosciutto and burrata. SO GOOD! My friends and I had such a great time and will definitely be back.

I've been waiting for this cocktail spot to iron out its flaws and become as good as it should be…read more Sadly, I don't think it will happen. That's a shame because it has the potential to be very good. When you start with a cocktail concept that is deliberately kept low key with no signage, and a drink menu that rotates and evolves, you have a pretty good floor to start. Having a cozy place to settle in and being able to enjoy food from Chris Kajioka should give 430 Pkwy a high ceiling. If you like an espresso martini try something a little different. Their Espressing My Love batches espresso with Averna, black walnut bitters, and a unique monkeypod syrup. Unfortunately, there is no espresso machine so you cannot get fresh drawn espresso to make a Carajillo the way Cafe Miro use to. The ahi brioche is a carry over from all Chris Kajioka places. The grilled cheese is excellent. Hotdogs are kicked up - it used to be a black truffled miso chicken sausage but the current one is a little different. The problem is the food preparation totally undermines the whole place. Without a separate kitchen you have frying being done just a few feet away from where cocktails are made. If you sit on the right side of the bar you will quickly understand why this doesn't work. I would come here more frequently if i didn't have to smell like cooking oil afterwards. Fix that problem and this place would rock.

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.

We normally go to Nico's during breakfast/lunch, where you find your own seat and order at the…read morecashier. This time we went during dinner - we walked in like usual (no signs that say wait to be seated). Didn't know that it was table service only. My other half walked to the cashier while I stayed seated, he asked how it works..she said to order food from her, which he did. He came back to sit down, we waited for our food. Our food was ready, then we were told we couldn't sit and eat since it was table service only. We were then kicked-out...so embarrassed, why didn't they tell us sooner?

When I visit home, I always stop at Nico's on my way to the airport when I leave. Always have a…read moreLoco Moco and coffee. Everything upstairs is great for dinner and I'd suggest making reservations as it gets busy. Lots of parking and Aloha, and the views of the harbor are awesome!

We're only about a five or six minute walk to this most interesting bar…read more We arrived at 5 PM, and were the first and only guests for the duration of our visit. Our host invited us to choose our seats. Being the only guests, the service was unparalleled. Likewise the ambiance. We ordered a charcuterie board, which came from Livestock restaurant downstairs. It was okay but nothing memorable. Also, it seemed that Livestock didn't put any priority on Tchin Tchin orders. Normally, I would've been thrilled that we could converse without yelling, but with an empty bar, it seemed odd. I don't think I can recommend this establishment.

Love this patio bar located on Hotel Street, next to Bar 35. It's up a super steep flight of…read morestairs. My first thought was hmmm... if someone's really drunk it could be tragic. Anyways when you get to the top it's like being in another city (ok that's seriously what I think...) it's beautiful! There's an indoor section and an outdoor rooftop with greenery on the walls. Seating outside and inside is beautiful. We went around sunset, sat outside and there was a nice city feel outside with buildings all around. I loved it. When the sunset the lighting outside on the patio beautiful & relaxing. I don't drink but I love food and it was good, perfect pupus! We had the charcuterie board, fries, and a few others. Huge plus, they had mocktails!!! Service was good. The bartender was knowledgeable about the menu and drinks & gave recommendations. He even made hot water for my friends at the end. It wasn't crowded - like we were the only ones there. We stayed for awhile talking and it was comfortable and relaxing!!! I would've never known this beautiful place existed on Hotel Street. It's really an amazing relaxing experience. Parking: we parked in the municipal parking lot by Hawai'i Theatre.

Happy Friday! Our boss took us out for a farewell lunch for…read moremy best coworker friend. Poutine and Lasagna were the best choices today!! Burger was also pretty good. Forgot to take a picture of Carbonara, pretty good too. Service was excellent, and we all had a great time. The ambiance is always charming, honestly the best lunch spot in downtown Honolulu in my opinion.

Velvet chic. Thoroughly designed w/ a chic European vintage…read moreaesthetic, yet filled w/ the modern downtown hnl patron - Podmore's juxtaposition offers a unique dining atmosphere for any occasion. Take a screen break and relax in one of their cozy velvet seats (: . the Sheppards Pie is stuffed with lamb and served on a lipped plate - different from the expected bowl - but the pie was still just as rich, filling, and delicious. the Seared Ahi Sandwich comes with a hefty cut of ahi and thick cut house made fries. The chunky sweet ketchup was the surprising spotlight and made an impressionable difference. Apparently it's also made in house from scratch...cute! The cold brew (straight) effectively combatted the possible post lunch nap. A wise order considering my stroll back to work wouldn't be enough to battle the snooze. . Excellent service, excellent food, and am excited to return. Cheers!

Caleb our server was kind and exceptional. His recommendation for the Ginger Chicken Rice was spot…read moreon. The food and service improves with every dining experience. Be sure to arrive with enough time to find parking. Vehicles come in and out pretty quickly, but you may have to wait a bit to find a stall if your timing is off.

I've now been to Chao five times and still keep coming back. I came shortly after they opened and…read moreloved it so much I came back the following week and have had business meetings and family dinners here. It's to the point that at least one of the servers has recognized me and welcomes me back. Each time, we have enjoyed every thing that we've ordered. Frankly, my only trouble with this restaurant is finding parking. I plan to get there early so I can have a few laps around to find a spot. Their apps are always tasty. I've loved their hamachi crudo, the calamari, the Spanish octopus and the street corn. My go to app is the maitake mushrooms. For lunch, I'm a big fan of their banh mi's as I've eaten both the brisket and lemongrass. The bread is nice and crispy and everything is oh so good. For dinner, my wife loved the soft shell crab pasta and I've really enjoyed the crispy pork belly. I'm going to come back to try the Picanha this next time! I normally take pictures but for whatever reason, I didn't these past times probably because I was too busy stuffing my face. Guess I have to come again and retry!