Guidebook for Honolulu
Food Scene
The FIX Sports Lounge and Nightclub
80 S Pauahi StDelicious take on Vietnamese cuisine.
Affordable Vietnamese that's quick and easy. Not open on Mondays.
7 locals recommend
Saigon's Restaurant
3624 Waialae AveAffordable Vietnamese that's quick and easy. Not open on Mondays.
A local favorite spot for poké (Hawaiian raw fish salad), by the bowl or by the pound. Their seafood deli also has a variety of other fresh and pickled goods.
This is also a great place to pick up beer, wine, liquor, and snack items.
58 locals recommend
Tamura's Fine Wine & Liquors
3496 Waialae AveA local favorite spot for poké (Hawaiian raw fish salad), by the bowl or by the pound. Their seafood deli also has a variety of other fresh and pickled goods.
This is also a great place to pick up beer, wine, liquor, and snack items.
The chef (who was on the first season of Top Chef) plays on local favorites to come up with unique and tasty dishes.
85 locals recommend
Koko Head Cafe
1120 12th AveThe chef (who was on the first season of Top Chef) plays on local favorites to come up with unique and tasty dishes.
A more casual version of The Pig and the Lady. Try the "Pho-strami" at lunch and their desserts!
19 locals recommend
Piggy Smalls
1200 Ala Moana BlvdA more casual version of The Pig and the Lady. Try the "Pho-strami" at lunch and their desserts!
A cute coffee shop that serves small dishes and baked goods, with brunch options on the weekend.
33 locals recommend
Morning Glass Coffee
2955 E Manoa RdA cute coffee shop that serves small dishes and baked goods, with brunch options on the weekend.
One of the best places to get an Acai bowl, which is similar to a fruit smoothie.
62 locals recommend
da Cove Health Bar and Cafe
3045 Monsarrat AveOne of the best places to get an Acai bowl, which is similar to a fruit smoothie.
A great option for vegans, vegetarians, or anyone looking for tasty healthy food.
7 locals recommend
Juicy Brew
3392 Waialae AveA great option for vegans, vegetarians, or anyone looking for tasty healthy food.
Leahi Health Kaimuki
3441 Waialae AveDelicious, healthy smoothies and salad bowls.
Mud Hen Water
3452 Waialae AveModern Hawaiian food.
Kaimuki Superette
3458 Waialae AveStylish cafe with brunch and lunch options.
The best shave ice shop in Hawaii! Shave ice is a local treat that is like a snow cone but much better!
27 locals recommend
Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha
820 W Hind DrThe best shave ice shop in Hawaii! Shave ice is a local treat that is like a snow cone but much better!
'Ai Love Nalo
41-1025 Kalanianaʻole HwyDelicious vegan and vegetarian food and drinks with a local twist!
Enjoy drinks and/or food with an ocean view! This is a very busy tourist area.
311 locals recommend
Duke's Waikiki
2335 Kalakaua AveEnjoy drinks and/or food with an ocean view! This is a very busy tourist area.
Try the cocoa puffs and poi mochi donuts. This is the original locations but there are a couple others in Honolulu.
116 locals recommend
Liliha Bakery
515 N Kuakini StTry the cocoa puffs and poi mochi donuts. This is the original locations but there are a couple others in Honolulu.
Parks & Nature
An easy hike (if you don't mind stairs) that ends at a great view of the ocean and Waikiki.
There is a small fee for parking.
261 locals recommend
Diamond Head Crater Hike
KapahuluAn easy hike (if you don't mind stairs) that ends at a great view of the ocean and Waikiki.
There is a small fee for parking.
Makapuʻu Lookout
Kalanianaʻole HighwayAn easy-medium hike with ocean views.
A great snorkeling spot for beginners and families! There is a small admission fee.
531 locals recommend
Hanauma Bay
7455 Kalanianaʻole HighwayA great snorkeling spot for beginners and families! There is a small admission fee.
A beautiful beach that has best sunlight before 3:30pm. Great for bodyboarding and body surfing. The surf is often too strong for beginner swimmers.
41 locals recommend
Makapu'u Beach Park
A beautiful beach that has best sunlight before 3:30pm. Great for bodyboarding and body surfing. The surf is often too strong for beginner swimmers.
A long and beautiful beach with small and gentle waves. This is a good spot for beginner swimmers. Bring a body board for some fun!
This beach is best enjoyed before 3:30pm, due to sunlight.
12 locals recommend
Sherwood Beach
41-43 Aloiloi StA long and beautiful beach with small and gentle waves. This is a good spot for beginner swimmers. Bring a body board for some fun!
This beach is best enjoyed before 3:30pm, due to sunlight.
A surf spot for intermediate surfers. There is also a great view of the ocean and surfers from the parking lot.
261 locals recommend
Diamond Head Crater Hike
KapahuluA surf spot for intermediate surfers. There is also a great view of the ocean and surfers from the parking lot.
Nice beach in town that can get crowded. It is a good spot for beginner swimmers.
