4. Restaurants

House Without A Key

2199 Kalia Rd, Honolulu, HI, 96815
  • (808) 923-2311
  • Store is closed

House Without A Key Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • j k.

    Disappointed. Let me tell you why; it gets 5 stars for atmosphere and ambiance. The food is 3 stars at max, it is hotel dining restaurant food, and in no way a Michelin star quality food. You come here expecting to enjoy this beautiful 5 star hotel, amazing Hawaiian atmosphere and overall A-list hotel service and relatively decent food. THAT is the expectation when guests come to this restaurant. ...All was fine until this happend; ***NOTE, the restaurant mangement should take note of this; so some of my family and I were having a reunion vacation in Hawaii. On this particular night we decided to have our farewell dinner at supposedly 'awesome' House of Keys restaurant at Halekulani. We had a waiter, who is Korean ethnicity. We thought this was convenient since most of members in my family were visiting me from Korea and this waiter spoke Korean. During the evening, we thought his service was good. In the end, when we left the restaurant, my brother charged 20% of the tip on his credit card. My brother has an alert on his cell phone, which is a notice from his credit card company sending confirmation on the money spent every time he swipes his credit card. After we left the restaurant, while walking back to our hotel, my brother gets an alert from the credit company; the total amount charged at the restaurant including the tip was not the equivalent amount to what my brother signed. The total was about another $18 more than he signed the amount for. Somebody at that restaurant changed the total. Our first suspicion is towards the waiter who served us, unless it was the restaurant management. We did not go back to the restaurant and argue, because we were half way back to our hotel and we didn't wanna ruin our last night by disputing on a restaurant bill. Now, if you think about it, you would think extra $18 dollar tip on two hundred dollar bill doesn't seem much. It's not. What upset us was that, a restaurant like 'House of Keys', located at a '5-star' hotel, considered 'the BEST' in Hawaii, decided to VIOLATE its' guests trust that way. Overall, disappointeD. That's all I gotta say. You get TWO star for pretty Hawaiian atmosphere, that's it. Your dishonesty did not go unnoticed by your customer.

    (2)

  • Angela J.

    We have eaten here a couple of times now. Always great food and great service. Last time we had the cheeseburgers with fries, and it was one of the best burgers we ever have had. The nightly entertainment is always very good too.

    (5)

  • Amanda D.

    At the Halekulani Hotel, I've only been here for the breakfast buffet but it has become somewhat of a tradition in my family for birthdays, holidays, etc. The buffet is extensive enough and their chocolate croissants delectable! They used to have almond croissants but for some reason did away with them (bring the almond croissants back!) They also have a full omelette bar and a unique Japanese station complete with miso soup and all the fixin's! Oh yeah... and you can't complain about the oceanside view of diamond head! The bummer is that they do not accept reservations, so be prepared for a bit of a wait.

    (5)

  • Ms. G.

    We were staying at the Trump nearby, and I heard good things about this place! Although in the upscale Halekulani hotel, this place was pretty laid back with views of the water. I had the burger which was to die for. Husband had the curry, which he said was a bit salty. Bread was good, and so was my Mai Tai (strong!!!). It was pretty quiet when we were there. The service was really nice and unpretentious. It was a bit pricey, but worth it!

    (4)

  • Malia L.

    I came here for a birthday and engagement celebration with some girlfriends, so we came for some drinks and appetizers. The service was great and the mai tais here are the best that I've had, so I definitely recommend them! There was live Hawaiian music and hula! There is a parking garage, which is free, if you dine at any of the restaurants at the Halekulani, so that's a big plus for me! The atmosphere is great, you're right on the water, so if you go near sunset, you'll have a beautiful view and plenty of opportunities to take pictures!

    (4)

  • Rene S.

    We dined here on our last night in Hawaii. Service was wonderful, staff friendly, food came out quick. The menu seemed limited and could do with a few more options, food was nice but not spectacular, prices on the high side. I would definitely return here but only for cocktails and snacks, the location is perfect and Hawaiian band was lovely.

    (4)

  • Tad N.

    A nice treat to dine and experience Halekulani food and service at an affordable price. Our party of 5 enjoyed loco mocos and the famous Joy's special crab sandwich and even had room for the awesome coconut cake and espresso tart! Server Jack did a nice job with our group. Always enjoy our Halekulani experience!

    (5)

  • Aim M.

    Great food. Good service. Highly recommend the poke appetizer and loco moco main dish. Yum!

    (5)

  • A M.

    Great service, and good food. Atmosphere is tremendous. I came with a large party. We sat outside at the "appetizer/drinks" tables during the evening show, and had a mix of people ordering dinner and pupus. Drinks were incredible, we ordered a variety of cocktails and everyone enjoyed their selection. Mai tais were particularly good here. I had the fish kebob pupu, and split the curry beef puffs pupu. The fish was delicious, minimally prepared which was a great difference from a lot of other places that have sauces on the mahi mahi. Just the right amount of food to leave room for dessert - chocolate guava mousse. I really appreciated that our server was perfectly comfortable to have us arrive around 5:30, and we stayed until about 9:30. He did not rush us at all, checked in but didn't pressure to order more, and even encouraged us to take our time and stay for the show.

    (5)

  • Daniel M.

    Had dinner with show! Great place to hang out and get a taste of Hawaii - service is great as usual!

    (4)

  • Ilene B.

    Valet parked for free and did Brunch 10 minutes prior to the cut off. Ordered a Bloody Mary and hit the buffet. Really nice selection. Wait staff extremely nice and very concerned that we should get a second helping prior to putting away the buffet table! Very casual with a lay back feel. Quiet atmosphere that allows you to enjoy the sound of the ocean. Walked through the hotel and down beach walk to take advantage of the allotted 4 hours of free parking as well.

    (4)

  • Debra V.

    The consensus seems to be the food is ok, the prices are ok, and the ambiance is stunning. I have to agree on all counts. I came for a luncheon with a group of women--and realized that after having lived here all my life I'd still never been to the Halekulani. I was hoping for a fabulous experience, and hoping I wouldn't feel out of place (given I pulled up in my '87 Honda, next to convertible b'mers, 2013 Escalades, and some gorgeous Benz's)and was not made to feel inferior by anyone. All of the staff was incredibly welcoming, warm, and friendly. Our server (I believe Saundra) was very attentive, and our food was all brought out together (rather than by 1 or 2 people running back and forth for 15 people). She did not seem to rush us, and let us enjoy everyone's company over a long lunch. The food? Eh....The lavosh on the table was delicious. And I ordered a coconut mojito that I could have sucked down in about 5 seconds, and then ordered 5 more and have been happy. Of the 4 desserts we all shared, the chocolate/Kona coffee mousse was delicious and the rest were average. The majority of us seemed to agree that our entree's were just ho hum. A few of us ordered a crab salad type sandwich, which came on wheat bread with a small salad. The sandwich was only slightly larger than one I could have made at home, and the salad dressing was heavily applied--too bad because it could have been delicious. One of the women ordered a pita/veggie type wrap, and said there was very little flavor to it and it looked to be dripping in some type of mayonaiss-y/ailoi type sauce. Another woman ordered a salad, which seemed very small for the price. The majority of the draw really does seem to be the atmosphere. We had a private table off the main area, and on a Monday afternoon it was peaceful and relaxing. Perfect for a holiday luncheon with friends. We were able to sit, enjoy, and not feel hurried or in the way. They dropped the shades down, so while it was a beautiful day out, we were in no way burning up from the sun. All in all, I'm glad I got the chance to visit the Halekulani. Given the prices, and the only so-so food, I'm not sure I'd try it again. Maybe for an incredibly special occasion, or for the music everyone seems to rave about, but I'd be going in with a little trepidation about wanting to have a great experience and not entirely sure it would happen.

    (4)

  • Martin S.

    The view alone makes this 5-stars! We eat here every time we stay at Halekulani, but this is no ordinary hotel restaurant. Food is always perfect. Never had anything wrong, from the breakfast buffet, to lunch by the pool, to the twice weekly chef's grill dinner. Try the Mediterranean pita chicken with mint salad, the burger, or the grilled fish. Enjoy the view of the ocean and Diamond Head. Sorry, but I had to subtract 1 star because the prices have jumped, more like leaped, since last year. $8 for a side of fries? Ouch!

    (4)

  • K B.

    The best $13 mai tai and homemade potato chips on Waikiki beach. Service is impeccable, and the sunset view is great. Nice lunch menu with tasty burger and fish offerings. Entertainment at cocktail hour too. Food can be a bit overpriced for what it is, and is definitely not this restaurant's high point. I eat there often but never expect to be wowed.

    (4)

  • Tamra P.

    This has become an annual tradition with snowbird friends that spend a month here every December. And what a lovely tradition it is! Places like this remind me why I work so hard to afford living in paradise. The ambiance is a lovely mix of luxury tourist and old Hawaii as you partake in a fabulous sunset, sipping umbrella cocktails, watch seasoned hula dancers (and I can tell!) and enjoy classic Hawaiian music. Service is top notch. Personable, but not too relaxed--still very professional. One person in our party stepped away to the restroom shortly before dinner was served, so they held hers, covered. Soon as she reappeared, they brought it out without having to be flagged down. Now that is the service you would expect, yet appreciate at the Halekulani. We shared the coconut shrimp appetizers which were delicious. Hubby and I shared a house salad which could have been a light entree. I had the salmon with bok choi and Hamakua mushrooms which is spectacular. Had this the time before as well, it was still as good. I could just drink the miso nage dashi it comes with. I was still fairly stuffed from lunch so took part of it home...nice to see Halekulani is on the green team with their cute little reusable to-go bag. POINTS! And souvenir bonus. Great place to take visiting friends, or to remember why you live Hawaii. I really need to come here more than once a year.

    (4)

  • Kate F.

    Went here on a Friday night to start my vacation, and what a perfect way. The restaurant is located in the back of the hotel facing the ocean and diamond head. The views are beautiful. We went for the susnset cocktail hour and loved watching the sun set with beautiful live music. We had several cocktails, and I agree with the other reviews that the mai tai's were very good. I also had a kiwi lychee martini which was amazing! We had a coupld of appetizers the tuna sashimi and the coconut shrimp. There are only 4 shrimps, but oh my gosh are they huge! The dipping sauce was great. We arrived around 4:50 to be sure to get a good seat, but there was always tables open throughout the night. I would def recommend this place for a few appetizers and drinks while watching the sunset!

    (4)

  • Mary Y.

    First time here although many trips to Honolulu. I've definitely been missing the boat, this place is one of the best in Waikiki. I assumed being at the Halekulani, it would be prohibitively expensive and also snooty. Not the case! Well, it is pricey, but you can pay the same prices elsewhere in Waikiki, and not get the awesome location, authentic Hawaiian music, and casual, friendly vibe. The surroundings are first-class, and you can just come here for drinks, and soak up the atmosphere! We had Mai-Tais and martinis, very good. We were going to leave after that, but were so comfortable we decided to stay for dinner. It was excellent, not hurried but not slow either. Poke (very good) plus fish entrée (good) and ribs (can't ruin ribs). No time to try desserts, next time! And there will be a next time.

    (4)

  • Janet K.

    The service was great, but I expect nothing less from a hotel of this caliber and it was during the down time (2pm) for lunch. I ordered the French Press. It's a ham and boursin cheese sandwich on a toasted baguette. They had me at brie. It came with a house salad with a tarragon vinaigrette. I liked the simple salad. It was refreshing and light. The sandwich was pretty good. My friend ordered the Joy's Special which is basically a crab sandwich with avocado, bacon and lettuce on toasted brioche. You can also order this dish as a salad. She loved it. My other friend ordered the turkey club. She said it was okay. The soup of the day was cream of watercress... That didn't sound too appetizing. The soup on the menu was a chilled tomato bisque. That didn't sound too great either. Why didn't they just call it a gazpacho? So, I ordered no soup with my sandwich and I'm totally a soup and sand kinda girl so this made me a sad panda. I love La Mer, Orchids and even Lewer's Lounge so I may have had high expectations.

    (3)

  • Carrie B.

    Such a beautiful spot, great service and delicious food. All of the food we ordered was wonderful, as were the drinks (including the non-alc for the kids), but the coconut cake is out of this world. I had it 10 years ago and it is as good, maybe even better than I remember. Thanks, too, to the Yelper who clued us in to the funny features in the ladies room!

    (5)

  • Jay B.

    Decided to come here for a couple of refreshing drinks while on vacation :) On a great sunny weekday afternoon, this place was empty. Great service and quite an exquisite view. I parked across the hotel not knowing that parking was free through valet as well when being a customer :/ maybe next time...

    (5)

  • John O.

    By far the best Mai Tai on the island!!! I have been coming here for years. Whenever I meet a friend or family member from out-of-town, I just have to take them here. It is what we all dream what Hawaii is about. One of the most beautiful views of Diamond Head and always a great view of the sunset. Traditional Hawaiian music and top notch service. I have had some of the food here. They offer a wide arrays of pupus and some main selections from the Kiawe Grill. You got to try there Coconut Cake!!! YUMMY!!! :D The reason I believe this place has the best Mai Tai is based on many factors. First, presentation is by far the best. Ingredients are all fresh and the fact they they use crushed ice just makes the drink taste so much better! Do your self a favor, come here. You may not want to leave!

    (5)

  • Ashley L.

    Nice view and relaxing music. Go a little early like 6 pm to get a table on the patio. I got the mahi mahi appetizer & my husband got the dinner, but my portion of fish was more than his. The drinks were good as well as the service. Definitely get the coconut cake!

    (4)

  • Crissy Crissy B.

    My girlfriend and I saw the former miss Hawaii here. I don't even remember what drink I ordered, but MAN was it good; sure, it was a pretty girly drink and yes, Miss Hawaii may have seen it and giggled that such a grizzly, studly man could even order what looked to be a cup of dole juice with a flower on it, but trust me, order it. I seriously cannot remember the name of this tropical drink, but it had almond, coconut, and some sort of citrusy fruit. oh yeah and it had a good amount of alcohol in it and it tastes like a dutch apple pie mixed with cheesecake and filled with yellow and pink starburst chews. I didn't try any of the food because we had Ono's beforehand and underestimated how full it would keep us, so food is a must-try next time. The view is amazing too, and the live bands they have on fridays - sundays remind me of songs i play over and over again in my head when i imagine "hawaii". foreal, when i think hawaii, i imagine only a few things: cool names, warm sand, cold drinks, hot girls, and the songs they play at House without a Key.

    (4)

  • Dee M.

    Cocktail time is a MUST here. The ambiance and service is amazing. I had the best seat in the house, just short of the outdoor seating area, perfectly nestled in the picturesque view of the ocean and right before sunset. My cocktail of choice was the Hale Punch made with passion fruit, almond, coconut and light cream...ummm, so good. They offer live entertainment during the evening hours. The smooth vocals paired with the calmness of the ocean, 5 star service, and the perfect cocktail truly made me feel like I was in heaven. I will definitely return.

    (5)

  • Justin C.

    Some things in life really are worth the wait. Drinks at House Without a Key at the Halekulani hotel in Waikiki is unquestionably one of those things. In fact, of the myriad touristy things to do and see in Waikiki, this is the only one that I would consider a "must" when making recommendations to friends who visit. It may take between 30 minutes to an hour to get a seat, depending on time of day, but few things will give you so much good Hawaiian spirit as sitting in their famed courtyard enjoying one of their signature drinks. As pretty much everyone mentions, the Mai Tais here truly are magnificent. In fact, I might actually be the first Mai Tai that I've ever really loved (although Hogo opening up shortly after our return quickly filled that role as well). Normally this drink is filled with many of the things I don't like in cocktails, but the HWOAK version is superb. Sure, the setting may influence the perception to some degree, but I've done my fair share of drinking and know without a doubt when a drink is well made. The fact that the resounding number of comments about the place all echo the same sentiment, with very few detractors, speaks volumes to their ability to do it so consistently that every patron feels special on their visit. It's not all about one drink here though. The views of Diamond Head and the surrounding harbor are spectacular, and the sun sets every day right behind the band and dancers, shadowed by a majestic kiawe tree. The music is tranquil, and the breeze inviting. It's really hard to imagine a bad day here, and it's readily apparent how people fall so in love with this island. Or, on this island...it's hard to ignore the romance that's almost compulsory here. The other three drinks we ordered here were all outstanding as well, and it was a nice treat for them to provide a basket of chips just to have something salty to munch on in between sips of sweetness. I can't comment on the rest of the food, other than the things I saw looked well presented and those dining seemed to enjoy them. Everything else just seems superfluous though once you're doing exactly what you should be doing here, enjoying their famous Mai Tai and transporting yourself back in time 60 years ago to a time when simple pleasures used to satisfy much longer than they do now.

    (5)

  • Arthur S.

    Located inside of the Halekulani hotel, House Without A Key is a excellent place to go for drinks to get one of the best view of the sunset in Waikiki and relax to some soothing music. The atmosphere of the outdoor dining area just screams serenity! One of the great perks about this place is that it is right next to the beach, and also near the entrance of Waikiki near Fort Derussy. If you are looking to venture around waikiki but dont want to deal with the hussle and bussle of traffic and parking this place is a great starting point. Considering all parking garages in Waikiki charge for parking, this place will allow you to get free validated parking for a 4 hour block! The service was excellent. We requested seating as close to the beach as possible and were given just that. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable. Im no wine connoisseur just yet, so im glad our waiter new the wine list well, and was able to describe the wines to us. We didnt decide to try any of the food items, since i wanted to visit dukes for the first time, but based off of the pics and reviews im excited to go back just for that. Get there a bit early, as the wait can be a bit long, and there are no ways of making reservations. Complimentry chips are served.

    (5)

  • Rachel M.

    My husband and I visited this restaurant on our honeymoon. In the evenings, there is live Hawaiian music and former Miss Hawaii's dance the hula. It was a beautiful way to watch the sunset over the ocean and enjoy dinner together. We weren't very hungry that night and split the chef's fish of the day entrée that happened to be swordfish which was very good. The music was just right where we could enjoy it, yet also carry on a conversation.

    (5)

  • Jim Y.

    Our old favorite on the beach at Waikiki keeps getting better and better! It doesn't much better than the sounds of the surf, the brilliant sunset, the live Hawaiian music, and the closeness of the beach goers with the privacy of the massive patio. We had nearly all the desserts on the menu this weekend, including this excellent coconut cake, a chocolate banana torte, a creamy caramel cheesecake, and the best handmade lychee and coconut ice creams. Was going to have coffee but didn't want to wash anything down! Service was excellent! And the open sky only got more beautiful, from sunset to stars, to moonlight.

    (5)

  • Holly B.

    Great service from Jan N. for lunch on a lazy Sunday afternoon with my daughter-in-law. We were seated right away, though we didn't have reservations at 1:30 p.m. We were seated with a great view of the ocean, though in the shade where it was cool, as requested. The mint lemonade was exceptionally refreshing and tasty, almost like a slurpee, but better! Great starter! We shared the spinach goat cheese and candied walnut salad-ono! The balsamuc vinaigrette dressing was wonderfully flavorful and light. Then we both ordered the chicken curry with mango chutney. This delicious Indian curry was served with jasmine rice and a generous helping of mango chutney, which enhanced the flavor of the curry. We completed our meal with the milk chocolate apple banana torte for me and the creme de leche cheesecake for my daughter-in-law! Overall a great experience, though the meal plus tip was over $100. That's pricey for lunch in my opinion. Still, worthy of 4 stars and a repeat visit in the future!

    (4)

  • Henry L.

    We lucked out with the ex-miss Hawaii dancing the hoola and an extremely talented local guest singer performing with the usual evening band. The meal was wood fired BBQ ribs and strip steak, the pinot was superb as was the service. I recommend this as an essential traveller experience. Waves of Hawaiian water splashed against railings behind the singers as back drop. A ten foot wave splashed out at the end of the last song.

    (5)

  • Jessica P.

    We had such a great experience here. Of all the restaurants on the island, this was the most accommodating to dining with a toddler. It's a very nice outdoor space with live music and an amazing view. The staff was so nice to my toddler, and made our experience so pleasant. They have stick down table mats for kids with crayons, wiki sticks and cups with lids, as well as a kids menu. We have had some rough dining out experiences as a family with a young child since being on the island, so it was a breath of fresh air to be welcomed at such a nice restaurant with a little one in tow. Recommended for families.

    (5)

  • Les L.

    Having a sunset dinner and cocktails at House Without A Key was by far, one of my FAVORITE memories of Hawaii. We were seated for an early dinner at about 5:30 because they have a Hawaiian band and former Miss Hawaiis dancing and we heard it fills up. There were probably more people there for cocktails & the show than a full meal either option is great though. Although this restaurant is located in the swanky Halekulani hotel, know that the food at House Without a Key is casual. Most of the menu is made up of burgers and salads and sandwiches. We started with appetizers. The coconut shrimp are hard not to like, with plump shrimp and their sweet, crunch coconut exteriors and a tangy dipping sauce. The gochujang ribs were good too, tender and with a sweet, hot sauce. The portion of the ribs were good with a sizable 4 ribs. For mains, we had the chicken katsu burger which was monstrous. It was piled high with a breaded chicken and a big pile of french fries. The arugula salad was a lighter option, with a good variety of roasted vegetables - squash, beet, carrot, fennel - and a sherry vinaigrette though my favorite part may may have been the bits of macadamia nuts strewn throughout the salad. If you're just there for cocktails, you sit at open air tables and get to nibble on endless baskets of potato chips. I thought their cocktails were much more appealing that the usual stuff you can get on the island. Case in point - the Rangpur Gin Fizz which had a nice sweet, citrusy flavor. While all this is going on, you're enjoying the view of the ocean, the sunset, the extremely relaxing Hawaiian music, and the beautiful Hawaiian dances. They rotate through 3 former Miss Hawaiis (of various ages but all of them still lovely) who opened my eyes to dancing that's completely unlike the frenetic hip swaying you see on TV. This is a must-do for anyone in Honolulu.

    (5)

  • Ariana M.

    House Without a Key is located in the Halekulani Hotel, on the ground floor. We came here on a Sunday for dinner. They had live music and hula performances. Beautiful out door seating, great view of the beach. The Drinks. yelp.com/biz_photos/hous… [[ MAI TAI ]] blend of rums, curacao and lime [[ HALE PASSION ]] flavors of passion fruit, almond, coconut blended with light cream and rum. The Grub. [[ PIPIKAULA CHEESE MELT $12 ]] yelp.com/biz_photos/hous… [[ HAMBURGER $22 ]] yelp.com/biz_photos/hous… [[ PENNE PASTA $26 ]] yelp.com/biz_photos/hous… Overall I think this is a good place to chill and watch live entertainment. However, I wasn't a big fan of the food. The dinner was okay, nothing amazing.

    (3)

  • Stephen H.

    Wonderful setting on Waikiki, great place to have a cocktail for sunset while the live band plays Hawaiian music and sings and occasionally a hula dancer gets up to dance. The food is great. Admittedly, I ate there during a kitchen renovation so all the options available for food were BBQ items. I had the pork and it was delicious and amazing. As people say in the other reviews, the Mai Thai is worth getting more than one of.

    (4)

  • Richie W.

    This place barely gets a 4 from me. It's not that I didn't enjoy my experience, it's just that I don't feel like every place you enjoy has to get a 5. Makes the 5 less meaningful :) The location of this restaurant is awesome. I'm sure you can tell by reading from other reviews. Unfortunately, we were eating on Friday night here, and the few of the Hilton fireworks are obstructed, but oh well. I'm sure during the day it's just absolutely gorgeous. We walked in, and while they were quite busy, they were still able to accommodate us with only a 5 min wait. Our waitress was also extremely friendly. They had a live performer singing and a hula girl which was pretty great too. As for the food, I ordered a Locomoco which I do have to admit was pretty tasty. Instead of burger, they used some awesome braised pork that had some very nice caramelization. If I were to be nitpicky, I felt it was overly salted (and this coming from someone who likes salty food!). Probably a 7.5/10. Had a great Mai Tai here as well. Wish the drink was a little larger, but I could definitely feel it :)

    (4)

  • Conor B.

    Some of the best mai tais I had in Hawaii. Need I say more? I also loved the view (especially during sunset) and the fact that they had live music and a hula dancer. It really made for a great romantic evening for my wife and I on night one of our honeymoon. Only thing is, know that there is a dresscode. For some reason they didn't stop us, but I was definitely self conscious knowing I was in shorts and a t-shirt while I was surrounded by people in button downs and semi-dress pants.

    (4)

  • Kristina D.

    Favorite meal in Waikiki! I loved it so much! We went during their BBQ night (a Wednesday I think), they have a special menu and they grill everything outside in front of you. We sat outside and they had an old school Hawaiian band playing and a hula girl dancing. It was so beautiful! The food was delicious! I was so happy that night! Our waiter was also very sweet, he brought us a piece of delicious coconut cake to congratulate us on our honeymoon. I would suggest making a reservation during sunset because it's right on the beach so the view is gorgeous. I really enjoyed the laid back, but classy feel of this restaurant. I would give anything to go back right now!!! Enjoy it :)

    (5)

  • Liz C.

    The food is pricey & honestly not that great for the price but this place is so beautiful & romantic that it's best to go for drinks on a Sunday to watch the lovely trio singing while a dancer dances the hula. The service is also very nice. Make sure you go in time to watch the sunset. It's a truly magical place. Note: The restaurant will validate your valet parking in the hotel. No need to find street parking.

    (4)

  • Regina M.

    Beautiful atmosphere. Bacon wrapped scallops were delicious. Coconut cake is so light and fluffy! Kona Coffee ice cream is so good! Cocktails are nice.

    (5)

  • Lucy M.

    Wonderful, incredibly friendly service. Live band was extraordinary. The ambiance was relaxing, yet fun. The food is amazing!!! I ordered the loco Moco as it was recommended to me by friends who came here many times before. As well as the coconut cake. Both delicious. The braised rib was mouthwatering. It melted right in your mouth. Highly recommend getting both the rib and the cake. A good cocktail to get this is Tropical Itch. Gave me a nice little buzz. Best waiter - Bhas. Ask him to do the magic cups! I'm telling you, he's the best!

    (5)

  • Brandy W.

    We enjoyed a very relaxing lunch poolside at the Halekulani at their casual restaurant, house without a key. I ordered the 5 oz pour of their featured rose, $28. My husband ordered a firerock. We were very impressed with their iced tea, which was garnished with a stick of sugarcane, not something you see normally. I did appreciate that the butter was soft for the bread, but the bread wasn't much to write home about. We started with the chicken and shrimp spring rolls. I couldn't tell a huge difference between lumpia and this, but I like lumpia so it didn't bother me as much. However, for as much as it was, I would have at least like to be to visually differentiate between the chicken and shrimp. Instead, it was ground together. I ordered the fish dish, which although delicious, I was disappointed to receive two pieces of fried ahi. For a nice Hawaiian restaurant, I would have preferred my ahi seared. It cheapened the dish as a whole. The vegetables and jasmine rice paired perfectly with the entree, but not worth the price. My husband ordrered the crab salad special sandwich, which looked like premade crab salad (like a crab louie) on two pieces of wheat bread... and fries... really? Our entire bill topped $100 and for what we received, I feel a little robbed. I have no problem paying the price if the food quality keeps up with it.

    (3)

  • Meghan F.

    Oh, House Without a Key. You are romantic and dreamy and wonderful. Room Without a Key somehow manages to feel apart from the hustle and bustle and "old Oahu" even though it's right in the thick of things on Waikiki and at a modern hotel. As an aside, you shouldn't miss an opportunity to visit House Without a Key even if you aren't hungry -- they are happy to let you take up one of their tables and order just cocktails when they aren't busy. (Try during the gap between lunch and dinner.) Service, even just for cocktails, is warm, attentive, and gracious. The cocktails are fantastic, by the way. When I am lucky enough to be in Hawaii I try to sample a variety of Mai Tais (a drink I never risk ordering on the mainland). House Without a Key has one of my favorites. The presentation is elegant with an orchid bloom and sugar cane, and it is refined and not cloyingly sweet. But It is the addition of orgeat syrup that makes House Without a Key's Mai Tai so special. The orgeat adds a smoothness and complexity that puts their version of the classic Hawaiian cocktail at the top of my list. Please go. Float away to the strings of the local musicians while you gaze at Diamond Head. Then send me a message in a bottle.

    (4)

  • Mel G.

    Nice place tucked in the back of the Halekulani hotel, you definitely are paying for more than the food. Great open and airy atmosphere, live music and hula with the ocean and sunset as a backdrop, service is really quick but doesn't feel rushed. The frozen lemonade is really good, just the right amount of sweet and tart its a nice treat to have after a hot day in the sun. Very mich like a freah lemonade slushie! Had the hanger steak which was cooked just right and opted for yummy mashed potatoes instead of the fries. I would try one of the salads next time as they all looked delicious. Hubby got the chicken curry and enjoyed it as well. Good portions and decent prices for Waikiki.

    (4)

  • Jennifer S.

    I've heard people mention this restaurant and I've wanted to experience it for myself. I've never had the chance to, until last week. My friend got married at the Halekulani and we ended up here for our rehearsal lunch. What a nice surprise! An open air restaurant located on the 1st floor of the Halekulani. It over looks the hotel's pool and the ocean (depending on where you're seated). That day was cool and breezy and it was the perfect weather for an afternoon lunch with friends and family. I enjoyed their bacon cheeseburger made with angus beef. It was served on your choice of bread and I picked the brioche. The burger is also served with a side of fries, ketchup and mustard. I also ordered the plantation iced tea which to my surprise, wasn't sweet at all. Note: the plantation iced tea doesn't come with free refills but their regular iced tea does. A few of the other dishes ordered: the chicken katsu sandwich ( filled with 2 layers of chicken katsu and thousand island dressing, this was a big sandwich), the veggie burger (deep fried to hold it together, messy but I heard it was good), and their fish dish (forgot what it was). Our food took a while to come out (I suppose they were waiting until all of the dishes were cooked to bring out the meals at the same time) but other than that, I really enjoyed my meal. The service we received was really great and everyone was friendly and helpful. Now I just want to come back in the evening when they feature live Hawaiian music and hula dancers (once in a while featuring my hula sisters). Who wants to go with me?

    (4)

  • Lauren K.

    Everytime I'm in Waikiki, we come here. It seems like one of Waikiki's best kept secrets. This quiet and beautiful hotel is CLASSY. Service is always on point. Come here at sunset for a tasty cocktail and some pupus. You get complimentary house made potato chips! Eeeeee! The band and hula dancer, Kanoe, are amazing. They make the ambience. With the view of Diamond Head, you will not want to leave. Just come back multiple times on your trip- it's that good!

    (5)

  • Amanda T.

    This place gets five stars because: the view is fantastic, the servers are wonderful, the food is exceptional and they have entertainment. Don't miss the coconut shrimp and coconut cake. Best. Cake. Ever!

    (5)

  • Michelle G.

    The land of the delicious Mai Tai is House Without A Key! I highly recommend going for lunch so you could enjoy a cocktail and the ocean! The ahi tuna burger is unreal! So fresh and delicious. I thought the coconut cake was just OK not worth $11. I will be back!

    (5)

  • Harry K.

    Great for drinks and pupus @ sunset with Hawaiian music & Hula. Very spendy but the finest hotel in the city period - the Halekulani. Sip and listen, watch the world stroll by on the beach side.

    (5)

  • Michelle O.

