Folks - You want a piece of history - this is YOUR place to go to! Oldest continuous in Hawaii!! So what who cares you say? Let me drop some history bombs on you folks - There are only 12 survivors left alive from the infamous day of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. 12!!!!! The sole last survivor of the Arizona was interred a few years back. Now THIS BAR - I got a WHOLE HISTORY LESSON!!! Wanna know where your granny's and uncle's hooch was coming from during the Roaring 20's guess wheeeeeere? Cuz this bar still has the trap door that lets you to gueeees where - you you know it a harbor!!!!! The barkeep there gave me a very good intro of the entire history - test there was a brothel upstairs (most bars did to appease the lonely mil folk before going off to war - or even earlier) The floors is original - so is the thick glass for the actual bar. What my barkeep also informed me - was each naval ship had their own designated bar. This particulate one was designated to the USS Arizona. so when you go have yer beverage here - tread carefully, you just might've walking on the very same floor your grandfather, great uncle or great grandfather did . Do NOT disrespect this sacred place! Oh by the bay the day have really cool shirts. They also run an operation to donate to those in need. ask the barkeep for details. When you go here use yer utmost respect - and do not desecrate this place. Consider this sacred ground! for those who passed before us!!! And if you happen to spill a lil bit of beer or whatever yer drinking - that's a term of respect for the ancestors. But please respect the historical significance. Enjoy read more

Chinatown locals dive bar. We stopped in for a drink after lunch. Fun crowd. Baseball on televisions, fans blowing and a cold margarita. The bartender, Alex, was very friendly and attentive. They have a wall of photographs dedicated to the Sailors, Soldiers and Marines from the USS Arizona, and served during the Pearl Harbor attack. Awesome dive bar! read more

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they let the girls be touched by their regulars. There's creeps and they will just serve them. read more

Smith's Union Bar - guys bathroom - Dive Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great dive bar atmosphere with loud jukebox and trough style urinal behind a shower curtain for the gents. Local beer selection pretty weak. Bartender too busy hamming it up with his buds to serve drinks. read more

This place is not for a bougie crowd lol. It is 100000% dive bar and it's great. The staff was friendly and awesome, and the drinks were great! My only complaint was that it was hot in there because there was no AC lol (first world problems) read more

Had a great time in this bar. Came with my wife mid morning on a weds. The bartender and owner were great. Alot of history here. Bar is small but well stocked. Great vibe. Even my wife enjoyed the visit. Definitley coming back next year when i visit oahu read more

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Great nostalgic bar and the oldest in Honolulu, currently celebrating it's 90th anniversary. I have walked by here several times but never ventured in so today I was on search of a cold draft beer and well.... Here I am. They are a bar only and no food however, I was told it was fine to go get a pizza or food across the street and enjoy it here. The bartender was exceptionally nice and welcoming. Great vibe and feel. Looking at the decor and items on the wall was entertaining. Sure I recommend this. It is part of history and they make you feel right at home. Stop by!!! read more

Smith's Union Bar - Cold Pint of Fat Tire - Dive Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

For dive bars the best. Bathroom must be avoided at all cost but you can actually smell it from the bar. However there is great memorabilia and the service is amazing it pays homage and was the home bar for the US battleship Arizona. It is a must go !!!! read more

- Dive bar, the good kind - Decent prices - Loads of ambiance - Located in Chinatown on Hotel Street, which back in my Navy days in the '70s was a bit ... notorious read more

This is the best bar in Hawaii. I was in the army and I got out this year and so many memories here every Friday we went. Just a great place and the bartenders are amazing too felt right at home read more

The claim to fame here is that this is the oldest bar in the state having opened just after Prohibition. It's a dive in all the best ways. It's hard to miss right on Hotel Street in the heart of Chinatown and near downtown. I had a chance to visit for the first time in a long time recently and even in the afternoon it was filled with characters. For beer drinkers, they have a surprisingly great selection of cans and bottles, both the usual cheap beers and great local ones. They also have draft with a few taps that rotate. Hard liquor abounds. Our bartender was on it with whatever we needed. The walls are filled with memories; it's dark even on the brightest days. The restrooms are filthy- only the ladies has a door. It's musty and old smelling as well, so if any of these things bother you, it's not a place worth going. For the history and drink prices it's worth going to; but the people you meet and stories you'll hear are what make it special. read more

