Restaurants, hotels, bars and wineries in Honolulu from the En Primeur Club guide.
Accolades in Honolulu
Our guide counts 5 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence restaurants and 9 Award of Excellence restaurants in Honolulu, citywide. Exceptional and wine lists appear at both levels, and a standard wine program appears at Award of Excellence.
La Mer in Waikiki serves neoclassic French cuisine inside Halekulani, with a tasting menu, a la carte, and prix fixe. The wine program is exceptional, with an extensive list and craft cocktails. It holds a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for 2026 and a World's Best Wine Lists award.
Hy’s Steak House in Kapahulu is a classic steakhouse with an exceptional wine program and an extensive wine list. The menu is a la carte. Tableside preparations include Caesar salad and Bananas Foster, and the grill uses kiawe wood in a library-like room. It holds a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for 2026 and a Star Wine List award for the same year.
Stripsteak in Kapahulu is a modern American steakhouse with Asian influence, serving premium wagyu and local Hawaiian ingredients on the Grand Lanai of International Market Place. The menu is a la carte. The wine program has an extensive wine list and craft cocktails. It holds a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for 2026 and a Star Wine List award for the same year.
Empire Steak House Hawaii in Waikiki is a steakhouse with fresh seafood on the 30th floor of the Ilikai Hotel, with panoramic coastline views. The formats are a la carte and family style. The wine program has an extensive wine list, craft cocktails, and beer. It holds a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for 2026.
Mugen in Kapahulu serves modern Japanese-French fine dining on a tasting menu that follows the Hawaiian calendar, with a la carte also offered. The wine program is exceptional: 270 selections, a sake program, and craft cocktails made with local fruit and island-distilled spirits. It holds a Forbes Five-Star rating for 2026 and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.
Tasting menus and omakase counters in our guide sit in Waikiki, Kapahulu, Kaimuki, Chinatown, Kakaako, and other neighborhoods. Formats include prix fixe, chef's counters, and cocktail pairings, and sake accompanies many of the Japanese menus.
Senia in Chinatown serves contemporary Hawaiian cooking with global influences from Chef Anthony Rush. A tasting menu is served at the chef's counter, and an a la carte menu offers small plates. The wine program has an extensive list, sommelier-led service, and craft cocktails. Opinionated About Dining ranked it number 76 among top restaurants in North America in 2026.
Miro Kaimuki in Kaimuki serves French-Japanese fusion as a prix fixe tasting menu, with a la carte also offered. Chefs Chris Kajioka and Mourad Lahlou lead the kitchen. The wine program has craft cocktails and drinks without alcohol. Opinionated About Dining ranked it number 140 in North America in 2025 and lists it as Highly Recommended for 2026.
natuRe waikiki in Kapahulu serves a sustainable island French tasting menu of local Hawaiian ingredients and classic technique, at a chef's counter, with a la carte also available. Chef Nae Ogawa leads the kitchen. The wine list is extensive, with craft cocktails. Opinionated About Dining ranked it number 183 in North America in 2025 and lists it as Highly Recommended for 2026.
Sushi Sho in Waikiki is an Edomae-style omakase led by sushi master Keiji Nakazawa. The counter seats 10 to 16, and the menu runs past 30 courses, joining Japanese classics with Hawaiian ingredients. Service is counter dining. Sake is poured.
Bar Maze in Kakaako serves a modern Japanese omakase as a tasting menu paired with cocktails, by the team behind Bar Leather Apron in Downtown Honolulu. Ki Chung leads the program. The wine program is minimal, with craft cocktails and sake. It was a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2025, and Opinionated About Dining ranked it number 217 in North America for that year.
Kaimuki holds 15 venues in our guide. The kitchens include modern Vietnamese cooking, Euro-Island fusion with an exceptional wine list, a bakery and butcher, and a yakitori omakase counter.
Pig & the Lady in Kaimuki serves modern Vietnamese cooking from Chef Andrew Le, using family recipes, French technique, and local Hawaiian ingredients. The menu is a la carte and made of small plates. The wine program has craft cocktails. James Beard named it a semifinalist in 2026, and Opinionated About Dining ranked it number 83 on its casual North America list that year.