    This restaurant was highly recommended to us by many people on the island. The food was really good, the atmosphere was awesome (live music) and the staff were friendly. I highly recommend the desserts, they were really tasty! The only bummer was we went at sunset to try to watch, but you really can't see anything from the restaurant because of the angle. They don't take reservations but we had no wait for our large party of 8.

    (4)

  • Jamie W.

    Had I known how awesome House Without A Key was, I'd have been there a lot earlier! We sort of missed out on the beautiful view - we had been wandering for a while and by the time we decided on dinner, it was dark. I get the gist though. I liked the very open outdoor patio concept. For late dinner, I had the lilikoi daiquiri and the penne with bolognese. An odd dinner choice for Hawaii but as this was our last night, I needed to shake things up a bit. The daiquiri was phenomenal. We received great service. With drinks, it is a little on the expensive side but after all, this is the Halekulani. If I had unlimited amounts of money I would stay here every time in Waikiki and dine in one of their fabulous restaurants daily. Also, can I just say how amazing their toilets are at this resort? Talk about high tech fun! I'd definitely recommend this restaurant without hesitation, especially for a romantic evening. Next time, we'll have to make it to the happy hour!

    (5)

  • Paul S.

    Really my favorite place to go when I am in Honolulu. I was born on Kauai, and grew up on Maui in the 60's and have lived away from Hawaii for my adult life, but return to Honolulu to visit my aging mother. One of the thing I always like to do is have an evening at the House without a Key, having a Mai Tai, listening to the Hawaiian music (always a wonderful trio) and watching the beautiful Hula dancers (always a former Miss Hawaii) It brings back great memories, and I am really happy that both of my daughters and my lovely wife all enjoy it as much as I do.

    (5)

  • Lika G.

    Nice great atmosphere friendly staff but average drinks were $13. To expensive to chill and drink but reasonable for dinner.

    (4)

  • Debbie T.

    A lovely place for a glass of champagne and catching up with an old friend. Beautiful settings and top notch service. Aloha!

    (4)

  • RB19971 R.

    Without a doubt the best cocktails on the island. Yes they are on the pricey side, but the drinks, the views, the music, the service - you get what you pay for. I wouldn't eat here though, I thought the food was mediocre at best.

    (5)

  • Rebecca R.

    Since we only had salads and dessert, I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could have, but so be it. We around alot before deciding to eat here. Wanted something lighter and we found it in this place. The restaurant itself is away from the street and kind of hidden, but I'm sure has a spectacular view in the daytime - we got there around 9pm. It says it is a casual restaurant, but the prices were not casual prices! We had no reservations but we only had to wait about five minutes for a table. The restaurant wasn't too busy at this time and it was quiet and peaceful. Even during the nighttime, the view was really beautiful with the old kiawe tree as the backdrop and surrounded by palm trees. The server was very friendly and efficient at taking our order, bringing food and filling our drinks. Hubby ordered planter's punch and I was expecting it to be very sweet, which it was actually very strong. It was very good. A couple of those and I wouldn't have been walking back to the hotel easily. I just had a coke. We weren't super hungry so we ordered a couple of salads from the appetizer menu. He ordered the green salad and I ordered the chopped salad. The waiter brought us a bread basket before the meal and the little crackers that were in there were really tasty. For salads, they were pretty pricey - around $14 - 16 each. The green salad was good, but he thought their special honey dressing was just ok. My salad was really good, with lots of diced cucumbers, onions, a few radishes, lots of chickpeas and a decent amount of feta. The dressing was really, really good (lemon vinaigrette). And the salad was a hearty size, I didn't finish it, so I could save room for dessert. Wow, the dessert was a good sized piece of coconut cake (although I could have ate my own probably), which was light, creamy and airy. It wasn't overly sweet. The bill was about $70 with tip. To be fair, if we would have eaten elsewhere in that area, our meals would have been about another $10 each, so this wasn't too bad. (unless you count the food trucks or smaller fast-food type places) It was a very nice meal and I would have been willing to go back again to try other items than salads, had I more time.

    (4)

  • Michele M.

    When you want to take advantage of a wonderful Hawaiian morning...go to the breakfast buffet and enjoy the wonderful view marched with fresh and amazing breakfast options. The orange juice is so fresh and exactly what OJ SHOULD taste like when squeezed with aloha. They have options for vegetarians as well which I definitely had my stomach fill of. Servers are tentative and hospitable. We also learned on our last visit that they cover valet services also. Good to know!:) Always a wonderful go-to breakfast place for special occasions or when entertaining visitors:)

    (5)

  • Al D.

    Best Mai Tai in Waikiki, although it will run you $14. The Hawaiian band is wonderful and captures the sounds of classic Hawaiian music (they even have a steel guitar). The hula dancer was also very good. It gets very crowded at sundown so get here early.

    (4)

  • Nicole C.

    Beautiful setting, wonderful friends, and a chance to celebrate our wedding anniversaries made this the perfect place to have our 28th and 25th anniversary celebrations! My husband grew up in Hawaii and his best friend from high school is still a dear friend today. Our anniversaries are only 3 days apart so we love to celebrate together! Guy, our waiter, was extremely attentive. He even brought an ice bucket for my husband's beer when Guy heard him comment that his beer was getting too warm in the heat and humidity! We were never rushed, the band was outstanding, the hula dancer was fantastic, and Danny Kaleikini even sang with the band! We were also fortunate enough to witness a wedding proposal that went very well!! Definitely a place for romance. Our only complaint was the food was marginal and not enough choices on the menu! However, the drinks and setting make up for that!!

    (4)

  • Bridgette B.

    I ate the coconut curry and it was delicious. House without a key is known for the best Mai Tai's in Oahu, but I will say they are the prettiest. It's a pretty location and the food is yummy.

    (4)

  • Patty K.

    Five stars for the music. The trio we watched at sunset was superb, as was their hula accompaniment. Five stars for the view. Four stars for the drinks (loved my nonalcoholic cucumber lemonade). Four stars for the coconut cake. Four stars for the service. And five more for the Japanese toilets that do everything for you except evacuate your innards. We didn't have dinner so I can't offer any advice here but if I ever come back to Waikiki I'll probably come back here ... for the music, mostly.

    (5)

  • Alan K.

    Decent food, but it's just not worth the price. It feels like a more casual restaurant trying to imitate much nicer place. Plus, our service was incredibly slow. It took at least 10 minutes just to get our drink orders in. Kind of the exact type of spot you want to try to avoid in Waikiki.

    (2)

  • Amy D.

    I really wanted to love it but frankly it wasn't nearly as hip or as beautiful as Rumfire at the Sheraton. First, Rumfire has a better view of the sunset and gorgeous fire pits and tiki's. Second, Rumfire has incredible musicians... Jeremy on Monday night and Kamuela on Wednesday are so good. House Without a Key is a much older crowd, very somber (so relaxing which is nice) but you have to wait so long to get a table. I just didn't find it as awesome as others described but everyone looks for different things. It is pretty and relaxing so to each their own. For sunset I will stick to my usual spot or Duke's as I enjoy their music and view as well.

    (3)

  • Bonnie C.

    The most delicious Mai Tais on the island are found here. No Hawaii trip is complete without visiting this place for some live music and strong drinks.

    (5)

  • d p.

    Slow service, over cooked fish. After the food was dropped off nobody came back to ask or check if the food was okay or if we needed anything. The cocktails were good, However ridiculously overpriced. The music stopped at 8:20 on a Friday night. Seriously, I can't recommend this place.

    (1)

  • Tracey A.

    "House Without A Key" is one of many Oahu happy places for a multitude of reasons: 1. Arrive one hour before sunset and stay for two cocktails and you'll understand. The large outdoor location overlooks the waters of Waikiki with no barriers between you and that only-in-Hawaii sun as it sinks from the sky. Get your camera ready. 2. A trio of musicians croon Hawaiian classics, oftentimes accompanied by lovely Hawaiian dancers (often former Miss Hawaii's). It's not a rock&roll place; words like classy, sophisticated, and timeless come to mind. Still, you can dress any old way and you'll be welcomed. Aloha. 3. Between the very high-end hotel location, the breathtaking sunset view, and the old Hawaiian music I expected attitude and ridiculous prices. Far from it. A gorgeous cocktail of the day (Lilikoi Mojito - be sure to stir it) was $12;, beer was $6.50, and big, refillable baskets of Maui potato chips were provided free of charge. Our server wore a fresh flower in her hair, was gracious and welcoming, and was absolutely fine with us ordering as little as we desired. 4. The women's restroom. Yes, really. If you go in there, try not to get so distracted that you miss the sunset for it's here you'll see just how far this place goes to please their customers. A set of throne-side push-button controls allow one to select from hard or soft "rear cleansing", hard "front cleansing", oscillating or pulsing waters, then a blow dry of your nether regions. I've not seen anything like it. If they could add a sunset view a toilet might never free up. 5. The place gets its name from the first novel featuring Charlie Chan (who was based on the real-life Chinese-Hawaiian detective, Chang Apana). You don't have to like it for that, but it's a cool fact to have up your sleeve. "House Without a Key" provides a very high-quality experience different and mostly better than every other beachfront Waikiki bar. During your stay you'll likely make time to watch many sunsets. Make sure you find the time to watch at least one from this location.

    (5)

  • Jan P.

    I am dedicating my 300th review to House Without a Key. I could not ever give less than 5 stars to this incredible restaurant at Halekulani... the most acclaimed of all 5-star Hawaii hotels. The atmosphere, the people, the guitarists, the hula dancers, the drinks, the sunset by the beach-side, and the surroundings are just.. perfect. I was fully mesmerized by everything here. The Hawaiian music folklore really did a great job settling it here by the beachfront behind the sunset. There's the Oahu's famous Diamond Head crater on your left. Stunning sunset view of Waikiki beach is something I couldn't describe... It is just stunning and beautiful. The bar is one of the nicest bar in Waikiki, go see it for yourself. The Mai Tai is made to be perfect - certainly the best I've had during the whole 5-day trip in Waikiki. I also heard that it was awarded as the best Mai Tai in the island. Food wise, they're not as excellent I thought they would be, they're good but not up to my expectations. I was also recommended to try out their coconut cake but I passed it on. House Without a Key receives 5 stars from me. This will be the first dinner I will go to when I visit to Waikiki next time. I felt like I was in my dreams here.

    (5)

  • Natalia B.

    After a week on Oahu and the Big Island, this remains our best meal and most pleasant evening. I'd been here about 15 years ago and remembered the spot for its gracious ambiance, superb service, and superb food....and I'm delighted to report that those standards are still upheld. Our server was the epitome of gracious, unobtrusive attention, the relaxed setting overlooking the ocean is delightful, the singers in the background just add to what is already perfection. We began with cocktails, perfectly prepared (unlike some of the sickly sweet, overly or underly alcohol versions we've had elsewhere since). I am still thinking about the monchong (pomfret) fish, cooked lightly to perfection, and the accompanying young asparagus were the best I've ever had. Oh, and the coconut cake dessert just floated off the plate. Light, airy, yet full of flavor. Oh, House Without A Key, please be there always...

    (5)

  • Wayne S.

    AMAZING!!!! We went for sunset cocktails our very fist night in Hawaii. I'll never forget it. It was simply magical. The live music and hula was perfectly enchanting. The cocktails were extravagant. The appetizers were delightful. We hope to stay at this resort next time instead of The Hilton.

    (5)

  • Michelle D.

    If you're looking for the best atmosphere in Waikiki, with solid drinks to boot and don't mind paying for this, then this is your place! House Without a Key is popular with Halekulani guests, locals and everyone else in Waikiki too so there seems always to be a wait. Put your name on the list and the super-friendly staff will apologetically quote you a time that seems about right. Use that time to peruse the thorough drink menu :-) Beach tables do turn over, even at sunset, and you will be rewarded with a lovely view of the water with a three-piece band playing under the tree. The dancer is lovely to watch as well. Service is pretty good, except spread a bit too thin considering the large parties that take up a lot of time. Drinks were 100% awesome (we tried four cocktails plus two non-alcoholic for the kids). We ordered the spring rolls to go with and these were delicious as well ($16 for three lumpia is highway robbery but you don't care because everything is beautiful and the drinks are actually strong).

    (5)

  • Linda Y.

    My new favorite in Waikiki. On our most recent trip, we went to house without a key 2 1/2 times. We went on Sunday night and order off the regular menu. We went the next night just for dessert and went back in our last night for the special grill menu. The service was excellent and there was always entertainment while we dined. If you go at the right time you'll get a beautiful sunset. The coconut cake is to die for! Loved it

    (5)

  • Morgan L.

    If you're looking for a great, relaxing atmosphere to watch the sunset in waikiki, this is a must stop. Could've sat on the patio for hours. Wind down your day with a live Hawaiin band, hula dancer and order a Chi Chi! For a more upscale dinner, head next door to orchids.

    (4)

  • Keith A.

    It's been a few years since I've done a review here. Reading my previous one, not much has changed. Considering it was a five star then and still a five star today, that pretty much says it all, right? Read my previous review for some good tips & suggestions. They still hold true. For those of you wanting to see Kanoe Miller, she only performs twice a week now: Friday & Saturday nights. We dined here Saturday night, April 19th, arriving about 4:30 pm. Which happened to be perfect timing to garner optimum seating at the actual restaurant with a corner table overlooking the cocktail & stage area. We couldn't have asked for a better location. The band was just starting to set up. By 5 pm, they were serenading us with sweet Hawaiian melodies that completed the ambiance. Our server, Brandon, was the epitome of excellence in every way. He was attentive without ever being intrusive and took care of any little need before ever being asked. How did he do that? A professional in every sense of the word. I love how when they bring you a drink, they present you the straw...paper still on where they are holding it but removed where you grab it...and you slip it out from between their fingers and into your beverage. Very classy. We enjoyed a luxurious meal over the course of three hours. It was pure heaven. When Kanoe Miller arrived, it was truly a delight to see her interacting with many of her longtime fans. She exudes graciousness & charm with every smile, hug and occasional kiss. We felt honored when she took the time to not only chat with us (we are nobody) but came back later to give my wife one of her beautiful leis. As for the meal itself? Outstanding with a price tag to match it, but no regrets. It was an evening that met or exceeded our every expectation. From the cocktails and appetizers to our main course (too full for dessert) it was spot on. When I asked my wife if she would like to dine there again before leaving, she said, "No. Not this trip. Saturday night was so perfect, I just want to hold onto that memory for now. Next time we come, yes."

    (5)

  • Christine L.

    Absolutely spot on recs from friends about House Without a Key. We waited less than 5 mins for a table at 7:30. Our waiter was Courtney who took such great care of us including finding out about certain menu items as one of us had a gluten free diet to accommodate. He found some gluten free toast and brought some out with the usual bread basket. We ordered the ahi poke as an appetizer, while fresh it wasn't our favorite. (Foodland poke must be magical.) Sister ordered the Loco Moco. Waiter took one look at her itty bittiness and laughed. She wiped her dish clean. He was impressed. Other friend and I ordered the catch of the day. The type of fish escapes me but he described it as similar to tilapia. It was buttery, flaky and cooked to perfection. I slathered mine in the savory butter sauce. And to top it off, our waiter gave us a slice of the coconut cake por gratis. Mostly, I think, because we couldn't decide what to get. Even gluten-free friend couldn't pass up a few bites. It was like eating a fluffy delicious cloud. Hmm clouds. This was a dinner to put in the books. I highly recommend this place in Waikiki, it's a definite must!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth L.

    Stunning sunset views of Waikiki beach. Staff was lovely and friendly. A typical sudden shower burst at dusk during our visit, but staff quickly sought to reseat guests and accommodate as best they could. Thoroughly enjoyed the live music and lovely hula performance by former Miss Hawaii. Also had my favorite mai tai in Waikiki here, made to perfection. This is a must in Waikiki.

    (4)

  • Helen F.

    Thanks to fellow yelpers, this was the first place that I visited after I landed Oahu...We were so tired after the 10+ hour flight, but we wanted to check this place out so that I could cross it off my "must visit" list. We got there at around 430pm and the place was not busy at all. Our fantastic waiter took our order real quick... We ordered what the fellow yelpers' recommendation Mai tai for myself and my man ordered his favorite beer asahi! My Mai tai was garnished w a beautiful orchid and it was well made, HWOK certainly wasn't cheap on the liquor! we also ordered coconut shrimp. Everything about this place was wonderful. we also got the chance to enjoy some nice Hawaiian music and a hula dancer short performance. I wish I m still there enjoying the nice weather and the sound of waves periodically hitting the concrete wall just right in front of patio. loved it! This sure is a place perfect for cocktails.

    (5)

  • Fiona C.

    Beautiful place to have a drink and watch the sunset right by the beach - I arrived at 6pm on a Tuesday night and had to wait about 15 minutes as the seats area outside for drinks was full - but I got a seat before sunset so I was happy - I ordered the famous Mai Tai and a veggie burger - the drink and a bowl of chips came after a short wait - the waiter came back about an hour later and asked how things were and I asked about the veggie burger and he looked blank and it was obvious he had not put the order in - he said he would check on it and rush it through - so I eventually got it and it was good - the drink was watered down by this point though as most of the ice had melted - but the sips I had at the beginning were nice and strong. Was glad I took a jacket as it gets very cool at night by the ocean. Would go again.

    (4)

  • Ashley E.

    There was a limited menu due to kitchen renovations. Out of the 6 of us, 5 ordered the cheeseburger and one ordered ribs. Every person who ordered a burger chose it to be cooked "medium." EVERY one of us received a brown all the way through, charred on the outside burger! FOR $35. There were 4 slices of vegetables on the side and about 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes. The dinner purchase did come with salad and dessert bar, which were tiny. I ordered a pineapple mojito (for $13) that tasted like neither pineapple nor mint. Overall, the biggest disappointment of restaurants I have tried downtown.

    (2)

  • Carla A.

    Came here for Sunday brunch buffet, and the food was delicious, but the options weren't any different that what you'd find at any other buffet (especially for how much we had to pay for only 2 people!). We did sit outside, so the view of the ocean always helps, and the fresh juices tasted wonderful. However, there are birds EVERYWHERE and even if you're at the table, they're not afraid of coming up to you and trying to get your food. There wasn't anything particularly bad here, it was just really over priced for what was offered.

    (3)

  • Jason G.

    My partner and I went to House Without A Key somewhat by accident, and we enjoyed an amazing and memorable sunset over Waikiki. The day we arrived in Oahu, we were just walking along the beach and heard some Hawaiian music being played. We decided to stop and listen, and ended up having a great time right on the water sampling drinks and food. Apparently, the Hawaiian music under the tree is a staple of House Without A Key and the Halekulani. I can see why. We were seated promptly right in front of the music, even though we weren't hotel guests. The waiter said they're known for their mai tais, so that's what I ordered. It was a great choice, and it even came with sugarcane. My partner had some rosé sparkling wine, which he found very good. We are feeling hungry, so we ordered the pu pu platter sampler, which came with all of their pu pu dishes. The quesadilla and coconut shrimp were very tasty, but the crab spring roll was actively not good. We traded it out for another helping of the spareribs, because that was an amazing dish. Having a second sparerib totally made up for the distaste of the crab bite. I would go to this restaurant purely for the ribs, and that's saying something. Overall, I would definitely recommend House Without A Key for sunset drinks. The sky was an amazing red the night we were there, and it was absolutely beautiful. We did not have dinner, but I would also have tried out dinner here as well, because it is served outside and you can hear the music. It is a bit touristy considering it's in a hotel on Waikiki, but that really doesn't matter, we had a great time.

    (5)

  • Raquel D.

    Our favorite place that we visited on our honeymoon!! Great location for sunset drinks (I did not try the food, so I can't comment on that). This is one of those places that makes you think, "Wow, I'm in Hawaii"--beautiful sunsets over the water, live music and hula dancing, and a relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Ann Marie B.

    My favorite place for Mai Tais and beautiful hula sunsets. The music is understated and perfect, the service is excellent, the food is superb, and the setting is flawless. If you truly appreciate dance, this is the place for pure hula, with one single lovely dancer. It's serenity. Don't miss it.

    (5)

  • Slava F.

    Went there with a large group last night and had an awesome experience. The food, service, drinks were great. We were also sitting close to the ocean which just made the whole thing even better. We had some salads, kebobs and mahi mahi for the appetizers - all were great. The fish and salad tasted fresh and the beef kebobs reminded me of Turkey (the combination of spices that it was seasoned with and the yoghurt based sauce). The main dish is a combination from the"surf" and "turf" columns. Each will provide you with 5-6 option. Zero complaints from the table and personnaly I can say that my lamb was great and the fish selection was cooked perfectly (Hawaiian sea bass with the local name that I am not even going to try to spell) Highly recomnded and I will definitely visit this place again.

    (5)

  • Teri K.

    Best place to take visitors if you want them to see excellent hula, hear lovely Hawaiian music, and take in the beauty of Waikiki. Not to mention the best mai tai EVER! Go for sunset cocktails or dinner (brunch is yummy too) and enjoy!

    (5)

  • Jay S.

    Great place for a date for locals and must visit for visitors. Come in the evening. Music and hula Oceanside each night. Drinks and food are average price for Waikiki, which means not cheap. Food selection could be broader and better, but gets five stars for atmosphere, location and drinks alone. Oh, and the coconut cake! If you're dressed well enough check out lewers lounge also in Halekulani for the most upscale jazz bar on the island.

    (5)

  • Mr R.

    Very much enjoyed the surf & turf bbq. The drinks were, as they are known for, spectacular. Fabulous ambiance. The service was impeccable. The ahi tuna was delicious. So why 4 stars?... It's surf & turf - you order a fish dish and a land dish -- I ordered the Ahi & soy-lemon sauce (delicious!) and the the Beef Striploin, med. rare. The striploin was not very good. I've had hangar steaks that were more tender than this. While it may have sufficed if I was at the Denny's across the street, compared with how AMAZING everything else (and it really was amazing), it stuck out enough to lose a star :( The BBQ sauce I ordered with it was good, but overpowered the steak (which actually, I think I needed, given how boring the steak was). So go, definitely go. Just don't order the steak.

    (4)

  • Janet W.

    Atmosphere was great with live Hawaiian music and dancers. Food is okay. I ordered the coconut shrimp appetizer and the breading was a bit tough. Shared the chicken curry which was pretty good with a large serving portion. All a bit overpriced. We ordered the Dulce de Leche cheesecake for dessert which I found to be average tasting.

    (3)

  • Katie G.

    Great view! Try to come early/off time to get a nice table.. The entertainment was good, not in your face...you could watch it whole heartedly or just have it be in the background, which is nice if you are trying to have a group conversation. All the performers are former Miss Hawaii's. my dad was really into it ;) Only (slight) complaint, is that the tables are kind of small/low and if you are doing tapas type stuff (esp. with chopsticks) it can be hard to share with others at your table, you basically have to pass the plate around. Though it is nice that the tables are pretty spread out, nice to avoid that crowded feeling you find at some other places. I have had a couple of the ahi, and other sashimi like small plates and all were good. All of the drinks are well made and pretty strong, after two mai-tais you may be compelled to start your own hula at your table... It is on the more expensive side, but pretty much everything in this neck-of-the island will be like that. For the quality of the food, and excellent service (and great views) I would say worth it!!

    (4)

  • Monica S.

    My second night in Hawaii was spent here. Earlier in the day, my boyfriend and I ended up walking over 2 miles away from our hotel in the hot and humid weather for some local grub. By the time we were done eating, we decided to uber a ride back and I'm so glad we did. See, our driver was such a nice lady who recommended some must try places that we never even heard of (and trust me, we relied on Yelp and friends' advices on where to go/what to eat). She told us we must visit the Halekulani and dine here. My boyfriend and I were so glad to end our night at The House Without a Key. Ambiance was great because you have a local Hawaiian band performing and it was so relaxing. Drinks were great and well priced being that this was probably one of the most luxury, if not most luxury, resort on the island. As for the food, I had the seafood spaghetti and it was good. The tomato sauce was perfectly light and garlicky and the shrimp and mahi mahi were perfectly cooked. Boyfriend had the bratwurst as he wanted something more simple. He enjoyed it and said the fries were cooked to perfection. Tried them myself and they were fluffy and just right. If you're visiting Honolulu with your significant other or a small intimate group of friends, I highly recommend going here for a relaxing evening!

    (5)

  • Vicki H.

    I have been to Waikiki many times, and had never tried this place. I came to Yelp looking for good restaurants within walking distance of our hotel. This place had very good reviews. We decided to go for an early lunch because we had plans for the evening. I loved the beautiful view. Our server was very friendly, but after our drinks and food arrived, it seems that he must have decided to take a swim. My husband and I are both crab lovers so we ordered the crab salad sand which greens(salad). The crab salad sandwich description sounded delicious. Crab salad, with bacon and avocado. What a big disappointment. The crab was not fresh and had a very fishy taste to it. I didn't eat mine because I would have rather wasted my calories in a shaved ice. The salad was very good, and the dressing was made fresh by the chef. Unfortunately it wasn't enough food to satisfy my appetite. The view was absolutely amazing, but the crab salad quickly disappointed me. Also the server only came back until he brought the check. I would have appreciated water or a refill to get the not so fresh crab taste out of my mouth. I would not go back!

    (3)

  • U Q.

    Great place for happy hour at sunset! Drinks are absolutely amazingly freshly made (no ready mixes). Very soothing music under big Keawe tree.

    (5)

  • Robert G.

    The atmosphere was great. Service was a little slow, had to wait a little longer than usual for food. Must've been because we got there right when they opened. Live entertainment, great way to hear music from the area. Expect to pay over $100 for two people. The food was spot on. Had the Sea bass, very fresh crisp and season perfect.

    (4)

  • Joanne P.

    This is my go-to place for a relaxing and romantic evening out. There is something so relaxing about listening to live Hawaiian music and watching beautiful hula by the sea. And whether I'm there for cocktails or dinner, I always have to get coconut cake. The best!! My hubby, son and I took a visiting family there for dinner last Sunday night. As we walked in, I saw a few buffet tables set up on the lawn and I was disappointed to learn they only have a special BBQ menu on Sundays. I was expecting dry food that was cooked hours ago and is sitting around buffet style. Boy was I wrong. HWAK does BBQ in a Halekulani way. They offer a "surf n turf" for $39 which comes with mac salad and other sides. I selected the grouper and lamb and had low expectations. Both were astoundingly moist and perfectly seasoned. I'm not sure what those tables were set up for because everything tasted freshly grilled and it was brought to me by my server. I was a happy camper! Highly recommend! Tip: The Halekulani generously validates our parking so every now and then we go there for cocktails and then walk to dinner somewhere else in Waikiki that doesn't have free parking.

    (5)

  • Patricia M.

    Great view, service, music and hula. The cocktails were innovative and delicious. We did not stay for dinner. It's a great place for a sundowner.

    (5)

  • Edie N Alizabeth H.

    We had breakfast here and loved it! The food was delish, service was quick and the ocean view was absolutely gorgeous! The staff was very friendly. We are definitely coming back! :)

    (5)

  • Rowena M.

    I would have to agree with the other reviewers in that this is the place to go to get in the mindset that you're on vacation. The view is spectacular and the entertainment is top notch without being overly kitschy. Be careful not to stuff yourself with the basket of Hawaiian bread rolls and crackers with sesame seeds as they are addictive! We ordered a couple of cocktails which was good going down but you begin to question the quality of the liquor when you get a bad headache the following day. As for food, we ordered the beef curry puffs (a little dry )for starters and my daughter had the clam chowder which she enjoyed. Our entrees consisted of the fish of the day and the swordfish and we found them to be just a tad overdone. But the most memorable part of the meal was dessert- a scrumptious coconut cake that I am still dreaming about! All in all a solid experience and I could picture myself coming back here if I lived in Hawaii.

    (4)

  • Kristina D.

    I love this place! It's located right in Halekuani hotel right near the beach. A perfect place to watch the sunset and have a drink in a great atmosphere while watching live music performers and a hula dancer! All the tropical drinks were delicious - pina colada, hale passion and mango mojito.

    (5)

  • Ramfis B.

    (S) ervice here at HWAK is impeccable ( i ) just love coming to the Halekulani (N) ever had a bad experience here (F) reshly squeezed orange juice for breakfast is a must (U) ndeniably a memorable experience for all (L) ove the Joy's Special sandwich for lunch (M) akes you feel like you are not in Waikiki (A) lso order the signature Coconut Cake with Vanilla Sauce ( I ) 'm a sucker for a great Mai Tai and HWAK delivers (T) he live music here soothes the soul (A) te here many times for the breakfast buffet ( I ) also love the server Mel here. He's AWESOME!!! (S) unsets here are gorgeous (A) lso try the Angus Beef Burger here...So tasty (N) o reservations are taken here (D) ining and drinking here ain't cheap (S) unset Kiawe Grill is available Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 8:30p.m (T) hey have Surf and Turf, Baby Back Ribs, and a few other things (U) nbelievable atmosphere right before your very eyes (N) ice view of Diamond Head can be seen from here (N) obody can touch Halekulani when it comes to SERVICE ( I ) can surely confirm that being here time and time again (N) eed to take your date here for cocktails and she'll be impressed (G) uests that stay here are defintely balling and look the part (S) ashimi and cocktails on Waikiki Beach...PRICELESS (U) nbelievable and memorable is all i can say about HWAK (N) eed to order a side order of French Fries here...Yummy =) (S) ip on a Mojito as well..so refreshing (E) ating the Striploin Steak here put a smile on my face =) (T) hey have the BEST MAI TAI'S in Waikiki....Hands Down (S) ipped on many Mai Tai's along Waikiki..Nothing compares (S) ugarcane sticks to stir your Mai Tai with??? Sassy!!! (E) verything you would expect in a Mai Tai is made to perfection here (P) eople watching is a must here (A) lways love to see the Valet guys here ( Danny,Curt,Ben,Mark ) (R) amfis feels like royalty whenever i visit the Halekulani (A) ulani at the front desk, i will say it again...SHE'S A SWEETHEART!!! (T) his hotel is like a dream that i hope will last forever (E) xperiences like this always have a place in my heart (H) alekulani is more than a five diamond experience (W) aikiki hotels cannot compete with this place when it comes to (A) ttention to detail, impeccable service, and making guests feel wanted (K) anoe Miller is amazing..Her Hula Show is a must see (F) ive thirty is when they start to get crowded here (R) est assured you wont be disappointed (O) rder a glass of wine as well to pair up with your food (M) ake sure you get an outside table (E) at at other places like Orchids or La Mer (V) ery hard to get in here on the weekends (E) xpect a long wait at times (R) amfis wishes he could eat breakfast at HWAK every single morning (Y) ou want a killer Omelet? This is the place (O) melet's made to order right before your very eyes (N) eed to at least come here one time to experience how good it is here (E) ven though i ain't rich, the staff here makes me feel like a million bucks (E) verything i have written so far is truly genuine (L) et's just say Halekulani has captured my heart (S) o many great memories here (E) nding this review i will say one thing..The Mai Tai's at HWAK are top notch!!

    (5)

  • Evan A.

    Being from Hawaii, Waikiki is a hassle. Traffic, tourists, whoa! My friend was in town staying here and I made the haul to his favorite place in Hawaii. Luckily he came right when they opened and he snatched a seat right up front. I'll admit, I thought it was going to be cheesy, but the hula show and performers were great, actually amazing. Drinks? Awesome, overpriced, but expected in Waikiki. Sunset? Worth the price and the service? Perfect. Thanks House with out a Key, what a great experience, I'm so happy I came and will be back.