Great dive bar a must go. Always characters to be seen and shenanigans to be had. Cold drinks great bar

Opens since 1930s, it was the bar where the officers and crew of the USS Arizona went until that fateful day, December 7, 1941. The bartender Shannon is like a walking history book about everything concerning the bar. We went to the bar just before noon and had an opportunity to talk with Shannon in length. Having a drink at the oldest bar in Honolulu was both a learning and also a humbling experience. There was so much photos and documents concerning the USS Arizona that was a real eye opener. read more

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Our new favorite in Oahu and our happy place dive bar! We were visiting from the Big Island and doing a day trip. We had a long day and a reservation at a nearby restaurant. We had about an hour to kill. We walked into one bourgeoisy restaurant that had a bar, sat down and walked out. I just could not see myself paying $35+ for 2 drink. I am so so glad we did. We knew nothing about Smith's Union bar but we needed to sit down after a full day in the city and wanted a drink. The bar place was anything but pretensions. Mal the bartender was so friendly. She also had a big dog that had a built in homeless-detector that would bark if a bum tried to come in. The selection of beers was vast, they even had Lemongrass Luau beer (the ultimate girl beer)!!! We had a couple beers, went to dinner nearby and came back for one last drink before going to the airport. I wish now I would have learned more about the history.. we are patriots and the husband is a WWII history buff. Gives us another reason to go back! Great location, only about 15 - 20 minutes from the airport and lots of little restaurants to eat at! Thank you Mal for making our trip even more fun! read more

Joe B from three days ago: Funny you didn't mention that you came into the bar with a Starbucks cup full of vodka at 10 am, complete with a shopping bag full of empty airplane vodka bottles. Funny you didn't mention waking out on a $32 tab. Funny you didn't mention coming back THE SAME DAY asking for another drink. When I asked for $32 before serving you, you consulted your empty wallet and got denied by the ATM machine. Twice. Funny you didn't mention that you had no idea that you lost your phone until I told you. Funny you didn't mention coming back the next day with your 6'5" friend doing the talking while you had your tail between your legs. .....and after I saved your phone, your coffee mug, and kept 2 to 3 people from giving you Hotel Street reminders, you still didn't leave a tip. Now there's a "watch" missing, too, because of my "friend around the corner"?? Keyboard gangster. Total lies. Ruining Yelp for legitimate customers. read more

this bar is a must see for everyone who loves history and dive bars. This prior to Japanese bombing of pearl was the bar of the Arizona. Great Mango beer, service is cordial love this place, get some Honolulu history and visit Smithies. read more

Smith's is a bit rough around the edges, but is nonetheless a fun, quintessentially downtown Honolulu dive. We stopped in for pre-dinner beers, and enjoyed taking in the characters at and behind the bar, as well as the assortment of vintage posters and art adorning the walls. Overall, a fun spot to kick off the night in downtown. read more

If you need to get away from it all...this is the place to go. Not only do they not care, but they will help you forget what you were leaving in the first place! Honestly one of the best dive bars I have ever been to . It's what all dive bars should be. Honestly, most establishments should be like Smitty's. read more

Coldest beer best music this place is the ultimate pregame bar for china town or j sit back and meet some good people 6$ tall boys the bottled beer selection is awesome not to mention oldest bar on the island. read more

Smith's Union Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I used to come here when I was stationed at PH. The last time I came in was July of 2019 had the time of my life with the woman I loved at the time, then Covid hit. Went in on July 7th 2024 in the afternoon and it was as though I had never left. The bartender was a great guy and the patrons in at the time were super friendly. Threw in a few dollars in the jukebox and POW it was just what my soul needed. This time I was with my 2 boys and I wanted to show them not only Honolulu history but US Navy history and Smith's did not disappoint. read more

An absolute must experience. The walls drip history. This is something you must do prior to seeing the USS Arizona memorial. I think it will make it extremely personal for you. This is where they were Saturday night, we all know how it feels to have a great Saturday night but none of us knows a Sunday morning like they had. read more

DON'T GO HERE!!! My girlfriend went up to the bouncer to get in, was asked what she is drinking, who even asks that at the front? When she said she doesn't know and had to use the bathroom first, was pushed and said not in my bar. Not surprised there's no line and is dead on a Saturday. read more

