Janine's Honolulu Recommendations
Food Scene
Here are some of our favorite restaurants. Feel free to ask if you'd like to know about a specific type of cuisine; we probably can point you in the right direction.
Amazing noodles, and a great fusion of Asian and American cuisine. They have good cocktails too.
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Lucky Belly
50 N Hotel StAmazing noodles, and a great fusion of Asian and American cuisine. They have good cocktails too.
The best pizza in town! And a good selection of beer on tap as well.
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J. Dolans
1147 Bethel StThe best pizza in town! And a good selection of beer on tap as well.
The closest Thai take-out place. Great value for the quality, and our go-to place for excellent spring rolls.
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Bangkok Chef
1627 Nuuanu AveThe closest Thai take-out place. Great value for the quality, and our go-to place for excellent spring rolls.
This gem of a Chinese restaurant has been here forever, and is often full at peak hours. But, they do a brisk take-out business as well.
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Dew Drop Inn
1088 S Beretania StThis gem of a Chinese restaurant has been here forever, and is often full at peak hours. But, they do a brisk take-out business as well.
One of the best places for fish in town. Their lunch is a more affordable option that still features the same great food.
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Nico's Pier 38
1129 N Nimitz HwyOne of the best places for fish in town. Their lunch is a more affordable option that still features the same great food.
The best Thai food I've found yet. It gets really busy at lunch time, so plan for an early or late lunch.
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Siam Garden Cafe
1130 N Nimitz HwyThe best Thai food I've found yet. It gets really busy at lunch time, so plan for an early or late lunch.
On your way back from Manoa Falls Trail, stop at Andy's for a sandwich and smoothie! Or, go before for their yummy breakfasts. This local eatery has been around for decades and is one of my go-to spots for lunch in Manoa Valley.
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Andy's Sandwiches & Smoothies
2904 E Manoa RdOn your way back from Manoa Falls Trail, stop at Andy's for a sandwich and smoothie! Or, go before for their yummy breakfasts. This local eatery has been around for decades and is one of my go-to spots for lunch in Manoa Valley.
Some of the best and most interesting/unique breakfast/brunch offerings around. Their skillets are to die for, hearty, and they have morning cocktails too! The coffee is good as well.
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Koko Head Cafe
1120 12th AveSome of the best and most interesting/unique breakfast/brunch offerings around. Their skillets are to die for, hearty, and they have morning cocktails too! The coffee is good as well.
Great noodles, and a friendly vibe. Ask for the thick noodles and an egg in your ramen to make them even better!
Golden Pork Tonkotsu Ramen Bar
1279 S King StGreat noodles, and a friendly vibe. Ask for the thick noodles and an egg in your ramen to make them even better!
Great breakfasts, and straight-forward coffee. A perfect stop before or after hiking Diamond Head or hitting the beach at Kaimana.
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Cafe Morey's
3106 Monsarrat AveGreat breakfasts, and straight-forward coffee. A perfect stop before or after hiking Diamond Head or hitting the beach at Kaimana.
Great place to pick up some sweets or stop in for breakfast at anytime of the day or night (they're open 24 hours!). Their coco puffs are their specialty, and the poi mochi donuts are fantastic!
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Liliha Bakery
515 N Kuakini StGreat place to pick up some sweets or stop in for breakfast at anytime of the day or night (they're open 24 hours!). Their coco puffs are their specialty, and the poi mochi donuts are fantastic!
Arts & Culture
Hawaii isn't all about the beaches and the hikes. There is a lot of history and culture to learn about as well.
They have an excellent permanent collection, and some great rotating exhibits, as well as their monthly "Art After Dark" event. It's also a classy place to hang out in air conditioning.
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Honolulu Museum of Art
900 S Beretania StThey have an excellent permanent collection, and some great rotating exhibits, as well as their monthly "Art After Dark" event. It's also a classy place to hang out in air conditioning.
Queen Emma Summer Palace
2913 Pali HwyLovely picture into old Hawaii.
Excellent museum featuring Hawaiian culture and history. A must visit if you want to learn about Hawaii while you're here.
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I-Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice StExcellent museum featuring Hawaiian culture and history. A must visit if you want to learn about Hawaii while you're here.
Hawaii Theatre has great live events and concerts, as well as the occasional play.
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Hawaii Theatre
1130 Bethel StHawaii Theatre has great live events and concerts, as well as the occasional play.
Kumu Kahua Theatre produces plays about, for, and by the people of Hawaii. Many of them are in Hawaiian Pigeon English.