    (5)

  • Robert S.

    The Halekulani Hotel as a whole, has the reputation of being one of the premier dining spots in Waikiki. The staff is normally the most attentive in the industry and it is expected that no defect in either food or service would stand without correction. My wife and a close friend stopped in to House Without A Key for a 'girls day-out' and to enjoy some drinks, apps and entrees. Although they enjoyed their Mai-Tai and Menerva drinks as well as the Spring Roll and Ham & Cheese Press apps, the entrees were not appreciated - nor was the chef's dismissal of their comments regarding the entrees. They ordered the Chicken Curry and 'Joy's Special' Crabmeat Sandwich. The curry was extremely spicy and had a grainy texture - which might have been just a different play on curry, but it was not well received. Very stingy on the chutney! The crabmeat sandwich tasted fishy and not at all appetizing. When the waiter was alerted to the unpleasant taste of the sandwich filling, he checked with the chef and reported back that he (the chef) claimed the crabmeat was fine, and that the off taste was probably caused by the association of the crabmeat and the pineapple juice that was consumed in the tropical drinks. No offers were made to replace the sandwich, the sandwich remained uneaten and full cost was charged on the bill. A disappointment from two ladies who both live in Honolulu and who have both patronized the Halakulani restaurants in the past and have excellent experiences on those visits.

    (2)

  • Jeff P.

    Excellent food and a great place to watch the sunset. Totally won me some points with the wife. The music was great as well.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth N.

    Alright, 5 star for the location, ambience, service and entertainment. 3 star is for the food. I can't say I'm a total fan of the place (to average a 4 star) because of the food and price of the food. You're really paying for the brand of the hotel and location, not the food. Granted, the food was good tho, but just like if you went to cheese cake factory, coz that food is good, ya know? For what we paid I was expecting like Roy's good....but eh. We had the fish, a braised beef loco moco (Ryan's Grill is better, or try Tango Cafe's braised beef) for about $15 less and much better. Anyways, there's hundred of other reviews that can tell you how beautiful this place is, and how great the service is, and it's all true, just don't go with a high expectation of the food and just be wowed by the sunset and that a former Aloha Hula is dancing for you. Pros: -Location, location, location. Perfecto -The Halekulani is an awesome hotel...ever checked our their bathrooms? Nuff sed. -Great service -World class entertainment -Validated parking Cons: -The price to food quality ratio is off -If you're eating dinner, versus just there for drinks, you have to sit in specific areas. Dinner is tucked in the back either inside or under umbrellas and, drinks only are closer to the entertainment and inside.

    (3)

  • Anita L.

    = WAIKIKI SUNSET AND MAI TAI LOCATION = Yes, I know you can watch the beautiful Hawaiian Sunset on the beach by looking to your right, but watching a beautiful sunset while watching Miss Hawaii 2012 hula to live Hawaiian music and sipping a delicious Mai

    (4)

  • P C.

    Oh Hawaii. And the sunset at this place is amazingly. Breath taking . The food is okay but the view is just outstanding. The service is top notch as well. Love coming here for a mai tai and the view its just amazing.

    (4)

  • Deb B.

    Perfect place for sunset and listening to Hawaiian music and seeing hula dancers. Simply amazing!!!! Great service as well, everything worth the price!

    (5)

  • Stephine M.

    Fell in love with this place. Perfect on the beach dining to view Diamond Head and watch the sunset, with authentic Hawaiian entertainment. Mai Tai's were great as were a few of the other tropical drinks. Food was very good enjoyed it all. It is a little pricey but keep in mind it has a casual but, upscale feel to it being that it's in the only 5 star facility on the island. Most of the seating on the patio was designated for cocktails. If you want a good seat for the sunset and to enjoy dinner I would recommend getting there just as they open for dinner. The line gets rather lengthy if you show up after that. Even though it was busy the service was excellent. I like the fact that our waiter didn't rush us or bother us during our drinks/meal. We weren't big fans of Honolulu itself, but his place made up for it. It was the perfect end to our vacation.

    (5)

  • Josh D.

    Top notch restaurant with stellar drinks, excellent food, and incredible ambiance. Helped that there was also live music with a hula dancer. Tuesday night was BBQ night and the ribs were perfectly done along with a sauce that was amazing. Be prepared to break the bank--its worth it.

    (5)

  • Shelley V.

    Came here for lunch yesterday with the Mister and was not disappointed. He started with the house classic Mai Tai and I had the Sunset Mai Tai. Scrumptious. I throughly enjoyed the crab sandwich served ala tea sandwich style with fries while the husband got the cheeseburger. Both were completely finished without complaint. The thing we really loved was the quiet tranquility of the joint while sipping our cocktails and enjoying the shad of the kiawe tree pretending we were in another era altogether. That was worth the high price tag alone after the chaos of trying to get a seat down the street. I will definitely come back here on my next visit in August with friends.

    (5)

  • Giselle P.

    I had my Hawaii Bachelorette Party at House Without a Key with 14 of my nearest and dearest sisters, cousins, friends and sisters-in-law. Everyone was impressed by the beauty of the location and the excellent service. Shout-out to our server who served us drinks, entertained us with his napkin skills and provided us with first-class service. A big thank you to the staff who helped us with the preps even providing us with a reserved table even if they don't typically accept reservations. The coconut cake was also delicious. I'm so happy we decided on this for my bachelorette. Thank you to my sisters for hosting my last night as a single lady. Mahalo to the staff Nicole, Pontip and Ku'ulei!

    (5)

  • Jen S.

    ***Does not take reservations*** My fiancée and I decided to grab a nice dinner on one of our last nights in Hawaii. House without a Key does not take reservations however when we arrived we only had to wait 10 mins for a table despite the restaurant being busy. Pros: Sitting outside overlooking the Pacific Ocean while listening to live music. Cons: There are only five entrée selections. Service is awfully slow and we were ignored once our orders were placed. Quality of food was dreadful. With only five entrée food choices to select from I was expecting some pretty amazing from the limited selection. FAIL! We had a salad and crazy as it sounds the lettuce tasted funny. Pass. When our coconut shrimp came out I was momentarily excited until I took my first bite. The coconut flavor was too overwhelming, please tell the chief. Next were our two entrée's that we had decided to share, pasta and a yellow curry rice dish. Both were disgusting. Both lacked any flavor and were served cold. I am not one to complain but when I spend $150 I want to leave somewhat satisfied with my meal. Skip this tourist trap. If you still insit on going opt to sit in the lounge where you can still order overpriced drinks and watch the sunset. The music was the best part of this scene.

    (1)

  • Mike O.

    The entertainment, beautiful sunsets, and excellent food make HWAK an excellent choice. During the summer evenings they serve a BBQ menu. We were able to sample pretty much the entire menu. I really cant remember everything, but my favorites were the coconut shrimp and Korean bbq ribs. I cant get these ribs out of my taste buds. They were baby back rib that were asian sweet but southern tangy. Thats the only way I can describe it. It was so good. Although this is Halekulani's cheapest restaurant, it still is pricey. But, what isn't in a five star hotel. Plus I didnt pay so yah, it was 5star to me!

    (5)

  • Brittany D.

    Was it the sweet Hawaiian sun slowing descending into the western ocean with the view of Diamond Head to the east? The orchid gently floating in my impeccably made Mai Tai? The traditional 3-man band intimately serenading the crowd while the lead interspersed the group's shared Maui nostalgia? Or the wide, genuine smile of the beautiful hula dancer as her hips gently swayed in the breeze along with the palm trees? I can't say for sure, but the experience brought tears to my eyes.

    (5)

  • aaron l.

    Nice scenery, terrible food and expensive drinks! Great music and a tropical feeling. I do not plan on returning.

    (1)

  • Joe M.

    Cocktails were tasty, but the food was really surprisingly bad and overpriced to boot. Their surf & turf was downright embarrassing, and you've got all sorts of other great food options around like Jinroku, so why bother? Would mayyyybe return for drinks, but the view wasn't as great as I'd hoped.

    (1)

  • Kelli D.

    Nice spot for sunset drinks, however, I was quite disappointed that you couldn't actually see the sun set. It was behind a building. Either way, nice relaxing setting that included good drinks, live music, and a hula dancer. Oh and our server brought us a free slice of coconut cake since we were celebrating our honeymoon. Yum!

    (4)

  • Ilge A.

    Amazing cocktails, amazing food. I had the passion fruit margarita and spaghetti with seafood tomato sauce. Just Heavenly. They also have some of the best views of the ocean and the sunset to offer.

    (5)

  • Thomas M.

    Disappointed. Bread roll straight out of Costco. The waiter didn't know what the fish of the day was. The fish came with hardly any vegetables. I ask for more, he brought a bowl full of cold vegetables. The same veggies that were in my plate warm but these were cold. Seafood paste were super salty. They only good thing about this place is the view. Don't waste your money...

    (2)

  • Jeannie B.

    Yum! Yum! Coconut Cake!! Mylanta the Mai Tai is AWESOME! Service was outstanding. Must go every visit!!!!

    (5)

  • Louisa W.

    Lovely place to watch the sunset, listen to music, and watch a hula dance. What a beautiful view.

    (5)

  • Colby S.

    Despite what some negative reviews say about House Without a Key. This is just the place you've been looking for in Hawaii. Great food, great atmosphere and great Hawaiian music. This was me and my girlfriends first time at House Without a Key and we were extremely impressed with the staff. Our waiter Ian was extremely knowledgable and described our entrees as if he were Bob Ross painting a Hawaiian landscape. Ian brought us our drinks, and because we have had so many drinks on our trip to Hawaii we thought it would be best to order an iced tea. Little did we know, it would be one of the best iced tea's either if us had ever had. Complete with mint, a lemon and a sugar came stick. PERFECT! Just like most reviews said, "order the coconut shrimp." We did! And it was everything that coconut shrimp should be. Full of flavor and enormous. You could definitely eat the shrimp as an entree, being that you ordered a side of asparagus (grown right on the island). I could go on forever about this place, but I won't. House Without a Key is a little pricey, but we'll worth it. I recommend going for dinner service.

    (5)

  • Bryan M.

    Tasty, scenic, and won't completely wipe out your wallet like many of the other upscale restaurants. House Without A Key is a wonderful place to have dinner. Be warned that the view of the sunset is absolutely stunning, so the place is VERY full right before sunset. And as it sets, many people stand up to take photos so if you are seated in the back, you see them instead of the surf. They also have a live Hawaiian band and hula dancer every night, which is very enjoyable. Its really a great place to end the day. Its an upscale restaurant, so no swimwear allowed. But its not stuffy - just a nice upscale but laid-back vibe. The food is good-to-great depending on the dish. We actually ate there twice and had a chance to compare many dishes. The appetizers are fairly standard for restaurants in this category. Steaks were very good, although the second night was mixed grill night (choose one fish and one meat), and my strip steak came back seared vs. the medium I ordered. Otherwise, the food is solid and tasty, but nothing you will write home about. Overall, given the ambience, the view, and the food, its a very good choice and worth the money.

    (4)

  • Mike T.

    Best bar I found in waikiki, but closes early at 9:00 PM. PROS: -Complimentary chips are delicious! - they play live music w/ dancers. -View of sunset is beautiful CONS: -closes early at 9:00 PM. -Expensive - drinks are stiff & pricey at $12 a pop. -I didn't order any food tho, I heard it wasn't that good here. I'd suggest coming here only for drinks. -They don't have cocktail straws!! (I ordered whiskey on rocks) I want to stress the amazing view of sunset. I'd suggest coming here to watch the sunet!!!! :P I'd also suggest Mai Tai Bar just down the street if you wanna mix it up.

    (4)

  • Maria S.

    I agree with other reviews, food is underwhelming but the cocktails, view and music are amazing. Try the lemongrass or cucumber cocktails! The view and seating are worth it if you want a fun place to have a drink.

    (3)

  • Jan-Marc E.

    My vacation is almost over, so why not spend the rest of my money for a nice little goodbye cocktail and maybe a little snack? Well everything seems good at the place once we found it. Nice beach view and we also really got lucky getting the best place to be seated, being already outside but without getting wet when it rains which happened, and also being close to the band playing some traditional songs with a real hula dancer. And what about the food? Insane prices makes me go for the Entrees first. The watermelon salad with ginger was weird but something special, so let's say it was good. The poke was good, the Chips coming with it were you know Chips. What about the drinks? Well, despite of the fact that I'm not getting used to be asked if I'm old enough to drink, I read a reference which was describing them to be awesome. So, will I start to complain now or rather give five stars? My last day here, so please let me complain a little: The place has it all: Nice food, good drinks but only good, interesting entertainment, but excuse me for saying so, for this price, I need just a little bit more soul. I did not feel comfortable because the waiters were all over the place in a rush which made the place more busy than cosy. I had more smiles being served in most of the other places I've been to, so the food had to really amaze me to make up for that. And honestly, poke with chips is gonna be bought by me at the fish market and consumed at the beach much easier. So maybe it is just me being all against the posh and snobbish stuff, but it's all about this personal things in the end, isn't it?

    (3)

  • Ken C.

    Located at the beautiful Halekulani Resort, I visited this pool/beachside restaurant/bar for a refreshing drink and a good view of the sunset. They also had live Hawaiian music and Miss Hawaii 2012 was performing hula. The drinks were tasty. I got a drink with lemongrass and mint and other things. It was really refreshing on a humid Oahu day. Sunset is a little obstructed by the hotel, so I paid my bill about 10 minutes before sunrise and walked a block away for one of the best views of the Waikiki sunset.

    (5)

  • Sally C.

    No reservations show up around 5pm for the sunset. The server allows you to order some delicious drink while you wait to be seated. He was actually really helpful and approachable great job. It was my husbands birthday they did awesome surprising him and the waiter had everyone singing it was awesome. Dress code is formal/ casual. I love restaurants like this my husband and I had a full course meal and several drinks and the bill was not crazy like most "fancy" restaurants. I definitely recommend this place :)

    (5)

  • Kelly T.

    Went there for lunch and was thoroughly impressed with the service and view. The complimentary lavosh basket at the beginning of the meal completely set the stage for me. To start off with we indulged in the tropical mojito and strawberry basil martini. We had the coconut shrimp and bacon burger- they were both cooked to perfection. It's not the cheapest place to grab a meal in Waikiki but your not "grabbing a meal" here... you're basking in the warm ocean breeze, enjoying the sound of tropical birds in a clean atmosphere, while enjoying delicious food and cocktails.

    (4)

  • Val M.

    We enjoyed our first mai tai on the island and watched the sunset at the beautiful HaleKulani hotel. We didn't order any food, but the atmosphere was lovely. The drink was great, the service was great and the complimentary (bottomless) chips all created the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a Hawaiian trio and the first sunset of our trip. I would love to go back next time I am in Hawaii and have a meal. They had tables set up for those who just wanted to relax and enjoy a cocktail, so we didn't feel bad taking up a seat during prime dinner hour... It was a great way to kick-off our vacation and we left feeling relaxed and ready to enjoy the rest of our week! There isn't a better place to enjoy the sunset!

    (5)

  • Jordan B.

    From the breathtaking scenery, to the live traditional Hawaiian music (including authentic Hula girl), to the warm and attentive staff and teaks all portions, any traveler to Honolulu should make sure to get here at least once during their trip. This Waikiki landmark offers a romantic and pleasant experience. Drinks and food, though pricey, were not unreasonably so given the location and overall cost of Hawaii dining. Alcoholic drinks were a great value and appetizers and meals were flavorful, attractively presented and served in a reasonable timeframe. Given our limited time to experience all that Oahu has to offer, we returned for a second time because of the intoxicating views and great food and service. In a word, House Without A Key is sublime.

    (5)

  • Daniel G.

    Ate lunch on a nice and quiet afternoon in May. Absolute fantastic location with beautiful views, right on the waterfront, and good service. This is a very nice and relaxing spot for lunch......as long as you don't come for the food. The food does not live up to neither the standard of the hotel, the magnificent location, or the good service. If you want a relaxing waterfront lunch location, just for the sake of the location and atmosphere, you found the right place. However, if you are looking for good food, do not come here.

    (3)

  • Chris G.

    I found this place to be a Heaven, no joke. I got here just in time to watch the sun set ,which was spectacular. I enjoyed one of the much talked about Mai Tai drinks, which they craft to perfection. Yes, it's expensive, but I'd happily pay more for the experience I had. The view and the idyllic live music make this location a must. I also enjoyed two appetizers that my well versed server (Sean M) recommended; 1.) The Ahi Sashimi was as fresh and good as I've ever had. It was 8 thick, yet tender chunks of ahi. A++ It also came with a little side green salad. 2.) The Asparagus salad was also unreal. I'm not a big salad person, but this delight is a little deceiving, it has thinly sliced meat on top of the asparagus spears, with a great sauce drizzled over the top. A++ Between the music, sunset, food, drink, and the general setting, this was a one hour period of my life that truly felt like H-E-A-V-E-N on Earth.

    (5)

  • Mik G.

    Let me start by saying the hotel itself is beautiful as is the view. You'll see everyone near you and in the balconies above trying to catch a glimpse of the famous green hue that occurs as the sun sets. It's really beautiful. The restaurant is casual and there's also some beautiful mellow live music which isn't very loud. The dancing was particularly beautiful. On to the food. I ordered the spaghetti and seafood which happened to be Mahi. Mahi happens to be one of my favorite types of fish so I went with that. I made sure to specify that I wanted the tomato sauce on the side. I also ordered a soda which came quickly as well as the bread plate which was very tasty. Once my food came, the first thing I noticed was that the sauce was all mixed in already. Not on the side as I asked. I just went along with it and ate anyway. I must say, I was extremely disappointed with it. It tastes quite bland and needed a significant amount of salt. The Mahi was fine but bland as well. It came already cut in the pasta and sauce. It was left very unsatisfied for a having paid close to 30 dollars for it. For dessert I ordered a simple cup of coffee. It came out cold and I had to order another. The next one was hot and very good. I will say some of the best coffee I've had has been here in Hawaii. All in all, I personally was disappointed but I'm sure some other dishes would have been tastier. I'd be willing to go back again as the ambiance is very nice as is the view. But just as most places in Waikiki, tourists galore! So don't expect much. I'd say 3.5/5.

    (3)

  • Carol K.

    Mai Tais, music and sunset. This looks and feels like a special occasion kind of place. It was a great way to celebrate my birthday! Just being there was so relaxing and romantic. A special shout out to those fabulous Clean Machine/ ToTo toilets.

    (4)

  • Marie A.

    Disappointed. The service was almost non-existent. The waiter had no idea how to explain the dishes, no one checked on us, and our water was never refilled. While the lamb chops were tasty, my friend's seabass was dry. It closes at 9, and has a very old crowd. Go elsewhere, unless you're very old and you're staying at the hotel.

    (3)

  • P C.

    When visiting Honolulu Waikiki, this is the spot to enjoy the ocean specifically the sunset. I will tell you service is impeccable. From the front with Reggie leading the way. His friendly and caring personality started off the visit with a high point. Our server, Bhas, continue the awesome customer service with his joking personality. Even though it looked understaff during the sunset rush hour. The staff performed well under pressure. When you think of Hawaii, this is the place to be. With live Hawaiian music, palm trees in the background and a uninstructed view of the sunset, this clearly is the Hawaiian dream. She ordered the Hale Tai and I ordered the Halekulani sunset. Both were very good. In addition, they have an extensive non alcoholic menu of drinks, which is a plus for the little ones. Finally, get the coconut cake. It is a little pricey, but so worth it. It's Hawaii at its finest. Tip: get here early if you want to see the sunset. It gets packed especially on the weekends. They validate for 4 hours of parking at the valet or self parking.

    (5)

  • Mom P.

    What a great dinner! Sat outside & Jan took care of us! She was fabulous!! We order the coconut shrimp & in our opinion it was the Best on the island! Delish! Also the Mai Tai's are wonderful (if not the best) & beautiful! We went on Bbq night & weren't disappointed! We ordered the grilled mahi-mahi & rib dinner. All was phenom!! Deff be back on our next visit!

    (5)

  • Nick C.

    Setting is fantastic, but that's it. Service was terrible, took 15 minutes to get a server to help us, he came over as we were getting up to leave. Food was absolutely mediocre to poor. Very limited menu and not very much flavor at all. Disappointed to say the least.

    (2)

  • Farah K.

    This review is fir the breakfast buffet. We received free breakfast here as part of our hotel package. I thought it was great, a lot of options. The omelette station was awesome and the chef would remember what I would order when I went back the next day. Very friendly staff and good service. Lots to choose from, pancakes, toast, fruit, muffins, croissants, potatoes, etc. The pineapple juice was the best!

    (4)

  • Giselle F.

    Service and staff are friendly, we are pleased. Views from the restaurant are also wonderful. Food, alas, is not so great. Loco moco meat was ok - no one had complains. We also ordered a cantaloupe soup - a weird processed mix of cantaloupe and something. Bland, tasteless and has no character at all. It's just that, a processed cantaloupe. Next came a curry chicken - again, no taste whatsoever! I felt like drizzling salt, pepper anything to add taste! I understand this is not a Thai restaurant but I expect some decent food regardless of kitchen. But the last straw was hair found in my sister's veggie burger - now that's terrible! Anyway, the vibe, the service, cocktail drinks were good, but food was certainly just ok to us. Bottom line, I wouldn't recommend it.

    (2)

  • Jason M.

    We came here for lunch, at about 1:30pm. We chose it based on recommendations in a guide book. I'm buying that same publisher's guide books wherever I go from now on. They were spot on. The food is delicious - we skipped the starters because we weren't so hungry, and the dessert seemed worth saving room for. The mains we had was a chicken katsu burger and the crab sandwich. They also bought out some complimentary bread. The side bread was very tasty. The chicken katsu burger was very good. Maybe a little oily, but as the katsu is fried that's probably to be expected. The side salad had a touch too much dressing but was still enjoyable. The crab sandwich was ordered with salad too, but came with fries. We were going to ignore this but our waiter noticed anyway and immediately bought the side salad as well. Simple mistake quickly corrected adds value in my opinion. I am told the crab sandwich was delicious. It certainly looked fresh and appealing. For dessert I had the coconut cake (speciality of the restaurant) and it was perfect. Light and airy but so tasty with a great texture from the coconut shavings. A must have. The lychee and pineapple sorbets were very nice - but I'd lean towards the lychee. I wanted to try the marshmallow gelato but I just couldn't find the space. The drinks we had along the way were very good. Especially the "Le Mint". A lemonade and mint drink and the hula punch also very refreshing. I had the Kona Coffee with my cake, and like most coffee in Hawaii - it was delicious. The view from this restaurant is simply stunning. At late afternoon on a beautiful day like ours, you don't want to be anywhere else. Absolutely gorgeous. Our server, Brandon, was great. Polite and attentive and always around when you needed him. Made gentle recommendations without being overbearing. Took great care of our dining experience - a credit to the restaurant. Slightly more expensive than some other locations, but definitely worth the money. I'd highly recommend "House without a key" to anyone coming to Hawaii.

    (5)

  • Christopher D.

    Great location and Waikiki's nicest hotel don't hurt this waterfront open air bar. Wonderful entertainment and hula from former Miss Hawaii. As with any luxury hotel property, drinks are expensive, but you are paying for the view and entertainment in those prices. Appetizer selections were very limited on the drink menu and unfortunately, service was very slow. The staff is wonderful and very polite. I have been here on multiple occasions and there are always children running around the lawn screaming. I don't expect the staff to scold the parents, but c'mon...if you have the money to come to a luxury resort like the Halekulani, please keep the little ones on a leash. It goes without saying, money doesn't always come with class or common sense. Nice for locals to do once and a while, but not an everyday thing. I will always return, but my expectations are slipping each time I do.

    (3)

  • Kalani S.

    The Classic Mai Tai at the house without the key takes the award as the best Mai Tai in Waikiki. Been to many other bars on the Waikiki beach and I have to say this is the place. Even the service here is spot on. Sean the waiter gets a 5 star for customer service.

    (5)

  • Victor N.

    Great drinks with excellent live music and gorgeous views. However, wasn't able to see the Friday night fireworks from this location.

    (5)

  • L T.

    Food, Sevice, and Ambience are all excellent. The live music as the sun set into the ocean was spectacular. I had the short rib and mashed potatoes, which were delicious. I finished my meal with the cheesecake, which was good by Hawaii standards. After living in NYC it's hard to find a really good cheesecake.

    (5)

  • malia w.

    Love this place. Great for sunset with live music. Also a favorite for breakfast buffet. Every time I come to Hawaii I try to stop here at least once. Food and service is great.

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    We had several meals here recently. Evening meal at sunset was good but not great, maybe 3-4 star territory. Throngs of people climbing over each other to shoot photos of the sunset doesn't help. I suggest trying the breakfast buffet. All sorts of interesting choices, gorgeous setting, friendly service, and nobody leaning in front of you to shoot photos.

    (4)

  • Tim G.

    This place used to be awesome with French Onion soup to die for. Homemade chips. Great drinks, ice tea, fantastic coconut shrimp. Salivating barbecue nights and Hawaii's best Hulu show at sunset. Now they destroyed one of the greatest pupus & dinner menus for a choice of just 6 over priced entrees with the least expensive being a $35 hamburger! This icon has been crushed by greedy Wall Street nickel and dimers. It is now living up to its name..."a house without a key" Let's hope that management sobers up and brings back the original pupu and dinner menu at the original prices!

    (1)

  • Shay F.

    I really want to like this place because they try to use local/organic ingredients, and they even have a vegetarian menu...but yesterday's lunch was disappointing. I got the nalo greens salad...which tasted ok...but then I found a small fly in it. I told the waiter that there's a small fly in my salad...and all he did was wipe it off. O_o Seriously? He didn't even ask if I wanted a new salad, or offer to take it off the tab. This is a higher-end hotel right? The bread that they served with lunch was horrible. It was like cold and dry. At a place like this, you'd think they'd give better bread. I want to like this place because of the atmosphere and scenery and the vegetarian menu, but today's lunch just totally killed it. Yelp 365 Challenge #179/365

    (2)

  • Juliene C.

    I came here after having afternoon tea to have a drink. We were seated outside. Good service. Beautiful view of the ocean & you can catch the sunset as well. Live entertainment was cool. The outdoor tables were pretty small though. Barely any room. Complimentary potato chips! I ordered a mai tai & i only had 3 sips. Too strong for me! It was pretty expensive, but the presentation was pretty. We were craving french fries, but it wasn't on the menu. We asked the waiter if they can make us some & they did! Yummy crispy fries to snack on while admiring the view & enjoying the entertainment. I would come back & try a different cocktail.

    (3)

  • Jessica H.

    Amazing service, amazing outdoor dining patio. We had the best veggie burger ever there while on our honeymoon! They don't take reservations so we just showed up at the tail end of the live music hour and were seated at a perfect table outdoors overlooking the ocean. The service was very attentive and quick (not typical of Hawaii!) and it was one of the best experiences we had on our honeymoon.

    (4)

  • Bryant W.

    By far, our favorite bar while visiting Honolulu. Quintessentially Hawaii, this upscale spot is located inside the Halekulani hotel, Honolulu's highest end property. The property itself has beautiful common areas, and House Without a Key is their sunset bar/restaurant option, located on the ocean side of the property. The staff were delightful and eager to welcome us... I would suggest arrived around 5-530pm for the best table (no reservations accepted for non guests). Definitely try the house mai tai (even if you don't like mai tais)- they are made with finest ingredients and not too sweet. The atmosphere is fantastic as all seats offer an ocean / sunset views and most nights offer live music and occasional hawaiian dance. Tip: in addition to mai tai's, the pina colada's are fresh and also fantastic!

    (5)

  • Ax C.

    Doesn't take reservations. Great service and fish, pricey kids meal but hey, they had a kids meal! Good views and a nice outdoor, but still covered, setting.

    (3)

  • D S.

    Our annual family's "last night in HI" dinner spot. We don't go there for the food, but we for their amazing sunset, band, and the hula dancer. Their service is great as well. Hopefully you get seated at Courtney's (the male) service area. He's been great thru the years and always remembers us! They DO NOT take reservations. The band starts around 5pm and the dancer starts at 6pm (I think). The Halekulani hotel is also gorgeous!

    (5)

  • Kimo K.

    Beautiful place to sit outside and watch sunset, have a real cocktail, look at Diamondhead, look out and see surfers, listen to authentic Hawaiian music and watch some world class hula performers. Only 5 star hotel on Waikiki Beach.. classic and wonderful. The pupu is not why you go there a small price for being allowed to sit in a postcard in paradise. Dont forget to tip your waitress.

    (5)

  • Diane E.

    I've been here several times with friends and I really enjoy the atmosphere. A wonderful place to sit, have a cocktail, and watch the beautiful sunset. Staff is super friendly, prices reasonable, and I love the crisp and salty potato chips provided when you are seated. Entertainment is always nice...usually some Hawaiian musicians and dancers. The Halekulani provides free valet parking (don't forget to tip them well for the great service!). Never disappoints!

    (5)

  • Kiana P.

    The drinks here are really good. I especially like the mango mint freeze, but the food is only so so. The restaurant is really beautiful there though and when I went they had live hawaiian music with hula girls that was lovely. Over all I'd go back for drinks but eat before!

    (3)

  • Catherine L.

    Service was not very good at all -- it took forever for us to get our drinks and our check and we actually were sitting near a couple who was so upset by the service and quality of the food that they lectured the staff for nearly 10 minutes. The chips were a nice snack while we waited for our drinks, but the drinks were mediocre, especially considering the prices. Will not be recommending this place to others.

    (2)

  • Kelly G.

    So recently, in all my food blogs that I read, House without a Key had been popping up a lot. So finally I convinced the hubby to partake in this supposed famous MaiTai. The entrance was a bit hard to find, to the left of the entryway of Halekulani and through the shops. At $13 a MaiTai, it was super disappointing. The drink was overwhelmingly citrus flavored that bore at the back of your throat, making it seem like you caught a bad cold. Ick. Loved the Maui potato chips that were served with the drinks though. Tuna sashimi was yummy. Atmosphere is nice and a touch upscale.

    (2)

  • Bryan S.

    First place we stopped off the plane. The service was very friendly and the drinks were very well made. Had the Loco Moco and Today's fish (Ahi Tuna). Not sure what other type of fish the serve. The Loco Moco wasn't bad. I heard this is a local dish usually consisting of a burger in the center dowsed in brown gravy that the restaurant attempted to doll up. The meat was well cooked but the sauce was bland. Basically the se deal with the fish, sauce was thick and overpowering an otherwise good cur of tuna. Im conflicted about giving this a 3 star rating but for the location and price the menu selection was really limited and bland. Mostly burgers, spaghetti and salads with a few basic fish options.

    (3)

  • Pete H.

    Wife and visited during our 1 day Mai Tai crawl. Mai Tai was #4 of 4 so our least favorite. It was decent but nothing special and the most expensive we tested without the best view. Service was meh and stuffy. Our least favorite by a stretch but we didn't try the food. Cheers!

    (3)

  • Reid Y.

    I am mixed about giving a 5-star review because then it means other folks will come here and take my table. of course, there are so many positive reviews it's a non-issue, so I'll add to the dialogue by stating the obvious: - amazing views of waikiki and diamond head - dancers in the evening - great cocktails - very nice staff The last one is particularly nice; the staff and decor here is really not pretentious and the classic, upscale beauty of Hawaii shines through here. Definitely come here if you want to watch the sunset with a cocktail or dinner.

