Happy Hour is a time-honoured tradition in Hawaii, a most-splendid period when restaurants and bars offer food and drinks at discounted prices.
Oahu’s tourist epicentre, Waikiki, is famous for these promotions.
Here’s a sampler of the best Happy Hours in town, where you’ll find a good range of cold drinks and tasty pupus (appetizers) ranging between a bargain U$5-10.
BASALT
Duke’s Lane Market & Eatery, 2255 Kuhio Avenue, Waikiki
Happy Hour: Daily 3:00-6:00pm
Happy Hour at BASALT is a foodies dream. Located inside Dukes Lane Market & Eatery, BASALT is a good-quality restaurant with a notable Happy Hour spanning three hours daily. They have a mouth-watering selection of Appetizing Bites from burgers, flatbread pizzas and pork belly buns to gourmet cheese and charcuterie platters. Indulge in crafty cocktails or a glass of red, wine, rosé or sparkling wine. Come for Happy Hour and stay for the great live music 6:00-9:00pm.
HERRINGBONE
International Market Place, Grand Lanai, 2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki
Happy Hour: Daily 4:00-6:00pm (bar and lounge only)
Herringbone’s Happy Hour, called Oyster Hour, is perfect for the seafood-obsessed. This Southern Californian restaurant offers Two Buck Shucks during this period. Fresh oysters are served on the half shell with Maui sweet onion mignonette, chilli pepper water and wasabi cocktail sauce. Combine with House Made Fries served with Old Bay herbs and spice seasoning, malt vinegar aioli and ketchup. Top off with a cocktail, glass of bubbles, Provence rosé, red or white wine, or Kona beer.
KONA GRILL
International Market Place, Grand Lanai, 2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki
Happy Hour: Mon-Sun 2:00-6:00pm (bar, patio and lounge only)
Kona Grill features one of the most extensive Happy Hour menus on the island. Kicking off early at 2pm, the Happy Hour food and drinks list satisfies multiple tastes. Pick up a hand-crafted cocktail, red sangria, bottled saké or wines by the glass. A modern American and sushi feast awaits from spicy tuna rolls and potstickers (dumplings), to chicken satay sticks and cheeseburger sliders.
MORIMOTO ASIA WAIKIKI
Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, 2490 Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki
Happy Hour: Daily 5:00-7:00pm (bar and lounge only)
The Happy Hour price is right at Morimoto Asia Waikiki. This is Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s trendy restaurant at Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach. You can grab small plates for around five bucks each, the menu is subject to change but will always be gourmet. Sample the likes of yakiso-ba noodles, takoyaki, gyu tacos, rock shrimp and wagyu beef sliders. Match your mini-meal with a Kirin frozen beer or lychee spritz cocktail, and relax into the venues upbeat house music.
TOP OF WAIKIKI
2270 Kalakaua Avenue, 18th Floor, Waikiki
Happy Hour: Daily 5:00pm-9:30pm (bar only)
Top of Waikiki has a Happy Hour clocking in at a lengthy 4.5 hours long! Sit in the centre of Ha-waii’s only revolving restaurant watching the world spin by while filling up on bevies and bites. Sip on a selection of Signature Cocktails. The appetizers like Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Fried Calamari and Baked Potato Tots make the perfect accompaniment. Wash everything down with discounted Bud Light draft beer.
More info here.
