Mai Tai Bar — Restaurant in Honolulu

Picture this: you’re perched at the Mai Tai Bar, the sun’s dipping low over Waikiki’s golden horizon, and you’ve got a chilled Mai Tai in hand, the kind of drink that makes you feel like you’ve unlocked the secret to island life. This place is pure magic, and I’m not just saying that because a local tipped me off that their Mai Tai is the must-try cocktail on Oʻahu. Spoiler alert: they were so right! As the sky turns into a canvas of pinks, oranges, and purples, you’re sipping on this perfectly balanced blend of rum, tropical juices, and just the right amount of aloha spirit. Every sip is like a mini-vacation—fruity, refreshing, and with just enough kick to make you feel like you’re living your best life. The bartender’s got this down to an art, serving up drinks that taste like they were crafted by Hawaiian sunset gods. I mean, come on, is there anything better than watching surfers catch their last waves of the day while you’re toasting to paradise with a Mai Tai? Nope, didn’t think so! The vibe at the Mai Tai Bar is as laid-back as it gets, with a crowd that’s just the right mix of locals and visitors, all soaking in the same jaw-dropping view. It’s like the sunset and the cocktail are in cahoots, conspiring to make your evening unforgettable. The bar’s tucked into the perfect spot—close enough to feel the beachy breeze but elevated just enough for that postcard-worthy view of Waikiki Beach. And let’s be real, after a day of exploring (or maybe after chilling at spots like Haleʻiwa or the Moana Surfrider), this is the ultimate way to unwind. Pro tip: take that local’s advice like I did and order the classic Mai Tai. It’s not just a drink; it’s a full-on experience that screams “Hawaii, I love you!” Pair it with the sunset, some good company, and maybe a little daydreaming about your next island adventure. The Mai Tai Bar isn’t just a bar—it’s a memory-maker, and I’m already counting down to my next visit. Mahalo for...

It’s a lovely bar inside the hotel. Finding the entrance to this hotel is a bit challenging, but easy from the beach. Or look for the KITH store, and walk the path on the right.

The bar is open until 11 pm. The last call for food is 9:45 pm. And the last call for drinks is around 10:30-10:45 pm.

AMBIENCE

The atmosphere is nice. It’s like a beach bar. They always have people, but they always have tables available. If you do not sit in the front rows, it feels like you are in a garden.

FOOD

Their food menu is not really vast, and only a few vegetarian options, but it’s good. All that we tried was really appetizing. I did enjoy my cauliflower. It was very tasty.

The poke ball is very good as well. And their cheese board (such a rarity to find one) was really delicious. Everything is pretty pricey.

DRINKS

The drinks are not good!

They are called “Mai tai” bar, and you expect a very good balanced Mai Tai, that unfortunately was not the case. And neither regular cocktails were balanced.

Go with a beer or a glass of wine - hard to spoil it.

Though the Mai Tai that I took was the best one: called “white wash”, it was pretty tasty, tho still unbalanced; banana foam was saving it. They need a better bartender!

STAFF

Very mixed. Some days we had lovely servers, kind, joking, and helpful. Other days: rude, without eye contact, and almost throwing a plate into you instead of putting it on a table.

But overall no conflicts or some heavy attitude.

I keep saying the same thing about Hawaiian hospitality, but personnel really needs to be trained properly, especially when we talk about luxury hotels. Great service - great tips.

I would rate this place at 4. The food was pretty good; the drinks must be improved (A LOT!), and the staff is not well trained (some proper training must be done), but this place is far not the worst we have...

I've been frequenting the Mai Tai bar semi-regularly for more than a decade, and always had positive things to say about it, until now.

My family and I were essentially kicked out, and were refused service after we had already ordered and eaten and just wanted some fries.

Why? Because our son was with us. There is apparently a policy that during happy hour underaged persons are not allowed inside. I assume there is a good reason for this policy in terms of preventing underage drinking or some such. So, how old is our son, you ask? 2 years old.

We arrived before happy hour and ordered food and were serviced, however, after we finished eating our son was still hungry and we asked to order some fries and were refused. We were told that we could order it to go, but we needed to wrap up and leave because we weren't allowed to be there. It wasn't busy or crowded, nor was it an inappropriate "bar like" environment for kids yet since happy had just started.

I'm not upset that this policy exists, as I said I can see it's likely purpose, however, the manager chose to blindly obey it instead of exercising the even slightest amount of basic human judgement or empathy. I am a business culture consultant, and can attest that this type of dehumanized adherence to policy is what destroys customer relationships.

The manager's choice to act in this manner toward my family has cost them a decade old customer. My family and I will not be returning after such...