    (5)

  • Virginia R.

    I love that the morning buffet is overlooking the ocean. It's so serene and calm, to start off your day. Highly suggested to go early in the morning. HWAK does not take any reservations, so it's first come first serve. On the plus side, they have free coffee in the waiting area 8) Service was alright.. I understand that there's a lot of people to wait, however, the food isn't necessarily being served, so we shouldn't be waiting more than 10 minute to get our drinks to begin with. That was a little disappointing. Valet is available, free for restaurant visitors. Definite plus.

    (4)

  • Courtney O.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE!! This hideaway in Waikiki is wonderful for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They offer a small buffet for Sunday brunch. It is not as impressive as Orchids across the way but it still gets the job done. Lunch offers a wide array of choices but my favorite has to be dinner. Live music starts at 5:30 pm and makes for a beautiful setting while watching the sunset on any evening. You get complimentary bread rolls and lavosh or potato chips when you stop by HWAK. I usually ask for both and then ask for a take home container for my left overs (shhh!). The lavosh is to die for! The iced tea comes with liquid sugar and is very refreshing on a hot Hawaiian day. They also have awesome alcoholic drinks. The service is very good and they will usually do anything to make you happy. The prices are reasonable any time of the day you go and there is always free valet!

    (5)

  • Mui K.

    Wanted to start our vacation with a bite to eat, a tropical cocktail, hopefully overlooking the beach. This hit all of those requirements. When we first got to the Halekulani Hotel we weren't sure where to go so the doorman was nice enough to escort us through the hotel to the restaurant. Once we were seated the servers at the restaurants were all really polite and very friendly. They kept coming to check on us and were gracious enough to follow us around the perimeter for a bit and take our picture. The food was all fresh and yummy. I don't think it was anything super memorable but it was all high quality which you could taste. The drinks that they serve there are all delicious. You can taste the fresh juices and they decorate them very pretty as well. Finally, the live music, the ambiance of the whole restaurant being outside on the porch/beach makes it a perfect place. We came an hour or two before sunset so we hung around the private beach after eating and it was a perfect place to catch the sunset. A little pricey but I think this is a must do place if you're visiting. Definitely on my list of places to go anytime I go back to Oahu.

    (5)

  • Teresa S.

    I had my 40th bday dinner here and it was simply beautiful. The food was good and the ambiance was better. From the live entertainment to the amazing views of the sunset it was truly a night I wont forget. The food was a bit pricey and you don't get large portions. Ijs (Im just saying, LOL) be prepared. We took tons of pics and had a great time. We got there early enough by 5pm to get a decent seat in the front since this restaurant doesn't take reservations and its on a first come first served basis. My friend ordered the infamous Mai Thai that was just okay to me. A lot of people came just for drinks and the entertainment too. I had a great time!!!

    (5)

  • Kelly T.

    We went to House Without a Key Tuesday night for my mother-in-law's birthday. It was sprinkling earlier in the day so we sat inside facing the stage where there was live music. The atmosphere was subdued, elegant and classy. My grouper was rather bland but was very fresh. My hubby had the swordfish and my sis had the Ahi Tuna Pesto Pasta and both were fab. Service was impeccable. They noticed we had birthday presents so brought a cake for the birthday girl at the end of our meal. It was their famous coconut haupia cake which was moist and most delicious. We were happy we chose this place as their was something for everyone and it was perfect for a birthday meal.

    (5)

  • edward k.

    3.5 stars This place is nice and has an amazing view. The service is great and the food isn't bad either. My family and I came here for dinner one night through a friend's recommendation. The service was pretty good, the waitress was very nice and friendly. The food however wasn't as great as I thought it'd be. We ordered a few appetizers, the wings, spicy tuna roll and the coconut shrimp. The apps were pretty good though the portions are pretty small. I got the spaghetti with penne and seafood. Honestly, I didn't really like it. While it wasn't bad, it didn't really wow me. The sauce was really sweet and wasn't even tossed with the pasta before serving. You can tell they just threw the sauce on top which is one of my pet peeves. The best thing about the place was the outdoor seating and the live music. A very romantic and nice place for those who want something a little more classy but don't want to dress up either.

    (3)

  • Stine H.

    In Hawaii, they definitely drink like they're stuck on an island. Holy cow their cocktails are strong. After 2 drinks, we were gettin' wild at a place of pure taste and class. Paper scissor rock under the table. Downing strawberry basil and lychee martinis.

    (4)

  • Muna T.

    Food is solid but that's not the point. If you are here, you are probably looking for that elusive combination of great views, professional service and well executed simple yet tasty food. The cocktails are wonderful and there is a large selection to pick from. Staff are helpful with recommendations. There is attention to your well being without being intrusive. A band is playing mellow music, you feel you might be in paradise... Have another cocktail!

    (4)

  • Terry H.

    Yes, its pricey, but every kama'aina should check this place out at least once! Why should the tourists have all the fun? HWAK has an incredible view, great music and hula, and some of the strongest mai tais I've ever had. The waiters were super-attentive as well. Sit in whatever section Rage is working. Yup, that's his name..Rage. Is that friggin' cool or what? Nicest guy ever and an awesome waiter. In all, a great experience!

    (4)

  • Will B.

    Much of what makes House Without a Key great is the setting. Right next to the beach, with discreet design and usually a good band playing. The service is also classy and attentive. We brought something like 30 mostly-out-of-town guests here a few days before our wedding, and that was a really good call -- everyone likes a classy place to get drinks by the beach. The staff blanched when we showed up at 5:30pm and said 30 people were coming, but they rearranged some tables and chaise longues and everyone was comfortable. The menu actually isn't that large or inspiring, either meal- or drink-wise, and the food is good but not great, and as expensive as you would expect at a hotel like the Halekulani. Still, there's enough to satisfy most appetites; vegetarians won't find much on the dinner menu. Get some foofy drinks, with or without dinner, and relax and enjoy Hawaii here.

    (4)

  • Chelle A.

    I got the fish of the day and my boyfriend got the cesar salad both well worth it! We also both got a fruit smoothie that was hands down the best smoothie I have had. The view of the water, great entertainment is worth every penny. Will be back again next time I'm in waikiki

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    We came here on our last day in Hawaii and it was a perfect setting to end our trip. The restaurant was a beautiful hotel, there were Hawaiian singers and dancers, and the weather was beautiful. This place was definitely more expensive than most restaurants that we had come to but you could tell that the quality of everything was superior. We had the beef satay to start which was tasty but nothing memorable. Everyone loved their meals - I ended up ordering the spaghetti with meat sauce which I know is an odd choice but I was over Hawaiian food by my last day and wanted something different. I didn't love the sauce - I could tell that it was carefully created but there were too many spices in it. I didn't love it. Obviously I probably shouldn't have ordered spaghetti at a Hawaiian restaurant but I was still disappointed. However, the view, atmosphere, and music definitely made up for the meal. Beautiful space - come here for special occasions.

    (3)

  • Kalei F.

    We went for drinks the other day with some friends from Japan and they loved it!! You seriously can't beat the service and the atmosphere! It's truly what you imagine Hawaii to be: sitting in the breeze, holding a delicious tropical cocktail, listening to amazing Hawaiian music, watching the sunset. Perfection! Definitely try the Halekulani sunset and the Hula drink!! So good!! Not much alcohol but very tasty!

    (5)

  • Joli W.

    Probably THE best place to come for drinks at sunset. The music, the view, the drinks, the appetizers - as good as it gets. A very special place.

    (5)

  • clint g.

    Very nice place, fantastic location, great atmosphere and entertainment and very good service. The food was mediocre. I had the Sea Bass Catch of the Day and it was dry with barely any amount of sides to be considered a side at all. The drinks were prettier than they were tasty. Overall this place seemed more worried about appearances than flavor and counted on the entertainment filling the seats.

    (3)

  • Stephen S.

    The drinks are expensive but you're paying for the ambiance as well. Sitting under that big tree on a warm Hawaiian night, some music playing gently in the background. Well worth it. They're tropical drinks are really good, stick to that menu and toss the other aside.

    (4)

  • Pinky And The B.

    We went at night for drinks and dinner. Food was an after thought. I would suggest if you are going at night to just have drinks. Service is 5 star. There is a certain criteria for 5 star service and it has nothing to do with what guests and customers usually think it does. But since I am familiar with what 5 star service is I can say with full assurance this is 5 star. The drinks were nice but a little watered down. But the ambiance is what does the trick. I can still feel the trade winds in my hair and smell the fresh scent of Plumeria mixed with an ocean breeze. The hula, the Hawaiian music, the service and ambiance are what you go to Hawaii for. We went on our last night on Oahu and it was a great ending to a magical vacation!

    (4)

  • Abe L.

    I had breakfast here every single morning during my 6 days at the Halekulani. The food doesn't change much from day to day - but it is consistently fresh and beautifully presented. It's a pretty standard breakfast buffet which included standard western items: sausage, waffles, pancakes, omelette station, fresh fruit, yogurt parfait - there was also a miso soup station and smoked salmon, along with an array of dry cereals. Fresh squeezed orange juice was fantastic - lots of pulp, the way it should be. Combined with the view on their patio, you can't have a much better way to start your Hawaiian morning off.

    (4)

  • Chenda N.

    Sunset views, live music, hula dancer, outdoor seating, amazing drinks and yummy food, what more can you ask for while in Oahu.Best soup I ever had in my life was the soup of the day, cream of asparagus. Melted and danced in my mouth and the flavors just felt like paradise. Mai tai was delicious and came with a sugar cane and flower. Our server was kind and recommended the mahi mahi catch of the day. I added some soy sauce and salt and pepper and finished everything on my plate.I wasn't a fan of the complimentary sweet bread but loved the salted crackers.

    (5)

  • Jason K.

    Great ambience for the price!!! I definately recommend this place for a nice special occasion if you don't want to go to formal or spend too much. Unbelievable views...food is not too bad.

    (4)

  • Lulu C.

    Sit outside, the view of Diamond Head is priceless! Our waitress overheard it was my birthday and gave us a complimentary coconut cake even though I couldn't eat it, so thoughtful! Felt like I was a tourist on vacation.

    (5)

  • Brian A.

    We visited on a furlough Friday and had a pleasant buffet breakfast. If you have ever been to Orchid's ( yelp.com/biz/orchids-hon… ) breakfast buffet (which is literally located maybe twenty paces across the grass from HWAK) it is pretty much the same experience. It's a beautiful tropical open air setting. The service was excellent and attentive. The food, although not as expansive as Orchid's was just as good. I had waffles,eggs, bacon, and miso soup among other things. Many Japanese nationals stay here and there were plenty that morning. This is why they have a table geared toward a Japanese style breakfast with the miso soup, rice, and fish. The pastries were savory and one of my favorites was the kalua pork hash patties. On top of that add the wonderfully sweet guava juice. I think I drank four glasses of that. What I really didn't like the Scottish Bangers though. They're stubby sausages that taste really awkwardly bland and are slightly more mushy inside. Not a suggested thing to get. I think my only grip would be (besides the "bangers") was that later on in the meal they get some ballsy birds flying around. They'll hop right up in front of you and eat directly off the plate. I think this was more of a problem for us and the diners around us since we were sitting more on the outskirts of the dining area. Not sure what can be done about that. I'm sure if there's more people they're scared off, but we watched as this one party went to the bathroom and left one lady at the table. One bird just kept coming to pester her. I still suggest you come here though. It's also on the expensive side, but buffets at the Halekulani ( yelp.com/biz/halekulani-… ) are the best ones you'll find in Waikiki.

    (4)

  • Will C.

    Great location. Good food but not the best. Service was great. Would recommend for the location amd great atmosphere but don't expect to be blown away by the food (at least in my humble opinion).

    (4)

  • Kevin A.

    WHERE I PLAY TOURIST This is one of my favorite places to go play tourist. How can you not be happy here? Imagine a frosty drink in your in hand, soothing Hawaiian music in the air, and a gorgeous view of the sun setting over the ocean. What more could you want? This is truly one of my perfect places. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the drinks here. Chi chi, pina colada, mai tai, they're all good. My personal favorite is my own creation, the Blue Lava Flow: a pina colada with a swirl of blue curacao. Delish.

    (5)

  • Carol T.

    Normally I wouldn't even look twice at a $22 sandwich but at the HWAK in the Halekulani Hotel, I didn't even blink. This is not your typical tourist lunch spot. It's setting at the back of the hotel overlooks the pool, Diamondhead and the ocean. It's calm "grown-up" dining even though it's frequented by families as well as business people. I did have the $22 crabmeat sandwich and I was not disappointed. Loads of crabmeat on wheat bread (with the crusts cut off!) plus salad on the side. I couldn't finish it. My husband had Maui onion soup which looked great. Don't forget to try their iconic coconut cake. Come back in the evening for Hawaiian music and hula show on the outdoor patio and watch the sun set.

    (5)

  • Eric L.

    Of course, a gorgeous hotel housing a ridiculously gorgeous restaurant. We were staying down the block from the Halekulani and trusty Yelp led the way. They do not take reservations "unless you have a big party 10+, the manager might make an exception" says the guy over the phone. They recommended arriving at 6:30 to avoid a long wait. We got there around 7 and had a 20 minutes wait, so they seated us outside in front of the open restaurant where live Hawaiian music and hula dancing was going on with the ocean backdrop yelp.com/biz_photos/oh7Q… . The views were simply amazing. I was with family, but this place is as romantic as it can get for couples/dates. Onto the food, it was really average, nothing spectacular. I had the catch of the day, which was some sort of ahi ahi. Nothing amazing about it, as well as the other dishes my table had. I was expecting the place to be crazy overpriced due to how nice the restaurant itself was, but it was priced accordingly, making the food not as bad (is that a good thing?) Just come for the drinks / views / ambiance, definitely worth a visit while in Waikiki.

    (4)

  • Donna F.

    A perfect way to enjoy traditional Hawaiian music and the beautiful sunset! We came here our last night in Oahu and had a lovely evening with food, drinks and live entertainment. Perfect! We tried the Surf and turf burger which came with lobster and brie on top of kobe beef on a brioche bun...salty, savory and juicy...all things I love in my burger. We also had the Ahi and pasta, which was amazing! Pasta mixed in pesto cream and topped with perfectly seared Ahi Tuna. Then garnished with a pico de gallo and capers. The capers really made the dish...with the sourness being a nice contrast to the rich sauce. I loved it! And of course for dessert we tried the coconut cake...moist, fluffy and delicious! The Halekulani hotel itself is also very beautiful. Hopefully next time we can stay here so we can have Ahi and pasta as many times as we want...

    (4)

  • Raquelle Z.

    Enjoyed a late lunch and a couple of drinks here. Then stayed for an early show outside overlooking the ocean. The service by Kristi was wonderful. I made a special request for the Maui Onion Soup and they nicely accommodated my request even though it is typically only served at dinner. My burger was good, the coconut cake quite good and the Mai tai was very good. Honestly, the food was good but it was the atmosphere and the service that made this place worth returning to. Next time we might just come for a drink on the terrace.

    (4)

  • Tyler G.

    What you are really paying for at house without a key is the ambiance. They regularly have a Hawaiian musicians as well as Hula dancers and its right on the beach. Its a classy place, with pretty good food and good service. The waiter we had really did his best to make sure we were comfortable and made sure we were satisfied with our food. We went just as the sun was starting to set so it was especially beautiful. If you are from out of town or local and you want a night of Hawaiian music, this is the place for you.

    (4)

  • Melissa L.

    This review is for the live music and drinks only. House Without A Key is located on the grounds of one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever been in. My opinion is probably influenced by the two elegant weddings occurring on the grounds of the hotel when I was there. Part of the restaurant is covered and the other half is outdoors under swaying palm trees. I highly encourage those that wish to sit outside to listen to the live Hawaiian music to arrive at 5:30 pm or earlier, espeically during the busier months. Picture yourself with an umbrella drink (lava flow for me) in one hand, complimentary Maui chips in the other (and they are pretty generous with their serving), sitting back in a chair with a warm, gentle breeze swirling around you. As you gaze to the left - Diamond Head. As you look to the right - the setting sun and the Outrigger Catamaran (it sets sail at 5:30 pm for their sunset cruise). Straight ahead are the sailboats, ships and outrigger canoes sailing past Waikiki Beach. After a few sips of your tropical cocktail a local band starts to play Hawaiian music. A former Miss Hawaii appears on the stage to perform. At approximately 6:45 pm the sun starts to set. You gaze out onto the horizon and tell yourself that nothing can be better than what you are experiencing right at that moment. Paradise indeed. As for the food, the coconut cake came highly recommended but I had to pass as I was headed to dinner afterwards and did not want to ruin my appetite. I noticed that quite a few people had ordered it (and appeared to have licked their plates clean) so it must be a highlight of the menu. This is the place to head to for a quintessential romantic, beautiful, charming experience on a Hawaiian island. No tourist-cheese here. The waitstaff could not have been friendlier or more helpful. There were families, couples, groups and singles in attendance. The hotel has an expectation that their guests be appropriately attired. Many hotels on Waikiki have live entertainment in the evening. Stop by House Without A Key if you are looking for an upscale, elegant experience.

    (4)

  • Carlo C.

    Came here for breakfast buffet. Ocean view was really nice. Food was on the better end of the spectrum with $25-30 buffets. Service was exceptional. Mark was super attentive and gave us some great places to visit during our short stay in the island.

    (4)

  • Hal W.

    The annual tradition continues, and the service (and food) gets better. I don't know if it's because our hosts (some retirees from the mainland who make Waikiki their home for a month every year) are regulars here or my good looks, but seriously, every time I hit up this place, the service seems to get better. Enjoyed a nice dinner with our annual guests this week. Great sunset, great food, great music, INCREDIBLE setting. Questions? You can't beat the House Without a Key. Save room for desert and some live lounge music at the Lewers Lounge. Love this place more and more, every year. Great job, Guy, our server. Way to look after us. We were also seated by the manager, which I thought was a nice touch.

    (5)

  • Dan S.

    Excellent food, drinks, ambience.

    (4)

  • Brenda H.

    Me and my girlfriends ended up here on our very last night in Waikiki. And it was PERFECT. We were there fairly early taking pictures and decided to have drinks. Our drinks turned into dinner. Dinner turned into accompanied by great hawaiian music and hula. And topped off with our wonderful server, Crystal. I can go on and on how beautiful this place was. It isn't your "big booty hoe" establishment. It was elegant, classy, and the setting was gorgeous. I had wine all night, and topped that off with the yummy Lilokai Daiquiri. YUM. And for dinner i had the grouper with mussles, shrimp tossed in a coconut thai curry. Crystal recommended rice on the side, so that's what i did. It was so good. I also had the caesar as an appetizer and it was delicious. I would totally go here again and again. It's perfect for a romantic night, a night out with the girls.... what the hey... its perfecft for anyone wanting a beautiful, classy night out in the waikiki air... hawaiian style.

    (5)

  • Brady L. B.

    Stopped by for a leisurely lunch on the beach. Gorgeous setting. Excellent coffee, yummy cheese crisp bread, & a tasty club sandwich that included sharp cheddar cheese and a fried egg! A tad pricey for everyday dining, but with views like this, plus highly attentive service, it's worth every penny!

    (5)

  • Jon C.

    I've never had such an experience. My girlfriend and I came here on a Monday for our final dinner in Hawaii based on recommendations from our friends. We had come to ultimately watch the sunset so we had a few drinks. We promptly were seated close to the performers. The performers were amazing and the music was so relaxing. Unexpectedly Miss Hawaii 2011 came out and hula danced. Our server was attentive without making us feel rushed and let us take in the experience a bit before ordering. We had the fish of the day and the loco moco which were both delicious. We then finished our drinks right as the sunset. The prices are a bit high but for the experience they could easily charge more. Just the perfect romantic dinner.

    (5)

  • D M.

    Waikiki is so busy and crowded that this was a great place for us to go to lunch just to get away from it all. There was hardly anyone there. We sat outside and had a beautiful view of the water. Before we were seated, they asked us if we were staying at the hotel, and we were not so we said no. Our server brought us the bill to be charged to a room at the hotel. We let her know and she quickly brought us a regular bill. I don't know why they ask in the first place, if they are going to do it that way anyway. Our server was very friendly. The food was good, but not memorable. The cocktails were good, my brother's Sprite was not free refills which I thought was a little weird. The place is pricey, but normal by Waikiki standards. A neat thing was that the tables all had anthurium on them and they were beautiful. Half way through the meal some one went around and collected them all and brought out new, even better anthurium for the tables. It looked like they do this daily to maintain high standards.

    (3)

  • Mindy J.

    We got here around 530 Sunset Serenade that included live music and hula. While the drinks were fab and fancy and tasted just dandy, at $12 each they're quite steep. Especially considering that the Shorebird is next door in the Outrigger Reef serves THE BEST Mai Tais for $3.50 a pop during their aloha hour. However, when you factor in the 'complimentary' show, the price isn't so bad. And while the Mai Tai itself is better at the Shorebird, you will get a more relaxed, refined and sophisticated experience at House Without A Key. As for dining, this is a wonderful place for cocktails and the sunset serenade, but not dinner. We stayed for dinner and the entrees we ordered were disappointing in taste and presentation for a hotel of that caliber and the prices they charge. Know that if you do decide to dine here for dinner, you're mostly paying for the show, view, and luxury of dining at the Halekulani, and that you can do that with a simple cocktail or two and an appetizer and have your money go further for an actual meal elsewhere. One final note, the service... It left something to be desired, which surprised me for an establishment with such sterling reputation for impeccable service. 'Defeated" is really the only way to describe our server, which was rather depressing. He was very quiet, timid, avoided eye contact, and kept saying, "thank you" to everything we said, even when it didn't necessitate a thank you. We were certainly not a scary, intimidating table. Several times we'd try to engage him in conversation, but his behavior remained bizarre.

    (3)

  • Braden S.

    Beautiful night in Waikiki. Come for a drink or three and listen to some great music. Backdrop is perfect, you will want to cancel dinner reservations and stay.

    (5)

  • Jessica H.

    4 Stars for ambiance - the performers were fantastic. Minus 1 star for quality of food, which we didn't really mind since the views were amazing and we were fortunate enough to get great seats. No view of the sunset though...I would suggest you stop by to enjoy the breeze and great music - while sipping on some colada. :-) Go somewhere else for dinner.

    (4)

  • Kellen R.

    Great location, slightly overpriced, limited options. Definitely check the menu before you go to make sure something fits your taste buds. Like many other places HWAK is on Aloha time, so don't go hungry.

    (3)

  • Ferdinand H.

    Named for a Charlie Chan detective novel, this little area affords a spectacular view of the sea while sipping on drinks and enjoying a hawaiian music. The central tree's canopy gracefully shades the seating area, and the sound of the ocean's languid waves lapping at the shores provides a relaxing backdrop to a tranquil evening. Sunsets probably make the even more compelling, truth to tell.

    (5)

  • Jose C.

    I continue to drop in for an evening of food and entertainment. Especially when friends are in town from the mainland. If you want to show your guests a traditional old-style Hawaiian show, this is the place. Hula is great the the dancers are beautiful. I like to go on Monday because Loren is stunning. ;)

    (5)

  • M I.

    I had the pleasure of experiencing both the breakfast buffet and dinner at the HWAK. Both experiences were great. The breakfast had a wide selection and it was pretty much $30 per person I believe. I put so many random things on my plate but I really wish I had more room in my stomach because I'm not used to paying $30 per person for breakfast. I liked that they served different juices and hot tea in a tea pot at my table. We had a great view of the ocean too which was nice yet still in the shade. They also made omelettes to order but i didn't try that out. They did look good though. As for dinner we enjoyed the evening entertainment while sipping on some strong cocktail drinks (mine was a Mai Tai) and eating some delicious Ahi Tuna Sliders (w/wasabi cream) and steamed mussels. They were delicious. I like that the drinks are strong but I was sad because I felt so tired after the first drink that i didn't get to really enjoy other cocktails because if I did, i wouldn't make it back to my room without assistance. Haha. I was sad that the music ended so early..around 8:30pm? I wanted to hang around more until 9:30 or something and listen/watch the live music more. They have more music later at night at the lounge but I didn't have nice enough clothing to be accepted into the lounge to listen to the jazz. Instead I sat in the other room and listened while I tried to recover from my Mai Tai. :) Overall, I recommend trying out this restaurant. It is pricey but for the ambience and the creativity put into the food, it's worth it in my opinion.

    (4)

  • kat a.

    My BF surprised me with a trip to House Without a Key on our last day in Oahu. Amazing drinks, appetizers and a complimentary basket of potato chips all made this place great but the soothing music combined with the gorgeous view of the beach during sunset put this place over the top. Although the items on the menu can be a bit pricey, it's definitely worth it to at least have a drink here with your loved one. Without a doubt one of the most memorable experiences from our vacation.

    (5)

  • Chris O.

    Breakfast Buffet on Sunday... When we got here, it was immediately evident we found the breakfast place we've been seeking. The price (given to us) was $30/person, so we browsed the buffet before committing. Line, sink, score...they got us. I am big on cleanliness, ambiance, food quality, general environment, and the crowd. $30 was the price to pay to get entry into a 5 on all. Bottom line, all you can eat, beachfront, 4 or 5 star breakfast spot, with a higher end crowd in the morning... Perfect for us!

    (5)

  • Hashim A.

    As stated before, the Halekulani is a gorgeous hotel. The grounds of the hotel are immaculate, restaurant included. The band playing added to the atmosphere. The prices were reasonable, especially for Waikiki, so this place is a great value. The food was also great. We started off with the coconut shrimp, which were huge, perfectly cooked, and great tasting. Portion size was perfect for an appetizer. I had the pan seared grouper and my girlfriend had the roasted chicken, both of which were good. We finished with coconut cake for dessert, which again was very tasty and the perfect portion size. You can't beat this venue along with the good food for the price. I will definitely be returning next time I'm in Waikiki.

    (5)

  • Kalani C.

    3.42 stars. Came here with my family on a Saturday evening to celebrate two birthdays and a treat for my niece who's infatuated with hula dancers. We arrived about 6 pm and the place was crowded and filling up quick. We were seated ten minutes later at a great table with an even better view of the entertaining trio, Sunset Serenaders. How appropriate because their backdrop was a brilliant orange sunset lighting the sky. Setting/Entertainment: 5 stars! Our waiter was a low-talker, you know, like the Seinfeld episode; where we had an idea of what he was saying, but not really. I was just praying that we all didn't somehow agree, in our confusion, to wearing puffy shirts for a Pirates of the Caribbean-type audience participation number or something. We started with a few small plates: 1) Ahi Poke Sliders (3 stars) with nori rolls, Japanese pickles and wasabi mayonnaise. Three cute sliders that had nice flavor, but very sloppy when trying to proportion them among four people. 2) Barbecue Pork Spare Ribs (4 stars; serving came with 3 ribs; why always the odd number?) with a minuscule watercress salad drizzled with hot mustard dressing. This was probably the best appetizer. The BBQ sauce had great flavor, not your run of the mill kind and the meat on the bones were substantial given how small they were. 3) Chicken "Tikka" Kebab (2.75 stars) with tomato and onion raita and mint chutney. The chicken was dry and couldn't be saved with all the accompanying sauces. It took our waiter quite some time to return and take our order. We had to catch his attention and ask for: Bread, the specials/catch of the day, more water and to take some of our finished dishes away. Service: 1.5 stars. Entrees were: 1) Pan Seared Grouper of shrimp, mussels, spinach, coconut curry. The dishes presentation was interesting and I thought a decent sized portion: 4 stars. 2) Catch of the Day of mahimahi on a bed of sauteed veggies in a coconut sauce with rice: 3.5 stars. 3) Sage Roasted Chicken with olive mashed potato and chipollini onion jus. A half-chicken roasted beautifully with decent flavor: 4 stars. 4) Ahi Pasta with rigatoni, pesto cream and marinated tomato. We all agreed this dish was good, but not like ta-da great: 3 stars. 5) My 2.5 year old niece ordered the mac-n-cheese. Basic fare, but they delivered it piping hot! Not a good idea, especially for kids: 3 stars. Dessert: 1) Halekulani's Coconut Cake with vanilla crème anglaise. This is their signature cake, all pristine and fluffy like, but rather lackluster in comparison to the other offerings: 3 stars. 2) Kabocha Cheesecake with whipped cream. Very intriguing. It's gotta to be labor intensive to get kabocha that smooth and airy. Rather exceptional: 4.5 stars. 3) Peanut Butter Cream, Chocolate Cake with strawberry jelly. A frou frou take on PB&J. Nicely executed with deep, rich chocolate flavor. And how could you go wrong with adding peanut butter to that?!: 4 stars. Overall, a very relaxing time as always. There's defiantly a sense of pristine magic here, being lullabied to the sweet Hawaiian melodies with the setting sun melting into the liquid horizon. However, the service and execution was so disturbingly inferior, I just had to forget I was at THE almighty Halekulani and lower all expectations. We thought our low-talking waiter was introducing himself at the start of the night. We must have mistook 'I will be your waiter' from 'you will be waiting.' Whew, and did we! Now that makes perfect sense! Tally: Setting/Entertainment: 5 stars! Appetizers/Small plates: 3+4+2.75= 9.75/3= 3.25 stars Service: 1.5 stars Entrees/Large plates: 4+3.5+4+3+3= 17.5/5= 3.5 stars Desserts: 3+4.5+4= 11.5/3= 3.83 stars 5+3.25+1.5+3.5+3.83= 17.08/5= 3.42 stars. #Yelp 365: 067/365

    (3)

  • G J.

    Previously, I rated House Without a Key five stars but after our last experience, I had to take it down a notch. The service wasn't good. Our waitress was extremely fruity. She was not very attentive and kept making sure that our bottle of wine was "dressed". She came to our table numerous times talking to our bottle of wine. She would make sure that the cloth napkin was wrapped around the bottle in a fashionable way. Very strange. She kept chatting with us when we were in need of good service and not extra conversation. I felt kind of stupid since I had talked it up to my in-laws and we were there with them for dinner. Previously, we had a great waiter. I think that his name is Ian. He was wonderful and actually remembered us as we walked out. We will be asking for him next time. Still, the music, Kanoe's dancing, and the beautiful sunset is enough to make you tear up. I still recommend arriving right when they open so that you can get a good seat. I also recommend stopping at the jewelry store on the corner. The lady is very nice and has fun baubles ranging from about $20 to well, enough to make a girl cry and her husband cry harder (once the credit card bill arrives). LOL I still recommend House Without a Key for kama'aina and tourists alike!

    (4)

  • Kenia G.

    The best breakfast EVER so worth it.

    (5)

  • Karen D.

    House Without a Key is located at the Halekulani Hotel, one of the great hotels of Waikiki with a rich history. Originally constructed in 1883 as a private estate, the beautiful Halekulani (which means "house befitting heaven") has been welcoming travelers since 1917. House Without a Key is an outdoor bar that is itself legendary. The original house existed in the same spot in the late 1800s and was owned by a retired sea captain. It was immortalized by author Earl Derr Biggers in his first of the "Charlie Chan" series murder mystery novels, published in 1925. The namesake bar was constructed by the Halekulani hotel in 1983. House Without a Key is one of those touristy places that is also fun for kama'aina to visit occasionally. Their food is extremely overpriced for the quality, portion size, and taste, but enjoying a drink accompanied by music, hula, and the ocean view at sunset is fantastic. Service is also fairly good. Reservations are recommended; I suggest you request a table at the edge of the covered part of the lanai. You will have a good view of everything but remain covered in case of passing showers, which is exactly what happened on my last visit. Take advantage of the free valet parking since they validate--it's good for up to four hours. Yelp 365 Challenge #022/365

    (4)

  • Manda Bear B.

