Hotels with Bars in Honolulu

This was a short one-night family stay, coinciding with my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. Overall, the experience was a mix of good and bad. ✅ **Highlights** The hotel environment is excellent. The rooms are spacious, and the bathrooms feature double vanities, indicating solid foundational hardware. The in-room amenities are Byredo, with a pleasant, high-end fragrance, which is a definite plus. There are many Japanese staff members, and their service attitude is friendly, with prompt room service. Coinciding with my parents' 40th wedding anniversary, the hotel thoughtfully presented us with a bottle of champagne, which we deeply appreciated. The balcony view is a huge bonus, facing the beach directly. On Fridays, we could watch the weekly fireworks show from the neighboring Hilton without having to jostle through crowds, making for a very special experience. The room comes with a full kitchen. If you don't want to eat the hotel's buffet breakfast, you can buy ingredients from the ABC Store and prepare simple meals yourself, offering great flexibility, which is perfect for family travel. ⚠️ **Downsides** The check-in process was quite frustrating. During peak hours, the hotel strictly enforces a 4 PM check-in time. After our family arrived, there was no suitable indoor waiting area, so we had to wander around outside in the hot sun to kill time. This was very inconvenient for a family trip. Objectively speaking, while the staff's attitude was good and we received a surprise treat for the anniversary, when compared to similarly priced luxury hotels in Japan and luxury brands of the same caliber domestically, there's still a gap in the overall service completeness and detailed processes. 📝 **Summary** It was an adequate stay for one night. The unbeatable ocean view balcony, the ability to watch fireworks, the Byredo amenities, and the thoughtful anniversary champagne were all highlights. The room type with a kitchen is practical for families. However, the rigid check-in process during busy periods is a clear drawback. If visiting during peak season, be prepared for a late room handover.

Great location! The airport shuttle bus goes directly to the hotel, taking about 30 minutes. It has ocean views and a swimming pool, and it's just a short walk to the beach. There are plenty of dining options nearby; McDonald's and ABC Stores are right across the street. The staff are very friendly. The largest shopping mall, Ala Moana, is a 13-minute walk or two bus stops away. The rooms come with a refrigerator and coffee maker.

I recently stayed at this hotel in the Penthouse and, overall, had a pleasant stay. However, there were several areas where the guest experience could be improved. Pros: * The location is convenient, with Waikiki Beach approximately a 15-minute walk away. * There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance, although I would recommend making reservations in advance as many are very popular. * There are numerous ABC Stores nearby, making it easy to pick up snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and other essentials. * A special mention goes to Ralph, who was outstanding throughout our stay. He was friendly, approachable, and always happy to help with any questions or recommendations. He quickly became our go-to person whenever we needed assistance and is a real credit to the hotel. Cons: * Upon arrival, we were not offered the welcome drink that other guests appeared to receive. We checked in shortly after 3:00 pm, yet we saw guests arriving at around 9:30 pm the previous evening being offered welcome drinks. It was disappointing that this was not provided consistently. * We were never informed that the hotel offers complimentary beach umbrellas and chairs on a first come, first served basis. We ended up purchasing our own before accidentally overhearing another member of staff explain this benefit during another guest’s check-in. * Similarly, we only discovered that the hotel offers a complimentary walking tour after overhearing a different staff member mention it to another guest. It would have been helpful if all guests were informed about the activities and amenities available during check-in. * We booked the Penthouse expecting to fully enjoy the advertised 90-degree views. While the views themselves were excellent, the balcony was much smaller than expected and not really large enough to comfortably sit and enjoy them. * The bathroom, particularly the bathtub, felt dated and would benefit from refurbishment. * The room itself is showing its age and could do with a modern refresh. * The breakfast room is exceptionally small considering the number of guests staying at the hotel. During busy periods it becomes crowded and difficult to find seating. * One morning, a guest was allowed to bring a dog into the enclosed, air-conditioned breakfast room. To my understanding, this is not permitted under Hawaii law unless the animal is a legitimate service animal, and it made the dining experience uncomfortable. * The Skyline floor cannot be accessed using the elevator on the far left, which was inconvenient and not clearly explained. * At check-in, a $200 deposit was authorised along with an additional hold on my credit card. This extra charge was never explained by staff, and I only became aware of it after reviewing my credit card statement. Greater transparency regarding incidental holds would have been appreciated. Overall, the hotel is in a good location with helpful staff, especially Ralph, and provides a comfortable base for exploring Waikiki. However, there were several inconsistencies in communication and a number of facilities that would benefit from updating. Better communication during check-in about available amenities, clearer explanations of credit card holds, and refurbishment of the rooms would significantly improve the overall guest experience.

We stayed in an ocean view room. It was very close to the sea, and the view from the lanai was absolutely stunning. I think it was one of the ocean view rooms with the best views, being so close to the ocean. I'm very grateful that we were allocated this particular room. The housekeeping staff were also very friendly and pleasant, which made our stay enjoyable. The location was also excellent, close to the Duke Kahanamoku statue in the heart of Waikiki. The only downsides were that there was no explanation about the resort points we were supposed to receive as part of our stay. Also, we booked three rooms for six people, but due to their system, we could only process payment for one room at a time. This meant I couldn't use the same credit card for the second room and had to scramble. I'd recommend bringing enough credit cards for each room you book. These two minor issues were a bit disappointing, so I deducted one star from the service rating.