Kuma Kahua Theatre
46 Merchant StKumu Kahua Theatre produces plays about, for, and by the people of Hawaii. Many of them are in Hawaiian Pigeon English.
Attached to the Honolulu Museum of Art, this is a great space for art house films and live events.
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Doris Duke Theatre
900 S Beretania StAttached to the Honolulu Museum of Art, this is a great space for art house films and live events.
The only royal palace in the United States. The tour is excellent, and a must see if you are interested in Hawaiian history.
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Iolani Palace
364 S King StThe only royal palace in the United States. The tour is excellent, and a must see if you are interested in Hawaiian history.
Drinks & Nightlife
Some of our favorite places to get a drink when we hit the town.
Classy gastro pub. Amazing cocktails and food. You won't be sorry. They have a burger and beer special on Mondays.
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Pint and Jigger
410 S King StClassy gastro pub. Amazing cocktails and food. You won't be sorry. They have a burger and beer special on Mondays.
A high-end cocktail bar. No TVs or loud music; excellent cocktails and conversation. Reservations recommended (and can only be made online).
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Bar Leather Apron
745 Fort StA high-end cocktail bar. No TVs or loud music; excellent cocktails and conversation. Reservations recommended (and can only be made online).
They have an excellent wine list, great cocktails, and tasty appetizers here. Get the cheese plate and a wine flight, or a cocktail and their stinky grilled cheese sandwiches.
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The Tchin Tchin! Bar
39 N Hotel StThey have an excellent wine list, great cocktails, and tasty appetizers here. Get the cheese plate and a wine flight, or a cocktail and their stinky grilled cheese sandwiches.
Parks & Nature
My favorite beach. Still technically Waikiki, this is a local beach.
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Kaimana Beach
My favorite beach. Still technically Waikiki, this is a local beach.
Iziko likaFoster Botanical
50 N Vineyard BlvdA beautiful garden just outside of Chinatown.
One of my favorite loop trails begins from the Hawaii Nature Center. Its about 2.5 miles round trip, and does get steep! Be sure to bring hiking shoes (or at least sneakers/trainers) and a water bottle.
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Hawaii Nature Center
2131 Makiki Heights DrOne of my favorite loop trails begins from the Hawaii Nature Center. Its about 2.5 miles round trip, and does get steep! Be sure to bring hiking shoes (or at least sneakers/trainers) and a water bottle.
Manoa Falls Hike
Na Ala Hele: Manoa Falls TrailThis short but iconic trail ends in a waterfall.
The closest beach to our B&B. Right across the street from the mall, this is a great park for walking, people watching and swimming laps in the ocean.
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Ala Moana Beach Park
1201 Ala Moana BlvdThe closest beach to our B&B. Right across the street from the mall, this is a great park for walking, people watching and swimming laps in the ocean.
Essentials
Safeway
888 Kapahulu AveThe best full service grocery store near our place.
Walgreens
1488 Kapiolani BlvdThe closest drug store.
Mini market just around the corner from our B&B. Perfect for a snack, some ice cream, or some basic pantry items if you don't want to go all the way to the grocery store.
Kamamalu Market
1678 Lusitana StMini market just around the corner from our B&B. Perfect for a snack, some ice cream, or some basic pantry items if you don't want to go all the way to the grocery store.
Safeway
888 Kapahulu AveThe nearest grocery store. It is open 24 hours.
Shopping
The Mall. If you are in need of some retail therapy, head to Ala Moana.
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I-Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana BlvdThe Mall. If you are in need of some retail therapy, head to Ala Moana.
This collection of shops amount to an open-air shopping mall. They have everything from Nordstrom Rack to Pier One, to sushi, pizza, and Mexican restaurants.
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Ward Village
1240 Ala Moana BlvdThis collection of shops amount to an open-air shopping mall. They have everything from Nordstrom Rack to Pier One, to sushi, pizza, and Mexican restaurants.
Sightseeing
There a lots of open markets, Asian and fusion restaurants, bars, and art galleries in the Chinatown/Arts District of Honolulu. Its a 15-20 walk to the edge of it from the B&B.
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Chinatown
There a lots of open markets, Asian and fusion restaurants, bars, and art galleries in the Chinatown/Arts District of Honolulu. Its a 15-20 walk to the edge of it from the B&B.
A cute historic town on the North Shore of Oahu. Great for a day trip (a car is recommended!), with lots of places to eat and shop.
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Haleiwa
A cute historic town on the North Shore of Oahu. Great for a day trip (a car is recommended!), with lots of places to eat and shop.