Best Bars in Honolulu (Not Waikiki)

The Best Honolulu Bars Are Not in Waikiki

Waikiki's bar scene is built for visitors who want frozen drinks near the beach. Nothing wrong with that. But if you want a real bar — good cocktails, local crowd, no cover charge or resort surcharge — you need to go to Chinatown, Kaimuki, or Kaka'ako. Here is the rundown.

Apartment 3 — Kaimuki

Apartment 3 on Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki is a small, dim, genuinely good cocktail bar that feels like someone's living room converted into a bar, which is exactly the vibe they are going for. The cocktail menu rotates and skews creative — local ingredients, interesting spirit combinations, nothing too fussy. Drinks run $12–$15. The space is small and fills up on weekends, so arrive early or expect to stand. Open Wednesday through Sunday from around 5pm. Kaimuki has several good restaurants on the same stretch of Waialae, making this a natural last stop after dinner.

The Tchin Tchin Bar — Downtown / Chinatown

The Tchin Tchin Bar on Hotel Street in Chinatown occupies a historic building and serves a well-curated list of wines, beers, and spirits. The atmosphere leans wine bar more than dive bar — exposed brick, good lighting, a knowledgeable staff. Glasses of wine run $10–$14. It is quieter than the surrounding Chinatown nightlife spots and better for conversation. Open evenings Tuesday through Sunday.

12th Ave Grill — Kaimuki

12th Ave Grill is primarily a restaurant but the bar is a neighborhood institution in Kaimuki. The bartenders are skilled and the cocktail program is serious. Happy hour runs on weekdays. Even without a food reservation, you can often sit at the bar. It is the kind of place where the person next to you has been coming every week for five years. Located on 12th Avenue just off Waialae.

Smith and Kings — Kaka'ako

Smith and Kings on Cooke Street is the bar that fits with the new Kaka'ako — young, local, creative industry crowd, good beer selection, comfortable enough to spend a full evening. The space is large by Honolulu standards with both indoor and outdoor areas. It functions as bar, restaurant, and event space. Open daily from mid-afternoon.

Bar Leather Apron — Downtown

Worth repeating here for the non-happy-hour crowd: Bar Leather Apron is the best cocktail bar in Honolulu and is absolutely worth visiting in the evening. The full menu runs $14–$16 per cocktail but they are properly made with quality spirits and fresh ingredients. The room holds maybe 30 people comfortably. Reservations for a specific seat are available but walk-ins can usually find spots at the bar itself. Closed Sundays.

The Chinatown Strip

The blocks around Hotel Street and Nuuanu Avenue in Chinatown have a cluster of bars within walking distance of each other: thirtyninehotel for the arts-adjacent crowd, The Tchin Tchin for wine, Manifest for a more relaxed scene. The neighborhood has a mixed character — it is genuinely gritty in places — but the bar scene is well-established and safe. Uber or rideshare is easier than parking.

Practical Notes

Most Honolulu bars outside Waikiki close earlier than mainland city bars — many wind down by midnight on weekdays, 2am on weekends. There is no single late-night bar district the way there might be in a larger city. If you are planning a bar crawl, start in Chinatown and end in Kaimuki or Kaka'ako, as that is the natural geographic flow. Parking in Chinatown is available in the municipal lot on Smith Street.