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Diggin' Honolulu's after-hours scene
Honolulu's nightlife options don't change rapidly — blame limited space and the cost of real estate. Still, there are enough options — full-time clubs, lounges, wine bars, monthly and weekly mixers — to give club kids a choice. Try this list of after-dark destinations. Which one matches your style? ~Derek Paiva
Pure clubbing
Full-time nightclubs are becoming as rare in our town as club kids who actually dance. But you'll always find a busy floor to get your dance on at these spots.
l The O Lounge, 1349 Kapi'olani Blvd., 944-8436. Best p.m.: Fridays and Saturdays, when mainstream club kids pay homage to top 40, hip-hop and R&B by dancing and hooking up.
l Lotus Soundbar, 2301 Kuhio Ave., 924-1688.
l Zanzabar, 2255 Kuhio Ave., 924-3939.
l Venus, 1344 Kona St., 941-4641.
l Pipeline Café, 805 Pohukaina St., 589-1999. The appeal: They don't come to look good; they come to dance.
l Fashion 45, 2255 Kuhio Ave., 922-4599.
l Ocean Club, Restaurant Row, 531-8444. The crowd: Mostly older than 25 and younger than 40; high-school reunion-ready, that is.
l Scruples, 2310 Kuhio Ave., 923-9530.
Beer up to here
We're talking variety, people. These spots could keep you busy trying new tastes for months; all have food, too.
l Bar 35, 35 N. Hotel St., 537-3535. Best p.m.: Fridays for post-work cocktails, Saturday late night for indie and alternative spins.
l Yard House, Waikiki Beach Walk, 26 Lewers St., 923-9273. The appeal: New kid on the block, with more than 110 beers on tap.
l Ryan's, Ward Centre, 591-9132. The appeal: A local favorite, with crowd-watching potential.
Live and local
You can dance if you want to. But go for some of the best live sounds in town.
l Hanks Cafe Honolulu, 1038 Nu'uanu Ave., 526-1410. The appeal: Hanks is super-chill, with laid-back local sounds; visitors often sit in with the band.
l The Dragon Upstairs, 1038 Nu'uanu Ave., 526-1411. The appeal: Jazz is the prime directive, with a lineup of rotating emphasis, from solo piano to vocals to bop.
l Sound/House, 1192 Alakea St., 393-0545. The appeal: Catch a rising local indie band, live.
l Tsunami's, 2260 Kuhio Ave., 923-8848.
l Jazz Minds Art & Cafe, 1661 Kapi'olani Blvd., 945-0800. Best p.m.: Saturdays for Tempo Valley's live hip-hop with a world-beat pulse.
l Velvet Lounge, 327 Keawe St., 392-3692. The appeal: Reggae specialists.
l Anna Bannana's, 2440 S. Beretania St., 946-5190.
l Mai Tai Bar, Ala Moana Center, 947-2900. The appeal: Local to da max.
SoBe scene
Downtown nightlife South of Beretania Street gets eclectic when the sun goes down.
l NextDoor, 43 N. Hotel St., 548-6398. Best p.m.: '80s mod-rock without the irony at Acid Wash, Wednesdays.
l thirtyninehotel, 39 N. Hotel St., 599-2552.
l Mercury Lounge, 1154 Fort Street Mall (entry on Chaplain Lane), 537-3080. Best p.m.: Drum-n-bass for the people, at Subphonix monthly, every first Friday.
Restaurant first, club later
After diners go home, these venues stay up late.
l The Hanohano Room/Cobalt Lounge, Sheraton Waikiki, 922-4422. Best p.m.: Exclusive vibe and Waikiki views at Skyline, first and third Saturdays.
l W Diamond Head Grill, W Honolulu, 922-3734.
l Indigo Eurasian Cuisine, 1121 Nu'uanu Ave., 537-4164. Best p.m.: Get Fresh! weekly, with out-of-town DJs and eclectic spins, Fridays.
l Che Pasta, 1001 Bishop St., 524-0004.
l Brew Moon, Ward Centre, 593-0088. Best p.m.: 18-and-over club kids catch sugar highs at Rock Star Fridays, weekly.
Got niche?
Cocktails on the beach with live sounds? Just say yes. Country music? That's niche, all right.
l Nashville Waikiki, 2330 Kuhio Ave., 926-7911. The soundtrack: All about country, live and DJed.
l Duke's Waikiki, 2335 Kalakaua Ave., 922-2268. The appeal: Live Island contemporary music nightly, beachside.
Cocktails and vino
Fresh-ingredient cocktails in town, a dearth of snobs and, sometimes, live music
l Pearl, Ala Moana Center, 944-8000. The appeal: Cocktail menu by master mixologist Francesco Lafranconi.
l Lewers Lounge, Halekulani, 923-2311. The appeal: Cocktail menu by Jedi-master-mixologist Dale DeGroff; live jazz nightly.
l Formaggio, Market City Shopping Center, 739-7719.
l Brasserie Du Vin, 1115 Bethel St., 545-1115. The appeal: More than 200 wines in a cozily imagined French brasserie setting.
l Vino, Restaurant Row, 524-8466. The appeal: Wines selected by Chuck Furuya, master sommelier, with food to match.
Gay friendly
Drinks! Dancing! Shirtless bartenders!
l Hula's Bar & Lei Stand, 134 Kapahulu Ave., 923-0669. The appeal: Those shirtless bartenders? They're here.
l Angles Waikiki, 2256 Kuhio Ave., 926-9766.
l Fusion Waikiki, 2260 Kuhio Ave., 924-2422. Best p.m.: Fridays and Saturdays for diva-divine drag shows.
l In Between, 2155 Lau'ula St., 926-7060.
Arty monthlies
Nurture your culture and the arts mojo at these events.
l ARTafterDARK, last Friday of each month, February through November, Honolulu Academy of Arts, 532-6091. The appeal: Art, cocktails, food, entertainment, a different theme each month, like-minded young art lovers.
l First Fridays Downtown Gallery Walk, first Friday of every month, downtown Honolulu/Chinatown, 521-2903. The appeal: Eye candy, artistic and otherwise.
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