Must-see nightlife in Hawaiʻi the Big Island

  • Ka Lae Coffee

    Hawaiʻi the Big Island

    Tucked behind a family home and fronting a greenhouse bursting with orchids, the US's southernmost coffee shop is a relaxed place to rejuvenate after a…

  • Ola Brew Co

    Kailua-Kona

    Ola boasts brews that are made with local ingredients (the porter is flavored with Kailua-Kona vanilla), or are just good on a hot Hawai'i day (try the…

  • Uncle George's Lounge

    Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

    The small bar serves The Rim's lunch menu (and its view) all day long; craft brews from Big Island Brewhaus, Ola, Kona Brewing Co. and Maui Brewing Co…

  • Hilo Brewing Company

    Hilo

    This microbrewery has a small tasting room where you can sample excellent craft beer. Most brews were originated by Mehana Brewing, Hilo's first…

  • Temple Craft Beer & Wine Bar

    Hilo

    Nearly trendy by Hilo standards, this polished beer and wine bar is the best bet in the city for craft-focused suds and spirits. On their eight or so beer…

  • Hilo Town Tavern

    Hilo

    This casual tavern offers friendly service, ample seating and a great beer list. And, let's face it, it's your only option for nightlife past midnight…

  • Don's Mai Tai Bar

    Kailua-Kona

    For pure kitsch, nothing beats the lounge-lizard fantasy of Don's, located inside the Royal Kona Resort. Soak up the killer views of crashing surf, then…

  • Sam's Hideaway

    Kailua-Kona

    Sam’s is a dark, cozy (OK, maybe ‘dank’) little nook of a bar. You’ll rarely find tourists here, but there are always locals, especially on karaoke nights…

  • Mask-Querade Bar

    Kailua-Kona

    Hidden away in a strip mall is 'the Mask,' one of Kailua-Kona's dedicated gay bars. In a town where drinking options run from tourist traps to sports bars…

  • Perfect Harmony Tea Room

    Hilo

    Find your inner 'om' in a teahouse hidden within a clothing boutique. Done in deep colors and Asian motifs, the New Age-y space offers ample seating and a…

  • Kona Mountain Coffee

    Kona Coast

    Just over 2 miles north of the harbor turnoff along Hwy 19, this farm-grown coffee roaster's retail shop and coffee bar also stocks baked goodies and…

  • Wai‘oli Lounge & Cafe

    Hilo

    This lounge is mainstream but has good evening entertainment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Among the cocktails, the Luella, made with…

  • Bayfront Kava Bar

    Hilo

    If you're curious about kava (ʻawa in Hawaiian), try a cup at this minimalist bar. Friendly bar staff serve freshly brewed, locally grown kava root in…

  • Kona Coffee & Tea Company

    Kailua-Kona

    Life is too short for bad coffee: head here for award-winning 100% Kona coffee grown on sustainable farms. Freshly roasted beans and toothsome macadamia…

  • My Bar

    Kailua-Kona

    While My Bar is one of the few dedicated gay bars on the island, it's also just a fun bar – it's neither locals' dive or a crazy club, but occupies a…

  • Huggo's on the Rocks

    Kailua-Kona

    Huggo’s is as adjacent to the water as you can get in Kailua-Kona without swimming (ordinances now prevent other bars from getting this close to the waves…

  • Flyin' Hawaiian Coffee

    Hawaiʻi the Big Island

    Find this coffee truck bathed in a little ray of sunshine on the front lawn of the United Methodist Church just two days a week (sadly), serving 100% Kaʻu…

  • Kope Lani

    Kailua-Kona

    Aliʻi Dr is chock-a-block with coffee shops vending 100% Kona brews from upcountry coffee plantations. This sweet spot stands out, not just for its ocean…

  • Dolphin Spit Saloon

    Kailua-Kona

    In a city full of transplants and tourists, the Dolphin Spit (yum!) is where the locals are: drinking 'til they're merry, rubbing elbows, giving each…

  • Humpy's Big Island Alehouse

    Kailua-Kona

    With its enviable location on the strip overlooking Kailua Bay, Humpy's would probably survive in touristy Kailua-Kona even without having dozens of craft…

  • South Side Shaka

    Hawaiʻi the Big Island

    Capitalizing on its position as the southernmost place in the USA to get your buzz on, this sports bar excels at the sports, the bar, and the fascinating…

  • Tropics Tap House

    Kona Coast

    This is a pretty basic sports bar, an extension of a Honolulu-based franchise. It hits all the usual targets of the genre: there's a good beer line-up,…

  • Kanaka Kava

    Kailua-Kona

    This tiny, grass-shack hangout is the place to try Hawaiian-style kava (the mildly sedative juice of the ʻawa plant) or organic noni (Indian mulberry)…

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