Top Things to do in Kailua-Kona
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6 Bars & Clubs in Kailua-Kona That You Shouldn't Miss
Coffee drinkers will recognize Kona as the source of some of the best beans in the world. Get your blood pumping with a walk along the “Royal Footsteps” waterfront stretch of Alii Drive, or take stargazing to the next level with a nighttime visit to the summit of Mauna Kea. Waterfalls, volcanoes, and soft black sands are just some of the natural features that make Kailua unique. Shimmy your hips at a hula-filled luau, or get an eyeful of native history at the Kamakahonu compound.
Restaurants in Kailua-Kona
1. Sam's Hideaway
2. Mad Marlin Sports Bar
3. Don's Mai Tai Bar
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 215 reviews
Craving an umbrella drink? Head to Kailua-Kona's largest open-air, oceanfront bar, Don's Mai Tai Bar. Sip delicious Mai Tais and Hawaiian specialty drinks, including Don's private recipes, as well as local and international draft beers and micro brews. Catch the game on the HDTVs, enjoy live Hawaiian music every Thursday and drink in spectacular views of the ocean and Kailua Bay.
Reviewed By maitaimike2015 - Laguna Hills, United States
Don’s Mai Tai Bar, located at the Royal Kona Resort, is "the best place" for all Mai Tai aficionados. Since the temporary closing of the actual restaurant next door & adjacent breezeway lounge, this storied open air bar, for the time being, is now carrying on the Beachcomber legacy. We actually came here on four separate occasions during our weeklong stay on the Big Island. Happy Hour, (4:00-6:00) is when you want to be here, but then so will everyone else. Get there a little early to nab a better table. On two occasions, the wind was pretty bad. Batten down the hatches. No napkins, coaster’s, menus, umbrellas in the drinks. But the wild surf crashing the lava & seawall, made for great photo ops. The service on all visits, was top notch. we had parties of Four, Five, & Two. Servers Courtne, Leianne & Laly (twice), all were consummate professionals. But special props to Leianne, who was miss personality plus while serving us. One of the best servers this whole trip, seriously. We ordered drinks exclusively. Bloody Mary’s, some others, and of course lots of Mai Tai’s. I miss the garlic flatbread taken off the new pupu menu. They serve Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner in the Mai Tai Bar, a bigger draw that the restaurant is not open now. If you parked in the resort lot, make sure to have your ticket validated. I believe It adds two free hours to the time you clocked in. I want to applaud Don’s for now printing ALL of the ingredients of their various cocktails on the DRINK MENU. Listing all of the specific rum’s used, and removing references to 1933, and smuggler’s secrets, etc. Don Beach was a bit of a creative mad scientist, with his many rum based, Tiki inspired concoctions. They also have removed a number of offerings I read from years earlier. The Chartreuse sweetie, Corn& oil, Navy grog, Scorpion, Kilauea swizzle, Kona itch, & Tiki fashioned, are no longer listed. But I’m sure the expert staff can mix them up if you ask them. They have added some new Ice cream blended tropical ones for your sweet tooth, and have five current versions of the popular Mojito. They previously switched out various El Dorado rums, with mainly Bacardi rums, & now using Potter’s dark rum. But, still retaining most of the premium rums for their legendary topicals. I’ve mostly had the happy hour Don’s “original” version, over the years, but I was under the impression it had a few exotic ingredients. About that “original” moniker. My research shows that the recipes from 1933’s Q.B. Cooler, and Don Beach’s earliest Mai Tai version, to be different from the rather common recipe served now. Still, it is very satisfying, consistently mixed, photo worthy, and a very good happy hour value. I have savored some of the other offerings in the past, and had their excellent Mai Tai taster as well. I recommend the Three Dots and a Dash for its complexity. Oh, and places that list a “1944 Mai Tai”, serve a variation of Victor Bergeron’s recipe by its date, 1944, instead of “Trader Vic’s” that, I believe is trademarked, and maybe exclusive to Hilton Hotels. Need to finally take on the Zombie my next visit. There is not currently, a link from TA to their website or menu. Their actual menu website pages, are part of the Royal Kona Resort site. Go to dinning, click links, printable, easy to navigate. Lots of info, menus, etc. The tropical drinks come with all sorts of garnishments, for a jealousy inspired photo to send mainlanders back home. We did, in February, at sunset, cruel I know . Mahalo.
4. Huggo's on the Rocks
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 124 reviews
Reviewed By 874ronr
From the view to the quality of the food this was our best meal on the Big Island. The service the atmosphere, and the food were all amazing. We had so many great foods, fish, steak, soup, salad, everything was excellent.
5. My Bar Kona
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 9 reviews
My Bar was established October 31, 2007 and has been serving Kailua-Kona ever since. My Bar is Gay Friendly, so all are welcomed! 21 Years of age and older. Please bring valid identification. Entry to My Bar is FREE, unless we have functions/fundraisers that day/evening. We have 2 Pools Tables, Dart Games as well as Touchscreen Games and now have a Jukebox!! We have karaoke nights, for those who love to sing, Sunday-Thursday evenings from 6:00PM - Closing. We have Live DJ's on Friday and Saturday evenings from 10:00PM - Closing for all you dancers. My Bar can also host your Birthday, Bachelorette/Bachelor Parties, ETC. Stop in and see what My Bar is all about!
6. Mask Bar
Overall Ratings
2.5 based on 2 reviews
