Beachfront tourist core south of the Ala Wai. Where the Halekulani, Royal Hawaiian and the International Market Place sit, plus the canonical hotel bars at sunset.
Mugen Waikiki is the Forbes Five-Star room inside ESPACIO with a 34-seat dining room, designed in consultation with Alan Wong, anchoring fine dining in Honolulu.
Signature: Five-course tasting, Kona kanpachi, Local fish course
Order: The five-course tasting with the local-fish course and Hawaiian beef.
Tip: Reservations open 30 days out. Resort wear is the dress code; valet at the ESPACIO motor lobby is free for diners.
La Mer at Halekulani is Hawaii's longest-running AAA Five Diamond restaurant, French fine dining at the Halekulani in Waikiki Honolulu under executive chef Alexandre Trancher.
Signature: Degustation menu, Bouillabaisse, Local fish bourride
Order: The eight-course menu degustation with the bouillabaisse course.
Tip: Tuesday through Saturday, 17:30 to 20:30 only. Jackets are required for men; book via Tock four weeks out for window tables.
Marukame Udon Waikiki in Honolulu is the theatre-kitchen Sanuki udon counter on Kuhio Avenue where you watch handcut noodles boiled to order and finished with tempura sides.
Signature: Kake udon, Niku udon, Tempura sides
Order: Niku udon with a sweet beef topping and a kakiage tempura on the side.
Tip: Queue snakes down Kuhio but moves fast. Average bowl is around $6 to $8; cash and card both work.
Marukame Udon Waikiki in Honolulu is the theatre-kitchen Sanuki udon counter on Kuhio Avenue where you watch handcut noodles boiled to order and finished with tempura sides.
Signature: Kake udon, Niku udon, Tempura
Order: Niku udon with sweet beef and a kakiage tempura side.
Tip: Queue on Kuhio moves fast; daily 10:00 to 22:00. Average bowl is around $6.
Sky Waikiki on top of Waikiki Business Plaza in Honolulu is the 19-story rooftop venue that turns into a dance floor after 21:00 with DJs spinning above Diamond Head and the Pacific.
Tip: Dinner service 16:00 to 22:00 then dance-floor mode. Reservations on OpenTable; resort casual sunset, smart casual late.
Blue Note Hawaii at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort in Honolulu opened in January 2016 as a 326-seat partnership with the Blue Note Entertainment Group, with two nightly performances year-round.
Tip: Two shows nightly. Reserve at bluenotejazz.com/hawaii; dinner from Executive Chef Julius Laurentius alongside the music.
House Without a Key at the Halekulani in Waikiki Honolulu features live Hawaiian music and hula under a 130-year-old kiawe tree from 17:30 every evening, the city's most romantic sunset show.
Tip: Hula and live music 17:30 to 20:30 nightly. Bar tables walk-in; the Diamond Head side fills up first.
Lewers Lounge at the Halekulani in Waikiki Honolulu features nightly light jazz performances seven nights a week, the intimate cocktail lounge of Hawaiian jazz with Chet Baker and Ella Fitzgerald-themed drinks.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday 20:30 to midnight, Sunday and Monday 20:00 to 22:30. Smart casual dress.
The Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki Honolulu runs live music 18:00 to 22:00 nightly under the beachfront tent, mixing Hawaiian acoustic sets with the canonical Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai.
Tip: Live music 18:00 to 22:00 daily. Oceanfront tables turn at 19:00; arrive early for the sunset table.
Sky Waikiki Raw and Bar on top of the Waikiki Business Plaza in Honolulu is 19 stories above Kalakaua with a wraparound deck over Diamond Head, the Pacific and the city lights.
Tip: Happy hour 16:00 to 18:00 daily. Birria tacos as the late-night menu after 21:30 nightly.
Hideout by the Laylow in Waikiki Honolulu is the open-air poolside rooftop bar at the Laylow Autograph Collection, with craft cocktails and Modern Hapa Hawaiian small plates nightly.
Tip: Daily 11:00 to 22:00. Live music many evenings; the back lanai has the Diamond Head view.
Hula's Bar and Lei Stand on Kapahulu in Waikiki Honolulu is the 50-year-old LGBTQ+ bar inside the Waikiki Grand Hotel, opened 1974 by Jack Law and Bob Magoon Jr., billed as one of the longest-running gay bars in the world.
Tip: Daily 11:30 to 02:00. Diamond Head view from the 2nd floor lanai; nightly entertainment.
Bacchus Waikiki on Lewers Street in Honolulu is the friendliest gay bar in Waikiki since 2013, with a 2nd-floor wood interior, DJ-led weekends and drag shows alongside trivia and underwear parties.
Tip: Daily midday to 02:00. Wednesday GAYME Night 19:00 to 21:00. New ownership 2025 under Joseph Evans.
Wang Chung's Karaoke Bar in the Stay Hotel Waikiki Honolulu is the LGBTQ+ karaoke bar behind the Hyatt Regency, with speciality cocktails and $1 song queues nightly from 17:00.
Tip: Daily 17:00 to 02:00. Happy hour 17:00 to 20:00. Drag brunch and lesbian nights monthly.
Suzie Wong's Hideaway in Waikiki Honolulu is the dive bar hiding behind a 7-Eleven on Kalakaua, with cheap drinks, friendly bartenders and a divey-loud Waikiki off-strip vibe.
Tip: Daily until 02:00. Look for the unmarked door near the 7-Eleven; cash works easier than card.