3660 On the Rise in Kaimuki serves Euro-Island fusion a la carte. The wine program is exceptional and the list is extensive. A known plate is Ahi Katsu: ahi wrapped in nori, deep-fried medium rare, with wasabi-ginger sauce. The cooking uses local Hawaiian ingredients with Euro-Asian influences.
Yakitori Ando in Kaimuki is a Japanese yakitori omakase counter led by Takashi Ando, focused on grilled skewers and motsunabe. Formats are omakase, a set menu, and counter dining. Drinks are bring-your-own. Opinionated About Dining recommended it among top restaurants in North America for 2026, after ranking it number 468 in 2024.
The Local General Store in Kaimuki is a bakery and butcher shop with counter dining and an a la carte menu. It is known for locally sourced pastries and for Oahu's only all-local, full-service butcher counter. James Beard named it a semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery in 2025, and it is a semifinalist again in 2026.
Downtown Honolulu accounts for 5 venues in our guide. Among them are the cocktail bar Bar Leather Apron, the tasting-menu restaurant PAI Honolulu, and the gastropub Podmore.
Bar Leather Apron in Downtown Honolulu is a cocktail bar pouring craft cocktails, classic cocktails, and whiskey, including a smoke-infused Mai Tai in a hand-carved tiki box. The wine program is minimal. North America's Best Bars, in the World's 50 Best ranking, placed it at number 81 in 2026. It holds a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar.
PAI Honolulu in Downtown Honolulu serves modern Hawaiian fusion fine dining from Chef Kevin Lee, with a tasting menu, a prix fixe, and a la carte service from an open kitchen. The wine program has an extensive list and craft cocktails. Opinionated About Dining ranked it number 252 in North America in 2025 and recommended it for 2026.
Podmore in Downtown Honolulu is an English pub-inspired gastropub in a 1902 building, serving comfort food a la carte and as small plates. Chef Anthony Rush cooks with Hawaii's local pantry in a New American style. The wine program has craft cocktails. Opinionated About Dining recommended it on the casual North America list for 2026.
Ala Moana holds 25 venues in our guide, the same neighborhood total as Kapahulu. Merriman's Oahu holds a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, and Stage runs an exceptional, sommelier-led wine program.
Merriman's Oahu in Ala Moana serves Hawaii Regional Cuisine a la carte, with farm-to-table dishes, poke prepared at the table, and direct ties to local farmers and fishermen. The wine program has craft cocktails. It holds a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and a Star Wine List award, both for 2026.
Stage in Ala Moana is a Hawaii Regional contemporary American restaurant with prix fixe and a la carte menus. It combines fine dining with an Enomatic wine bar of over 50 wines, inside a furniture and art gallery at the Honolulu Design Center. The wine program is exceptional, extensive, and sommelier-led.
MW Restaurant in Ala Moana serves modern Hawaiian fusion a la carte and as a tasting menu, with a wine list, craft cocktails, and sake. Chef Wade Ueoka's kitchen cooks Hawaiian comfort food, including mochi-crusted seafood, and a James Beard-nominated pastry chef makes the desserts. Opinionated About Dining ranked it number 294 in North America in 2025.
Bernini Honolulu in Ala Moana serves Italian cooking with French and Japanese fusion, using local Hawaiian ingredients, on an a la carte menu. Chef Toshihiro Kobayashi leads the kitchen. Opinionated About Dining ranked it number 466 in North America in 2025 and recommended it for 2026.
Wine Spectator restaurants in our guide include venues in Waikiki, Kapahulu, Kahala, Diamond Head, and Ala Moana. La Mer and Empire Steak House Hawaii in Waikiki, plus Hy’s Steak House and Stripsteak in Kapahulu, hold Best of Award of Excellence. Award of Excellence holders include Orchids in Waikiki, Mugen in Kapahulu, Arancino at The Kahala in Kahala, Hau Tree in Diamond Head, and Merriman's Oahu in Ala Moana.
Our guide counts no Michelin-starred restaurants in Honolulu. Halekulani in Waikiki holds a Michelin 2 Keys award for 2026. Michelin Selected for 2025 is held by The Laylow, Autograph Collection, in Kapahulu, by White Sands Hotel in Kapahulu, by The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikīkī in Waikiki, and by Wayfinder Waikiki in Waikiki.
