5 Best Happy Hours in Honolulu

It’s undeniable that there’s plenty of eating and drinking to enjoy on Oʻahu. The trick is to know when to go, so your final bill doesn't break the bank. Some of the best restaurants in Honolulu offer happy hour deals, with affordable prices on their craft cocktails, wines, beers and food. Although many of these are in Waikīkī, I also encourage travelers to venture into other neighborhoods around Honolulu, like Kakaʻako and Kaimukī, where the locals go. My favorite happy hours are based on value, a warm atmosphere and delicious, creative food and drinks. Bonus points if they support local ingredients.

Merriman’s

Spearheaded by local chef and co-founder of Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine Peter Merriman, Merriman’s farm-to-table philosophy translates into fresh, delicious dishes that highlight the islands’ bounty. Happy hour at the restaurant’s Kakaʻako location is no exception. When I am entertaining out-of-town visitors, this is one of my go-to spots. I always start off with the Merriman’s mai tai, which is topped with a sweet and tangy honey-lilikoʻi foam. Ask the bartender about that day’s farm-to-table cocktail too — it’s usually just as enticing. The food menu at happy hour is a combination of dinner appetizers and lunch items. The smash burger is delicious and filling. Since it doesn’t come with fries, I always order a side of parmesan truffle fries. The fresh fish and chips, and the fish tacos, are small, share-plate-sized portions, so you can mix and match with other dishes like the organic taro hummus with local cucumber and Molokaʻi sweet potato chips.

• Address: 1108 Auahi Street, Honolulu, HI 96814
• Happy Hour Deals: $3 to $7 off normal food prices. Every dish is under $15. Select drink specials, plus $2 off all draft beer, house cocktails and wine by the glass.
• Check average: $50
• Happy Hour: Daily, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Best for: Great value

DECK.

The stunning view of Lēʻahi from the roof of the Queen Kapiʻolani Hotel is reason alone to dine at DECK. Happy hour is the cherry on top. Running a bit later than most other happy hours in Honolulu, DECK. offers affordable Pacific-inspired cuisine. Happy hour includes three signature cocktails: a bright lilikoʻi margarita and two versions of a mai tai. One mai tai is light and refreshing and the other is more tart and floral, due to the addition of hibiscus-infused Koloa Rum. There are also deals on beer and wine. Happy hour dishes cost $2 to $7 less than the normal price. Portions are generous and best shared, like the piled-high Caesar salad with savory parmesan crisps atop Waipoli baby romaine and the hamachi carpaccio, with thickly sliced fish in a spicy marinade next to a colorful kale salad.

• Address: 150 Kapahulu Avenue, 3rd floor of the Queen Kapiʻolani Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
• Happy Hour Deals: Ranges from $2 to $7 off normal food and drink prices.
• Check average: $60
• Happy Hour: Daily, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for drinks, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for food.
• Best for: Up-close view of Lēʻahi (Diamond Head Crater)

Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar

Modern Italian cuisine takes center stage at Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar, with the Neapolitan-style pizzas made with flour imported from Italy and cooked in a 900-degree kiawe wood-fired pizza oven. Although most of the menu is Italian, there are some creative takes that are worth tasting during happy hour. I like the portobello fries in lieu of typical French fries — juicy, flash-fried portobello mushrooms served with a pesto aioli. Three pizzas are available during happy hour. The crowd favorite is the boquerones pizza, inspired by vinegar-cured anchovies. It’s topped with roasted red bell peppers, salty white boquerones and mozzarella cheese. The vinegar gives this unique pizza a delightful tang.

• Address: 150 Kaʻiulani Avenue, 1st floor of OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Paradise Hotel, Honolulu, HI 96815
• Happy Hour Deals: $11 cocktails, $8 glasses of wine, $6 drafts, 30% off pizzas, 15% off other food items, plus an extra discount for kamaʻāina
• Check average: $50
• Hours of Happy Hour: Daily, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Best for: Its dark and classy ambiance

Brew’d Craft Pub

On a corner of Waiʻalae Avenue in the charming Kaimukī neighborhood sits Brew’d Craft Pub. This no-fuss, casual joint is perfect for beer enthusiasts, and also pet lovers who love its dog-friendly lanai. The draft beer list is impressively extensive, featuring mostly local breweries like Howzit Brewing and Hana Koa Brewing Co., plus a few from the mainland, such as Boulevard Brewing from Kansas City, Missouri. There’s bound to be one that you like. The happy hour food is substantial, to stand up to the craft beer. There are some creative choices, such as the Szechuan cauliflower — battered and fried cauliflower florets coated in a spicy Szechuan sauce and garlic IPA aioli — and the goat cheese flatbread topped with fresh papaya and a drizzle of hot honey. There’s also a killer smoked fish dip made with local fish that’s been smoked in-house and flavored with gochujang and sriracha for a kick.

• Address: 3441 Waiʻalae Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96816
• Happy Hour Deals: $2 off drafts, $3 off appetizers, $6 wells and house wine
• Check average: $40
• Happy Hour: Daily, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Best for: A big group pau hana

The Bar by R. Field Wine Company

Tucked inside Foodland Farms at Ala Moana Center, The Bar by R. Field Wine Company is a haven for oenophiles seeking out affordable yet quality wines. It's a small, lively space — a U-shaped countertop right in the middle of the grocery store. For happy hour, there is a charcuterie board of rotating cheeses and cured meats, served alongside dried fruit, almonds and olives. It’s perfect to pick at over a glass of wine with a friend, although not enough to fill you up for the night. All bottles of wine are half off, or you can choose a wine flight — three two-ounce pours of any wines you like. You can opt for a $7 glass of selected red, white or bartender’s choice. The countertop setup makes it easy and fun to chat with the bartenders, who are more than happy to share their expertise with you.

• Address: 1450 Ala Moana Boulevard, on the ground floor in Foodland Farms, Honolulu, HI 96814
• Happy Hour Deals: $20 charcuterie board. $12 wine flight of three two-ounce pours, $7 select wine by the glass. Half off all bottles.
• Check average: $45
• Hours of Happy Hour: Daily, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Best for: Date night

Which restaurant in Honolulu has the best happy hour?

It depends on what food you enjoy eating! DECK. and Merriman’s are my picks for new American cuisine with touches of Pacific flavors. Brew’d is great if you’re craving a cold pint of beer and hearty food. On the flip side, The Bar by R. Field Wine Company is perfect for an affordable wine flight and light bites.

Where can I find the best happy hours in Waikīkī?

Some hotel restaurants have happy hours, such as the OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Paradise Hotel’s Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar. It’s always worth checking a restaurant’s website to see its happy hour offerings.

What’s the best time for happy hour in Honolulu?

Happy hours usually start around 2 or 3 p.m. and end before dinner service, at around 5:30 p.m. It’s best to check with each restaurant to learn its specific times.

Who has the best happy hour deals?

Personally, I think Merriman’s has some of the best happy hour deals. The fish tacos at lunch usually go for $19, but they’re just $12 at happy hour. Every food item is under $15. I also like DECK. because it runs until 6 p.m., so you could go there for an early dinner at a great price.