Smiths Union bar is the oldest bar on Oahu. Right in Chinatown, it is somewhat of a dive bar, but it has atmosphere, the prices are right on the drinks, and the clientele makes you feel welcome. This is definitely my bar when I am in Honolulu. read more

Dwight has a great imagination. His friend stole my watch right there in the bar in front of the few losers who were there. When I came back to pay my tab and get my phone, that little female slug who is always there said "I wish he would've roughed you up more." And my friend who came back with me and paid my tab is just under six feet all. I guess his beard was 6'-5" intimidating. Sorry I didn't leave a tip after you stole my watch and roughed me up. I need to work on my manners!! read more

Smith's Union Bar - Bar glassware - Dive Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This bar used to be the best dive bar in Honolulu. We would travel here all the way from the north shore to sing Kareoke, always greeted by the friendly bartender. Some of the best nights of the 2010s were spent in this dive bar, with so many fond memories. Post pandemic, came here on Halloween night. We first walked past, and a strange man came out of the bar telling us our friend looks like a homeless man.... That he belongs in a tent on the street. We shrugged it off, and thought it was someone random. When we later walked into smith's union bar, we realized this was the bartender (Jay) who was heckling our friend. We asked for some sort of shot with fireball in it for nostalgia (something like a Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot), and Jay refused. He said pick a real drink, then walked off. We thought he was being sarcastic, then explained that's what the prepandemic bartender was always serving here, and what we would like to order. He flat out refused to make us a "girly shot" or offer any alternatives. He said "that bartender who used to make mixed drinks probably was a little bitch, that's why she doesn't work here anymore. Pick a real drink, I don't mix things here." Wtf??? He then went to a random couple to ask them if our friend looks like he is wearing his Halloween costume or if he belongs sleeping in a tent on the street. The couple was thinking... what the eff? How Un-PC and awkward is it to blatantly make fun of someone else in the bar to make them feel uncomfortable. Jay definitely has some weird bullying syndrome going on. He's like the guy who has never been to New York, that has to put on a tough guy act after watching the Sopranos and thinking everyone in ny or nj is an asshole. He's obnoxious and blatantly lost not only our sale, but other customers' sales. Jay wins award for worst bartender of the year and someone who should never be behind the bar. Fuck Jay. read more

Always like to tryout dive bars. This place did not disappoint. Went for historical reasons and it was worth it. Bartender was nice, beer was cold, price was not bad. Little stuffy when you walk in but the fans really cooled you off. read more

I wasn't able to snag a reservation to Pearl Harbor while visiting the island. For me, visiting Smith's was the next best thing. I recommend reading the history of this bar before visiting. We arrived on a Sunday night, ordered a beer and a shot (3 rounds) and reflected on the fact that we were at the bar that many young American sailors spent the last night of their lives. Cheers to those men and to whoever is keeping this little gem alive and operating. read more

I came in Friday night and ordered 3 drinks tab came out to $21 left a tip was updated the next day no biggie but just now I got a $50 charge to my card I did try to call but # is not in service I will be stopping by today for a refund read more

12-7-2020. The only day of the year that I allow myself to drink from my Smith's Union Bar glass. Here's to... Them! read more

Smith's Union Bar - 12-7-2020 - the only day of the year I allow myself to drink out of my Smiths Union Bar glass. Here's to... them! - Dive Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is seriously ghetto. But at the same time it's very relaxing and inviting. This place is our go to and we always have fun. The bartenders are friendly and accommodating. The regulars take the time to chat with you ( if they're not too blasted). And the drinks are reasonable. A great place to watch any game tho my fav is NFL. I suggest bottled or canned beer and shots (as much as u can handle) read more

Last time I was here. I saw The Flash get arrested. Seek help Ezra Miller ‍. Swarm of cops came in and took the flash away. Why didn't he run away is my question? read more

Divey goodness with plenty of local characters. This legendary bar was the spot for the crew of the USS Arizona. How good was it? We got a freaking t-shirt! read more

