Clubs and pubs for party people and night owls

Honolulu’s diverse nightlife options include full-time clubs, lounges, wine bars, monthly and weekly mixers and much more. Looking for an after-dark destination? One of these is sure to match your style. ~ Kawehi Haug and Derek Paiva

PURE CLUBBING

You’ll always find a busy floor to get your dance on at these full-time nightclubs.

The O Lounge, 1349 Kapi'olani Blvd. 944-8436. Best p.m.: Fridays and Saturdays, particularly FLOW, the first Friday of each month, when an 18-and-over hiphop freestyle emcee competition takes over the club.

Lotus Soundbar, 2301 Kuhio Ave., 924- 1688. The appeal: Turntablists with an eclectic attitude, and high-quality sound.

Zanzabar, 2255 Kuhio Ave., 924-3939.

Venus Nightclub, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd., 955-2640. Best p.m.: Saturday nights that are “certified sensual.”

Pipeline Cafe, 805 Pohukaina St., 589- 1999. The appeal: They don’t come to look good; they come to dance. Early evenings often offer live sounds.

Fashion 45, 2255 Kuhio Ave., 922- 4599.

Scruples, 2310 Kuhio Ave., 923-9530.

The Living Room, Fisherman’s Wharf, 1009 Ala Moana Blvd., 395-2100. Best p.m.: Thursday nights for reggae and dancehall on the turntables.

BEER UP TO HERE

We’re talking variety, people.

Bar 35, 35 N. Hotel St., 537-3535. Best p.m.: Fridays for post-work cocktails, Saturday late night for indie and alternative spins.

Yard House, Waikiki Beach Walk, 26 Lewers St., 923-9273. The appeal: New kid on the block, with more than 110 beers on tap.

Ryan’s, Ward Centre, 591-9132.The appeal: A local favorite, with pretty people.

Gordon Biersch, Aloha Tower Marketplace, 599-4877.

Kona Brewing Co., Koko Marina Center, 394-5662. The appeal: Locally brewed beer that holds its own against the bigger guys.

LIVE AND LOCAL

You can dance if you want to. But go for some of the best live sounds in town.

Hanks Cafe Honolulu, 1038 Nu'uanu Ave., 526-1410. The appeal: Hanks is super-chill, with laid-back local sounds; visitors often sit in.

The Dragon Upstairs, 1038 Nu'uanu Ave., 526-1411. The appeal: Jazz is the prime directive, with a lineup of rotating emphases, from solo piano to vocals to bop.

Tsunami's, 2260 Kuhio Ave., 923- 8848.

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.

Anna Bannana’s, 2440 S. Beretania St., 946-5190.

Mai Tai Bar, Ala Moana Center, 947- 2900. The appeal: Local to da max.

Don Ho’s Island Grill, Aloha Tower Marketplace, 528-0807.

O’Toole’s Irish Pub, 902 Nu‘uanu Ave., 536-4138. The appeal: Good drinks to the tune of all kinds of live music, from regular gigs to one-time shows.

On Stage Drinks and Grinds, 802 Kapahulu Ave., 536-4138. The appeal: Open-mike jam sessions anytime, with anybody who’s game.

Chiko's Tavern, 930 McCully St., 949- 5440. Best p.m.: Every other Thursday with Hoku Zuttermeister on vocals and guitar.

The Irish Rose Saloon, 478 ‘Ena Rd., 947-3414. The appeal: 365 nights of live music.

Moana Terrace, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, 2552 Kalakaua Ave., 922- 6611. Best p.m.: Sundays for live Hawaiian music. If you’re lucky, you might catch Eddie Kamae or Aaron Mahi.

SoBe SCENE

Downtown nightlife South of Beretania Street gets eclectic when the sun goes down.

NextDoor, 43 N. Hotel St., 548-6398.

Thirtyninehotel, 39 N. Hotel St., 599- 2552.

The Mercury Bar, 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.

The Loft, 115 Hotel St., 688-8813. Best p.m.: Fridays for all indie, all night.

Amy’s Place, 49 Hotel St., 550-8168. Best p.m.: First Fridays for live music courtsey of Keiko Bonk and Kazan.

 

DINE FIRST, CLUB LATER

After diners go home, these venues stay up late.

The Hanohano Room/Cobalt Lounge, Sheraton Waikiki, 922-4422. Best p.m.: Skyline, first and third Saturdays.

Aaron’s Atop the Ala Moana, Ala Moana Hotel, 955-4466. The appeal: Sweeping city views, mod interiors.

