Tiki’s Bar & Grill, located on the eastern edge of the Waikiki strip, is the kind of breezy, ocean-view experience you would expect find amid the array of Honolulu nightlife—an experience that is more unique than you’d think.

Which is what makes Tiki’s such an attraction to visitors and locals alike. There might be myriad hotel restaurants to choose from on this great stretch of beach and concrete in the middle of the Pacific, but as the sun sets and the bars swell, many places in Waikiki take on that cheap feel of plastic, as if you’ve suddenly wandered into a forest of inflated palm trees and empty sunblock bottles.

Somehow Tiki’s rises above this, perhaps because it is actually located a story off the ground, jutting over Kalakaua Avenue with its flickering assortment of—yes—tiki torches. There are also carved wooden idols and lava-rock walls that, during the day, can take on the campy feel of a Rainforest Cafe. But at night, after a few drinks, such adornments blend surprisingly well into the general island ambiance.

The crowd in the evening is a mix of young professionals and the more knowledgeable visitors—people who, were you to ask candidly how they first discovered the bar, would probably admit that someone they trusted had suggested it; like so much of the nightlife here, word of mouth is key.

And Tiki’s reputation is well earned. The restaurant seating is tucked around a corner, leaving ample space for the bar area. A steady flow of trade winds and live local music instills the scene with a sense of classy, comfortable revelry.

The drink selection isn’t terribly pricey. A lava flow, the ultimate concoction of fruit and decadence, is only $5.50—a steal compared to places like Duke’s. But the best the bar has to offer is a tall, frosty glass of Longboard Lager, a local, on-tap brew that goes down fresh and textured.

A good time to arrive is around sunset, just as the torches brighten, the crowd gathers, and the filament of sky and ocean gives way to city lights.

While so many Waikiki watering holes struggle and stagger beneath the weight of what they should be, this is one place that consistently seems to offer a better experience than you’d expect.

—Tim D., 10/12/06