Outstanding service from the moment we arrived at the front entrance. Friendly, knowledgeable staff were able to answer all of our questions and accommodate all our requests. Room was nicely appointed and generously sized with ample room in the walk-in closet for our 8 full-sized checked bags (we stopped through HI in the middle of a move 🙂). Had two double beds and a hid-a-bed which was perfect for our family of four. The small refrigerator in the room was just the right size for water bottles and some snack/breakfast food we picked up at the Target just across the street. Appreciated being able to check out fresh beach towels pool-side each day. That saved a lot of suitcase space. The balcony was just large enough for a small table and two chairs to catch a great view of the ocean. The hotel is located between prime beachfront on the one side and the International Marketplace on the other, everything you need is within easy walking distance. The kids enjoyed the beginner surf lessons available beachside through Faith Surf Academy, and being able to rent a board to continue surfing over subsequent days. Waves were perfect for beginners and despite there being a fair number of other visitors, there was plenty of room to swim, play, and enjoy the water, though space on the beach itself was a bit tight at times. The one shortcoming we experienced was there not being any self-service laundry on-site. It seems there used to be, but it's unavailable with the current renovation project underway, and I'm unsure whether they intend for it to be part of the updated plan or not. Paid laundry service is available, but we opted to walk down the road to a laundromat. All in all, the whole family enjoyed our time at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort and would recommend it.

I stayed three nights in a partial ocean view room and four nights in an ocean view room. If the price difference isn't significant, definitely opt for the ocean view room – the experience is so much better (the partial ocean view room barely has any ocean view to speak of). The room itself was decent, and the cleanliness was okay, but the towels had a strange smell. The hotel's location is super convenient. The second floor connects directly to the Ala Moana shopping center, and there's a Don Quijote next door, making it very easy to shop and eat. It's about a 10-minute taxi ride to Waikiki, or a 30-minute walk. Personally, I prefer the nearby Ala Moana Beach, it's very chill. Car rental parking is also convenient. Parking is charged from 1 PM, costing $41 for 24 hours. [Pictures 1 & 2 show the view from Ocean View Room 1915; Picture 3 shows the view from Partial Ocean View Room 1104]

I really don't recommend choosing the Rainbow Sea View Room. It's not a sea view at all; what you see is a tiny lagoon, or to put it bluntly, a small puddle. If you truly want to see the ocean, you absolutely must choose a Rainbow Oceanfront Room or a high-floor Oceanfront Room, otherwise, you'll likely be very disappointed. Check-in was incredibly crowded. I waited for about 30 minutes to an hour, and the lobby was constantly packed. The elevators were the same; many times, you had to wait in line. If you prefer a quieter hotel, I don't think this one is suitable. The room assignment also left me very dissatisfied. The Asian front desk staff assigned me a low-floor corner room with virtually no view. No ocean, no fireworks – just the building across the way and that little puddle outside the window. It was completely different from what I imagined when booking. Also, early check-in at this hotel almost always costs extra. It's not one of those hotels that will accommodate an early check-in if a room is available. I've stayed at other hotels where they usually try to arrange it if there's a vacant room, but here, if you want to get in early, you have to pay extra. If you prioritize views, quietness, and the overall check-in experience, I personally don't recommend this hotel.

Overall, I'm very satisfied! The room was spacious and bright, the facilities were new, and the hygiene was excellent. The view was amazing! Ala Moana Center is just a 5-minute walk away, offering plenty of shopping and dining options. A stroll along the beach at the waterfront park was also very pleasant. All the staff were nice, until check-out day when a rather overweight female employee provided terrible service. During peak hours, there was only one staff member, so I had to queue. When I saw her arrive, I politely asked if there was a quick check-out option. She responded very impatiently with, ”Just wait,” without a single polite word and maintained a scowl throughout! She's the reason why I'm deducting points for service.

Very close to the beach, making it convenient for sightseeing and dining. You can see the sea from the elevator lobby on the guest floors, and enjoy a partial city and mountain view from the room. Services like parking and housekeeping were prompt. The breakfast buffet didn't have a huge variety, but the small garden outside the restaurant was lovely, and the dining environment was comfortable.

The hotel facilities are well-maintained and I found them to be quite clean. However, there were times when the housekeeping was a bit slow, and I'd return to my room to find towels hadn't been replaced yet. When I called or asked the cleaning staff directly, they did take care of it. The shower stall was relatively small, so that's something to keep in mind. The hotel is also quite close to Waikiki Beach, and it's no problem to walk there. Plus, the pick-up/drop-off point for the Pink Trolley to Ala Moana Shopping Center is just a 4-5 minute walk from the hotel, which is convenient. With Target, supermarkets, and ABC Stores nearby, you won't have any trouble with shopping.