Tasting menus and omakase counters in our guide are in Waikiki, Kapahulu, Kaimuki, Chinatown, Downtown Honolulu, Kakaako, Ala Moana, Kahala, Moiliili, Makiki Ako, St. Louis Heights, and Waialae. La Mer in Waikiki and Mugen in Kapahulu serve tasting menus that also hold Wine Spectator awards. Senia in Chinatown and Miro Kaimuki in Kaimuki run chef-driven tasting menus. Sushi Sho in Waikiki serves an Edomae-style omakase of more than 30 courses.
Our guide counts 5 restaurants with Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence and 9 restaurants with Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in Honolulu, citywide. Best of Award of Excellence holders include La Mer and Empire Steak House Hawaii in Waikiki and Hy’s Steak House and Stripsteak in Kapahulu. Award of Excellence holders include Mugen in Kapahulu, Orchids in Waikiki, Arancino at The Kahala in Kahala, Hau Tree in Diamond Head, and Merriman's Oahu in Ala Moana.
Our guide counts 12 exceptional wine programs in Honolulu, and that figure is citywide. Mugen in Kapahulu has a 270-selection list with sake, plus cocktails made with local fruit and island-distilled spirits. Orchids in Waikiki holds 750 bottles, and its sommelier team tilts toward California producers. Stage in Ala Moana is sommelier-led and runs an Enomatic wine bar beside the dining room.
By Emmett Haley · Updated October 8, 2026 · Editorial standards
Honolulu
Selected entries from the current guide for Honolulu.
Honolulu, United States
La Mer sits inside the Halekulani hotel on Waikiki's west side, where ocean-facing doors draw in the tradewind breezes and the sound of breaking surf becomes part of the dining experience. Recognized by La Liste's 2026 global ranking with 79 points, it occupies the upper tier of Honolulu's formal dining scene.
Honolulu, United States
Forbes Five-Star and AAA 5 Diamond, Mugen occupies a 34-seat dining room on Kalākaua Avenue where a Japanese-inflected tasting menu follows the Hawaiian calendar. The five-course format offers per-course flexibility, supported by a 270-selection wine list and a cocktail program built around local fruit and island-distilled spirits. Dinner reservations are required; valet parking is available on-site.
Honolulu, United States
Pig & the Lady has ranked among Opinionated About Dining's top casual restaurants in North America for three consecutive years, placing Vietnamese cooking from Honolulu's Kaimuki neighbourhood on a national critical map. Chef Andrew Le's approach draws a loyal local following that returns for the kitchen's Vietnamese framework executed with precision and range. For the Honolulu dining scene, this address on Waialae Avenue carries genuine weight.
Honolulu, United States
At the Halekulani on Waikiki Beach, Orchids has tracked a steady arc from hotel dining room to a ranked entry on Opinionated About Dining's North America list, reaching #477 in 2024 and climbing to #477 in 2025. The kitchen runs Italian and Mediterranean cooking under Chef Christian Testa, backed by a 115-selection wine program with 750 bottles in inventory and a sommelier team that tilts toward California producers.
Honolulu, United States
Hy's Steak House on Kūhiō Avenue has held a place in Honolulu's serious dining conversation for decades, earning back-to-back rankings on Opinionated About Dining's North America Casual list (#113 in 2023, #154 in 2024) and a White Star from Star Wine List. Open nightly from 5 pm, it represents the old-guard steakhouse tradition done with enough consistency to attract continued critical attention in a city increasingly shaped by newer concepts.
Honolulu, United States
On Hotel Street in Honolulu's Chinatown, Giovedi blurs the line between Italian technique and pan-Asian flavor in ways that feel considered rather than calculated. Husband-and-wife team Bao Tran and Jennifer Akiyoshi run an à la carte menu that treats classic Italian culinary structure as a framework for Southeast and East Asian ingredients. It is one of the more genuinely cross-cultural restaurants operating in the city right now.
