COCKTAIL BARS HONOLULU

Bar Leather Apron is an intimate craft cocktail bar in downtown Honolulu, located on the mezzanine of the TOPA Financial Center. Established in 2015 by Justin and Tom Park, the bar is recognized as the 2023 James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Bar. Bartenders in ties and leather aprons craft refined cocktails featuring organic, seasonal, local Hawaiian ingredients and Hawaii's most extensive whiskey selection. The space features leather seating and polished dark wood; reservations are highly recommended through Resy, with the bar open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 PM to midnight.

Lewers Lounge is an upscale cocktail lounge within the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki, featuring live light jazz nightly performed by world-renowned musicians. The intimate space showcases dark wood interiors, retro loveseats, and dim lighting, opening daily at 7 PM with performances from 8 PM to 12:30 AM depending on the day. The lounge specializes in classic cocktails and sophisticated mocktails, with locally-sourced Hawaiian ingredients featured in light pupus and dessert offerings. Evening resort attire is required; cash payment only, with private events available by request.

Blind Ox is a stylish, low-lit speakeasy located in Honolulu's Kapahulu neighborhood, offering creative small plates and craft cocktails in a sophisticated and intimate atmosphere. The venue features distinctive design elements including a life-size blind ox statue and an illuminated pay phone tucked under a blind ox figure for entry requests, alongside an outdoor patio with verdant florals. The speakeasy stocks premium whiskies and seasonal spirits alongside inventive cocktails, with private dining options available in two rooms designed for both intimate gatherings and larger celebrations.

Hinana Bar is located on the fifth floor of the Prince Waikiki hotel in Waikiki, functioning as a poolside venue adjacent to both regular and infinity pools. The bar serves cocktails and casual food with private poolside cabanas and daybeds for all-day dining and relaxation, enhanced by weekend entertainment through the SunSets LIVE series featuring local artists and DJs. The venue captures sunset views across Waikiki and offers an al fresco setting combining hotel amenities with cocktail service, popular menu items include poke and specialty appetizers alongside tropical drinks.

Podmore is a downtown Honolulu restaurant and bar blending Hawaiian warmth with British heritage, located at Merchant Street and functioning as a versatile social hub throughout the day. The establishment features an acclaimed craft cocktail program with inventive, playful drinks made entirely from scratch with quality ingredients and described as born of passion and cheeky humor, complemented by chef-prepared comfort food using Michelin-level standards with locally-sourced British classics. The venue accommodates both group gatherings and solo bar seating with weekday happy hour specials and weekend brunch service alongside evening dining.

Surf Bar Waikiki is a hidden cocktail lounge nestled within the Waikiki Resort Hotel at 2460 Koa Avenue, offering a dark-luxury experience just steps from Waikiki Beach. Established in 2022, the venue specializes in handcrafted island cocktails served in an intimate atmosphere featuring candlelit booths and elegant styling that evokes a secluded oasis. The bar hosts DJ performances on select evenings and caters to date nights, celebrations, and late-night socializing with a sophisticated yet approachable vibe. Validated parking for up to three hours and daily operations from 6 PM to 2 AM make it an accessible destination for both visitors and locals seeking refined tropical cocktails in Honolulu's beachside neighborhood.

Bar Leather Apron, established in 2015 and located on the mezzanine level of a downtown Honolulu office building, is a James Beard Award winner for outstanding bar. The venue offers finely crafted cocktails and Hawaii's most extensive whiskey selection across four menu sections including signature drinks, classics, highballs, and seasonal farm-to-table creations using organic local ingredients. The bar gained recognition for its distinctive mai tai featuring raisin-infused rum and absinthe, smoked in a hand-carved tiki box, embodying the technical expertise and attention to detail for which it has been honored.

EP Bar is Hawaii's first listening bar, located in Chinatown and inspired by the vinyl bar tradition established in Japan since the 1920s. The intimate venue focuses on vintage vinyl records, playing classic R&B and showa era pop music to create a relaxed and nostalgic atmosphere, with shelves brimming with records available for the communal experience. The bar specializes in highballs and craft cocktails including signature creations like butter bourbon and mango sticky rice cocktails, though reservations are highly recommended due to its limited seating capacity.

Skull & Crown Trading Co. is a tiki-themed cocktail bar located at 62 N Hotel Street in Honolulu's Chinatown. Opened in 2019, the venue features a dark, pirate-inspired aesthetic adorned with skulls and ambient lighting, creating an immersive atmosphere for adventurous drinkers. The signature Skull & Crown cocktail—a ceramic skull set ablaze with premium Hawaiian and Caribbean rums, grenadine, and citrus notes—serves as the venue's showstopper. The bar specializes in tropical and classic tiki drinks, with offerings including the Maunakea Mai Tai, Trader Noa's Old Fashioned, and Lapu Lapu, each crafted with quality spirits. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., it has become a distinctive destination for visitors and locals seeking immersive tiki cocktail experiences in Hawaii's capital.