Look, I won’t lie. I put extensive research into this particular blog post for you while I was in Waikiki.
I left no cocktail menu untouched, no rooftop restaurant or bar unnoticed and no dessert unfinished in my quest to discover my favourite places to eat and drink in Waikiki, Honolulu!
And here, in no particular order, they are:
Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store
This was one of my favourite spots during our time in Waikiki. Covering three levels, you can shop the gorgeous Tommy Bahama brand on level one, enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner on the second level (the decor is incredible) or head up to the third-story, which is what we did.
That’s where you’ll find an amazing rooftop bar featuring a beach-inspired cocktail area complete with sand and fire pits.
The cocktail menu is extensive (I highly recommend the Lemon Drop Martini) and the food is outstanding (hello scallop sliders! Where have you been all my life?)
Oh and make sure you ask to see the Dessert Menu, because it’s a menu like no other. 
I ordered the Pineapple Creme Brulee and can confirm it was worth every single delicious calorie.
Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store, corner of Kalakaua Avenue and Beach Walk.
The Cheesecake Factory
Ok, so I’ll let you in on a slightly embarrassing secret. The first time I went to a Cheesecake Factory (about 6 years ago) I didn’t get what all the fuss was about. I mean who wants to have dinner in a factory that makes cheesecakes? I am not kidding. This is not a drill. I really did think I was going to a place that only made cheesecakes #awkies #howembarrassing
So you can imagine my surprise when I discovered I was in fact at a restaurant with over 250 menu options! The Cheesecake Factory at Waikiki is massive and so too is the wait to get a table. You can’t make a booking so expect to wait anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours for your buzzer to go off, indicating there’s a table ready for you.
The longest we’ve waited is 45 minutes, but we do know of friends who waited over two hours for a table. There are plenty of shops nearby to wander through while you wait. Alternatively you can sit outside on the nearby garden wall, where the people watching is SUPERIOR, if that’s your thing (it’s totally my thing!)
When it comes to ordering, be aware that your meal will be enough food for approximately 34 people.* Yes, the serving sizes are HUGE and any soft drinks ordered are re-filled constantly (at no additional cost). But don’t think those details ever stop Scott from inhaling a Grande Burrito that’s almost bigger than his arm.
* probably a slight exaggeration. It’s more like 31.5
The Cheesecake Factory Honolulu, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Centre, 2301 Kalakaua Avenue
Buho Cantina
Another fantastic rooftop restaurant and bar, this time serving up Mexican food. I loved the surroundings and the cocktail I ordered was delicious!
The food was good – really fresh and not a dollop of processed cheese in sight – but all of our meals were really hot/spicy which wasn’t my thing.
But don’t let that turn you off. Buho Cantina is definitely worth a visit, especially if you love checking out gorgeous interiors (or in this case exteriors) and delicious cocktail menus.
Buho Cantina, 2250 Kalakaua Avenue
Rumfire
We discovered Rumfire during our stay in Waikiki last year and loved it so much we had to return this time around. It’s located within the Sheraton Waikiki, but like all hotels in Honolulu anyone is welcome to eat and/or drink there, regardless of where you’re staying.
Rumfire offers a delicious menu, excellent cocktails (please tell me there’s a reader out there who has ordered a Coronita!) and the most incredible ocean views.
Oh and if you do go to Rumfire, make sure you check out the Sheraton’s infinity pool while you’re there. It is AMAZING.
Rumfire, Sheraton Waikiki, 2255 Kalakaua Avenue
Dukes Waikiki
This is a bit controversial, but I’m not really a fan of Dukes. Personally I think it’s over rated and over priced for what you get (Hello yellow cheese on all the things. Did you come out of a can?) but the place is always packed, so I think I’m probably the only person on the planet who thinks that!
HOWEVER, this visit was the first time we ordered a slice of the legendary Hula Pie.
Several friends and Instagram followers insisted we order a slice and I’m so pleased they did. It was DELICIOUS – think a cookie crust, vanilla ice cream, hot fudge sauce, whipped cream and crushed macadamia nuts and you are in Hula Pie heaven.
US$10 a slice and it was more than enough for the four of us. My recommendation would be to skip the mains at Dukes and enjoy a sneaky cocktail with a Hula Pie chaser. Yummo!