Whoever owns this establishment needs to know that Valerie, the bartender, is ripping off you or the customers, probably both. Dynamic pricing for different times of the day is one thing, but charging customers different prices for the exact same drinks at the same hour from one day to the next, not during happy hour, is totally different. Went three times in seven days. First time was $14, second time was $12 and the third time was $22 for the EXACT same drinks. WTF? When questioned, she said she was just being nice the first time and second time, even though it was very clear that on our second and third visit she did not recognize us. She was clearly drunk or strung out on each visit, giving out free shots and smoking outside for so long customers were going behind the bar to pour their own drinks. read more

Absolutely not! The bartender with pink hair (I have pink hair, this is just to help identify her) was insanely rude! She intentionally took people around us. I'm a dive bar bartender in Vegas. Just moved here. I can't imagine treating people Ike this and expecting a tip. We were polite and had money out. A buddy was standing behind us and she took his order before us. She intentionally Ignored us. Still don't know why. The door guy (no cover) said he wouldn't let us in with out us paying him. We will NOT be back. Of course she has so much to say. Obviously we left. read more

This bar was so fun and so terrifying at the same time. We had bumped into one of the bartenders at SIN Lounge and he encouraged us to stop by "the oldest bar on Oahu" all while hitting on my husband. Lol! So on our First Friday stroll, we squeezed our way through the mass of people and found a couple empty chairs at the very back. The bartender saw us and grabbed us drinks right away. It was really busy so we decided to pay cash, which seems like a good idea to do here when it's so crowded. Someone was singing Madonna's Like a Prayer, so I decided to toss in a couple bucks to channel Grace Slick with some White Rabbit. (It's only $1 per song, but the bartender said that tips are always appreciated for the karaoke DJ.) The mic worked great and the lyrics were clearly displayed on a screen behind the bar. The second song was a little more difficult since the bar was getting a bit rowdy and kept pushing their way to the bathroom, moving me away from the screen. (Thankfully I knew most of the words.) But as I said, the bar started to get kind of bananas. We had all these older guys slurring craziness about everything from music to how many push-ups they could do. When they had to dispose of a full garbage can of beer bottles in the back trash, the whole bar smelled of old beer, much to the dismay of the regulars. One of them asked for an air freshener, but they could only find Raid. The man snatched the can and started spraying it on full blast all over the van and surrounding air until a female bartender yelled and stopped him. Although I really enjoyed the karaoke and the good drinks, this place was way too rowdy and dive-y for me. Plus, I definitely wouldn't feel safe coming here alone. read more

Looking for a dive bar on Oahu. Stop looking and start drinking. Get over here and enjoy a beer with some seasoned locals. USMC welcomed.

Usually my favorite karaoke place. I haven't been here in. Awhile. But new staff is terrible. The karaoke person keeps putting people in front of me. People who came in after me etc. She claims other staff didn't put the songs in. When I complained my song disappeared from the song list. She put 5 songs in front of mine wtf! Not cool at all. read more

Great Dive. I know dives and this is a great one. Fantastic. What makes a good dive bar you ask? Cheap beer, low light, large bar, and quirky decor. This place has all of that. What makes a great dive bar? A good bartender and a couple of locals. This place has that too. They also claim to be the oldest bar in Honolulu, which, judging by the decor, I'd believe it. read more

It all started Jan 7, 2022. Started as a fun night bar hopping, and we somehow ended up at the Smith's Union, or as we now like to call it... "The Smithsonian" to pay our respects to its elaborate history. Words can't describe this place, the closest thing I can relate it to is like a second home. Between the TV's playing WWE Wrestle-mania, and the smell of the men's room all I can think when I'm there is "Why don't we come here more often?" Some might say this bar is like a sore d*ck, you just can't beat it. Both the bartenders are down to earth, kind people, and they pour heavy. I've gone there just about every weekend since moving to the island, and have not regretted it a single time. I wish I could rate this bar 100 stars because that's honestly what it deserves. Smith's Union...thank you for your service. read more

Smith's Union Bar is one of the oldest bars in the Honolulu down town area.Having said that there is decades of history here.Countless people here have met,loved,met new friends, renewed relations,lost at love,and found their soul mates here.On the walls reflects the people and history that occurred here at Smith's Union bar.Everybody comes here to forget about life for awhile.Working people can get that drink that they have been thinking about all day. People come to Smith's Union Bar with no ill intentions but to have to a cold one with people who think likewise,a good garunteed for all at Smith's Union Bar!! read more