    ************************** 606 **************************** 1 of the nicest bars in Waikiki beach, located inside the famed Halekulani hotel. House Without a Key offers the gorgeous view of Diamond Head, the service here is impeccable, drinks and food are always consistently good. 1 of my FAV place in Waikiki, and I don't feel the hustle and busy of tourists when I come here. Everything is calm and just perfect here.

    (5)

  • COURTNEY K.

    Beautiful location for sunset. If you like hula dancers with dinner this is the place for you. Food choices are nice and wine list here is good.

    (4)

  • Emily D.

    Very nice restaurant and bar in the Halekulani Hotel. The majority of the seating is out doors and it is an awesome location. I came here for dinner and at night the atmosphere is so wonderfully tropical and romantic. There are candles on the tables and a live band playing under a big tree. You can faintly hear the waves crashing in the back ground. It really does fell like paradise. The food was very good, but it wasn't amazing which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. I wish there was 1/2 stars because I do feel like this is a solid 4.5 in my book. The Mai Thais are very good and in addition to the almost standard in Waikiki orchid garnish they also had a sugar cane stick which was a very nice touch. If I find myself in Waikiki again I would make it a point to come here.

    (4)

  • Krissy K.

    This is one of my favorite places to take visitors. I firmly believe that some touristy experiences are totally fine, and House Without a Key is one of the best places to enjoy classically "Hawaii" experiences. Open air dining overlooking the beach, live music, and a hula dancer at Oahu's best hotel for a reasonable price? Perfect! On my most recent visit, I had the maui onion soup, burger, and fries. Oh, and of course the coconut cake. So delicious. Oink. My friends also had soup, fish, coconut shrimp, the cake, and I may have shared some of my fries. They loved every bite and really loved the calm atmosphere and music. Some other couples even began to slow dance to the music. So sweet! Btw, the two friends I was with got engaged immediately following dinner, and eating at House Without a Key was definitely part of the perfect evening.

    (5)

  • Jen W.

    The food isn't particularly great and I've been here a number of times and tried different things. But, you must come here for drinks and to listen to the live music with Diamond Head in the background.

    (4)

  • Kristen S.

    This is the place to go when you really want to feel like you're on vacation. This place is like a scene taken from South Pacific. House Without a Key truly captures the romantic "Old Hawaii" experience- candlelight, soft music, great food and a balmy breeze (even in December...but that's hawaii in general, loves it!). We ordered a few drinks and a couple appetizers. Yes it's a pricey joint, but not extravagant. Would recommend the Coconut Shrimp if you can handle the fried-ness, and the spicy TIkka chicken kabobs with cucumber dip were amazing. I also liked the nice touch of giving you a small basket of salty kettle potato chips when you are seated (yes, they go great with the booze and keep you thirsty, strategic yes?). The live band was fantastic-- a trio singing traditional and classic Hawaiian songs minus the loud hawaiian shirts and cheesiness. The two hula dancers are both former Miss Hawaiis. Sit back, relax, sip a drink with a pretty orchid in it, and basically drift away from all that is reality!! (**also, as a sidenote, DO NOT come here wearing your rainbow bright Crocs and sandy board shorts. Resort attire does not mean tourista beach wear. I mean seriously--you really shouldn't go anywhere in public wearing Crocs unless you're 5. Period.)

    (5)

  • Eve K.

    Classy traditional Hawaiian music--mellow spot with a view. Highlights: - Entertainment: Hawaiian band of about 4 guys playing classic Hawaiian tunes. Nice free show. Friendly performers telling stories of each song and coming out to the audience during breaks to say hi and take requests. - Seating: plenty of room outside for a good amount of people Midlights: - Drinks: we tried a few and they were just ok Lowlights: - Tree seating: although the tree is quite nice, but if you sit directly underneath it, you get fallen blossoms in your hair and stuck to your clothes. - Feel: nice but more of a formal older crowd vibe Elegant place which was nice to visit, but not sure I'll make it a regular stop.

    (3)

  • Toni M.

    A nice evening, sunset, live music, quality pupus and creative cocktails...perfectly describes my experience at the House Without a Key. I took my step mom and aunt on their first night in town. It was a very relaxing evening and for a few minutes, you could forget about the bustle of Waikiki. ++Local ingredients are incorporated in the drink and food menus. Highly recommended...but probably not for the 20-somethings looking for action...oy!

    (4)

  • Lei P.

    House Without A Key has long been a staple for elegant dining in Waikiki for decades. The restaurant is most popular for its nightly sunset views and Hawaiian music/ hula dancer...who often times is a former Miss Hawaii (Debbie Nakanelua, Kanoe Miller, Nicole Fox). Known for their perfectly composed Mai Tais - I have eaten here several times and my favorite meal is lunch. The portions are generous, the atmosphere is soothing and the service is good. My favorite meal consisted of the turkey club sandwich. On crispy sourdough the sandwich consists of crisp meaty bacon, moist turkey, tomato, lettuce and fried egg. All of the flavors and textures were unbelievable and stand-out in my mind as one of the best sandwiches I have every eaten. Salad, potato chips and fries are the side dish option for lunch sandwiches and the burger. The burger is huge and delicious too.

    (5)

  • Liam C.

    The day we visited House without a key was our last night in Waikiki (we later went to Kapolei) and it wrapped up all the beauty of Waikiki on a perfect note. Our waiter was more than kind and served with such hospitality that got our family to love him. The view from our seat, which was closer to the hotel than the beach , still offered us the beautiful view of the Hawaiian sunset. The scenery, the tree, the music and the dancer all made the environment so friendly and enjoyable. The food was absolutely exquisite and almost led to me licking up the plate (oops). Would reccomend to anyone looking for a relaxed evening with amazing food.

    (5)

  • Suzanna K.

    Great location in a beautiful hotel. Service is great. Great views. Food is great. My favorite was the shrimp. Their seafood overall is amazing! Mai tai was good, but not the best! Coconut cake was a little dry. Don't see what all the fuss was about. Overall pretty pricey for a lunch, but would definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Nat W.

    This place does not take reservations but the wait was only about 30min when my husband and I were there (around 7:30pm). The scenery is beautiful overlooking the beach and diamond head. They play good music and the customer service was great. I had a pasta and my husband had a fish...they were both just okay. But their coconut cake is a killer!!!! Gotta have it. One of places good for a romantic dinner in Waikiki. P.S. They have validated parking up to 4 hours, right in front of the hotel.

    (4)

  • Flavia A.

    This is a must-do activity while staying in Honolulu. HWAK is one of the most relaxing, pleasant experiences you'll have. It's a multisensory experience. Relax with the tradewinds in your hair, feast your eyes on a colorful sunset, listen to the gentle waves slapping against the sea wall, taste delicious tropical drinks and smell Miss Hawaii's beautiful flower leis as she walks past you to dance hula on stage. What I love: -Mai Tai and other tropical drinks are pretty darn good. In fact, these are classy tropical drinks. All killer, no filler. Even the blended ones! -Live Hawaiian music. This is the Hawaiian music of old Waikiki...circa the 1950's. -Miss Hawaii hula dancers. All the dancers are former Miss Hawaiis. Kanoe Miller is exquisite and I believe she still dances Fridays and Saturdays. She is graceful and utter perfection. No one compares! -The service. Halekulani offers among the best. From the valet attendants to the waiters to the bussers, the employees are polite, classy, attentive, and doting. Things to know before going: -Get there early to snag a seat close to the stage. It's critical if you want a seat on the lower chairs and tables at the terrace. Otherwise, you're stuck "inside" at regular tables. -Use the Halekulani valet parking (HWAK validates, so just pay a tip). -The food isn't fabulous. You don't go for the food. -It's expensive. Just consider the higher prices "rent" for an evening on the terrace. :) -If you're celebrating a special occasion, drop a hint to your waiter or the host.

    (4)

  • Chris L.

    Loved our visit here. Got a great seat just outside the building with nice views of the band and hula dancer. Very relaxing atmosphere and nice atmosphere along the water under the tree. Drinks and food were great - including the coconut cake, which was the best I've ever had. We went back another night just for the cake - I will be craving it from the mainland.

    (5)

  • Willow S.

    music and setting is ok, food is weak. They have an asinine dress code, someone forgot to tell them they are located in a tropical area that gets hot and humid so not everyone wants to wear a full suit in that weather.

    (2)

  • Kayla N.

    YUM!!!! This place is amazing. I love their ahi tuna sandwich. It's a dream in your mouth. It's fresh, full of flavor and just down right good. The fries are awesome too! Plus their Mai Tai's are the bomb.com .their servers are friendly and prompt. The view of the ocean in the after noon is just gorgeous. All around good thing to say about this place!

    (5)

  • Jenna G.

    Decided to enjoy dinner with a view, live music, and a hula dancer. Before picking this restaurant to take my visitor to, I of course read some reviews from fellow yeeps. I was prepared to spend a bit in order to have a gorgeous view and great music. We parked down the road and had a nice 5 minute walk down the sidewalk to the Halekulani hotel where this restaurant is located. I wasn't sure which direction to go through the lobby so I asked at the reception desk. After walking around and coming upon the pool, seeing the ocean, and turning the corner to get to the hostess stand I almost changed my mind. There were quite a few people ahead of us. Apparently dining for dinner guests get a different table than those who are there for cocktails. We were immediately sat a nice table with a view of the water, sailboats, and of course the musicians and dancer. Our waitress was quick to introduce herself and ask what we would like to drink. We both ordered mai tais which were very good. We received complimentary bread and some water. That held us over for a bit while we relaxed and perused the menu. We both decided to get the burger and I also got the potato chips. Our burgers came with bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, on a brioche bun with ketchup and mustard on the side. They were both served with greens and a macaroni salad. We didn't wait very long for our food to be delivered. They were both cooked perfectly and were juicy and delicious. We took small bites in order to enjoy it along with the music and dancer and watch the sunset. I had a wonderful time at the restaurant enjoying our drinks and burgers. I don't think the macaroni salad was very good, it didn't seem very flavorful. There were definitely plenty of tourists surrounding us but that was to be expected.

    (5)

  • Vince C.

    This is the authentic upscale live-music daily Sunset thing. The anti-thesis of the Florida Keys version which rocks in a completely different way. Drinks (Mai Tai,) are a must, the "family" musicians are awesome, & the hula girl is like a former Miss Hawaii or something. Totally go!

    (5)

  • Sheeva G.

    We came here for lunch before we checked into the hotel. We ordered two cocktails and a few plates of food; all were bad. The service was so slow too. The only nice thing is that you can see the ocean from the tables outside.

    (2)

  • Andrew H.

    Went to this restaurant based on recommendations. The current reviews seemed promising, so we decided to give this restaurant a try. The restaurant itself was near the lobby of a hotel. After walking in, the ambiance was extremely beautiful. Palm trees, a live band, and dimmed lights that seemed to scream "HAWAII". This overall became my favorite part of my experience here. Service was decent, as it was nothing special. We were first served bread and crackers, and I can say that Denny's bread tastes better. The bread and crackers were both cold, stale, and stuck to the roof of your teeth. Not anything I would enjoy. After ordering our food (total of 5 dishes), it took about 35 minutes for our food to come out. The restaurant was not even packed, so this shouldn't have been a problem. My dish (penne seafood pasta) tasted good, but at the same time it was nothing special. I rate this restaurant an overall 3/5 stars. I would only come again just for the nice view.

    (3)

  • Janice C.

    We did our best to make it here and catch the glorious Hawaiian sunset. However, that didn't happen, but we were greeted with a quiet garden seating underneath the Kiawa tree. A warm smile from our server. A bowl of addicting sweet Maui onion chips. Two Mai Tais beautifully garnished with orchids and mint. And the piece de resistance? a starry Honolulu night sky. Life is good.

    (4)

  • Cheryl D.

    What a beautiful place to have a cocktail and enjoy the sunset. simply gorgeous. truthfully, I've never eaten any food here. this review is only for drinks on the patio. The cocktails are delicious and I especially like the bowls of crispy kettle chips that comes to your table. This restaurant/bar is set in a beautiful hotel. I think it's a must to come here for a sunset cocktail.

    (5)

  • Sebastian F.

    The sun already went down over Waikiki beach, the live band had packed their bags, and most of the patrons already disappeared. Maybe not the perfect time to get there, or maybe it is? The sky displayed all of its stars, and the waiter brought a Mai Tai. Perfectly blended, a tropical paradise cocktail with the waves crushing onto the shore just behind the beach walk. A great place for cocktails, food, and live music, no matter what time of day.

    (4)

  • Mary M.

    Yelpers beware! This place is rated high based on their cocktails and ambiance. The food here sucks to be really frank. The food was completely bland, no seasoning in any way. The chef should really be ashamed of himself for bringing such a poorly produced product to the table. The fresh fish of the day was Ahi tuna. There was absolutely nothing done to the fish to elevate it in any way. The braised short ribs came out cold. The beef was poor quality, large chunks fat and the rest of meat was dry due to a poor cut (not well marbled). We never do this but we actually complained to the manager about how poor the food was. He was kind enough to remove the fish and short ribs from our bill. That is the reason for the one star. Otherwise this place would have gotten zero.

    (1)

  • Alex M.

    This was a fabulous dining experience. It was exceptional. The food was as good as the scenery and atmosphere. I had the southern style ribs, they were fall off the bone tender and the sauce in them was not to sweet and had a tad of spice, yum!

    (5)

  • K K.

    What a great spot on the beach really lovely ambience and the hula dancer and the band were top notch. We found a great table and our waiter was very nice. Enjoyed a mai tai and a non-alcoholic strawberry smoothie also ordered a pineapple daiquiri but did not enjoy that one as much. Might want to stay with the options on their drink menu. Also had a light bite to eat and everything was delicious. Fresh asparagus some delicious pasta it was a wonderful evening. Definitely recommend it.

    (4)

  • Joanna S.

    The setting and atmosphere here are truly gorgeous. We had cocktails and appetizers while watching the sun set. The drinks were very good. The appetizers were disappointing. There were only four choices, so we had coconut prawns, beef skewers and one other. They were pricey and just OK. Maybe we expected too much because everything else was perfect. We considered having dinner here, but changed our minds after the appetizers. The local trio was wonderful and the hula dancer had exquisite movements that told stories. Unlike some other island dancers we've seen, she was elegant and tasteful. Miss Hawaii of 2012 I will return for drinks, the sunset and the entertainment, but have a snack before going.

    (3)

  • Joe B.

    What a view. Great cocktails amazing music and Great service. Every time I find myself around I always make sure I stop by for a couple. I wish they had a bar. But it is still amazing.

    (4)

  • Brad M.

    Classy and Hawaiian. The place to go for a calm and Hawaiian experience. First class!

    (5)

  • Doron K.

    Great service. Good cocktails. When we went, it had a live music with a hula performer. The coconut shrimp was huge, and the cheese / salami blend appetizer was definitely interesting. Only reason it's not 5 star is the price wasn't really justified by the food.

    (4)

  • Jocy C.

    House Without A Key is a hotel restaurant on Waikiki beach with a beautiful view and a "band". I love the live Hawaiian music and the hula dancers. Their drinks are AMAZING! Ask them to make a special drink - Calamansi and Vodka drink - you'll be hooked! This was my 2nd time to visit House Without A Key. The first time was in 2008, and I remembered the beautiful view and drinks. This time, in October 2014, we ordered food. We went on a Sunday night - which included their "Surf" and "Turf" special. We ordered the Lobster and Hangar Steak special. The Hangar Steak came out "medium well". Bleh. Hangar Steak is a usually the most tender... but when cooked medium well means that we were chewing on leather. The lobster tail was also a little overdone but edible. The other entree that we ordered was a Seafood pasta - and that was delicious. YUM!

    (3)

  • AJ S.

    Love this place. Great views, entertainment and the best Mai Tai drink in all of Honolulu. Friendly wait staff and really good food. Come for the sunsets too. What's not to love.

    (5)

  • Bogdan K.

    Great food in the early afternoon. The view and the music is the real star. Perfect for lounging and seeing the sunset and the boats go by. Service is good and if I could I'd recommend the ice tea and the coconut cake for sure ;). Enjoy !

    (4)

  • Ryan O.

    Drinks super strong. Had a Mai Tai and a Hale Tai...liked the Hale Tai better. Both when you sipped from the top were like doing a shot of 151 rum; so STRONG. Food tasted good and John our server was very efficient and polite. It was my birthday so he brought us a free piece of coconut cake which was light, airy, and delish. The sunset pics i took were unreal. A must visit place. Expensive, but oh so memorable.

    (5)

  • Janelle J.

    Dined at House Without a Key last night and it was definitely worth it. First, we arrived at 8:50 and the hostess still seated us-Mahalo! The servers did Rush us and were still most courteous and helpful in taking our orders. We enjoyed the shrimp, chicken and taro spring rolls to start. The restaurant also served a complimentary bread basket with cornbread, yeast rolls and flat bread crackers with poppy seeds. For my meal, I ordered the surf and turf with pork ribs and grilled shrimp. I added a side of corn on the Cobb. You will have several options for a sauce, I recommend their homemade bbq sauce- oh my! My husband ordered fries which were perfect. I have this quirk of only eating fries if they are crunchy and all of these were crunchy, not hard. We also tried the Mai tai which was not bad at all! We didn't have room for dessert, but the choices were yummy. Try to eat dinner earlier than we did, if you can. I believe their is a live show with music and dancing at about 7pm.

    (4)

  • Hilary W.

    Quintessential place to have a mai tai and watch a hula show. I highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Jeanne R.

    We had a hard time finding this place but this is a perfect place to celebrate a Hawaiian vacation. Beautiful setting under umbrellas, great Mai Tai's (strong, $14 per), and yummy desserts. A bit pricey ($20 for a hamburger), but there is history and atmosphere. Biggest complaint was how difficult it was to find. I would agree that the food was nothing special, we were there late so ordered a mix of appetizers and my son ordered a pasta dish ($26). I would say, average. But, the atmosphere is exceptional and waitstaff was very responsive. So, I would recommend going here for drinks, dessert (coconut cake, $11, is yummy), and the atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Michelle Q.

    This place was better than I expected it to be. I was expecting expensive mediocre food, but what I got was food of the highest quality! I got the Ahi Burger which came with either fries, mashed potatoes, or salad. It was cooked to perfection. The service here was great! Our waiter's name was Ian (I think?) He remembered all of our orders without writing it down. We wanted to check out the live music and order drinks after our dinner so he led us to a table in the front. Make sure you have your entire party with you because the host/hostess will not seat you until everyone is here. Also, I believe they do Kamaaina Tuesdays so I will definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Veronica C.

    House Without a Key was one of the restaurants I visited in the days leading up to my wedding, so I didn't indulge in the menu as much as I normally would. Of course, I left room for dessert but opted for a salad with watermelon and prawns as my main - an interesting combination which I would never think to create myself but it worked. It was fresh and light, exactly what I was after. My sister had the spaghetti bolognese which was fine. For dessert we had the signature coconut cake, which was perfectly light and fluffy with just the right sponge:cream ratio - would definitely recommend. The highlight of our experience there would have to be the setting - a light breeze with live music in the background as the sun goes down, but not too loud. It was perfect weather (in May) to be enjoying the outdoor seating, but not too cramped so it could still be semi-intimate given your surroundings.

    (3)

  • Eric Robert R.

    This is definitely my favorite bar in exotic Honolulu! Yes, I do understand that... 1. The prices are somewhat outrageous! Hmm... 2. The prices are somewhat outrageous! Ugh... 3. The prices are somewhat outrageous! Oh well... Okay, I think I made it clear that a $15 "Charlie Chan" Mai Tai and/or $24 burger is to be expected here, but ooooooh how it's worth every Hamilton! I do understand that you can get similar at other casual high-end restaurants, but what separates this place called... HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY! Well, what separates this place from the rest? How about the 100 years of history here - if only that century-old Kiawe tree could talk! How about the incredible sunsets disappearing into our beautiful Pacific! I've seen beautiful sunsets everywhere in the world, but something about the sunsets here at the Halekulani! It's magical! Period! Yes, I know. I know! Does this validate a $15 Mai Tai? Well, when you consider the "Charlie Chan" Mai Tai here as one of the best in world - yup, it sure is worth it! So, why is this my favorite bar? May I call it a bar? Besides the expensive drinks and fancy name... I'm a helpless romantic at heart. Forever will be. I know I can be aggressive and blunt at times, but that's the business side of me. I mean no harm. I do have a heart. I have a ZBIG lion heart and when I need something or someplace to soothe it... I visit... HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY! It is immortalized after a popular 1920's "Charlie Chan" novel titled - "House Without A Key!" Yes, It is located in crazy Waikiki, but in the historical Halekulani, and the history here resonates to the days of "Charlie Chan"... The reason many old timers named the Mai Tai here after the fictional character based off a REAL legendary Hawaiian-Chinese Honolulu Detective, "Chang Apana". The "Charlie Chan" Mai Tai was born and the rest is Halekulani history! I simply love it here! It's magical! I've had the Angus Burger w/ Bacon & Cheese and it was $24 and change! No, it's not cheap, but it's delicious and that's important, right?! Let's not forget that sunset and sipping that "Charlie Chan" Mai Tai! I've been here for the breakfast buffet, too, and although pricier than most places it delivered satisfaction on each visit! Oh, did I even mention the incredible Coconut Cake? Yeah, it's $11 for a slice, but oh so good - oh so good! However, my favorite time will always be the "it's five o'clock somewhere time" with my favorite "Charlie Chan" Mai Tai with endless Maui Chips. The Mai Tai is made perfectly with the freshest tropical ingredients out there! It's classically garnished and tastes oh so heavenly! Go ahead and savor every sip & please eat that pineapple wedge! I definitely recommend this magical place called... HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY! It's romantic, yet still casual enough. It's on the beach, but in a historic hotel... The legendary Halekulani! The food is delicious - with wonderful live Hawaiian music and hula! The employees are polite and mature, but never stuffy! Of course, what will keep me coming back for more and more is watching a perfect Hawaiian sunset and sipping a perfect Mai Tai... Under the century-old Kiawe tree... I can live this life. I'm in love! Want to join me? OVERALL GRADE: 4.5-STARS! LIVE ALOHA... YELP REVIEW #427

    (5)

  • Lesley S.

    Great time and server was phenomenal.

    (4)

  • Ami K.

    This is one of my favorite places to come in Hawaii. The view is spectAcular, and there is very good entertainment. There is a Hawaiian band and a dancer daily from 530-830. The music is beautiful and the dancing is enchanting. Come here for a quick drink or sit back and enjoy the sunset. It's a great way to end the day after sightseeing or spending the day at the beach. Their homemade potato chips are so good! My kids always eat 2-3 bowls of those. The food is also decent. Surprisingly, their chicken curry is to die for!! Just like Indian curry but better and less greasy. I had their daily dish special and it was good but a tad over cooked. They do have children's menu so if your kids are pretty laid back and well behaved don't hesitate to bring them.

    (5)

  • Mikey H.

    We came out here for Joanne B's wedding last year, which was held at the Halekalani. When she heard we were coming to Hawaii, she gave me her gift certificate for brunch at House Without A Key. She didn't want it to go to waste and was happy to give it to someone who enjoys eating...LOL! The hostess was pretty excited when I gave her the GC. I wondered if she thought we had gotten married and they made a mistake on it. She made sure we had a nice table on the patio facing the ocean. Our server Teri, brought us coffee and juice and told us to go and enjoy! Great selection of breakfast foods: Soft scrambled eggs, bacon (crispy), corned beef hash, portuguese sausage, omelet station, waffles, a wonderful assortment of fresh fruit, and some Japanese items. This was an excellent brunch spread. The only thing missing was free-flowing mimosas! It was a perfect Hawaiian morning and the staff was so friendly. The Halekulani is always mentioned or awarded as a top resort destination in Hawaii, and House Without A Key is just one of the reasons why. One note of caution, the birds can be a little bold but don't feed them or its whole family will come and join you. Thanks again Joanne for letting us have this experience!

    (5)

  • Rolando T.

    If you are looking for a great pre-dinner cocktail or just a nice Sunset Cocktail. This is the place to be. Great for a Romantic Cocktail. Mai Tai's are the Best around. Hands Down! Coconut Shrimp is Great too! I never pass up coming here when in Honolulu.

    (5)

  • Christina L.

    charming! definitely not your average hotel bar - it wasn't cheesy at all! the outdoor patio space is great - perfect place to wind down a long lazy beach day, watch the sunset, and listen to live music. we were also treated to a hula session by a former miss hawaii which was super sweeeeeet! the drinks are so delicious - i tried the classic maitai, the chi chi and the blue hawaii - although a bit on the expensive side - but that was expected due to the hotel and the location.. our server was super patient as well when i didnt know what to order. the crowd is a bit older given the aforementioned details, but we totally enjoyed it. would come back! only downside in my book is that the chips are not homemade.. heheh, but i might be spoiled by SF standards.. :)

    (4)

  • Duke K.

    Good execution of a slightly uninspired and scattered menu. Food: 4 Value: 3 Ambiance: 5 Service: 4

    (4)

  • Catherine B.

    This was the perfect place for a sunset happy hour!! The coconut shrimp is a must and your night isn't complete without the coconut cake! The drinks are fantastic and the live entertainment is great! This is a wonderful upscale spot on Waikiki!

    (5)

  • Ivy Lou H.

    House Without A Key is a beautiful place to enjoy a nice meal. The setting above the beach is perfect anytime of day but is especially magic at sunset. The food is excellent but don't expect a huge menu as it's somewhat limited. But what they do they do right. The food is just half the reason why you should come here. The location and the nightly music is the other half. The musicians and hula really put you into a relaxed mood making House a Without A Key one of the best restaurants if you want a good meal with a Hawaiian ambience.

    (4)

  • Cat B.

    House Without a Key -- or as my husband asked, where can I find "my room without a key?" Lol. I heard he's not the only one to butcher this quirky name for a restaurant. We initially had reservations for Orchids next door but due to the fact that we were on vacation and packed minimally for our trip, we didn't feel like packing extra clothes just for one dinner. At Orchids, men need to wear pants or trousers and a collared shirt. That's pretty formal for Hawaii but I get it, that restaurant commands a much more formal atmosphere. So we dined, instead, next door in a room without any keys or walls for that matter. I ordered the grilled mahi mahi and the hubs opted for the grilled Cornish hen. His hen was one of the best I've ever tasted. It was perfectly seasoned and had a nice crispy skin. I was so intrigued that I wandered over to the grill master and asked how he did it. High heat. Duh! My mahi mahi was also delicious and the kids seemed to enjoy their entrees as well. But the star of the night? The signature coconut cake! Oh-em-gee was that cake dreamy. It was so light and not too sweet. But it wasn't cheap. $10 per slice and we didn't even get it complimentary even though the waitress knew we were celebrating a big anniversary. Oh well, it was worth the price. I really liked this restaurant; it's so open, airy and though less formal than Orchids, was still romantic and beautiful in its own ways. You can watch the sunset while listening to live Hawaiian music. I also have to give a nod to the bartender who whipped up some amazing mai tais. In fact, the best mai tai I had on this trip was from here. Actually, it was hub's mai tai which is basically community property right?? I ordered a delicious cucumber cocktail that was equally refreshing and just as yummy. If you're in the area, definitely stop by if only to have the mai tai and cake!

    (4)

  • Kersten M.

    Perfect. Mai tais with fresh squeezed juice, an ocean view, live music and friendly staff. Oh and free valet at the hotel with validation at the restaurant. Yep, perfect.

    (5)

  • Jay P.

    My friends visiting from Japan wanted to see a live hula show during their first dinner on Oahu, so we all unanimously decided on House Without a Key. There are two really great options for parking here: 1) Halekulani offers free valet parking! Just make sure you tip the valet :) 2) The parking structure is at the end of the street right next to Waikiki Parc Hotel. You can self-park and validate your ticket at House Without A Key free of charge! Walk into Halekulani and follow the helpful signs until you come across the hotel's swimming pool. House Without a Key is right next to the pool! House Without a Key is on a first-come, first-served walk-in basis, meaning NO RESERVATIONS! We waited for about ten minutes before we were seated. We also happened to dine in on a Thursday. Tuesdays and Thursdays at House Without a Key feature the Sunset Kiawe Grill menu. There is an entirely different page of options to dine from if you happen to come on one of these two days. I highly recommend coming on Tuesday or Thursday! I ordered the ahi burger with tartar sauce and pickled vegetables. Each of our orders also came with a salad and a basket of assorted grains and bread. The cornbread with infused honey was my personal favorite :) My ahi burger was moist and the taste was better than I had anticipated. The portion size...I wish the burger was a bit larger. I would have given House Without a Key 3 stars if not for the amazing service we received that night. Our server walked up to us enthusiastically and engaged in conversation in both English AND Japanese, filled our waters every chance he got, and answered our questions whenever we had something to ask about. My friends also wanted to take pictures of their meal/experience but were not really satisfied with the current lighting (it was dark because we dined at night), so our server taught us a neat trick with the light attached to the umbrella! We unlatched the light that was facing towards upwards and the server set it up so that the light illuminated directly on the table! Amazing service.

    (4)

  • Greg K.

    Great oceanfront location at the Halekulani. Whenever we hang out in Waikiki, we usually stop here for an afternoon break and drink some tropical smoothies and juices. They also offer complimentary potato chips which is a nice touch and they give wiki stix to my kid to keep her busy. Good watering hole!

    (4)

  • Tyson S.

    This restaurant had a very comforting atmosphere with the pacific waves crashing in the back drop and live music, but the food was hit and miss. I started with the Tomato Mozzarella appetizer and it was fantastic. They tomato was sweet and the mozzarella fresh. For my entree I chose the Penne with Seafood Sauce. The dish was almost great. The pasta well cooked, the shrimp and Mahi-mahi were church, but the tomato based sauce was just horrid. It honestly tasted like straight puréed tomatoes. Above all else though, our waiter, Ian, was awesome. He was very attentive to all of our needs and went above and beyond to delight us with his quirky sense of humor. He is someone that although I only met briefly, I will remember for years to come.

    (3)

  • Michelle O.

    Went here for a special occasion celebration & LUVED it!!!! Arrived w/o reservations around 7:30ish and were seated @ a candle lit table. The sun had set and the stage was well lit for the 3-member group that performed beautifully with a guitar, ukulele, & bass. The back drop being the ocean water illuminated faintly by a 1/4 crescent moon. Later a hula dancer entertained the crowd and even the guitar player performed a few impromptu dances to the delight of the 45+ women in the audience. Dinner consisted of a small or large plate menu of food. We received a basket w/sweet rolls & some type of cracker, while we waited for our food. We got the sashimi & coconut shrimp. The sashimi was perfect and coconut shrimp were a pretty good size. While it was a little on the pricey side, I fully enjoyed the intimate ambiance, being outdoors on a beautiful night listening to live music & fully recommend trying it @ least once.

    (5)

  • Irene P.

    Fantastic atmosphere, great service, good music, hula dancing, great sunset, classy guests. Do not miss. Very elegant and tasty.