Honolulu, United States
Arancino at The Kahala brings a precise Italian kitchen to the east edge of Honolulu's hotel corridor, earning consecutive Opinionated About Dining recognition in North America from 2023 through 2025. Dinner runs five nights a week from inside the Kahala Resort, where the mood sits closer to composed resort formality than casual beachside dining. For Italian on Oahu, this is the address that critics keep returning to.
Honolulu, United States
Azure pairs Hawaii Regional Cuisine with a waterfront, terrace setting and formal dinner service, so it suits a planned evening with craft cocktails and sommelier-led wine service.
Honolulu, United States
Bar Maze is Honolulu's cocktail-omakase counter on Ala Moana Boulevard, led by Ki Chung and ranked among Opinionated About Dining's Top Restaurants in North America three consecutive years through 2025. The format mirrors the discipline of a tasting-menu kitchen: a sequenced progression of drinks rather than a drinks list. It operates Wednesday through Sunday, evenings only.
Honolulu, United States
Bernini Honolulu occupies a specific and credible position in Hawaii's fine-dining tier, earning consecutive Opinionated About Dining recognition in North America from 2023 through 2025. Chef Toshihiro Kobayashi leads an Italian program that reads as genuinely unusual against Honolulu's broader dining scene, where European fine dining rarely carries this level of independent critical validation.
Honolulu, United States
Empire Steak House Hawaii sits along Ala Moana Boulevard in Honolulu, positioning itself within a city whose steakhouse tier has grown considerably more competitive as mainland concepts and locally rooted dining rooms vie for the same reservation. The address places it steps from one of Honolulu's densest hotel corridors, making it a natural reference point for visitors and kama'aina alike seeking a structured, protein-forward dinner in the heart of the city.
Honolulu, United States
Fête occupies a corner of Chinatown's Hotel Street that signals Honolulu's most serious engagement with New American cooking.
Honolulu, United States
Ranked on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats list for North America in both 2024 and 2025, Fujiyama Texas on South King Street occupies a specific lane in Honolulu's Japanese dining scene: late-night hours stretching to 3:30 am on most nights, morning service from 7 am, and a format that positions it well outside the white-tablecloth end of the market.
Honolulu, United States
Ginza Bairin brings the precise, unhurried cadence of Japanese tonkatsu dining to Honolulu's Waikiki corridor. Open daily for lunch and dinner, it sits on Beach Walk in the heart of the tourist district.
Honolulu, United States
Set on the lobby floor of the Kaimana Beach Hotel along Kalākaua Avenue, Hau Tree sits at the quieter, residential end of Waikīkī where Diamond Head begins to rise and the beach crowds thin. The restaurant trades on its setting beneath a sprawling hau tree at the edge of Sans Souci beach, making it one of Honolulu's more occasion-ready addresses for a meal tied to place rather than spectacle.
Honolulu, United States
Helena Hawaiian Foods has appeared on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in North America list three consecutive years, ranking as high as #100 in 2023. Operating out of a no-frills space on North School Street, it serves the kind of traditional Hawaiian plate lunch and local comfort food that Honolulu residents return to on weekdays without needing a reason beyond habit. Open Tuesday through Friday only, it rewards planning.
Honolulu, United States
Koko Head Cafe on Oahu's Kapahulu strip has held consecutive Opinionated About Dining Casual rankings in North America since 2024, a signal that its daytime-only format and ingredient-driven brunch cooking have registered well beyond local circles. Chef Lee Anne Wong runs the kitchen through service that ends at 2pm daily, shaping a menu where Pacific sourcing informs everything from the first course to the last.
Honolulu, United States
Marugame Udon on Kūhiō Avenue brings the Japanese fast-casual udon chain format to Waikīkī, where the self-serve counter model keeps prices low and throughput high. The cafeteria-style line, freshly cut noodles, and customisable toppings bar place it firmly in the everyday end of Honolulu's Japanese dining spectrum, a reliable stop in a neighbourhood better known for resort dining.
Honolulu, United States
Merriman's Oahu at 1108 Auahi Street sits within Honolulu's Ward Village corridor, carrying the Merriman's brand commitment to Hawaii Regional Cuisine and direct relationships with local farmers and fishermen. Recognised by Star Wine List with a White Star designation, it represents the more produce-driven end of Honolulu's dining spectrum, where sourcing geography shapes the menu as much as the kitchen does.
