Honolulu Bars, Pubs and Clubs
Where – And When –  to Go Out in Waikiki Beach

Visions of sitting under palm trees having boat drinks with pineapples and umbrellas sticking out of the glass being delivered by a waitress in a hula skirt is an intoxicating image of pubclubbing in Honolulu. While it's a vistion that becomes reality, there is certainly much more this town has to offer in its many pubs, bars and clubs.

This is the heart and soul of our bars and party guide Honolulu, the best and coolest places to enjoy not only tropical drinks but good, cold beer, as well. This page defines the hip and hot places to be each night of the week. In the separate Pubs and Clubs sections, we tell why these are good places and detail many more fine watering holes.

Locals have drinks at Duke's, Waikiki's premier bar on the beach.

It is worth nothing that Duke's is a good choice anytime in the daytime and Rum Fire at the Sheraton can be on fire and is and a sensational spot for sunsets; it has a Happy Hour from 4-6 in the winter, 5-7 in the summer, with specials such as $3 drafts that include Kona Longboard Lager, a PubClub.com island favorite.

You may meet the hot PubClubettes when out in Honolulu!

And here's a news flash – local promoter Flash (yes, that's his name) hosts several top-notch events. For info, click here.

• Mondays. SIN night at Lulu's, 50% off with industry i.d.

Speciality drinks like these are just $5 at Apartment 3 on Tuesdays.

• Tuesdays. This is a bit on the upscale side, so you'll have to dust the sand off you and change from the bikini or board shorts into something nice, but it's hard to beat the deal. The all-night Happy Hour at the beautiful restaurant/bar Apartment 3 and features $5 speciality drinks, martinis and premium cocktails, $5 pupu menu and $4 drafts. Stylish attire required after dark, meaning no shorts, slippers, baseball hats, athletic wear or ugly unfashionable tees. 6 p.m.-2 a.m. 3rd floor Century Center, 1750 Kalakaua Ave. On a much more casual style, the Mexican restaurant Cha Cha Cha (on Seaside, between Kalakaua and Kuhio) gets packed for Taco Tuesday; $2 grilled fish tacos washed down with $2.50 margaritas ($12 pitchers). Starts at 10 p.m. It's regular Happy Hour is a 9 other nights of the week.

Great food in a cool atmosphere awaits at Doraku Sushi.

• Wednesdays. Like Sushi? Head to Doraku Sushi, a favorite of young and fun locals, for drink specials 8-10. The place is incredible; just mention it to any local and you'll get a quick confirmation. 3rd floor, Royal Hawaiian Center. Then hit The Shack, a rocking, casual but busy bar that packs in the people on this, its busiest night of the week. It has $2 fish toacos and drink specials, 6-close. It's on Kuhio at Seaside, behind the Royal Hawaiian Center. At Apartment 3, after the 5-7 Happy Hour there is live jazz with the kitchen open until 12:30 a.m.

There's a lot to toast about in the Shack on Thursdays.

• Thursdays. Locals fill up the Shack for $2 beers all night. All kinds of beers, too. Apartment 3 one-ups its Tuesday specials by offering $3 drafts, $3 for all house wines and $3 cocktails, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Check back here for the occasional foam parties, which take place at area clubs. And they last until 4 a.m.! The night also features an indoor surfing contest. Dress code is "casual, board shorts, bikinis, or less."

Waikiki can show its wild side any night of the week.

• Friday. Upscale eye candy at the W Hotel. Or for the much more casual minded, Coconut Willy's with its Friday Flip Cup group and live band. First Friday Night, on the first Friday of each month, closes Nuvanu Avenue for strolls through art shops and other downtown spots. Click here for more about First Friday.
• Saturday. Starr the day with Bloody Marys at The Harbor Pub, then slowly stroll up Waikiki Beach for Mai Tais at the Mai Tai Bar (Royal Hawaiian), drinks at Duke's and a booze cruze. Okay, this could be any day. Then pubbing or clubbing.
• Sunday. Champagne brunch on the beach followed by the afternoon at Duke's for the live band. That, it seems. always turns into evening (and even last call).

More Party Suggestions

The sunsets are not to be missed on Waikiki Beach.

PubClub.com's choice for sunset is Rumfire, which has a live band.

• Booze Cruises: Take a booze cruise off Waikiki Beach. The yellow boat in front of Duke's is the most lively and the white boat in front of the Shorebird is more subdued but is pretty good for meeting people.
• Sunsets: This is a free activity all along the shore, but why not have a drink in your hand!? PubClub.com's choice for the latter is Rumfire in the Sheraton, which conveniently runs its Happy Hour to coincide with the different times of the sunset in winter and summer. There's also live music, and the mood is both relaxing an invigorating at the same time.
• Daily Happy Hours: Bars and restaurants in Honolulu and Waikiki Beach in particular have Happy Hours from daytime to late at night. Take advantage of them; you'll meet locals as well as a few in-the-know tourists. A complete listing of these can be found in this separate PubClub.com article, Best Happy Hours in Waikiki and Honolulu

Special Party Events

Locals love going to First Fridays in downtown Honolulu.

The fun hardly stops here. Honolulu has a few special events during the year, as well. The best are:

• First Fridays. As previously mentioned, this is a monthly affair, and it's worth leaving the comfy confines of Waikiki for the block party.

• St. Patrick's Day. Who knew Honolulu has one of the best St. Paddy's celebrations in the world? PubClub, that's who, so don't be afraid to drink beer in paradise.

• Summer Sand Bar Parties. A lot of those locals you see at the clubs spend some of their weekend days at this event. Boats and a band pull up to a sand bar and party all afternoon. You've got to be invited to go or even know about them, so keep your ear to the ground and make friends with locals.