    (5)

  • David G.

    Good place! I just went this evening and had their fresh fish special, French onion soup with Maui Onions and a great glass of Italian Red Wine. Everything we ordered including the wine was impressive. I really was expecting their prices to be higher, but they were great right along with the free parking the hotel offers. If you have never been to The House Without A Key I would really suggest you do so. The food, service, entertainment and nice ocean views make this a truly great place to eat, drink & relax. Run don't walk!!! PS. The House Without a Key is bordering on 5 stars... PPS. Stick with dinner, lunch is overpriced. It's a better deal....

    (4)

  • Claire M.

    Hello, perfect sunset and wonderful Hawaiian musicians! How ya doin', delicious guava Sunset drink? And is that a free back scratcher with my Tropical Itch? How convenient for those pesky bug bites I've been accruing all week! This place is featured in pretty much every tour book, and I was worried it would be pure tourist cheese. Instead, this beautiful little bar bewitched me with unfailingly friendly service (even when we didn't order a drink for a full hour), mouthwatering coconut cake, and a mellow music trio accompanied by a graceful hula dancer. Sitting in the shadow of a giant tree and watching the sun set is pretty much the epitome of a fantastic evening in Waikiki.

    (5)

  • Susan S.

    House Without a Key is by far my favorite restaurant in Waikiki. It's located in one of the hotels and has a beach front view. Although we came at night and couldn't see much of the ocean, we could still see the cruise ships as they passed by. The food there was incredible. We ordered the the lamb shank, fish grouper, and the catch of the day. All of them were delicious! The fish the was so fresh, everything melted in your mouth. We all ordered drinks there, and they weren't weak at all. In each of our drinks, you could taste the booze. And lastly, the service there was amazing. Everyone was friendly, including out server, hostess, and food runners. Our server was Jan, and so was hilarious and so helping, i would definitely recommend her. So if you're going to be out in the Waikiki area and want to find a nice place for drinks or dinner and nightly entertainment, House Without a Key is the right place!

    (5)

  • Jim D.

    The BEST Mai Tais in the world! Go almost any afternoon around 5pm & listen to live Hawaiian music & watch a beautiful sunset (& they have various former Miss Hawaii's doing the hula for you too!) A great afternoon & early evening!

    (5)

  • Debbie W.

    Everyone says come here for drinks, music and hula dancing at sunset. Everyone is right. The drinks were outstanding, the pupus were great, but you go for the atmosphere. Beautiful. The sun setting over the ocean behind musicians playing beautiful hawaiian music, and watching the beautiful and charismatic Kanoe Miller dance hula-- just unbeatable. In fact, we decided to skip going to a tacky luau and opted to come here instead on our last night in Waikiki. And its also an opportunity to enjoy the outstanding service of one of the best hotels in Oahu, the Halekulani.

    (4)

  • Frank S.

    The place for view and entertainment on the beach. Food just average.

    (4)

  • Cheri. A G.

    This is old school Hawaii at its best. Located at the Halekulani hotel this lounge/restaurant is located near the walkway along the ocean and more like a beautiful patio. Every night they have live but quiet entertainment with Hawaiian music and usually one hula dancer. Most of the guest are a little older but don't let that scare you away it is very relaxing especially at sunset. Just order a Mai Tai sit back and relax....ahhhh Hawaii. You will soon forget you are in modern day Waikiki. If you are on a budget or do not drink. You can watch from the sidewalk too.

    (5)

  • Janice C.

    I love house without a key, service is good, location is perfect! A must go place for cocktails to watch the sunset, very romantic!

    (5)

  • Brandon R.

    Food 4 Service 4 Atmosphere 5 Beautiful location at the Halekulani Hotel, right on the beach. Had great entertainment playing throughout the meal. I had some of the best ribs I've ever eaten, and my wife had a very interesting surf & turf burger which had lobster meat and brie cheese. Service here was great, and I highly recommend visiting.

    (4)

  • Melanie L.

    This place is perfect. Really. Perfect, perfect, perfect - in a way you will rarely encounter in life. The best mai tai ever - redeemed the drink for me. I've tried them on other trips to Hawaii, and basically sworn off the typically gross concoction of fruit punch with bad rum. Well this is a blend of high-quality rums with a touch of lime and sugar cane. Yes yes yes! You will be in heaven. My friends had other drinks - also fruity coconut-pineapple things, but way more delicious and amazing than these usually are. For this confirmed vodka-and-soda drinker to like a fruity blender drink, they must be doing something really right. And, the setting is amazing. Go at sunset for the music and gorgeousness of Hawaii on full display. We went here on our first day, and spend the next two weeks comparing every other drinking establishment to the House Without a Key.

    (5)

  • Paul S.

    Awesome pina coladas and mai tais. They even bring you potato chips. Service was spectacular. We asked for honey mustard - they said, we'll make it. The veggie burger, HWAK burger, and crab salad were also great. Views of ocean and Diamond Head were wonderful.

    (5)

  • Casey A.

    One word.... Beautiful

    (5)

  • Uy T.

    In a land of infinite sea and infinite sky, it would seem strange the way I enjoyed passing my time by: A house within a house, yet still exposed to sky and sea. House befitting heaven, and house without a key. Drinks in hand and music playing, sails offshore and dancer swaying. I know not what heaven is, or if it even exists, but I would not mind being there, if heaven is like this. The soaring heights of diamond head, the view of the sea from my bed, the fusion cuisine of Alan Wong, the many Horizon's songs... None could compare to this moment. When Hawaii comes up and I search my memory, no doubt I will find the House Without a Key.

    (5)

  • Inthira M.

    It's more like a 3.5 stars. Came here for lunch because I've heard many good things about the food. It was a beautiful day, but we opted to sit inside hoping the roof would shelter us a little from the Hawaii sun and humidity. Our waiter immediately greeted us and told us about the special for the day and then took our drink order. I had a passion fruit iced tea and my mom had a plantation iced tea. Each was garnished with a orchid and a sugar cane (most people don't know you can chew on the sugar cane to get the sweetness out but I was suckin' away on that thing! lol). And the passion fruit iced tea, best I've ever tasted. My mom ordered the soba noodles ($15) which is garnished with furikake, wasabi, dashi, and 2 pieces of butterflied fried shrimp. I had the special because it sounded so good and he said that most of the specials that the chef comes out with are awesome. For $25, it was grilled mahi mahi served with a pesto butter and garnished with asparagus spears and carrots, and a bowl of white rice on the side. While we sat and waited they served us house bread and some freshly churned butter (it was so soft!). When our meal came everything was excellent. My pesto buttered fish was awesome. It was still light, although it was tossed in butter. The asparagus and carrots were cooked perfectly, it was still a little al dente. The only complaint for my mothers dish was that they didn't serve the dashi sauce on the side. They said it was already on the noodles, but we couldn't taste anything but buckwheat noodle, so we asked for more sauce on the side. For dessert we ordered the cheesecake. It didn't taste like cheesecake, it didn't look like cheesecake, but boy was it fricken awesome. This was a great little lunch spot that we've discovered and I will definitely be back! One note, though, guard your food. Because it's open air the birds are constantly lingering and flying on chairs, hoping that you'll feed them. One smart little bird even stole some rice out of my rice bowl! haha!

    (3)

  • Cameron K.

    This place has a life-changingly good breakfast buffet. Yes it is far more money than an Egg McMuffin down the street, but so worth it. When I was finally a teenager, my parents brought me to the legendary happy hour here with a Hawaiian band and former Miss Hawaii dancing. This is probably my top breakfast place in the world, and my top happy hour in the world. If you are in town visit here. Just don't look at the prices until after you leave.

    (5)

  • Claire C.

    Peaceful. A beautiful, outdoor space to enjoy some Hawaiian music and the sunset. The cocktails are made with fresh juices and there's quite an assortment of tropical drinks made with a variety of different liquors. The first time I ate here I ordered a salmon dish where the sauce was a little overbearing on the soy/sodium level. It also was a bit watery. The second time I had ahi and pesto pasta, one of my favorite meals. The portion of the pasta was smaller, so it was perfect for the carbs, the fish was probably 6-8 ounces, a nice amount. It was just seared but served rare. The ahi here was very fresh and cooked perfectly. Light enough on the seasonings so that the foods spoke for themselves as well, which I really appreciate!

    (4)

  • Lori M.

    Came here just for drinks after sunset. It wasn't very busy. Nice place to relax, watch and listen to live music, and watch some hula dancing. However, the service was lacking. We had to wait forever for our bill. Unfortunately, I didn't have as good of an experience as others. As everyone mentions the property is beautiful.

    (3)

  • Nicole S.

    "Bali Hai...may call you, every night, every day. In your heart, you'll hear it call you...come away, come away..." Chances are, if you know this reference, you will like this place. If you want a cool drink warmed by candlelight, and some beautiful hula, come here. I came here for after-dinner cocktails and had to keep coming back for more. The cocktail area is open, yet intimate. The whimsical old plantation feel of this outdoor lounge makes for a truly Hawaiian experience. The Mai Tais are strong, the brandy flowing. I would skip the guava fizz; a little too citrusy and sweet for my taste. The crunchy complimentary kettle chips are a nice touch. Although I did not have dinner, you don't need to spend a large amount of money to have a truly relaxing, enjoyable experience. If only I had a "portkey" (shout out to Harry Potter fans) to this gentle ending to a long day. Sigh.

    (5)

  • gg c.

    This was our last night dinner in Honolulu and made a lasting impression on us! From the cocktails that threw a punch, to the jumbo shrimp appetizers, the grouper with seafood that was perfectly made with coconut curry ( I normally stay away from anything curry) to the amazing and not too sweet coconut cake.. The sides were quite pricey at $7 for a bowl of rice or fries .. but our server was nice enough to give it to us for free.. probably beacuse it started to rain and we had to continue dinner inside.. With tropical vacation spots you have to expect this and this didnt spoil our dinner a bit. Our server was super attentive and even walked us to the Jazz bar afterwards..Over all this place did not dissapoint and we all will visit again if we ever find our way back here!

    (4)

  • Sandy D.

    We have come here every year for the past 6 years. This is a beautiful spot to have a drink and appetizers, listen to Hawaiian music and dancing and enjoy a breathtaking sunset! I love this spot. The food is generally very good and the hotel beautiful. Love it here.....

    (4)

  • Kymberli C.

    Loved it here... totally made my Hawaii vacation feel like a vacation. The drinks are pretty strong and worth the price because of that. The view of diamond head is breathtaking and you can enjoy the beach with a drink in hand. The service is outstanding. My hub and friend were inquiring about where they could watch a UFC fight and he went out of his way to find out information for them. He would come back and make conversation with us and kept giving us chips even when we refused he insisted.

    (4)

  • Amar P.

    Went here just for drinks with family and listening to the Hawaiian musical trio. The music was pretty good, and it's hard to beat sitting outside next to the beach at sunset in perfect weather while some people are singing relaxing Hawaiian music to you. I only had one drink, a Mai Tai, but it was strong and tasty. My parents got more fruity drinks, which were tasty, but too sweet for me... but I liked my drink. They also had Kona Brewery beer which is a plus for me. Anyway, we sat there for a while having our drinks and eating the free chips and listening to the music and watching the hula dancer while the sun set off to the west, and it was nice. So for a place for some drinks and whatnot, I approve. Have nooo clue how the food was, so cannot comment. Oh, also, the drinks were pricey, but I wasn't the one paying... so you might wanna think about that.

    (4)

  • Vikram K.

    Continues to be my favorite. The place for lovely music from the neighbor islands in the evenings, kî hô 'alu played by professionals, and beautiful hula. The Halekulani is da bomb!

    (5)

  • Wendy C.

    Ohhh....THAT'S what a Mai Tai is supposed to taste like. Now I get it. I want to knock a star off for their Coconut Cake tasting like it's from Costco, but I just can't. Too full of Mai Tai goodness. Way to go HWAK!

    (5)

  • Murray B.

    Great place to take visiting friends for drinks, especially if they are interested in mellow Hawaiian music and some hula dancing. As you relax on the patio, you can look right to catch the sunset and look left to see Diamond Head as well as surfers trying to catch the last few good waves of the day. While a bit pricey, the mai tais were strong and delicious and the service was excellent. Since I haven't tried the food (outside of the crazy, addictive potato chips), no 5 stars yet but nice experience overall.

    (4)

  • Anton Z.

    Made us feel like we were on a cruise. We wanted to go for drinks and enjoy the view, and were confronted with three older men playing and an older woman hula dancing. The kiwi mint martini and ginger lychee caprihina were palatable, but the music and dancing made us feel old. There are much better places to go for happy hour, but the view is certainly lovely.

    (2)

  • Lola Z.

    Wine list a little short, but they have nice selection of strong cocktails (NYC prices $12+) but really attentive service and a sweet view of the sunset if you go at the right time. Great people watching. Felt a little underdressed walking off the beach, but they were no less attentive or kind to us.

    (3)

  • Kat N.

    Perfect spot for a delicious cocktail while watching the golden sunset. Service was great - quick and the waitresses checked on us often. Free chips come with your cocktails :) if you don't want to order other small plates. The band playing relaxing Hawaiian music was a nice touch (not cheesy at all). Get there a bit early to allow a little time for waiting for a table as this place is very popular for the sunset. Would have liked to try their dinner because we saw the outside bar-b-que and it smelled sooo good.

    (4)

  • Susana L.

    Went to the breakfast buffet. There were quite a few selections to choose from, including sausages, waffles (with coconut or maple syrup), vegetables, fruits, etc. I am a fan of the sausage links, even though they taste similar to any other sausage links. The vegetables were grilled just right, which didn't taste like your usual american-style of boiling the greens. It was stir-fried chinese style. My husband had many servings of their juices. Our favorite was the orange juice, which isn't too sweet, and is freshly squeezed. They also have guava, apple, and grapefruit juice to choose from. The waitress was very pleasant and attentive. Overall, breakfast buffet style was decent, but the price is $30/person. The orange juice might just make it worth it.

    (4)

  • Gunther W.

    We went with friends for sunset drinks. The live music with the hula dancer was great. Music wasn't too loud and with the hula and the view it was unforgettable. I have been in Hawaii for over 10 years and never knew this place existed. The specialty cocktails are ~$12 but very tasty. I didn't have any pupus so I cannot comment on them but the drinks and view make it very worth your while.

    (5)

  • Sonya L.

    This is as good as it gets for the best price for food and entertainment in Waikiki. Matt and I always come here on our trip because of the lovely location. This restaurant is located in the Halekulani hotel. There is no dress code for this restaurant, but you may want to look smart just because everyone else is pretty vacay-spiffy. The drinks here are to die for and this is also where I experienced my first chi-chi. The food prices are on-par with all the other tourist traps along the beach such as Dukes and Shorebirds, but you may want to come here instead and splurge a little. Good food, a great view and free entertainment is to perfection. During the evenings, free music & dance starts at 5:30-8pm (please verify since it may change). Our favorite thing to do on a Friday is start off with drinks at House Without a Key, then walk over to the Hawaiian Village Hilton for the free fireworks and dance show, which starts around 7pm.

    (5)

  • Ken U.

    This was my first time here. My girlfriend wanted to watch hula while we ate dinner and let me say it was a wonderful choice. Kanoe Miller, a former Miss Hawaii dances here. The food was pretty good, ordered the New York steak, Maui onion soup, and chicken kebobs. Portions are pretty small so if you want to get full make sure you eat a lot of bread and have a few drinks!

    (4)

  • Darcy M.

    I think the experience at House Without a Key is what people visiting Hawaii expect - beachfront resort casual dining, friendly and attentive service, fresh island fare, and open-air scenery to die for. It's a great place to have lunch and drinks with the girls, or a romantic date with the husband. It's a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of the rest of Waikiki. I haven't tried the mai tai that everyone has raved about, but looking forward to it after reading joglo H.'s comment "after drinking a couple mai tais here I felt like I was on acid"! Wow.

    (5)

  • Burk M.

    The breakfast is a buffet. $30 per person, not including gratuity. The food is middle of the road for a buffet; you can find much better deals with similar food elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Jocelyn L.

    "Good if someone else is paying for it. Great views"

    (3)

  • Jav V.

    I was slightly disappointed by our experience here. Our server seemed to hate his job which made me feel guilty for ordering drinks. My first drink, a Blue Hawaiian was really good. The next, a tequila mojito was way too minty. The complimentary chips are really really good. The live music was nice, but the dancer was kinda boring and not particularly attractive. She was just kind of weird.

    (3)

  • Rose O.

    No complaints about the food or service, but if you're getting beer don't let them pour it for you. Overall good time.

    (3)

  • Sara W.

    What's not to love? The service is great, the food is consistently good and the setting is relaxing, romantic and fun. They also have free entertainment at night which is a) not hard to get into at all if you go in the off seasons and b) charming and not cheesy.

    (5)

  • Mary Beth B.

    Beautiful setting.We went for lunch. A very pleasant and enjoyable experience. We both ate simple sandwiches, they were prepared nicely. A little pricey, and we just went for lunch. Had a great mai tai here.

    (4)

  • Shaun C.

    Fine food at a handsome price. Also, the Halekulani is home to THE original Mai Tai. A little more sour that those sugary foof ones that you'll find at Royal Hawaiian. And if not at one of these places, a Mai Tai isn't even worth sipping.

    (5)

  • Becky U.

    love it! fancy!

    (5)

  • Amber W.

    WOW. I can't believe it took me 6 years to come here. Top-notch cocktails, killer view, yummy kettle chips, exceptional service, good live Hawaiian music, Kanoe MIller dancing? Heaven Without a Key.

    (5)

  • Justin S.

    I love the view and ambience of this place and the service is always first class. On previous visits I couldnt say anything bad about the food but on my last visit I had the grouper and i would have been more satisfied eating at Long John Silvers. Final verdict is this spot is great for grabbing some drinks and watching the sunset on a date or spending time with that special someone. As for dinner, go across the street to Roy's or visit one of the other restaurants in the Halekulani Hotel.

    (4)

  • Benjamin N.

    The food here was some of the best I've sampled on Oahu. I recommend the crab Sandwich. I'm not normally a bacon fan and I was a little unsure of it on a crab sandwich but somehow it tied in amazingly and the avacado pulled it all together! Prices were ok, service was decent but the food, view and atmosphere more than made up for any defencies!

    (4)

  • Izzy B.

    Beautiful ocean front setting. The food and drinks were excellent. They don't take reservations. Prices are steep, but the food is worth it.

    (4)

  • Mike C.

    Fantastic spot if you like sunsets, views of the ocean and Diamond Head, and the cool ocean breeze. If you enjoy Hawaiian music and fruity cocktails as well, this might be a place for you. Definitely recommend it for a relaxing good time.

    (4)

  • Bill T.

    This used to be one of my favorite places for breakfast meetings in Waikiki until I forgot that I wasn't rich. Even as a business expense, It can be expensive. But omelets to order and brekfast crepes, pancakes, waffles and fresh fruit - all you can eat - and in a fabulous setting are all real nice. Let alone that you get to watch beach activity while you dine.

    (4)

  • Kim F.

    Amazing! This place is a great place to feel like your on vacation. The view is spectacular and service great. A little pricy but 100% worth it. I recommend the seared tuna. They don't skimp on alcohol in their drinks either. Great place. I will definitely be back before my trip ends. I would have given them all 5 stars but then I ate at Morimoto Waikiki.... And no one can compare so far

    (4)

  • Anh V.

    hawaii never gets old...no matter how many times i come here. it's an instant switch from my usual a-type personality with 4 inch heels to someone sporting flipflops and sipping pina coladas. a beautiful view and soothing sounds of the ocean was an added soundtrack to the live hawaiian music. a graceful hula dancer moved to the soft beats. the lobster roll was a pacific interpretation of the vietnamese summer roll. it was light but not too flavorful. it needed some creamy sauce to bring out the lobster taste. instead, the fish sauce just overpowered it. the rib app was small and tasty. we were hungry so 3 little ribs was definitely not enough. i've been carb starved so i ordered the spagetti with tomato sauce. it came with nice freshly shaved parmesan and some garlic bread. unfortunately, the pasta was overcooked. i like mine al dente. if you like meat though, the lamb shank is a must order. tender and hearty. again, i felt it was a touch overcooked but it could be an off night because it's normally a winner. the scene dies down very quickly after 9pm. without a band, the place is so quiet and dark after sunset. best to do dessert elsewhere if dining late!

    (4)

  • Eric H.

    Brunch at the Halekalani is fabulous, and the service (thank you, Sue!) was lovely. We had a gorgeous view of the beach and ocean. The freshly-made waffles with coconut syrup was heavenly, if almost too sweet. Please try the fresh juices. They are like drinking fresh crushed fruits. I loved the pineapple juice, and my wife loved the guava.

    (5)

  • Vanessa H.

    The moon was full, the weather balmy, the ocean steps away, and though the beers were $6.50, this was exactly what we had come to Hawaii for. Music ends around 9 pm and the place shuts down by 10 pm, though.

    (4)

  • Suzanne O.

    I cannot think of one bad thing to say about this casually elegant restaurant. Our evening here was perfect. The Mai Tai was exquisite, as billed. The sunset view of Diamond Head, incomparable. We both ordered the Grouper on Ti Leaf, and it was delicious. The Hawaiian musicians and hula dancer were a real plus. They were classic, not hip except in the way Tony Bennett is hip. Our server was attentive, but not pushy, allowing us to eat and drink at our own pace. It was the perfect Hawaiian experience.

    (5)

  • Jen C.

    Located in the Halekulani hotel in Waikiki, House Without a Key serves the best food and drinks on Oahu. Yes you are going to pay for it, but try some of the other places and you will be back here in a heartbeat. Every Friday they have a ukelele band play tunes Hawaiian style under the Banyan tree which makes for the perfect setting. We went here for our first night in Oahu and then again 1 week later. The mai tai I had the second time around during the APEC was much better and stronger than the one the week before. It rivals the South Shore Tiki Lounge in Maui, but is slightly more sophisticated. As far as food, I HIGHLY recommend the coconut shrimp. It is the best coconut shrimp I have ever had and even did not order coconut shrimp at any subsequent restaurants because I did not want to be disappointed. The ahi pesto entree is also the way to go -- it is delicious and filling, fish expertly prepared. And the burger has got to be the best on Oahu. I heard horror stories about meat on the island, but somehow this burger surpasses all that banter and you forget where you are. Highly, highly recommend. This place serves some of the best food and drinks on Oahu.

    (5)

  • Katelyn M.

    4.5 actually. their cocktails are pretty and tasty... and its a perfect location to watch the sunset... we watched it for the first time together at this location and i have to say that that it was just breathtaking! they have great live music...with a hula dancer. hula dancer was miss Hawaii before and she had a pleasant smile, was graceful and friendly. i have to say we ate breakfast here a few mornings too... but i didn't realize that the breakfast was over 30 dollars per person... : / hmmm... it's good but i am not sure if its worth $30 for the breakfast. but... dinner and the show with a beautiful sunset paired with soft flowing music made me feel like i was on a vacation... it's just so beautiful and relaxing there. its a must place to visit!

    (4)

  • Hope R.

    FAB! Must try while in Waikiki. Expensive : yes. Worth it : yes. Right on the beach and they have a live hawaiian band playing softly in the background with a hula dancer in front. Great steak and fries. Cream of mushroom soup also very good.

    (5)

  • marco B.

    Go here for a mai tai at sunset....amazing! The ice is hand crushed so it gives to your drink the best homogenization Ice/liquid, the mix used includes real ingredients and not "natural artificial flavors, potassium sorbate, citrate.....ecc.". The ocean view and the live music is worth the 12 dollars price tag.

    (5)

  • Rick G.

    I wanted a great dinner experience while in Honolulu....something categorically Hawaiian, without having to drive an hour away to a luau. So, I did my due diligence on Yelp and ended up at HWAK. First of all, they don't take reservations and they didn't give me an indication that there would(n't) be a problem getting a table for 5 people on a Friday night, so it was a little risky deciding to go there. Fortunately, we got seated promptly upon arriving at around 6pm for dinner. The service was...okay. No where near the level that I had read about on Yelp. Our server had zero personality and didn't so much as smile once. Yes, every Tom, Dick and Harry says their Mai Tais are potent mofos. . Maybe a little too strong? We ordered 5 small dishes and 4 entrees and three desserts. My fish special was ahight, not memorable...others were also underwhelmed. The biggest bummer was that we were seated furthest from the water and band as they only have dinner tables set up towards the front of the dining area (still outdoors, but under a tent). So, the view of the sun setting was distant and obstructed and we could barely hear the band. Overall, it gets negative points for food and service. The strong mai tais were just a wash. I recommend coming here for drinks ONLY if you'd like to enjoy the band and sunset, or perhaps lunch under the tent to avoid the intense sun. Hopefully you'll have a better waiter.

    (2)

  • Edwina K.

    Beautiful!!! I must have been living in a cave for the past four years b/c I have never heard of this place, Halekulani, until now. Oh my gosh - I'm definitely taking visitors here. It's clean, classy, and excellent service. And valet parking is FREE!! with validation. Got together with some friends Tuesday evening and had a great time. Do what Scott R.D. says: Have drinks, eat the delicious potato chips and watch Kanoe MIller dance the hula. We ordered some pupus and I would recommend the Seafood Spring Rolls and the Hawaiian Chips and Dip (served with smoked ahi tobiko, guacomole, roasted tomato salsa). The coconut shrimp had too much coconut and was actually too sweet for me. And I'm a sweet freak! The combination of a breathtaking view, drinks, good pupus, and great friends made it superb!!

    (5)

  • Mindy N.

    This is the place for beachfront mai tais, classic live Hawaiian music and hula dancing. Four free hours of validated parking (valet not required) is also key. Watch out for the mai tais. One of the servers once told us there's no fruit juice in it..it's all booze! I drank two of them one night and ended up barfing in the middle of the night. I haven't done that since freshman year in college! I actually think it had more to do with the food I ate at the International Marketplace than the drinks...I still drink mai tais at the Halekulani, but do not eat food at the International Marketplace anymore.

    (5)

  • S. R.

    Great view and so nice to sit outside and enjoy the lovely hula dancers and sip on a cocktail. I send alot of my guests to this place for a relaxing and nice evening ,,, Halekulani is a 5 star hotel.. very classy!

    (4)

  • Lil D.

    Great oceanview and great place to watch sunset. Great Hawaiian music. Great drinks. Food is good, better than most places in Waikiki, but not great. The restaurant service and the lounge area were both very good. Want to unwind, sip on a yummy fruity drink, soak in the view of a gorgeous sunset, and get a taste of Hawaiian music? You've come to the right place.

    (5)

  • Hannah C.

    My fiance and I came here early one morning for breakfast buffet. The gorgeous view itself is enough for you to want to come here! Their restaurant Orchids was under renovation so we ate here instead. They had a modest selection but had everything I needed to enjoy a delicious breakfast. The food is fresh and the staff is wonderful! The best thing about this place is there aren't too many kids running around and overall a really quiet atmosphere. It was a perfect start to a day!

    (5)

  • Brian C.

    Best Mai tai in Waikii. My wife and have tried them all and HWAK has the best hands down. Mellow haupa haole music. Best place for a sunset drink in Waikiki. top notch customer service too. The food is just OK.

    (5)

  • Jeanie S.

    Awesome outdoor patio from which to watch the sun set. Classy place with nuclear strength mai tais. I'm not kidding, these drinks were STRONG, but delicious -- expertly mixed. Wonderful ambiance, relaxing live Hawaiian band, beautiful & graceful hula dancer (Kanoe Miller, Miss Hawaii 1973), and a killer view of Diamond Head. Perfection by the ocean at the Halekulani Hotel.

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    An amazing place to wind down for the evening by catching the sunset and listening to the waves crash on the beach along with the relaxing Hawaiian music. The drinks are also really good but be prepared to pay the hotel prices as they are typically a tad higher than other restaurants.

    (5)

  • Sharon L.

    It makes most sense to go here for cocktails rather than dinner. I had a 5 star basil and strawberry martini ($12) with excellent service. But the food was definitely 1 star. Portions were small and pricey. It was "grill night," but only one of the ribs on the baby back ribs dish was tender. The grouper "wrapped in mint leaf" was on the dry side and fairly tasteless. On a piece about 3 by 5 inches max, I used 4 lemon wedges and dipped bites into the leftover barbecue sauce for flavor. The beach view is beautiful but if you want to watch the hula dancing, make sure to wait for a seat with a view of the stage.

    (3)

  • Aio R.

    So we decided to come here based on the great reviews from fellow yelpers and took my husband's parents here for their anniversary along with two other friends. In one word: overpriced. $20+ for a burger? Seriously?! And the portions are pretty small. I still gave it two stars: one because the food was ok and another because location (it's hard to beat right on the beach in Waikiki).

    (2)

  • Kiki I.

    This is home - aloha Paul Doll and Bon Bon:) Ahhh...the view, music, cocktails, COCONUT CAKE, friends, family and lots of ALOHA!

    (5)

  • Senorita V.

    Beautiful atmosphere, gorgeous show, and superb food. On Tuesdays & Thursdays they have their BBQ going outside so the menu is slightly different. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Myra R.

    This place was on my list to check out after seeing on Rachel Ray's travel show. I loved how it was outdoors overlooking the water with a band playing, a former Miss Hawaii doing some hula and nice cocktail list. Ordered up a mai thai and chi chi. The mai thai has a nice punch to it. We ordered dinner and I thought it was just ok. I would return but probably just for drinks and nibbleys.

    (3)

  • Jennifer C.

    If you're looking for a Hawaii/tropical atmosphere with great entertainment, strong drinks, and a beautiful sunset, this is the place for you! The food is surprisingly good - we had the poki sliders with homemade buns infused with nori (highly recommended), Maui Onion Soup (so-so), and Grouper with Spinach in a coconut curry sauce. The fish was well prepared, which I am very picky about! The bill came out to about $85 including 2 cocktails. On Tues and Thurs, they have a special BBQ menu. You can get a table just for cocktails if you'd like as well. Whatever you do, just make sure that you visit for the amazing ambiance, service, and sunset! We had to catch out flight so I couldn't try it, but the coconut cake looked divine!!

    (5)

  • Kristine T.

    May seem a little on the pricey side at a first glance but well, well worth it. You couldn't ask for a better view & ambience. Mixed drinks are very well done and pretty strong. We didn't order food but everything that walked by us smelled and looked amazing. And to top it off - EXCELLENT service for our group of 20. This is on my list when we go back!

    (5)

  • Jeff O.

    Ok drinks. Great atmosphere. Ok food. Great customer service.

    (3)

  • Tri D.

    I agree with Erik, best Mai Tais and I'm not even a fan of Mai Tais. The appetizers were great I would pass on their dinners though. Go for the entertainment, drinks, and appetizers.

    (4)

  • Brandie S.

    What an awesome name and it's on the beach. House Without a Key is located in the Halekulani Hotel. Be sure to try the amazing Mai Tais and apps. There are a couple other drinks that sound fruity but are quite stiff. Dining here is popular especially because everyone wants to see the sunset. So, you can try for reservations, but expect a wait. The Banana cake is to die for!! And the avocado salad would make any Californian swoon. There's a separate seating area for drinks and apps (and free potato chips!) outside where there's a live hawaiian trio and hula dancer. It's very classic! So, get dressed up! Well for Hawaii. It's the most expensive resort in Waikiki. It has a total classic feel. Four stars for the loooong wait, but then again it was Valentine's day and they weren't taking reservations.