Honolulu, United States
Miro Kaimuki brings French-Japanese technique to a Honolulu neighbourhood far removed from the resort strip, earning consecutive Opinionated About Dining recognition in North America through 2025. Chef Chris Kajioka operates a focused kitchen on 12th Avenue in Kaimuki, where a Tuesday closure and tight evening hours signal the kitchen's priorities. The result is one of Hawaii's most critically noted fine dining addresses.
Honolulu, United States
Mud Hen Water serves Modern Hawaiian Fusion with craft cocktails, casual upscale service, and a leisurely, conversational pace; James Beard Award Semi Finalist in 2025 and 2026.
Honolulu
Selected entries from the current guide for Honolulu.
Honolulu, United States
Occupying five acres on Waikiki Beach since 1917, Halekulani is a Leading Hotels of the World member holding Michelin 2 Keys (2024) and a La Liste score of 93 points (2026). Its dining programme spans La Mer, Hawaii's only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes 5-Star restaurant, through to the open-air House Without a Key. Rates from $779 per night across 453 rooms.
Honolulu, United States
Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani occupies 288 rooms at 2233 Helumoa Road, operating as the sister property to the storied Halekulani on the quieter inland edge of Waikiki. The hotel positions itself in the mid-to-upper tier of the neighbourhood's hotel market, where the Halekulani name carries institutional weight without the flagship's pricing ceiling. It suits travellers who want proximity to the beach corridor with a calibrated level of service.
Honolulu, United States
At 839 rooms, Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach is one of Kalākaua Avenue's larger full-service properties, occupying a direct beachfront position that few competitors at this scale can match. The resort operates in the upper tier of Waikiki's volume-hotel segment, where design ambition and oceanfront access define the competitive conversation more than boutique restraint does.
Honolulu, United States
Ka La'i Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts occupies a prime position at the quieter western edge of Waikiki, offering 462 rooms with the kind of detail-oriented service that earned it a 92-point score on La Liste's 2026 Top Hotels ranking. Within Honolulu's luxury hotel tier, it sits alongside storied addresses while bringing the LXR brand's emphasis on local character and precise hospitality execution to one of the Pacific's most storied beachfront corridors.
Honolulu, United States
The Moana Surfrider, opened in 1901, holds its place as Waikiki's oldest hotel, its colonial-era veranda facing a beach that has changed considerably around it. Now operating as a Westin Resort and Spa, it sits at 2365 Kalākaua Ave in the centre of the Waikiki strip, offering a historically grounded alternative to the neighbourhood's newer high-rise inventory.
Honolulu, United States
On Lewers Street in the heart of Waikiki, Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club occupies a distinct tier among Honolulu's design-led properties: smaller in scale, sharper in aesthetic, and positioned for travelers who want the neighborhood over the resort corridor. The swim club format and mid-century Hawaiian sensibility set it apart from the larger branded properties along the beach strip.
Honolulu, United States
The Laylow, Autograph Collection brings a mid-century Hawaiian aesthetic to Kuhio Avenue, positioned in Waikiki's quieter residential edge rather than its oceanfront tower corridor. Michelin Selected in 2025, the property sits in a design-led tier that separates it from the district's larger resort complexes. For travellers who want neighbourhood texture alongside considered interiors, it reads as a deliberate alternative to the beachfront mainstream.
Honolulu, United States
Built in 1927 on Waikīkī's most sought-after stretch of sand, The Royal Hawaiian has defined beachfront luxury in Honolulu for nearly a century. Its 528 rooms and suites span a preserved Historic Building and a contemporary Mailani Tower, with the private Royal Beach Club and oceanfront Azure restaurant anchoring a retreat-minded stay. The Pink Palace remains the reference point against which all Waikīkī luxury is measured.
Honolulu, United States
A Michelin Selected hotel on the Ala Wai Canal, Wayfinder Waikiki positions itself in the design-led, independent tier of Honolulu accommodation, a counterpoint to the beachfront resort towers that dominate Waikiki's main drag. The Ala Wai address keeps the beach within walking range while placing guests at the quieter, residential edge of the neighbourhood.
