While alcohol isn’t permitted on Waikīkī Beach, several beach bars are so close to the sand, you’ll feel like you’re sipping your drink right on the shore!
Waikīkī’s Beach bars are our go-to when friends visit — the perfect way to show off our home in all its glory: sun-kissed sand, salty breezes, rolling waves, carefree beachgoers and tropical drinks.
From tucked-away beachside gems to iconic beachfront hangouts, these bars put you front and center to Waikīkī’s shoreline action. Grab a Hawaiʻi-made cocktail or beer and take it all in.
In this post, we share our local recommendations for the best beach bars in Waikīkī.
Table of Contents
1. Mai Tai Bar
A legendary hotel bar pouring cocktails beneath trademark pink umbrellas.
📍 2259 Kalākaua Ave, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Lunch & Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: None
🎵 Live Music: Daily 6-10pm
🎟️ Reservations: Walk-in only
Mai Tai Bar activates Waikīkī vacay mode with views of Lēʻahi (Diamond Head), signature mai tais and a toes-in-the-sand vibe. Come for lunch, or dinner with live music (daily from 6-10pm).
Go classic with the Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai or try the White Wash, topped with coco-loco foam. Feeling fancy? The $41 Ali‘i Mai Tai is one of Waikīkī’s priciest, made with top-shelf aged rums.
To pair with your drinks, the cheese board and truffle fries are always a hit, along with burgers, spicy garlic shrimp and the dreamy Pink Snowball — a vanilla cake filled and covered with coconut.
Yes, Mai Tai Bar prices are up there — but you’re getting the full experience. It’s hands down one of the best places to sip a mai tai in all of Hawaiʻi, and even we locals keep coming back.
2. The Beach Bar
Raise a glass at Waikīkī’s first and most timeless hotel.
📍 2365 Kalākaua Ave, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Lunch & Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: None
🎵 Live Music: Daily 5-10pm
🎟️ Reservations: Walk-in only
Shaded by a century-old banyan tree and steps from the sand along central Waikīkī Beach, The Beach Bar offers relaxed oceanfront dining that makes you feel right at home in Hawaiʻi.
This is a top spot to sample tropical cocktails — try the Moana Sunset Mai Tai (in a take-home souvenir cup), classics like Lava Flows and Blue Hawaiʻi, or an Island Daiquiri in four fruity flavors.
The menu is built to share — from poke nachos with local ʻahi (tuna) to a pineapple Portuguese sausage “hot dog.” For something lighter, go for chili crunch edamame or a locally-inspired salad.
Live music (daily from 5-10pm) sets the perfect backdrop for sunset drinks. And every visit to The Beach Bar deserves a sweet ending, like banana bread pudding or a lilikoi (passionfruit) flan tart.
3. Koa Oasis Booze Shack
This no-frills beach kiosk serves up Waikīkī’s most affordable oceanfront sips.
📍 2131 Kālia Rd, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Lunch & Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: None
🎵 Live Music: None
🎟️ Reservations: Walk-in only
Next to Waikīkī’s Fort DeRussy Beach Park, Koa Oasis Booze Shack is an open-air hangout perfect for a casual pop-in — where sandy feet, plastic cups and ocean views set the tone.
The cocktails are fun and under $15 — standouts include the Waikīkī Mule, a whiskey and passionfruit spin on the Moscow Mule and the Mango Flow, a non-berry version the Lava Flow.
You’ll find local Kona Brewing Co. beers on tap, a mix of domestic and imported brews and house wines. If you get peckish, the menu is simple but satisfying — hot dogs and potato chips.
Koa Oasis isn’t here to impress — its unpretentious setup is exactly what makes it one of the chillest spots in Waikīkī for an ice-cold beverage by the beach.
4. Hau Tree
All-day beachside bliss with views as good as the food and drinks.
📍 2863 Kalākaua Ave, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: None
🎵 Live Music: None
🎟️ Reservations: OpenTable or walk-in
Hau Tree is an chic courtyard eatery on Kaimana Beach, with shaded outdoor seating beneath native hau trees and a cozy indoor bar area — both offering front-row views of paradise.
Drinks lean local and luxe, with Hawaiʻi-distilled spirits like Kō Hana Rum and PAU Maui Vodka and celebrity-backed bottles like Teremana Tequila by The Rock and Meili Vodka by Jason Momoa.
They’ve got serious brunch game with the best eggs benedict in town, ube cinnamon rolls and caviar blinis. By dinner, it’s elevated fare like local fish, unique pastas and a chef’s tasting menu.
Hau Tree is the only Waikīkī beach bar that takes reservations — so you can lock in a table for morning mimosas or sunset bites. A 15-minute walk from central Waikīkī, but it feels worlds away.
In summary, whether you’re basking in the sun or sipping at sunset, Waikīkī’s beach bars are the perfect place to lap up the energy of Waikīkī Beach.
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Visitor FAQs
No need to stress about reservations — three of our four recommended Waikīkī beach bars (Mai Tai Bar, The Beach Bar and Koa Oasis Booze Shack) are walk-in only, so you can drop in anytime for a drink. If you prefer to plan ahead, Hau Tree is the only one that takes reservations.
Many Waikīkī beach bars are family-friendly. Mai Tai Bar, The Beach Bar and Hau Tree offer restaurant-style seating with full menus that cater to all ages. Koa Oasis Booze Shack is more of a casual, walk-up kiosk. It attracts more of an adults-only crowd but still welcomes families with children.
No, drinking alcohol on Waikīkī Beach is prohibited by law and enforcement is strict to keep the area clean and safe for everyone. That said, you can still enjoy a alcoholic drink at one of our recommended beach bars just steps from the sand.