    (4)

  • Katherine E.

    Wonderful views make it a great place to go for sunset. White linen service overlooking the water with live music and hula. Mai tai was good although Royal Hawaiian mai tai is better. I had a couple small servings (nalo greens and beef satay) and was pleased with the dinner.

    (4)

  • Julie T.

    My review is based on service during lunch time. This is a fancy restaurant overlooking the beach and a nice pool. When I went, it wasn't too busy with a few business people and such. I dressed very casually (flip flops and sundress) and had no problems with getting in. Had thier lychee martini and it was pretty good and costs about $12. Drinks were served with salty chips. Did not order food, However I noticed that they offered organic options which I hadnt seen before in Waikiki. I'm not sure how it is at night but during the day, it is a pretty tame environment to have a drink ..almost boring... compared to other places in Waikiki going the same hour of the day.

    (3)

  • Eric S.

    Gorgeous view, chill atmosphere, great entertainment, amazing food, and great service! What's not to like about this place? We had the guava cocktail and a pinot noir which were both very good. The sashimi appetizer plate was outstanding and the Ahi Pasta was out of this world! Finished off the meal with a delicious coconut vanilla cake. Great dining experience.

    (5)

  • Sherwin T.

    Was recently in Honolulu for biz and got to stay at the Halekulani for four nights. Suffice it to say, House Without a Key was how we started/ended our evening for the duration of the stay. A friend absolutely RAVED about their mai tais, which I ordered my first night (and second and third and fourth)...they were affordably priced (when compared to the $14 martinis at Nobu across the street in The Parc) and not too sweet, which most umbrella drinks are. Provided at every table is a basket of kettle-style chips, which could've used some flavoring, but definitely a nice oral distraction while you're waiting for your next beverage. I only had drinky drinks (and one appetizer) at HWAK, but the experience was always mellow and nowhere near annoying (the way some tourist traps can be; especially like at the Sheraton next door). Expect live Hawaiian music nightly at 5pm against a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and (hopefully) a slowly setting sun. Get there within the 5pm frame, since it gets packed pretty quickly and if you're like me, you immediately want to get your drink on...none of this waiting nonsense!

    (3)

  • Kerri H.

    The restaurant itself was a beautiful setting; beautiful views, good atmosphere. Our cocktail waiter was great, he brought our drinks quickly and was very attentive. Unfortunately, then we were seated for dinner. Our dinner waiter didn't introduce himself, had a hard time explaining any of the menu items, was quite timid and left us sitting there with empty drinks for quite some time. I am thinking it may have been our waiters first night tableside. Receipt stated "Server 4209 Saulim L". He didn't describe any of the menu items to us, just came around and asked us our selections. Not personable or attentive at all. We actually had to get up out of our seats to go find him to let him know we needed drinks and were ready to order. Then when dinner did come, items were forgotten (specifically the side items that a few of us ordered). It really seemed a beautiful restaurant but our server really disappointed us, I have never been cheap on tipping (normally always 20%).... but this night was a first for me and I had no problem telling my boyfriend to tip next to nothing. I only hope that the waiter knows why we tipped next to nothing!!

    (2)

  • Jerrene T.

    The fiance and I went here for restaurant week and it wasn't that crowded... surprisingly! We both got the restaurant week specials. I got the curried cauliflower soup, burger, and the Hakekulani cake. The fiance got the cesar salad (because it had bacon!), chicken, and choco cake. Let me just say that my entire meal was DELICIOUS. However, the reason for the only okay review was that the service sucked. We couldn't find our server more than 10% of the time. We were trying to flag down ANYONE for water like countless times. It was horrible. Also, the mai tais there are REALLY strong. I guess for $12 a glass, what do you expect? Service was lacking for some place that prided itself on being first class on service. But if you don't care, then if you can, get the burger... seriously the best burger if I ever ate in my entire life... screw Burgers on the Edge or the Counter... House Without A Key's burger blew the others out of the water!

    (3)

  • Pamela S.

    Get the pina colada, even if you don't drink. Actually, especially if you don't drink! It's super good! Service is wonderful, food is good, and the view is fantastic. It's a little over-priced, however.

    (4)

  • Gabby P.

    Pretty spot right on the water. Go for sunset cocktails. They have live Hawaiian music; it's a relaxing and mellow crowd. Very strong and delicious Mai Tais. Kinda pricey- two drinks cost $25. But the music and atmosphere make it worthwhile. Very romantic spot...

    (4)

  • erik w.

    Best Mai Tais!... and free bowl of chips, if you're just there for drinks at sunset. I've never waited more than a few minutes for a table, even close to sunset. Band is awesome, and so are the Hula dancer(s) - once we were there, the band introduced two old ladies in their 80's to come up and dance the Hula - that brought a smile to my face. The band also tells stories about the songs they play - interesting stuff. There is always a really relaxed atmosphere there, and best view as well. Don't forget to get your parking validated.

    (5)

  • Roya K.

    This place is just great. What could have been a craptastic Thanksgiving was turned around by this place. We showed up a bit late, and were seated immediately. The staff was kind and courteous. The band was playing as we were seated and it made for a lovely, mellow atmosphere. They played beautiful, soothing music that made you remember that you were sitting on one of the prettiest beaches in the world. Our waiter was great- very friendly and attentive. We sat outside, and it started sprinkling, so he moved us to a covered table. Since it was Thanksgiving, I ordered the Thanksgiving meal, and it was very good. All of the stuff on the menu looked good though. My only (teeny-tiny) bit of dissatisfaction was that my mai-tai was WAAAY strong. :) But, I guess that can be fun too. Anyhow, like I said, we got there late, and were one of the last people to leave. Instead of feeling rushed, our waiter came by asking if we wanted another cocktail, which I thought was nice. I thought this place was nice. I'd definitely go back!

    (5)

  • Clara K.

    i met up with some friends for dinner here, and it was a nice experience. it's in the uber expensive halekulani hotel, and you can either valet (complimentary) or park in a pay garage across the stret. there's an outdoor lounge area, which we sat in while waiting for our indoor table to be set up. the outdoor lounge is lovely, as it is right next to the water and there's a small stage set up for live music and occasional hula dancing. dinner was okay, but nothing i tasted wowed me, and i even thought my mahi mahi tasted fishy, which i don't really like in my fish. :P i think i'd come here for the classy ambience and order a couple of cocktails with perhaps a few appetizers. also note that the whole place shuts down at like 9 or 10.

    (4)

  • Sallie B.

    static1.px.yelpcdn.com/s… First of all, the view (especially at sunset) was GREAT!! And the food, just as yummy as it sounds on the menu. Yes, it was a little pricey but you are also paying for the whole package. Very romantic and delicious. Ahi Poke Sliders for appetizer is a definite MUST HAVE!

    (5)

  • Mark J.

    I give it 4 mostly for the atmosphere however, the indoor seats away from the view are nothing to send a post card about. The food is not bad, but everything is overpriced on the beach in a hotel type of pricing. I would still go back as their food is much better than Duke's at the Outrigger ditto for the atmosphere and the also better than the food at the Moana Surfrider under the trees restaurant..can't remember the name, but they have a better a view. Food is good.

    (4)

  • Mari A.

    Gosh, I forget how nice this place is and what good service & food they have. I was here for a business lunch earlier this week and it was just perfect! Nice view, you can hear the waves and you can get a bit of sun. They have a great menu just remember, it's in a Hotel so, expect hotel prices!

    (4)

  • Lee K.

    My wife and I tried this place based on the Yelp reviews. Perhaps we had an anomalous experience, but I can't recommend this place. First, the entire experience felt stuffy, which is odd for Hawaii, in general, and doubly odd for a hotel and restaurant that doesn't justify pretentiousness. Second, the service was subpar... unapologetically slow and without any sense of passion for the food. Fourth, the live music wasn't anything special... a four piece Hawaiian enemble, which, at the risk of sounding like Simon Cowell, was not unlike anything you can find at any resort in Hawaii. Lastly, and most importantly, the food was nothing special. I ordered seared ahi tuna and pasta with a pesto cream sauce. The tuna was good, but the pasta was overcooked as were the grilled vegetables I ordered as a side dish. My wife ordered a green salad that was nothing more than pre-packaged greens place in a bowl. Her main course was salmon, which was well prepared but the sauce was very familiar like something you'd find at any chain restaurant. The restaurant wasn't terribly expensive but it suffered from what I believe Food Network would call "execution" issues. Maybe I just hit a bad night for the restaurant, but I would go to a lot of other restaurants i in the area, including chain restaurants, before I would come here. The cocktails were good, but not good enough to save the meal.

    (1)

  • Jeff J.

    Good grouper and ahi sliders

    (4)

  • Jennifer K.

    okay....so this place is beautiful: sherbert sunset, the rolling waves of the beach, the gentle hawaiian breeze, the lull of lazy music, and a menu that sounds divine (their food is generally scrumptious)...picture.perfect. they have ufo table lights that could be less glowy and more yellowey though...thats about it. this place is pretty much a spot taken from a romantic comedy film like, a walk to remember...starring mandy moore and shane west.

    (4)

  • Terri W.

    it was ok.

    (3)

  • Alexis A.

    Ahhhh now this is more like it. A refined hula dancer and band playing during sunset hours. I came here the second night I was in Honolulu and spend everynight after here. I only sat in the bar area near the band so can't speak to the food so much except to say I ordered a tuna "martini" appetizer and the nut pie and both were "eh". Nothing to write home about on the food but you are really there for the sunset and to enjoy a drink on the beach. The drinks were delicious, the crowd more conservative than most other places I found in Waikiki and the hula dancer was exactly what I wanted - to see someone gracefully dance without the crazy touristiness of a luau. I could spend every evening under that tree. I took one star off because when I went to the bathroom they cleared my table :( but my waiter quickly replaced everything when he realized the busboys thought I had left. Can't fault them for trying to turn over a table.

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    They have a great view with free music and dance. The price seems reasonable but the portion is super small ($20 for a quarter of chicken, $5 for a bowl of rice, $15 for a drink). With tax and tip, I paid $50 for one person without getting full. Hey, I am just a 100 lb lady. I had to ask for more bread...

    (2)

  • ben a.

    Skip the lunch here; sit outside, do a cocktail before dinner, watch the music and sunset then move on. Great date starter. Added plus: includes valet parking for 4 hours. Would give it 5, but the menu is dull; a missed opportunity.

    (4)

  • Tsippi S.

    My favorite place for lunch, dinner, or drinks and dessert in Oahu. Best hamburgers I've ever eaten. The Joy's special, which I prefer to order as a salad (off menu), is a delicious crab concoction. And the coconut cake? Well, if I were ordering my last meal. . . . The Hawaiian music in the evening is classy and fun. The setting any time of day is spectacular. Best of all, prices are not bad by Hawaii standards, especially when you factor in that Halekulani parking is free if you eat in a restaurant.

    (5)

  • Barbara K.

    We went here on our last night in Hawaii on a recommendation from friends. The ambience is the best, very laid back, no rush, just sit back, watch the sunset, have a leisurely drink, and watch the sunset. Service was excellent; attentive without being overbearing. Prices were no higher than any other place we ate at in the Waikiki area. The entertainment was excellent and the hula dancing was mesmerizing. I ordered the special, which was fresh caught tuna with jasmine rice and bok choy. Excellent. My bf had the burger which he said was delicious, although he was not impressed with the bun, which was so crumbly he was choking on it, which was our only complaint. The drinks were yummy, the ginger lychee drink was unusual and tasty, and you can't go wrong with the Tropical Itch, which comes with it's own backscratcher. it was a most romantic evening, and an awesome finish to a wonderful vacation.

    (5)

  • Brandon V.

    The appetizers and drinks here are nothing short of fabulous. Order the lobster rolls and your night will be complete. I would seriously recommend finding your main course elsewhere however. Just didn't live up to the first leg of our experience. If you can sit in Jan's section you absolutely should. She was tons of fun and super sweet. We all wished we could take her with us on the rest of our trip!

    (4)

  • vanessa a.

    so delish i went for lunch and had the joys special it was so yummy. the crab was so sweet and very fresh. the service was nice the drinks were good and i dont remember anything else standing out probably cause i was drunk. i miss hawaii and getting drunk at lunch

    (5)

  • Scott R. D.

    The best place to take visitors on their first night in town. Have drinks, eat the delicious potato chips and watch Kanoe MIller dance the hula. You get an unobstructed view of Diamond head and don't really see all the hotels in between. The coconut shrimp appetizer is the best coconut shrimp around.

    (5)

  • M H.

    Come for a drink but skip dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed a couple of great cocktails, which were not only yummy, but rather strong. Good pineapple mojito and a guava rum fizz. Wonderful place to hear music and see hula as other reviewers note. Don't miss it. But do miss the food. It was very disappointing. We had a braised lamb shank which was served with a red wine sauce and mashed potatos. Very ordinary. The lamb was tough and dry. I happen to love lamb and would eat it prepared just about any way, but this was terrible. My friend had seafood in a light curry sauce, which was rather flavorless. The seafood was also tough. It would seem they cook the protein components ahead of time and then just add the sauce. Really not worth the price. We spent over $125 for dinner and it just wasn't very good.

    (4)

  • Katherine W.

    It is a great place to come for drinks and appetizers. It is located in the beautiful Halekulani Hotel. I would pass on the dinner entrees. It is not bad, but not spectacular for the price. I had their house specialty the coconut cake for dessert. It was good, but not spectacular. The hula dancing and live music under an old tree evokes a nostalgic Hawaiian past. It is a beautiful place to watch the sunset as the ocean and Diamond Head are the backdrop. It is very romantic. Great place to take a date or someone special. Attire is more upscale resort wear.

    (4)

  • Kate H.

    This is a must-do while in Waikiki. It is an oasis of calm amidst the craziness of Waikiki and, while expensive, is not nearly as prohibitive as many other places in town. The sunset show is lovely -- tasteful -- quiet, everything the tourist luaus are not. I went with two teenage sons and wished my husband were there as it is EXTREMELY romantic, with the sun setting over the ocean, the music, gentle breeze, and a delicious chardonnay by the glass. We loved the food. Feeling budget-minded, i ordered the cheapest entree, the spaghetti, and loved it. My son said the garlic mashed potatoes were "like returning to the womb." We loved it so much we went twice and would definitely go back anytime I return to Waikiki.

    (5)

  • Lou J.

    This was my fondest memory of Hawaii. The food was teriffic, the drinks were great and the staff exceptional. Come for dinner and enjoy the music, food and the sunsets.

    (5)

  • Vann D.

    The very nice outdoor bar of the Halekulani Hotel, shaded by a giant kiawe tree. Live Hawaiian/Hula music with the occasional Hula dancer (Former Miss Hawaii Kanoe Miller no less), strong,tasty drinks, good appetizers, shrimp cocktail, hamburgers, steak, grilled fish, etc. A great place to meet friends or just hang out.

    (5)

  • Eugine Y.

    **OVERDUE** So what's a trip to the islands without a meal out by the water? We were too busy chugging down isopropyl sake from the ABC Mart to make it and see the sunset. Sorry girls. Oh well, priorities are priorities and I got mine in order. Do you? By the way, where are all the beautiful prostitutes everyone talks about? I was looking to chat one up and ask her what her life ambitions are. Altered state of mind and enhanced mood in tow, we head out to House Without a Key. I was wondering what the hell the name was insinuating. But when we get there, it hits me. It's an open air restaurant. Thus, the name. Thus, not needing a key. I asked our server, Ben, who by the way is a cool cat, if they had any sake. He said they had a very limited selection. No worries, bring me what you got. Damn, $47 dollars for a mediocre bottle that would cost me no more than $12 dollars at the shop. But it's my fault I asked. Did I learn my lesson? Heck no. Bring me another please. We started of with the ahi sliders. Imagine poke in mini burger buns (pronounced po-keh) . No, not poke. Like I want to poke that camel toe. *Po-keh*. Awesome start. I had the surf and turf. My dinner was so legit, that it nearly brought me out of my buzz and my cleared my double vision. Sobriety is not one thing I was looking forward to that night. I don't normally like to eat outdoors. I'm always paranoid that a bird is going to B52 my food. Luckily no turd bomber showed up on my radar. If you're the type of dude that likes to romance a girl, with flowers that are going to die anyways and a dinner that she's going to pinch out in loaf syle or other sensitive guy type shit alike, this is your place. And I feel sorry for you. Sucker. Me being a gracious drunk should be enough. I'm not doing any of the other junk. *peeing myself*

    (4)

  • Christine I.

    Here's the deal: they really miss the boat with this place. It is one of the most beautiful restaurants in the world. It is right on the lovliest stretch of Waikiki, the Halekulani hotel is gorgeous, the restaurant opens its walls up (!) and it is like eating al fresco. They have awesome music, beautiful hula dancing, and the most sublime, refined island vibe, especially when the sun sets behind their mammoth banyan tree, when the pleasure of being there is almost beyond words. This is all not to mention their delicious and beautiful maitais (and other cocktails). They are the gold standard. I have never had a better cocktail anywhere (and have had quite a few). We go here again and again, because of its otherworldy lovliness, hoping each time that the food is better than we remembered. But it is so boring! And not even relevant to Hawaii! The last time we went, in March of '08, we ordered the so-called "catch of the day." Hello! We are in Hawaii, for goodness' sake! The Honolulu fish market is probably the largest in the world, and it is practically right around the corner. The most desired fresh fish comes right out of the local waters. And the fish they served was farm-raised salmon. Farm-raised! Salmon! Outrageous! Other things you see on the menu are gourmet hamburgers and grilled chicken, orzo pasta and mashed potatoes. Everything is very standard, ordinary, American wedding-banquet food. Why?? I just don't get it. Why don't they serve food that is even remotely island style? Everything else about the place is the quintessence of island style. The food is flat. And actually, quite expensive. My advice would be to eat an early dinner elsewhere, then go for a sunset maitai, or vice-versa.

    (3)

  • Tracy J.

    You know, I've been here a couple of times and was never impressed with anything but the view. And the Halekulani is a superb facility. But after a spa day with my friend, we decided to eat here. I think they've changed their menus...not the pricing...just the choices. It is still pricey but for a nice treat, this is the place to go. I had the lilikoi daiquiri to start and it was very refreshing. My friend had the le mint with vodka. That too was good but I'm not a big fan of mint...not for an entire drink. We had early dinner plans so we decided to get the chilled tomato bisque and split the panini. OH MY. The tomato bisque was wonderful. There was a basil leaf sitting on top and underneath that hid about 5 slices of mozzarella cheese and little dollops of pesto. YUM. We could have just eaten the soup because with the cheese and the little basket of crackers and bread, we were getting full. Our waiter pre-cut our panini, which was thoughtful and we each got a little side salad. Even the salad, which wasn't anything special but the dressing was tangy and light. The 1/2 sandwich was just the right size, and it had proscuitto, salami, basil and provolone. Again, it did not disappoint. The only thing that would keep me from returning on a weekly basis was the price...between the two of us, we spent $100. I forgot to mention about the staff. Our waiter was so attentive and so nice, he always had a smile for us and checked back often. He didn't even bat an eye when he brought us the bill and we asked him for another drink...one that wasn't even on the menu.

    (4)

  • Cristina F.

    My sister and I decided to have our first night's dinner here when we visited in May. We were easily seated and although it was later in the evening, there was still some live entertainment and a lively setting. The ocean was seriously rightthere and the music of the waves was very lulling. Our server appeared and took our order for two Mai Tais (which according to one of our fellow Yelpers, is the best out of all the islands!). My sister and I thought it was ok but we aren't really Mai Tai drinkers so our opinion might not be the best for this. Bottom Line: It was tasty and strong :) I'm looking forward to trying their other yummy sounding cocktails. I started with the Coconut Shrimp and had the Pan Seared Grouper as my meal. The service was ok, nothing really impressive...it was a nice meal with beautiful surroundings :)

    (4)

  • Diana Y.

    ----Review for the FOOD ONLY---- Before I start, let me just say that the view is amazing and the service here is WONDERFUL (probably one of the best services I've ever gotten; yeah, that's good). Those two deserve 5 stars each! Came here for dinner with

    (3)

  • Nissa G.

    Located inside a hotel, kind of hard to find. Go there about an hour before sunset if you want to snag a table close to the music/hula show! Good food and drinks, slightly pricey bc you're in a hotel, but a great place for sunset!

    (4)

  • Maria T.

    Simply the best. If you're looking for the ultimate place in Waikiki to sip cocktails while watching the sunset, this is it. House Without A Key provides you with an idyllic place to sit, be serenaded, and reflect on how wonderful life truly is. Soak it ALL in. I'd suggest getting there at least an hour prior to sunset because it gets PACKED. The service is impeccable--refined, yet wonderfully attentive. We felt completely catered to. The cocktails are--not surprisingly--worth every penny. The mai tais and chichis were better here than anywhere I've ever tried them. The complimentary potato chips are the icing on the cake. Speaking of cake--the coconut cake here is to die for. A friend provided the suggestion to request it with raspberry sauce on the side, and it was SO much more amazing that way. As far as the other food items, we tried the beef satay and coconut shrimp. They were good, but not necessarily worth the high prices. For the record though, the coconut shrimp were freaking HUGE and something to gawk at. If you have the opportunity, take a minute or two to walk around the hotel grounds because they are absolutely stunning. House Without a Key is probably one of the places on earth that gets damn close to my idea of Heaven.

    (5)

  • monica c.

    Out of all of the places on my quest to find the perfect Mai Tai, this was the one that stood out. I'm a bourbon girl, so Mai Tais generally aren't my thing. Plus they're just made so poorly at so many places, it's just a drink I could never really get behind. But House Without a Key changed that. Strong? Yep. Not so ridiculously sweet I immediately need to call my non-existent dentist? Woo hoo! Pricey? Yeah. But who the hell cares when you have awesome live music and a beautiful sunset to boot. Cut little umbrellas that generally make me steer clear of those bars? Oh yes. Somehow it's entirely more appropriate in Hawaii though. Annnd they give you the recipe? Tight! ( halekulani.com/i/downloa… )

    (4)

  • Evan G.

    The absolutely perfect place for breakfast. Excellent service. You have to try the guava juice and Kona coffee. A buffet but a really amazing choice of great food plus eggs and omlettes to order. Once we found this restaurant we kept coming back. Top all of that with a beautiful view and you have this gem.

    (5)

  • James T.

    We had lunch outside and ordered the soy glazed salmon with bok choy. It was so delicious that we can back for dinner the next night. Really romantic setting, band playing Hawaiian music, and beautiful hula performance.

    (5)

  • Lora H.

    You can't beat the view at this place. Just went for drinks here after the Spam Jam (yes people, Hawaii has a Spam Jam... a block party in celebration of our favorite canned meat!!) and it was amazing as always. Would give it 5 stars except for the pricey drinks and food, but you get what you pay for.... great service, great atmosphere. You're sitting having drinks right on the beach with beautiful views of Diamond Head and the beach!!! I would recommend going right before sunset... They always have live Hawaiian music and beautiful hula dancers. Truly a taste of Hawaii... but also the perfect place to go on a date! So romantic!!! It was a good night!

    (4)

  • Jay C.

    LUNCH HERE if you want quality food, great service, and a beautiful view! for YEARS i've been attempting to locate a good restaurant for lunching with friends and family. naturally, many of us locals stay away from waikiki...HOWEVER, this is the place to be. you can RARELY go wrong with the halekulani. from the friendly valets, to each employee you pass, they are known for their 5 star service and it definitely shows. i have been taking family and friends there for YEARS mostly for the evening entertainment at house without a key or lewers lounge. both of them are "can't misses." breakfast and brunches are also high quality, a little pricey, but worth every hard working penny. i was really unfamiliar with lunch. so after attempting to plan a nice lunch with old friends, we found ourselves at house without a key. this is a hidden gem! first of all, they don't take reservations. no problem on weekdays, BIG problem on weekends if you go during the prime time. this is understandable. our group of 5 adults and 2 children went last wednesday. we were greeted by the friendly staff and seated in the restaurant (as opposed to the patio with umbrella covered tables). there is also an open seating area under the famous kiawe tree. we didn't order any appetizers because the complimentary lavosh and sweet rolls ROCK! i'm talking CRACK-style carbs which i usually try to stay away from. and, please note, that this is a restaurant that keeps it coming. you shouldn't have to ask for refills because they simply anticipate your needs. most of us ordered burgers which came with a field/mixed green salad. the burgers are tall and come on a brioche bun. this type of preparation is a bit daunting, but it is the perfect combination nonetheless (bacon, cheese, tomato and avocado). although fries are not an option WITH the burger, you can order a basket. [some ordered a seafood salad sandwich and a vegetarian burger but i failed to ask them how it was because i was sooooo into my burger.] one of the little ones ordered chicken fingers and fries. it came with a beverage and - i think - with a little dessert and the pricing seemed reasonable. [again, wasn't paying attention...sorry!] the server asked what we were celebrating and we told her two birthdays. so unbeknownst to us, she brought us two (separate) birthday desserts decorated on beautiful plates! and not some crappy cheap dessert, but single, mini-coconut cakes! the halekulani is known for their light, moist and tasty coconut cake which is their signature dessert! we were delighted! [someone posted a picture of the cake below!] so as i plan yet another "ladies lunch," i am convinced that this is the place to be. it is quiet enough, private enough, and despite having to trek to waikiki, there are no complaints once you set foot on the property! if you are looking for a nice setting where you can get quality food and great service (the prices are comparable to mariposa or the pineapple room), then you are set here at house without a key! hope you like it as much as we did! [please note that this place is SOOOOO AWESOME, that most of the restaurant employees have been here for decades NOT because it is schleppy, but because, they too, appreciate the quality of the establishment and what it represents!]

    (5)

  • Alan W.

    We went here again for lunch the other day. I had been several times for cocktails and that wonderful breakfast but at lunch I was once again please with the food and the service here. I had a wonderful salad this time with arugula and goat cheese. The goat cheese was covered with panko and was crispy on the outside and slightly warm within. The salad came with some very think slices of parma ham which I do not eat so next time I would ask for the salad without the ham and with another piece of that wonderful crispy goat cheese. And what is it with the ice tea? For some reason it is just perfect. The service here is worthy of the Halekulani. Each time I go here I feel it is such a good value for the money. You pay just as much to go elsewhere, but here you get the service and quality of a 5 star hotel. So glad this is in my neighborhood and we can go here often!

    (5)

  • Vincent C.

    A nice place to spend an evening night. Try their Mai Tai & Ambrosia. Very good!

    (5)

  • Maleko T.

    Good food, nice drinks, and great sunset views. We go here just to kick back, relax, drink mai tais and watch the sunset.

    (4)

  • Richard B.

    AWESOME PLACE! The Mai Tai's were strong and the service was excellent. Out server, Jan, took the time time to get to know us and where we were from. Her service was prompt and didn't just tell us, "your food will be here in minute" just so we would shut up. I ordered the Burger, which was excellent all around. The meat was tender and the bun was not dry. My gf ordered the Salmon, which was awesome too!

    (5)

  • Vikéndios N.

    Great service, awesome views. The best spot on property for sunset.

    (4)

  • Shannon N.

    Best brunch ever. I was fortunate to eat here while staying at the hotel, then on my next trip while I had to downgrade my hotel, I still came out of my way for this. I had a table on the outside patio in a beautiful setting with the ocean beside me. There was a large variety of wonderful fresh food, as you would expect a brunch to have, but none compares to this fine establishment. Even the presentation was exceptional. I combined breakfast danishes, bacon, home fries, steamed rice, some pasta (yes, plenty of carbs but I'm on vacation here), fruit, cereal, salads, sandwiches, cake, cookies. The fresh fruit juice-especially pineapple-was amazing. It was a little under $25 and I barely ate the rest of the day. Absolutely sumptuous. You must try this place at least once while in Waikiki. Also take note of the little carved birds seated at your table to keep you company(just don't feed them). I ate like a queen and practically had to roll myself on out.

    (4)

  • Larry P.

    This is a pleasant mellow place for dinner and drinks to hear traditional Hawaiian music and hula with a background of the Waikiki ocean. There are two sections - half of the tables are set up for drinks only, the others are set up for dinner. If you don't have reservations, be prepared to wait an hour or more for a table. The tropical drinks are good. The food was solid. We had Ahi poke sliders, ahi pasta, grilled fish, all of which were nicely prepared.

    (4)

  • Danielle Y.

    Watching a graceful hula dancer with a Hawaiian Sunset backdrop is certainly a view and an experience that can't be beat. The drinks were fun and elegant- which they'd better be at $12 a pop! A great place to sit and pretend as though you've got all the money in the world to splurge on tropical inspired beverages. It's hard to pinpoint what was "wrong" with the evening, but everything seemed just a little off-step. There were no moments of horror, just little disappointments throughout the evening. The ahi sliders were unobjectionable, but nothing special for $18. The coconut shrimp ($15), while plentiful, were a little over-done. Pan-seared grouper ($23) had succulent shrimp and a light curry broth, but didn't send me into throes of ecstasy. When I have guests in town I will certainly bring them here for the relaxing ambiance, but would shy away from spending my food dollars here for a special dinner of my own.

    (3)

  • Trisha A.

    My friend Claire recommended coming here for pre-dinner drinks when my husband and I were in town on our anniversary trip. In all my anal-retentive planning glory, I timed our dinner reservation to occur slightly after sunset so we could go to House Without a Key to watch the sunset and enjoy a cocktail. I wish I could remember what drink I had, but I thought it was fantastic. Yes, it was expensive, but it's Waikiki so it wasn't anything out of line from what I expected. Plus, the basket of yummy kettle chips were perfect to stop me from getting too tipsy before dinner! The hula dancers and band were great and really added a nice, authentic vibe to the experience. One thing for which I was not prepared was that there are SO MANY people out there to see the sunset and the patio gets to be quite loud as a result. However, it's paradise, so I could suck it up and deal.

    (5)

  • Monica F.

    On our first night in Hawaii some friends took us here for dinner. We had the grouper and the mahi mahi dinners. Well, our fish was just OK (it seemed a bit overcooked) and my friend who got the Mahi Mahi found 2, yes 2 bugs in her food.. The chef came out and apologized profusely and said that it was because the Bok Choy was "organic" which meant no pesticides, so they may NOT have cleaned it as well as they should have. UGH!! So the dinner was not that good at all but I will say that the ambiance and drinks were good. I got the Planters Punch and it was excellent. I would not go to dinner there again!

    (2)

  • Row M.

    This is the perfect place for an sunset drink. Many visitors to Waikiki make sure they stop by this bar/restaurant. I recommend only coming for drinks and a pupu. The food here is completely lackluster. I ordered the pesto pasta with ahi tuna thinking.."Hmm, I never would've thought of that combo. They must know something I don't." Turns out they don't know either. It's a weird combination and the flavors just don't work. The ahi tuna sliders are a little better but the buns were stale and didn't add to the flavor of the poke. Go for the MaiTai's. They are delicious and STRONG.

    (3)

  • Gary C.

    House Without a Key is the most casual of the Halekulani hotel's three restaurants. Shorts and t-shirts are fine. Seating is either indoors or outdoors on the lanai, and many of the outdoor tables have umbrellas for shade. The Halekulani website doesn't mention it, but there is a breakfast buffet daily, from 7 am until 10:30 am-except Sunday , when they serve until 11:30 am. It's not cheap at $30 each, but the quality is top- notch. The view is hard to beat- near the water's edge on Waikiki beach, with a view of Diamond Head. The thing that really makes this place special to me is the live music each evening from 5:30 pm until 8:30 pm featuring good local musicians and often hula. Valet parking is free with the ticket validated by the restaurant. This is a great place to bring friends visiting from the mainland- great food, great view and great music. Oh, and the drinks are wonderful!

