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Kauai Nightlife Kauai is not well known as an exciting place once the sun goes down. However, with some insider tips, you can still enjoy some good times at night. Not much happens until about 11 o'clock when the locals start to get out. Let me start with the most western bar in the united states and that is the Waimea Brewing Co. Its claim to fame is that there is not another bar in the US more west than itself. Kind of cool if your into claiming that you’ve been to the western most bar in the US. They have a variety of specialty beers, brewed onsite that are very tasty. They have lots of touristy shirts and mugs and stuff like that. I believe they will also ship their beer to your mainland address as well.
Moving East from there, next stop is Hanapepe. Where on Friday nights there are numerous art galleries that have art viewings and wine on hand in the downtown Hanapepe strip. A fun thing to do as a warm up before you go out. I don’t believe there are any notable bars in Hanapepe, though. Moving east from there you run into the Kauai Coffee Co. They have great coffee and a good gift shop where you can purchase their coffee and shirts and stuff. It is located in Kalaheo and a must stop if you are heading down to Port Allen for a snorkeling trip or something in the morning. East from there, you're going to have to go into Poipu, where at the Sheraton Hotel there is a dance club called "The Point". But on Friday nights, it is pretty dead. Saturday nights is Salsa night and it gets packed with tourists and locals alike. The bar is right on the water and has a great outside patio and nice indoor dance floor. The drinks are reasonably priced. I think it’s a fun place to go on Saturdays. So every hotel in poipu has a bar in it. But daytime at the Marriott in Poipu, has a great bar that is right on the beach and overlooks left lefts break and Waiohai break. A favorite surf spot for locals. When it does break in the summer time, tourists beware as the locals will fight for waves at both breaks (little side note for you). The drinks there are also reasonably priced and it is a great spot to relax and watch the water. And Poipu is typically sunny most of the time so you have better odds of having a nice day. They never seemed to mind us hanging out even though we never stayed at the hotel too.
Lihue has several bars and dance clubs. I guess the first one is the Nawiliwili tavern in nawiliwili. This is a small dive bar right next to Dukes at Kalipaki Beach. The drinks are cheap (for Kauai) and there is a couple of pools tables and they also have karaoke. Not the best place to go for big crowds but occasionally you’ll find some hot girls from the cruise ships in there. Next up is Robs in Lihue. This is a sports bar during the day which has good food and cold beer. But on Thursday, Friday and Saturday the place gets packed. They play top 40 to rap and house. Dress code on Saturday is collared shirts and shoes for men but any other night sleepahs and shorts is fine. This is a very fun place to go dance and drink. It gets packed around midnight and the line starts to build about eleven so get there around ten if you don’t want to wait. I believe there is a 5 dollar cover charge on those 3 nights. This is a very locals crowd but as long as you don’t mind getting eyeballed by the locals every once in a while then you will have fun. It is right next to the Lihue bowling center which has rock and bowl on Friday and Saturday nights. Its good for a laugh or two there. But no dancing at the LBC. If your looking for some late night food after Robs closes, the Oki Diner is just up the road on the left. They serve everything from ox tail soup to mac nut pancakes. If you run into the right locals there is often underground after hours parties in Lihue. Hit or miss. Riptides is another bar in Lihue but it just opened so I have never been. It is just west of Robs on rice street. My buddy says that there is dart boards inside but he has never been. I will see what else I can find out about it. As you get into Kapaa, going north, The first bars you will hit are in the Coconut Marketplace. There is Tradewinds Bar and Grill and Trees Restaurant. They are both daytime and nightime places. Tradewinds is a cool bar with friendly people. They have live bands on Friday and Saturday nights. Usually local reggae bands. Sometimes you will get some classic rock cover bands though. They have a full bar and the big ass glass of beer that is the shape of a women, pretty cool. They have a pool table inside. They also have a large outside patio. There is a cover charge on Friday and Saturday nights after 10. I think its 5 dollars. Trees I have never been to but from what I’ve heard it goes pretty good on fri. and sat. I think its more of a martini bar. But that’s where all the hot girls from Kapaa go. North of that in downtown Kapaa is the Pearl Lounge. It is part of pizzettas restaurant. I have never been but Im assuming it is ok to go to. No one says great things. That’s it for Kapaa…..I think. I guess there is the Polynesian café at the north end of Kapaa but I don’t recommend it for nightlife. At the Waipouli Resort there is a bar on Friday and Saturday that goes good. It is a brand new 5 star resort right across from Safeway. The place is absolutely stunning and gets some good tourist traffic so your guaranteed to meet some friendly people on vacation. Drinks are expensive here. But worth it for the atmosphere. Inside the Safeway shopping center is the Pau Hana Grill. There is basically no nightlife here but during the day and evening they have great food!!!! The owner is an avid fisherman and is always bringing in the fresh catch of the day. Literally. You might see him dragging the fish out of a cooler in the back of his truck and filleting it right in front of you. And now I think that’s it for Kapaa. Nothing else except all the way up on the north shore in Hanalei town. The first one as you come in is the Tahiti Nui. This place is great on Friday and Saturday nights. They usually have live bands all night. It is a small place but they pack the people in. It gets crowded. Usually a Haole local crowd. Might see one of the Irons boys in there if your lucky. I have had lots of fun at this bar. But a far drunk drive if you are staying in Karea and cabs are hard to find there at 2 in the morning. Last and least is Sushi Blues which is in the Ching Young Village which has great sushi in the evening and has music and dancing on fri and sat. it’s a hit or miss place but when it goes good it gets crowded and is a lot of fun. Drinks are a little expensive but it’s a good place. It is located upstairs across from the other Polynesian café. |
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