Honolulu’s year-round warm weather makes it the perfect setting for sipping on cool beverages – and Honolulu bar owners are stepping out of the tacky tiki bar cliche with luxe, creativity, and excellent customer service.
Check out these bars on your next visit.
Bar Leather Apron
Photo: Bar Leather Apron
As you step into this swanky gentleman’s lounge on the mezzanine level of Topa Financial Plaza downtown, a bearded man in suspenders will greet you and ask if you have reservations. You will have made reservations at least 2 weeks in advance and booked seats at the bar.
Award-winning mixologist Justin Park combines his signature cocktail-mixing skills with his love for premium whiskies, Billie Holiday records, suspenders, and the leather aprons worn by all the bar-tenders. Order their Mai Tai – voted world’s best in 2015 – and be amazed when your bartender lines up over 10 ingredients on the bar to mix your concoction. He or she will put your Mai Tai in a hollow wooden tiki statue, followed by a puff of kiawe wood smoke. Watch the results – then drink them.