Honolulu, United States
White Sands Hotel on Nohonani Street holds a 2025 MICHELIN Selected distinction, placing it in a curated tier of Honolulu accommodation that sits apart from the large resort corridors of Waikiki. The property addresses a recognisable traveller preference: central Honolulu access without the scale and programmatic density of the beachfront tower hotels. It offers a lower-key alternative within a city where hospitality options range from grand legacy resorts to boutique independents.
Honolulu, United States
Coconut Waikiki Hotel sits on Lewers Street in the heart of Waikiki, placing guests within a short walk of the beach, Kalakaua Avenue's dining corridor, and the broader urban grid of Honolulu. The property occupies a distinct position in the Waikiki market: smaller in scale than the beachfront resort towers, with a format that suits travelers who want proximity to the action without the full resort footprint.
Honolulu, United States
The Hilton Hawaiian Village occupies a commanding stretch of Waikiki beachfront at 2005 Kālia Road, placing guests at the quieter western end of the strip with direct access to the largest private beach in the area. At this scale, multiple towers, extensive pool facilities, and a full retail village, it operates as a self-contained resort rather than a conventional hotel, drawing a broad mix of families, groups, and Hilton Honors loyalists.
Honolulu, United States
Positioned on Ala Moana Boulevard at the edge of Waikiki, Hilton Vacation Club The Modern Honolulu operates within the timeshare-affiliated tier of Honolulu's hotel market, offering a design-forward alternative to the corridor's larger resort properties. The address places guests within walking distance of both Ala Moana Center and the beach strip, making it a practical base for those who prefer proximity to the city's commercial and cultural core over beachfront immersion.
Honolulu, United States
Hotel Renew on Paoakalani Avenue occupies a quieter Waikiki address than most of its neighbours, placing it in the design-conscious independent tier rather than the resort-chain bracket. The property draws travelers who want proximity to Kalakaua Avenue without the convention-scale corridors and lobby atrium theatrics that define the area's larger players. It reads as a considered counterpoint to Waikiki's dominant hospitality mode.
Honolulu, United States
Positioned directly across from Waikiki Beach on Kalākaua Avenue, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa is one of the strip's largest full-service properties, with the scale, central location, and amenity depth that suits travellers who want immediate beach access and the infrastructure of a major resort. Its twin-tower footprint places it alongside the neighbourhood's established beachfront tier, competing with properties like the Moana Surfrider and Hilton Hawaiian Village on reach and convenience.
Honolulu, United States
Positioned directly on Kālia Road where Waikīkī's resort corridor meets the open water, OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort carries one of the neighbourhood's more recognisable names into the contemporary beachfront tier. The property sits within a competitive set that includes both large international flags and smaller design-led alternatives, making it a reliable reference point for understanding how mid-to-upper beachfront accommodation operates in urban Honolulu.
Honolulu
Selected entries from the current guide for Honolulu.
Honolulu, United States
Bar Leather Apron holds a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar (2023) and a position on North America's 50 Best Bars list, making it one decorated cocktail program in Hawaii. Located in downtown Honolulu on Fort Street, it operates in a city where serious bar culture has historically been overshadowed by resort hospitality, and consistently punches above that context.
Honolulu, United States
Pint and Jigger sits on Atkinson Drive in urban Honolulu, operating in a segment of the city's cocktail scene that prizes craft technique over beach-bar spectacle. The bar draws a local crowd alongside hotel guests from the surrounding Ala Moana corridor, offering a lower-key alternative to the louder, tourist-facing venues nearby. It fits the pattern of neighborhood-anchored cocktail bars that have quietly shaped Honolulu's drinking culture over the past decade.
Honolulu, United States
9th Ave Rock House occupies a strip-mall suite on Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki, one of Honolulu's most locally-rooted dining corridors. The venue sits within a neighbourhood that has steadily shifted away from tourist-facing concepts toward spots built for residents who eat seriously. Details on format, hours, and current programming are best confirmed directly before visiting.
Honolulu, United States
IL TAPPO Hawaii sits on Kalākaua Ave in the heart of Waikiki, positioning itself against the corridor's hotel bars with a spirits-focused program that rewards guests who look past the beach-adjacent obvious choices. The back bar depth and curation make it a reference point for anyone tracking serious drinking in Urban Honolulu.