W Diamond Head Grill, W Honolulu, 922-3734. Best p.m.: The Playground on Fridays, The Dragonfly Room on Saturdays.

Indigo Eurasian Cuisine, 1121 Nu'uanu Ave., 537-4164. Best p.m.: Get Fresh! weekly, with out-of-town DJs and eclectic spins, Fridays.

Che Pasta, 1001 Bishop St., 524-0004. Keep an eye out for specialty nights.

Brew Moon, Ward Centre, 593-0088. Best p.m.: 18-and-older club kids catch sugar highs at Rock Star Fridays, weekly.

Doraku Sushi, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, 922-3323. Best p.m.: The second and fourth Fridays of the month for The Supper Club — late-night noshing and low-key, high-end socializing.

Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, 2552 Kaläkaua Ave., 931-6286. Best p.m.: Thursday nights for live jazz and late-night sushi.

E&O Trading Co., Ward Centre, 2552 Kalakaua Ave., 931-6286. Best p.m.: Friday nights for Flavor Fridays with DJs, dancing and $3 cocktails.

GOT NICHE?

Beachside music? Country? That’s niche.

Nashville Waikiki, 2330 Kuhio Ave., 926- 7911. The soundtrack: All about country, live and DJed.

Duke’s Waikiki, 2335 Kaläkaua Ave., 922-2268. The appeal: Live Island contemporary music nightly, beachside.

COCKTAILS AND VINO

Fresh-ingredient cocktails, self-served and server-served wine, and sometimes, live music.

Pearl, Ala Moana Center, 944-8000. The appeal: Cocktail menu by master mixologist Francesco Lafranconi.

Lewers Lounge, Halekulani,923-2311. The appeal: Cocktail menu by Jedimaster- mixologist Dale DeGroff; live jazz nightly.

Amuse, Honolulu Design Center, 956- 1250.

Formaggio, Market City Shopping Center, 739-7719

Brasserie Du Vin, 1115 Bethel St., Brew Moon E&O Trading Co. Nashville Waikiki RumFire

545-1115. The appeal: More than 200 wines; duh.

Vino, Restaurant Row, 524-8466. The appeal: Wines selected by Chuck Furuya, master sommelier, with food to match.

RumFire, Sheraton Waikiki, 2255 Kalakaua Ave., 866-952-3473. The appeal: The state’s only rum bar with a lengthy menu of signature cocktails.

GAY FRIENDLY

Drinks! Dancing! Shirtless bartenders!

Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand, 134 Kapahulu Ave., 923-0669. The appeal: Those shirtless bartenders? They’re here.

Angles Waikiki, 2256 Kuhio Ave., 926- 9766.

Fusion Waikiki, 2260 Kuhio Ave., 924- 2422. Best p.m.: Fridays and Saturdays for diva-divine drag shows.

In-Between, 2155 Lau‘ula St., 926- 7060.

RAISE THE BAR

Skip the dancing and raise a glass to good company, good drink and good times at these local watering holes.

Murphy’s Bar and Grill, 2 Merchant St., 531-0422. The appeal: Pauhana, Irish pub-style. Snake bites and shuffleboard included.

Fort Street Bar and Grill, 745 Fort Street Mall, 523-1500. The appeal: Super local-style after-work hangout with cheap drinks and ‘ono grinds.

Eastside Grill, 1035 University Ave., 943-0390. Best p.m.: Sundays for live blues and cheap pitchers of Blue Moon.

Aku Bone Lounge, 1201 Kona St., 589- 2020. The appeal: An everyone’s-welcome vibe; live local music nightly.

The Varsity, 1015 University Ave., 447-9244.

La Mariana, 50 Sand Island Access Road, 848-2800. The appeal: It’s an unchanged tiki-kitsch piano bar with a talking parrot that greets visitors at the door. What’s not appealing about that?

Side Street Inn, 1225 Hopaka St., 596- 8282.The appeal: People go for the food and stay for drinks and a ballgame.

Da Big Kahuna, 2299 Kuhio Ave., 923- 0033. The appeal: The name sort of says it all. This place is big. With big chairs, big drinks and big, loud fun.

The Hideaway, 1913 Dudoit Lane. The appeal: A tried and true dive (the kind that doesn’t have a telephone) with a super loyal band of regulars (who never call, they just show up).

Kelley O’Neil’s, 311 Lewers St., 926- 1777. Best p.m.: Wednesday nights