Dukes Waikiki, 2335 Kalakaua Ave (From the beach look for the Duke’s signs at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort. From Kalakaua Avenue look for the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort)
Wai’Olu Ocean View Lounge, Trump International Hotel
Don’t let the name of this hotel put you off. Instead make your way to the Wai’Olu Ocean View Lounge on Level Two via the elevator. Once there silently thank DT for having the coin to build a fancy hotel that offers the only Mai Tai that comes with a floating ball of Bicardi Pineapple Sorbet and a fresh orchid.
Then wonder if he’s ever read that that blog post you wrote about him before thinking no, Donald Trump wouldn’t have time for that. He’d be too busy rolling the sorbet balls to be reading blogs, surely?
JOKES. As if Donald Trump rolls the sorbet balls for the Mai Tais at his own hotel.
He’d be in charge of making sure they were the exact shade of orange.
#nailedit
Wai’Olu Ocean View Lounge*, Trump International Hotel, 223 Saratoga Road
*In true DTrump style, the name of the lounge is a bit of a stretch. While you can see the ocean if you turn your head a very hard left while sitting at certain tables in the lounge, the main view overlooks a car park. But Wai’Olu Public Car Park View Lounge doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, does it?!
House Without A Key, Halekulani
Halekulani is one of the most beautiful, tranquil hotels I’ve ever had the pleasure of walking through. When I grow up and/or win lotto, I would like to stay there.
I highly recommend a wander through the gorgeous grounds of Halekulani followed by a sunset cocktail at House Without A Key. It’s a beautiful outdoor spot, set under century old Kiawe tree complete with nightly entertainment courtesy of a talented Hawaiian music trio and former Miss Hawaii winners gracefully demonstrating the hula.
The blended mojito has been my cocktail of choice for our last two visits, while the children highly recommend the Frozen Lemonade. (They both say skip the Mango Smoothie – it’s far too sweet for us Aussies!)
House Without A Key, Halekulani, 2199 Kalia Road
Bills Hawaii
If you’re craving some good old-fashioned Aussie food, you can’t go past Bills Hawaii. Owned by Sydney chef, Bill Granger, the menu has a distinct Aussie cafe feel to it.
I’ve only been there for breakfast, so I don’t know what lunch and dinner is like, but I can confirm that both the corn fritters and the scrambled eggs are delicious.
Bills Hawaii, 280 Beachwalk Ave
FAQ’s
How much do I have to tip?
15-20% is the standard rate in the US. If paying by credit card, your meal will be processed first and your tip then processed separately. If you don’t have a mathematical brain, don’t worry. A little rate card indicating how much to tip based on the final bill is usually politely inserted into the bill folder for your reference.
Are kids welcome at the restaurants and bars in Hawaii?
Yes, they are. Waikiki is very much a family holiday destination and the restaurants and bars in central Waikiki in particular welcome children.
FYI: When I use the word ‘bar’ I’m not referring to a nightclub style of bar – there aren’t any of those in central Waikiki (they’ve all been moved further afield, making Waikiki a safe and family friendly area). Rather I mean the bars in the hotels such as Rumfire and the one at Trump. Children are welcome at any of those bars, provided they are accompanied by an adult and are sitting at a table, not at the actual bar.
What’s the dress code like?
It’s definitely smart casual. You don’t have to get really dressed up, although you can if you want to!
My Hawaiian Holiday uniform consisted of shorts and a tee or a simple dress/kaftan whenever we went out, while Guns wore shorts and a tee or collared shirt. It was far too hot for pants, jeans, or leggings of any kind and I didn’t bother packing a pair of heels. It was flats or wedges all the way!
Wearing SFH Designs Olympia Lace Up Kaftan Top, H&M Shorts, Witchery Slides.
Are there bottle shops in Waikiki?
I’m not sure about bottle shops, but your local ABC store (trust me, you will have a local one. They are everywhere!) will sell alcohol. It is much cheaper than duty-free prices, even with a less than ideal Aussie dollar (US$15 – $30 for a 1 litre bottle of spirits, depending on what you’re after)
They have everything there you can think of, even cans of beer bigger than your head for US$2.99 (not even kidding)
Would you go back to Hawaii again?
Yes, I absolutely would. It’s a beautiful part of the world and the people are so friendly. The Aloha Vibe the Hawaiian people have going on is something we could all do with embracing – there really is something to be said for greeting friends and strangers alike with a welcoming hello.
Adding Hawaii to your Holiday To-Do List gets a big fat yes from me.
If you missed the post I wrote earlier in the week outlining all there is to know about staying on Waikiki Beach, you can catch up on it right here.
Finally, stay tuned for one more post in the next few days where I’ll be sharing my Waikiki shopping tips with you.
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