Honolulu, United States
A fixture on South King Street in the Moiliili neighbourhood, Imanas Tei draws a loyal local following for its Japanese izakaya-style approach in a city where that format sits between tourist-facing Waikiki dining and the more residential pockets of Honolulu. The kitchen operates in the tradition of after-work Japanese gastropubs, and the room reflects it: unhurried, neighbourhood-scaled, and aimed at repeat visitors rather than first-timers.
Honolulu, United States
Katsumidori Sushi Tokyo brings a Japanese sushi-bar format to Honolulu's Ala Moana corridor, operating from the ground floor of 100 Holomoana St. The setting positions it inside a broader wave of Japanese hospitality concepts finding footing in Hawaii, where proximity to Japan's food culture runs deeper than almost anywhere else in the United States.
Honolulu, United States
A Waikiki tuna counter that draws a devoted local following alongside the tourist crowd on Kalakaua Avenue. Maguro Brothers Hawaii positions itself in the raw-fish specialist tier, where the draw is product-first simplicity and repeat value rather than tableside theater. Situated steps from Royal Hawaiian Avenue, it occupies a corner of Honolulu's seafood scene that regulars treat less like a restaurant and more like a standing appointment.
Honolulu, United States
RumFire occupies a prime position on Kalākaua Avenue in Waikiki, where an open-air setting above the beach sets the tone for one of Honolulu's most atmospheric bar programs. The cocktail list leans hard into the spirit that gives the venue its name, with rum-forward builds drawing a crowd that extends well beyond the resort corridor.
Honolulu, United States
Sushi ii occupies a ground-floor unit in the Ke'eaumoku corridor, a stretch of Honolulu that functions more as a working neighbourhood than a tourist drag. Among the sushi counters in this price tier and postcode, it draws a consistent local crowd that reads as a reliable indicator of kitchen credibility. For visitors looking beyond Waikiki's dining circuit, it represents the kind of address that rewards a short detour.
Honolulu, United States
Sushi Murayama occupies a third-floor address on Sheridan Street, away from the tourist corridors that define most Honolulu dining decisions. It operates in a tier of Honolulu sushi where the sourcing conversation matters as much as technique, and where the Pacific's own waters factor into what arrives at the counter. For readers already familiar with Honolulu's serious dining room circuit, this is a venue worth tracking.
Honolulu, United States
On South King Street, away from Waikiki's tourist corridor, Sushi Sasabune holds a specific place in Honolulu's omakase conversation. The restaurant operates in the tradition of trust-the-chef Japanese counter dining, a format that arrived in Hawaii decades ago and found a receptive audience among the island's Japanese-American community. Reservations run ahead, plan accordingly.
Honolulu, United States
On Hotel Street in Chinatown, Tchin Tchin! Bar operates in a neighbourhood that has been reshaping Honolulu's drinking culture from the ground up. The bar sits within a corridor of independent venues that prioritise craft and programme over beachside spectacle, making it a reference point for cocktail-focused drinking in urban rather than resort Honolulu.
Honolulu, United States
Tokkuri Tei on Kapahulu Avenue occupies a tier of Honolulu izakaya dining that sits well outside the tourist corridor. The room runs loud and close, the menu leans toward the kind of Japanese pub fare that rewards curiosity over caution, and the kitchen draws a loyal crowd that books well ahead of the weekend rush.
Honolulu, United States
Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room in Kaka'ako sits at the intersection of Honolulu's growing wine retail culture and its appetite for considered, low-key drinking spaces. Located at 675 Auahi St in the heart of one of the city's most rapidly evolving neighbourhoods, it offers both bottles and an on-site tasting room format that rewards those who want more than a transaction.
Honolulu, United States
On Dillingham Boulevard in Honolulu's working-class Kalihi district, Yohei Sushi Restaurant operates at a remove from the tourist circuits of Waikiki and Ala Moana. The address alone signals something closer to a neighborhood institution than a destination restaurant, placing it in a tier of Honolulu sushi that rewards residents who have long known where to look.
Honolulu
Selected entries from the current guide for Honolulu.
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