When you’re looking for that family-friendly place to go for pau hana, Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant is it. Get your fill of sushi, sashimi, noodles and nabe here for a reasonable price in a space that welcomes keiki and kupuna alike. Read more
Chez Kenzo Bar amd Grill is a sensible Japanese-American pub — and that’s a very good thing. You’d be sensible to try it. Read more
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that Wahoo’s Fish Taco is yet another one of the undistinguished surf-themed, stop-in-for-a-bite joints that populate the islands. Read more
Visiting Maui? Ask around for a happy hour recommendation and chances are good that someone will suggest the Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea. Its reputation is such that folks will talk it up from miles away, if they figure you might be cruising in that direction. There’s good reason for that. Read more
Tucked away on Chaplain Lane off Fort Street Mall, Proof Public House has the appearance of a quaint village pub, though it’s rough around the edges. Read more
We visited the Kailua location because we heard the view it offered of the Koolau mountains would make it a great place to kick back and relax while sipping a cold one. Read more
Hooters pulls no punches about what it’s selling. Read more
Cheers to beers! Honolulu is catching up to the rest of the country when it comes to craft beer, and island-made options are now a legitimate choice. Read more
Kaimuki’s reputation as a diverse foodie destination offering everything from Jamaican jerk and dim sum to cutting-edge gastronomy continues to explode, and that means more pau hana options, too. Read more
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The Brewseum has been open since 2014, but somehow this shrine to World War II-era memorabilia and sentiment passed under my radar until this year. That’s a crying shame, because this Kakaako hideaway is an all-American treasure. Read more
Owner Kevin Hanney has kept the bones of Avenue’s Bar + Eatery the same as its predecessors Hale Ohuna and Salt Kitchen & Tasting Bar. Read more
At Vintage 1901 there isn’t a happy hour per se, but the haven for wine, cocktails and small plates at the Moana Surfrider IS all about pau hana, with cocktails served beginning at 5:30 p.m. and extending into the early evening. Read more
Hawaii Voice KTV & Lounge is a karaoke bar in a new building on the side streets behind the Keaumoku Street Walmart, but it might as well be in the hutongs, or narrow alleys, of Beijing. The place transports you to another world. Read more
As much as I love the experience and flavors of dining in the Keaaumoku area, “skeezy” is the word that comes to mind when talking about its bar scene. Read more
Downbeat Lounge, sister space to Downbeat Diner on Hotel Street in Chinatown, offers a less crowded, more barlike option for happy hour in town. Read more
Jazz Minds, a longtime jazz venue near the Hawai‘i Convention Center, is undergoing a rehabilitation, and with it has come a renewed appeal. Read more
I ventured into Waikiki last year to try out Bills’ happy hour, reveling in the tastes and the decor of this Waikiki outpost of Bills Sydney, and I’ve written about the delicious breakfast and dinner offerings as well. It’s no secret that I’m already a confirmed fan of this restaurant’s singular style. Read more
Over the past few years, Honolulu has become a city where you can find good beer. With brewpubs such as Honolulu Beerworks to shelf specialists such as Bar 35, it’s a Golden Age. Read more
Bevy, on the corner of Auahi and Keawe streets, is one of those unexpected places where you find great cocktails, atmosphere and pupu. Read more
Gordon Biersch was Hawaii’s first brewery restaurant. It opened more than 20 years ago on a prime location, facing the mouth of Honolulu Harbor at the Aloha Tower Marketplace, which at the time was a hopping tourist and entertainment venue. Read more
In the mood for a different kind of happy hour — one that feels healthy, as well as happy? Check out Mud Hen Water, where the experience is practically virtuous. Read more