110 locals recommend
Ala Moana Beach Park
1201 Ala Moana BlvdNice beach in town that can get crowded. It is a good spot for beginner swimmers.
Maunalani Community Park
4625 Sierra DrA quiet park up the hill that has tennis and basketball courts.
Lanikai Beach
Small, calm beach with beautiful views. It gets busy on weekends.
Legendary beach with huge waves in the winter (sometimes 50+ feet faces) but usually calm in the summer. If you're feeling adventurous, take a leap off "Jump Rock"!
If the parking lot is full, you can park on the street (read the signs), or pay for parking near Waimea Falls (across the street).
389 locals recommend
Waimea Bay Beach
Legendary beach with huge waves in the winter (sometimes 50+ feet faces) but usually calm in the summer. If you're feeling adventurous, take a leap off "Jump Rock"!
If the parking lot is full, you can park on the street (read the signs), or pay for parking near Waimea Falls (across the street).
A very popular hike of over 1000 stairs with a great view from the top.
116 locals recommend
Koko Head Park
Koko Head Park RoadA very popular hike of over 1000 stairs with a great view from the top.
A fairly easy hike that overlooks Lanikai beach and has a few old military bunkers, the "pillboxes", along the way.
92 locals recommend
Lanikai Pillboxes
A fairly easy hike that overlooks Lanikai beach and has a few old military bunkers, the "pillboxes", along the way.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great cocktails and drinks in a fun bar that young locals frequent. There is often a live DJ playing music.
28 locals recommend
Bevy
675 Auahi StGreat cocktails and drinks in a fun bar that young locals frequent. There is often a live DJ playing music.
Good cocktails with nice ambience, near other Chinatown establishments.
21 locals recommend
The Tchin Tchin! Bar
39 N Hotel StGood cocktails with nice ambience, near other Chinatown establishments.
A fun bar that gets packed with locals on various nights of the week.
39 locals recommend
The Manifest
32 N Hotel StA fun bar that gets packed with locals on various nights of the week.
Blue Note is a legendary jazz music venue with locations around the world. Check the calendar to see if there are any jazz legends playing during your visit. http://bluenotehawaii.com/
47 locals recommend
Blue Note Hawaii
2335 Kalākaua AvenueBlue Note is a legendary jazz music venue with locations around the world. Check the calendar to see if there are any jazz legends playing during your visit. http://bluenotehawaii.com/
Pint and Jigger
410 S King StCraft beer and cocktails.
Arts & Culture
Shangri La is a center for Islamic arts and cultures, offering guided tours, residencies for scholars and artists, and programs with the purpose of improving understanding of the Islamic world. Built in 1937 as the Honolulu home of American heiress and philanthropist Doris Duke (1912-1993), Shangri La was inspired by Duke’s extensive travels throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia and reflects architectural traditions from India, Iran, Morocco and Syria.
Tours must be scheduled through the Honolulu Museum of Art at http://www.shangrilahawaii.org/visit.
67 locals recommend
Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design
4055 Pāpū CirShangri La is a center for Islamic arts and cultures, offering guided tours, residencies for scholars and artists, and programs with the purpose of improving understanding of the Islamic world. Built in 1937 as the Honolulu home of American heiress and philanthropist Doris Duke (1912-1993), Shangri La was inspired by Duke’s extensive travels throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia and reflects architectural traditions from India, Iran, Morocco and Syria.
Tours must be scheduled through the Honolulu Museum of Art at http://www.shangrilahawaii.org/visit.
Essentials
About 6 minutes from the house. A one-stop shop for groceries and prepared foods
370 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
629 Kailua RdAbout 6 minutes from the house. A one-stop shop for groceries and prepared foods
A grocery store that is more affordable than Whole Foods. They also have great poké bowls.
183 locals recommend
Foodland
2939 Harding AveA grocery store that is more affordable than Whole Foods. They also have great poké bowls.
Costco Wholesale
4589 Kapolei PkwyA busy Costco in town.
Costco Wholesale
4589 Kapolei PkwyA nice Costco that isn't too busy.
Target
345 Hahani StTarget at the mall.
Shopping
A huge outdoor mall with many major shops, department stores, and restaurants.
829 locals recommend
Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana BlvdA huge outdoor mall with many major shops, department stores, and restaurants.
A modest shopping mall with essentials, Whole Foods, and a small movie theater.
196 locals recommend
Kahala Mall
4211 Waialae AveA modest shopping mall with essentials, Whole Foods, and a small movie theater.
A fancy outdoor shopping mall in the heart of Waikiki.
212 locals recommend
International Market Place
2330 Kalakaua AveA fancy outdoor shopping mall in the heart of Waikiki.
South Shore Market
1170 Auahi StA collection of chic local shops. Great for unique gifts.
Entertainment & Activities
Modern movie theater with all of the latest films. There are also restaurants and shops nearby.
104 locals recommend
Consolidated Theatres Ward with TITAN LUXE
1044 Auahi StModern movie theater with all of the latest films. There are also restaurants and shops nearby.