Bar Leather Apron — Restaurant in Honolulu

So I've heard nothing but amazing things about this place. Me and my boyfriend have been wanting to go for months. So I finally made the reservation and it took them a while to even confirm it, yes confirm my reservation, and even then I didn't get the time or location at the bar of where I wanted. Thinking "oh it must be THAT good" I decided sure why not. So come the night of we come in and is seated by our friendly server which leads us to our high table. (One of 2 high tables) from there we order browse the menu full of delicious cocktails and notice the 4 amazing (sounding) cocktails. We order our drinks and food and told the server that I have a nut allergy which he immediately takes to the head person. (Our waiter was awesome BTW) we are soon introduced to a man, in assuming is the owner, and he tells me that he advises me that what we order has been made in a factory with nuts. To my disappointment I accept it and ask if there is anything on there menu that is nut free. He tells me "no, everything has been processed in a factory with nuts" and strongly advises me not to eat any of there food. After a week of waiting for reservations and planning dinner and drinks after a 12+ hour shift to come to this amazing bar. I'm so disappointed to not be able to enjoy even a cheese and salami platter. (I just ate the cheese and salami because I was starving) the drinks overall was not a disappointment just disappointed with the lack of food choices that is friendly to nut allergy customers. Btw, the owner or whoever didn't even seem that sorry. Would recommend the drinks but it's gonna be quite a bit of thinking to come back to this place. Off to...

An Unforgettable Cocktail Experience at Bar Leather Apron

From the moment my wife and I stepped into Bar Leather Apron, we knew we were in for something special. Finding the entrance was a bit of an adventure, as the bar is tucked inside an office building, but the security staff was incredibly helpful in pointing us in the right direction. Once inside, we were warmly welcomed and seated by the hostess, setting the tone for an exceptional evening.

Justin, one of the owners, was behind the bar crafting some of the best cocktails we’ve ever had. Watching him work was an experience in itself—his precision, passion, and knowledge of mixology made every drink a story worth savoring. The awards lining the walls make perfect sense the moment you take your first sip.

We knew Bar Leather Apron focused on cocktails rather than full entrees, but the appetizers alone were enough to satisfy. The pizza butter and charcuterie board were not only delicious but surprisingly filling. As for the drinks, every single one was a masterpiece. I had the El Umami and a Suntory whiskey flight, while Amanda enjoyed Flowers for You and The Rocking Chair—each offering flavors unlike anything we’ve ever tasted.

Beyond the drinks, what made the night truly special was the atmosphere and service. Justin’s enthusiasm and expertise shone through in every cocktail he crafted, and it was clear that he takes immense pride in his work. The entire experience was flawless—intimate, engaging, and unforgettable.

If you’re in Oahu and love expertly crafted cocktails, Bar Leather Apron is an absolute must. We’ll definitely be...

Awesome drinks, small place, great vibe, make (and confirm) a reservation:

You need to make reservations before you come here and you also need to CONFIRM the reservation before it's solidified. I failed to execute that last step so we thought we were SOL. Paul talked us off the ledge and told us to come back in 90 minutes to see if we could be seated.

We came back close to closing time and he was able to seat us as a party of four. The vibe here was cool: not high energy and bright; a serious place to order a few cocktails and have a chat at a low volume.

We only stayed for one round, which was a shame - only because they were closing. People in our party got: the Negroni, the Mai Tai and the Matcha Old Fashioned.

We were in Hawaii a week - both people who ordered Mai Tai's stopped ordering them after BLA. It was that good. An absolute must have. Presentation is 10/10 but the complexities of the flavors (anise in the ice!) not far behind. I know "Complexities" and "Mai Tais" are not necessarily found in the same sentence? - but trust me on that one ...

Negroni was stellar. Can barely every go wrong with this drink (IMHO) but always fun to test out how different places spin it. You're getting your money's worth.

We ordered some small plates too - both paired well with our drinks and were easy to share among 4 people. We would have stayed much later but were appreciative to Paul and co for...