    (5)

  • Joel G.

    We only came here for sunset drinks. They were, as everyone points out, on the expensive side. However, * my cocktail (Planter's Punch) was the best cocktail I had in Honolulu, * the pineapple in my cocktail was the best pineapple I had in Honolulu, * the free Hawaiian band was the best free Hawaiian band I saw in Honolulu, * the hula dancers with the band were the best hula dancers I saw in Honolulu, and * the free Hawaiian-style kettle chips were the best free Hawaiian-style kettle chips I had in Honolulu. I wish I'd gone back for an meal, because I bet it would have been good (but expensive) too.

    (5)

  • Shalee S.

    Beautiful Romantic Simple food Fruity drinks Friendly service Calming live music Beautiful hula dancers This was the best way to spend our last night in Waikiki. After having my husband all to myself for eight days I hated to leave Hawaii but the wonderful memories will keep me going until the next time I can steal him away.

    (5)

  • Amy S.

    My fiance and I went here for lunch our last day in Hawaii before our flight and it was the perfect ending! The view is so gorgous and the service was unbelieveable (better service than I've gotten at a nice place for dinner). I had the arugula salad with warm goat cheese and proscuitto and it was delicious. My fiance at the "Jay's special," a crab salad sandwich...omg, huge chunks of crag with bacon and avocado on a brioche (sp?) roll. YUM! We also shared the pineapple slaw that was tastey too. The cocktail list looked good, but I didn't try any. It was such a lovely afternoon to just enjoy the view under the shade.

    (4)

  • David L.

    Absolutely beautiful setting with really wonderful entertainment including hawaiian music and hula dancing. Food is above average, not spectacular, but the reason you're here is the view of the ocean and the great entertainment. Drinks are very good and the service was very very attentive. It's an absolutely wonderful way to spend a relaxing evening.

    (4)

  • Alex P.

    Although the menu is somewhat limited, the ambiance makes up for it amost 100%. Where esle can you see 3 ex-miss Hawaii dancing hula and listen to live local tunes while dining within a reach from the ocean. Very attentive service too.

    (4)

  • Jay S.

    Yelpers continue to blow my mind, overpriced? Its really not that bad, I had a braised leg of lamb for $21, and it was delicious. My wife got Sage Chicken (which she could only finish half of it was so big) for $17, our bill for the both of us with 1 cocktail each was under $80 including a delicious coconut cake desert. There was a wonderful "hula/hawaii" type band playing nice relaxing music, the service was perfect, our waiter was 110% friendly, professional and attentive. Oh, and the cherry on top? WE HAPPENED TO BE EATING IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOTS IN THE WORLD!! Yes, its worth the $17 for a hamburger when you can eat it in such a privileged location that so few in the world have the honor of doing. If you want a cheap hamburger, go to McDonalds, if you want to dine in a breath taking tropical location where the sun sets in the most beautiful orange back drop, then check out Door Without A Key, you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Rose V.

    Great ambiance, service and delicious food. The Maui onion soup was fantastic! Lilikoi Daiquiri was such a refreshing drink. I had the Pan Seared Grouper and my hubby had the HWAK burger sans the bun. Both tasted great. The live Hawaiian music and hula dancer were such a nice touch. I highly recommend coming here but get there early for dinner as wait times were over an hour when we went on Christmas.

    (5)

  • Michelle B.

    Eggspensive. That's what happens when eggs are this expensive - you start saying dumb things to make up for the fact that you are paying $28 per person for a breakfast buffet that tastes like a breakfast buffet.

    (2)

  • Joy W.

    Went there for lunch with friends. The location and view are beautiful. I wasn't as impressed with the food though. Ordered the Joy sandwich and I wasn't really wow'ed for $22.

    (3)

  • Laurel S.

    Delicious, water front, lovely ambience, musical entertainment, over-the-top service... What more could you ask for?!?

    (5)

  • Marisa L.

    For a guaranteed "this is paradise" moment: get dressed up, come here right before sunset, and snag an outdoor table near the stage with a view of Diamond Head. Then, order your tropical drink of choice and sip while listening to covers of your favorite island songs and basking in the last rays of the day. I won't be able to afford to eat here or stay at the Halekulani anytime soon, but the ambiance is entirely worth splurging on a drink.

    (5)

  • Michael L.

    The atmosphere was perfect - relaxing music, right by the water, in a very nice hotel. The service was excellent. I had the grouper, which was very good. Overall, our best dinner in Waikiki so far.

    (5)

  • Theresa B.

    We followed everyones advice and came in around 5-530pm to get seated outside the bar area for the live hawaiian music and the sunset view. Ahhh...listening to trio and watching the hula dancer dance while sipping on some hula punch...definitely made me feel like I was in paradise! It was a great experience! It was mellow and the view is stunning! Chris had 1 mai tai ($14) and it was soooo stiff, he only had 1...and he was good for the rest of the night. I had the hula punch ($12), which had NO alcohol whatsoever. It was soo light, I needed another drink to catch up with my SO. I had a strawberries and basil martini, a drink that was recommended to me by the waitress, and this drink tasted like a flower shop! No joke, it was stiff, but the basil in the drink was very distinct and it seriously tasted like a flower shop! It was not enough to rate them lower than 5 stars though! Definitely a must for our return trip!

    (5)

  • John L.

    Poor beer selection; and high priced food. I think you're paying for the beach-front patio with live entertainment, instead of the actual food.

    (2)

  • Lisa M.

    GORGEOUS SUNSET VIEW!!!!!!!!! Make sure you make it before the sunset. Even if you aren't gonna eat here, DO have a Mai Tai ...... or 2. It's goooood. ( Definition of GOOD: STRONG but also taste like a bitch drink) For the drinkers, you will LOVE it... and for the weaksauce, each sip of the MaiTai will feel like a shot. Food here is A-OK. If you MUST eat, get the Ahi Tuna Pesto Pasta.

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    we got there late so we missed the live music so the atmosphere was very quiet on a sunday night, which seems typical of the oahu island... nothing is open on sunday! we had an assortment of small plates; lobster spring roll, ahi sashimi, coconut shrimp, beef satay, short ribs and nalo greens everything was ok, of those dishes the sashimi was my favorite next tot he coconut shrimp.

    (3)

  • Miss Rza M.

    I loved eating at the House Without a Key. So much so, that we went back for lunch the very next day. We also preferred to eat here rather than the Moana Surfrider's restaurant (The Beachhouse?). We found their prices very reasonable for the beach, and their food was quite excellent. For the quality of food, I felt it was a good value considering the other hotel restaurants. We found the atmosphere to be more upscale and refined without pretense. I have to work from memory here, so it may be a bit off (and the Mai Tai I had might contribute). I had the seared Tuna in a basil pesto cream sauce. The fish was served medium rare and was delicious. It was melt in your mouth good, and I could not stop "mmmming" and "awwwing". I can't remember what the hubby had, but he enjoyed his a lot. I also had a Mai Tai cocktail and it was very strong and tasty. As I mentioned, we went back for lunch the next day. They also serve these wonton sticks with sea salt and sesame seeds that were fabulous to munch on while we were waiting for our meal. I ordered the burger the next day, and it exceeded my expectations. Coming from Texas, we know how to do big angus burgers. Theirs did not disappoint. We had to order fries separately, but they serve a salad to accompany lunch. My husband ordered a side of fries and it was well enough for us both to split and have some left over. Man, now I'm sad that I'm back home and can't go there.

    (5)

  • Brian W.

    I purposely planned to visit House Without A Key on this trip since I knew it was the perfect experience for my parents. When I visited half a year ago, I remembered the drinks being good, the view being spectacular and the food being above average. Well that didn't really change this time except the food was even better! I ordered the exact same dish but this time the pasta in the Ahi and Pasta dish was much tastier than our last visit. The Ahi I ordered was still very fresh tasting and succulent and the coconut shrimp was as yummy as I remember. My gf ordered their fresh catch of the day and the mahi mahi was excellent! A very good dish from the couple of bites I stole from her. My dad ordered the same thing as me and my mom ordered the grouper with mussels. I kept thinking I was biased or maybe the alcohol was swaying me to think everything tasted even better than last time, but my gf agreed with me and she didn't drink at all. Overall, definitely a nice romantic place to bring your loved one as the view is excellent, the drinks are good (supposedly the Mai Tai originated from this hotel?), and the live music with hulu dancers are a nice touch. Side note - They don't take reservations and it's really busy around sunset times as you can get a perfect view from the restaurant of the sun setting into the beautiful ocean...

    (5)

  • sky i.

    I relax by the ocean side table with the Bacardi Mojito, flowing through my veins, slowly working the tension out of my body. The soothing live music and the cool tropical breeze wash over me under the dark canopy of the moonlit sky while the ocean waves gently lap onto to the beach. It's the perfect way to nightcap the evening in Waikiki.

    (5)

  • Natalie W.

    This wonderful cocktail space is situated on the patio of a very lovely hotel. We arrive for drinks at about 6:30, and we were seated within a few minutes in a few of the last chairs left. The Hawaiian music playing was a treat as we viewed the sunset and the bay from our seat. The free hula show was a nice feature, but not traditional- just a sweet woman enjoying her craft. The drink menu inspired unique orders from our group. The creative drinks were less fruity then other tourist places and that was appreciated. The beers available were only a few more dollars than stopping at a pub, and the selection ranged from local to national. The tables came with baskets of potato chips that seemed to be Tim's Cascade Chips or a variety close to it. We glanced at the dinner bar menu and passed on the items- though a few were tempting and not too high in price. Fyi's~ * You can were beach clothes here but be aware that other patron will be in their cocktail clothes and it is more appropriate that you are as well * The hula show goes on about 1/2 hour after the sun starts setting and she did 2 performances during our stay * This is the type of place to show off Hawaii- welcome yourself to Hawaii- or bid farewell... just lovely and peaceful in atmosphere

    (4)

  • Anne Y.

    After noting the rave reviews, my husband and I visited the House Without a Key on one of our two nights in Waikiki last week. We went on A Wednesday around 7p. We were seated promptly at a cozy table outside near the stage. It was a beautiful tropical setting right on the beach. The band, which including steel guitar, was fantastic. Kehoe Miller performed several hula dances that evening and she was amazing. We said hi to her in bewteen one of the sets - what a beautiful person! This review what not be complete without mention of the Mai Tai's. Probably the best mai tai's we had during our whole trip to Hawaii. They were delicious and strong. Not cheap, but worth every penny. This place was a highlight of our trip.

    (5)

  • Cianne M.

    The grounds of the Halekulani are simply beautiful. Take a deep breath and you can just feel the aloha pulsing through your veins. Every night 5:30-8:30pm, they have live Hawaiian music with beautiful hula dancers. You might want to get there a bit earlier to ensure you have a good table, instead of on the side. Not that those seats are bad, but if you want to be closer to the entertainment. The food was good, although not out of this world. Our favorite was the yummy coconut cake. The waiter even gave us an extra dessert. Some chocolate tart thing with an orchid on top. He thought we were local - hee hee! :P Afterwards, we walked along the beach and gazed at the Waikiki lights. There are some lively bars/restaurants further down along the beach which look interesting. Very cool place to go for a laid-back tropical night out.

    (5)

  • Lemon C.

    The atmosphere here is so nice! We watched the sunset while listening to the band. I had a yummy Blue Hawaiian drink! I had the pesto pasta which was so bland. As a snack they give you a bowl of potato chips. When my glass was water was half full, the waiter replaced it with a whole new cup of water so I would have fresh unmelted ice, I was so impressed!

    (4)

  • Judie H.

    We walked in here all casual clothes...stuck out like a sore thumb but after a couple drinks that didn't bother us much. Miss Hawaii was so beautiful! She came up to us and started talking to us. We learned a new word from her..."Kutunk"...lolz...yes I know what it means

    (4)

  • Nick M.

    nice place to have a high quality mai tai while listening to live music by the beach. casual but classy. pricey, but you're paying for the location and good quality drinks. the mai tai is made from fresh juice and not too sweet.

    (4)

  • S K.

    Lovely setting, it's exactly what I would picture eating dinner in Hawaii to look like. The food and entertainment is great too. the only downfall are the prices, but it's to be expected considering it's in a hotel in Waikiki. If you don't want to drop $100 on dinner for 2, I would suggest going there for drinks in the evening where you can watch the band and enjoy the sunset but not break your wallet!

    (4)

  • Jill Y.

    I came here with the family to celebrate my father's desire to eat a good breakfast. We tried to get into Orchid's without a reservation on a Sunday. I know. Don't laugh. At any rate, we ended up here and I'm glad we did. We sat outside and it was gorgeous. Sometimes I forget how beautiful Waikiki can look from the opposite side (I usually frequent the Leahi side). Food: We opted for the brunch. Lots of good things here, tiny muffins, miso soup, bacon, omelettes to order, corned beef hash coins, etc. No lobster, but we didn't miss it. In general, everything I had there was nice. I mean it was not fall out of your chair amazing, but it was solidly good. I would say for brunch it is 100% worth the $35-40 price. Brunch is rarely amazing; I go to brunch to hang with family and friends and enjoy where I am because I rarely find brunch food any good. The food was above what I expected and nice, but it's ambiance and service that sets this place above other brunch places (I still miss Stage's brunch!!!) Service: My dad mentioned to our waiter about how he wanted to originally go to Orchids because he wanted a crab eggs benedict. The wonderful waiter apologized that we couldn't get in and then disappeared for about 5 mins. He returned with the exact thing my father described to him. He said: "I hope this is what you wanted." And then went on filling our water. My entire family was like WOW, that's some service. Of course, there was no charge for that meal, which my dad was nice enough to share with everyone. Location: In the Halekulani, which is known as the premier hotel in Waikiki. Restaurant is located to the left when you enter the main lobby. Nice things: They have coffee for people who are waiting to get into the restaurant as well as comfortable benches and some seating. The view of Leahi (Diamond Head) is amazing.

    (5)

  • Chandler H.

    We went here for Valentines Day and it was awesome. The setting is beautiful, there is live music and hula every night, and the drinks are incredible. I honestly can't comment too much on the food, as we were very full on drinks and appetizers by the time we were supposed to order entrees. About a week later we were looking for another romantic night out and we went to Hau Tree Lanai. The setting was nice, but we felt the food, drinks, and service were much better at House Without a Key. We actually drove back to House Without a Tree for more drinks and dessert once we finished our meal at Hau.

    (5)

  • Rachel P.

    oh, i wish i was there right now... go about 30 min before sunset, get a chi chi and some snacks, sit back, and enjoy the next hour of your life. amazing.

    (4)

  • michelle m.

    Maaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiii Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!! Mai tai, mai tai, mai tai. That's what I'm talkin' bout. As I sat with mai tai in hand, watching the setting sun and the Hawaiian musicians began to play, I prayed to God even though I never pray. I said: "Hey God, if by any slim chance I can still get into heaven, can you make my heaven just like this? Mai Tai, ocean, music?? Please? Mahalo nui loa, Amene"

    (5)

  • Alex F.

    For the price, I'd eat elsewhere, but I guess it's worth a try. Restaurant ambience is beautiful. Joy's Special isn't bad.

    (3)

  • Sheryl M.

    We've lived here 5 years and the hubby and I kinda avoided this place thinking it was some kind of high priced tourist trap but now we know...there's a REASON people love this place. We planned to each have a drink, watch a little hula and move on. We had good seats to watch the dancing. The tree under which they play music and dance looked kind of gnarly and dead, but the music and pretty dancing were enchanting. We each tried one of the two cocktail specials and the total was $25. Expected that. They were sheer perfection and almost worth it. LOL Something to savor and remember for sure. As we were finishing the aforementioned drinks, I got the attention of one of the hostesses walking by (which wasn't difficult, thank goodness) and asked how long a wait would be for a table so we could stay for dinner. She looked over her shoulder and the dinner table a few feet behind us had emptied out and was cleaned off. She asked if we would like it and we pounced on it! (Mind you, in the down economy, I don't think there was a line waiting out front or anything.) We split the nalo greens appetizer salad which was lovely. Nice dressing which wasn't too much and the greens were a fresh and tasty. We also split the rare seared tuna over pesto pasta, a bottle of chardonnay and a chocolate cake/peanut butter cream/fudgy dessert on a plate squirted with strawberry sauce. It was the best meal we've had on the island. Including tax, tip, and the $39 bottle of chardonnary, our total came in at $100. (This was not counting our $25 cocktails which we closed out earlier.) The service was outstanding and the best part was that the server brought out the each dish pre-divided. The presentation was done as it would have been had we ordered each thing for ourselves without splitting AND they did NOT charge an additional fee for splitting everything! We're sorry we had never come here earlier and now we're coming up with all kinds of excuses (family visiting soon, Sweetest Day, anniversary...) to go back! Regarding attire: you could wear dress/khaki shorts but I'd avoid denim as well as flip flops. Smart aloha appears to be the dress code. They won't kick you out for not wearing a button-down shirt but you might feel a bit underdressed.

    (5)

  • Laurie V.

    Friend found out I was in town and told me to come to his restaurant. When he said 'House Without A Key,' I quickly took him up on the offer because I've heard about that place and it's at Halekulani which is always a must. Prior to going, my friend asked me what I liked to drink and what was my favorite protein. I told him I liked Shiraz and that lamb was my fave. Then he told me when to come. When I arrived, the hostess seated us to a reserved table smack dab fronting the band and hula dancer. It was so romantic with the candle and moon light. Next thing you know, our waiter brought out a bottle of Shiraz for us! I was like, "wow, like that?!" Then our waiter proceeds to tell us that "everything is taken care of and to enjoy!" Not even into our 2nd glass of wine, appetizers of sushi and poke came out. WOW! What can get fresher than sushi in Hawaii-nei...nothing, nada. As soon as were were done with sushi, we had chicken waaangs and steak skewers come out. The steak was suuuuper tender and in huuuge chunks! I was full just looking at it. Even had to ask the waiter about how much more food was coming out so, we knew how to pace ourselves. Thankfully, he said that the entree was next. Obvi, we got lamb as our entree. I love lamb and he did it the French way...also my fave =) Funny thing is a waitress from another table asked our waiter where the lamb came from because they don't have lamb there. Wow, really doe! For dessert, I got sooooo much stuff. Haupia ice cream, pbj mousse, and, of course, cake...for my birthday. I wanted to cry just because it was my 1st birthday cake of the year. Other than the food and AMAZING SERVICE; another of the favorite things about this place is that it's pretty casual; not a fine dining/fancy dress/suit kinda place. Which goes soooooo well with it's outdoor atmosphere. Great for locals and tourists alike. Absolutely cannot wait to go back...and, maybe, see a menu. lol I was just glad to see old friends and spend my time with new friends.

    (5)

  • Quintino D.

    Stopped in for drinks and appetizers. This place is right on the beach in a beautiful hotel and had a great local band playing. The atmosphere was just what we were looking for to start our vacation. My wife and I got one of their cocktails and tried the coconut shrimp. All were delicious although the shrimp were coated in butter a little too long for my preference but so fresh and coconut was so flavorful.

    (4)

  • Teresa C.

    The best service and best drinks on the island, hands down. Amazing views of the ocean. We came back again and again, highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Matt S.

    Couldn't have asked for a better ambiance and dining experience for my first time in Hawaii.

    (4)

  • Sheryl K.

    I love House Without A Key. The food was tasty, the customer service was exceptional and the Hawaiian entertainment was wonderful. With palm trees swaying and beachfront views, I'm so glad I chose to make a stop at Halekulani in Waikiki.

    (4)

  • Lily B.

    House Without A Key is located in the Halekulani Hotel on Kalia Road in Waikiki (see my review for Halekulani) Open from 7AM to 9PM. The restaurant is across from Orchids. They do offer breakfast, brunch, lunch, happy hour, and dinner. We visited for lunch on a Saturday. We were immediately greeted by several people at the host station. We were offered to sit 'inside' or 'outside' and we chose to sit 'outside' but there was an umbrella to block the sun. The gentleman that sat us explained that if any time it was too hot we could be moved 'inside'. That was very kind of him. Teri, our server, greeted us thereafter and gave us menus. I started with a plain iced tea which is $4 (unlimited refills). It has a mint leaf as well as a sugar cane stick. Teri holds a straw in front of you and waits for you to pull the straw out of the wrapper. She did this EACH TIME. Impressive service! yelp.com/user_local_phot… Drinks were followed by lavosh and rolls with butter. Average but a nice complimentary offering. yelp.com/user_local_phot… My friend ordered the angus beef bacon cheeseburger on a briosche roll with fries/$22 (she omitted all the veggies and the guacamole that it comes with). An average burger. yelp.com/user_local_phot… My other friend ordered a salad which has hirabara greens, ho farms tomatoes, cucumbers, and a lehua honey dressing (which she got on the side)/$12 yelp.com/user_local_phot… Another friend got the seasonal soup which had lentils and something else for $10 as well as the penne with a bolognaise sauce/$22. I forgot to take a picture of these but she really enjoyed it! I got Joy's special sandwich. It is Alaskan king crab meat salad, avocado, and bacon on wheat bread witih fries/$22. I was told that they use "a little" 1000 Island dressing mixed in with the crab meat. It was... okay. It kinda had a very weird after taste to it. I asked for a side of ranch and put that on the end of the bread so it would curb the after taste. I ate 2 pieces and brought the 3rd home to the BF... I just couldn't do it! The taste was... funky. I do like the fries though because they were thick cut and they were crispy! I would much rather order a king crab club from Mariposa than this... yelp.com/user_local_phot… yelp.com/user_local_phot… Service: Teri was awesome! She was efficient, friendly, and even 'talked story' with us for a bit. We treated our boss to lunch (she's leaving) and Teri brought a slice of Halekulani's famous haupia cake for her! She said "I know you guys are celebrating something but I don't know what it is... so here is a piece of our famous cake for you!"... I thought that was SO sweet! (and so did my boss!). They LOVED the cake. I've had it before when I dined at Orchids and it's not my thing but everyone was happy that I didn't want any... more for them! Ambiance: Very relaxed and beautiful. You can smell the ocean and hear the birds chirping. Diamond Head is right behind you (we took pictures so we could have Diamond Head behind us). You can't beat the view. Truly breathtaking! As for the food... waaaaay overpriced (expected) and small portions. BUT, we came here for the view and turns out my boss enjoyed her food so it was a win win! All in all, I'd bring someone here for a special occasion since it's so gorgeous, but I would never come back just for a regular lunch. Lunch for 4 of us was $130 with tip. This place reminds me of the Plumeria Beach House at the Kahala. Great view, but not so great food. Happy hour is probably better... I hear they have live music and a hula dancer which you can relax to while you watch the sunset...

    (3)

  • Darrell A.

    This is in one of the best, if not the best hotel in Waikiki, the Halekulani. The House without a Key is their casual restaurant with no walls (hence no key), a small menu, breathtaking views and impeccable service. We always make this a first stop in Waikiki, the staff changes rarely - thanks Ian & Courtney, the menu is highly consistent, the entertainment at 5:30 is outstanding, and the views, well that is why postcards were invented. The Mai Tai is the best anywhere, strong, rummy, almond, lime, CRUSHED ice. Sashimi has 7 thick cut pieces of Big Eye Ahi and got even better with the addition of a highly addictive side salad. Add some hotel made, proofed and freshly baked bread and you might think you reached the top of the mountain, but wait.... The Coconut cake with vanilla sauce is really the summit, light, fluffy, not overly sweet and just the right amount of coconut in every bite. A must stop for anyone who enjoys Hawaii. We certainly will continue.

    (5)

  • Annie N.

    Delicious food. Relaxed atmosphere with Live Hawaiian music. Perfect place to spend your evening with good and friendly service. The lamb chop was excellent. So was the seafood pasta. We had a great time dining at this place. The price is quite pricey for the crab salad roll even it was really delicious.

    (4)

  • Rima G.

    Stunning view. Could not be more beautiful. Service as good as the Ritz hotel in Paris. Really, seriously world class service. And a meal to match. Hubby had the Mahdi mahi, I had the chicken curry. We would have licked our plates if nobody was looking. NOT cheap, but if you're looking for a special meal, with an unparalleled view of the ocean, and service like Downton Abbey, visit House Without a Key.

    (5)

  • Monique M.

    This place is such a great resteraunt. The coconut shrimp is to die for. So fresh and amazingly delicious. My husband and I had to eat at this place twice it was so good. Their salad is very fresh and fish as well.

    (5)

  • K G.

    Love this place for drinks. Relaxing and great to watch the sunset. Definitely recommend. They have a live local music band. Very romantic and relaxing

    (5)

  • Tam L.

    First, you HAVE to visit this place. The sunset is amazing and the cocktails are fantastic. Second, you HAVE to get the coconut cake. It's the best coconut cake outside of the South (sorry, my grandmother's recipe is the best!). Finally, you HAVE to ask for Jesse. He is one of the BEST servers I have ever encountered. I was traveling alone during this holiday vacation and he made sure to make me feel comfortable in this couple-up setting. Then, when I couldn't get a reservation at Orchids, Jesse was able to get me the shrimp ravioli and deliver it to my table at House without a Key. I tipped him quite generously for this act of kindness. Truly, Jesse is a MUST if you want GREAT service and a very friendly smile. Oh, and he isn't shy when it comes to taking pictures with you, either. He didn't hesitate when I asked for him to be in my holiday picture. Jesse, you are AWESOME! Thank you for making my evening fantastic.

    (5)

  • Steph C.

    When Matt B. and I came to Hawaii, Melissa K. directed us to the Halekulani for sunset cocktails, romantic style. We arrived at House Without a Key (I love the name, by the way, both on its own and as a musical reflection of the name of the hotel) around six after a long traffic-filled drive from the North Shore. We were afraid we'd miss the sunset, but good to know - valet was free for restaurant customers, so we didn't have to make a trip to our garage. We weren't seated right away, so we lingered by the restaurant on lounge chairs facing the beach. Happily, we got a table soon after and had drinks in our hands when the sun went down. The views were lovely, not quite panoramic, but very pretty, and the sky went down softly, in many colors. The patio was relaxing, and service was great. We were attended to by a waiter named Charlie who treated his job with pleasant earnest. He gave us potato chips when we sat down, and checked on us often. The chips were later refilled. Matt and I have gotten drinks at enough fancy hotels that we kind of know not to be offended when we're monstrously ripped off. Before we opened the menu, we took turns guessing how much the drinks would cost. We guessed $15 and $17, and we decided that either would be okay, as we were paying for the venue. The prices were a nice surprise - the "cool concoctions" cost a not-cheap-but-reasonable $12 each. The second surprise came when the drinks were really quite delicious. We had a Mai Tai, a Strawberry and Basil, and a couple Rangpur Guava Fizzes, and they were all excellent tropical cocktails. The Mai Tai was fantastic, boozy and not too sweet, with rum and rum and rum, some curaçao, lime, and orgeat and rock candy syrups with plenty of crushed ice. It came garnished with mint and lime, a sugar cane stick and a pretty pink flower. Perfect for a Hawaiian evening. The Rangpur Gin Fizz was also fantastic, with a citrus gin and guava juice making a refreshing combination with just a bit of sugar. The only drink I didn't care for was the Strawberry and Basil, a tropical gin martini with Tanqueray 10, strawberries, and basil. Not bad, but not very balanced. As we sipped on our drinks and grew slowly tipsy, we watched the sunset and a small troupe of Hawaiian entertainers. We were treated to the hula stylings of a current or recent Miss Hawaii. It was an idyllic evening on the island, a true and pure interlude of undisturbed vacation. When I'm bored or stressed with my non-island life, I might take flight to sunset at the Halekulani, where I savored the waning day with a cold Mai Tai in my hand.

    (5)

  • Janelle L.

    Breakfast buffet is AWESOME. The feeling like you're eating at someone's house enjoying the weather and camaraderie of friends and family can't be beat. You have your standard bacon, eggs, pork link sausage, standard hawaiian Portuguese sausage (which actually needs to be browned a little more), waffles, croissants, fruits, omelette bar, rice, miso soup, meats and vegetables. Nothing EXTRA SPECIAL, just good food and great service. I'll have to come for dinner some time.

    (4)

  • Matt W.

    Always perfect service, drinks and experience! I have always found this a great place to take visitors for an evening cocktail around 6pm. Often "House Without A Key" will have music and a hula dancer for evening entertainment. The beverages are nice and refreshing and paying a few dollars extra is worth it considering that you get to enjoy some nice Hawaiian music and often get to see a Hula dancer.

    (5)

  • Kanoe I.

    A Beautiful Sunset, Hawaiian Music, Hula by the legendary Kanoe Miller, and Mai Tais. You'll find it all here at the House Without A Key, where one can experience the ultimate Hawaiian Happy Hour. I am locally born and raised and rarely trek into Waikiki. But this has become one of my fave places. I brought friends from Singapore here, and they loved it!! They even ventured back again for dinner! One of the best Mai Tais around (strong!) can be found here. And hula dancer Kanoe Miller graces the stage with her beautiful dance. This is a sight to see, as she is one of Hawaii's most famous hula dancer. It is not uncommon for the musicians to call up other musician/dancers who are sitting in the audience to join them on stage. Hawaii has so much talented people and they are so eager to share. So if you're looking for a non-touristy place to enjoy Hawaiian music while having a Mai Tai, definitely visit this place. It's an open air venue, so pray for good weather. The staff here are so wonderful....They will wipe down chairs if it does rain. I've seen it. And I've already labeled Halekulani as the hotel with the best service. Can't say enough! So go visit the House Without A Key. Let Me Know how you liked the Mai Tais!!

    (5)

  • Erica S.

    We wanted to have a nice romantic dinner for our honeymoon and read about this place on Yelp and it sounded really good. It's located on the beach outside at the Halekulani Hotel. The atmosphere is beautiful and romantic. They have live hawaiian music with a hula dancer, but get here early if you want to see the show bc they only perform until 8:30. We only got to see the last 10 minutes. The Italian blended wine was AMAZING! I had the fish of the day which was swordfish with pesto. It was perfectly cooked and very tasty. I have two major complaints. One: the $16 salad was really small and unsatisfying. Two: the veggie burger is a crunchy FRIED patty. It doesn't say anywhere on the menu that its fried. We were really disappointed with it.

    (3)

  • Betsy B.

    Great view, live music, hula dancing-reasons to go. The mai tai was good-served with a lot of crushed ice, not the best I've had but good. Food choices were very limited. I ended up getting an appetizer and soup as nothing else really appealed to me. My friend had the curry dish and enjoyed it. The live music was great-Hawaiian music and they have one or more hula dancers-pride themselves that they have 3 prior Miss America's that dance there. The one on the night we were there was very good-very graceful. As the sun went down, it just became more beautiful of a view. We went for dinner but there are also a lot of small tables with chairs for seating for the music and cocktails-you can order food as well. It took awhile for anyone to take our order initially for drinks but service was better later.

    (3)

  • Ron And Anita T.

    Went to The House Without a Key in Waikiki for before dinner drinks, so this review is for that only. It was incredible! The setting, right on the beach, under an incredible tree, watching the sunset, listening to the music, in a nice, quiet place. Yes, the drinks were expensive (try the tropical itch, served with a bamboo back scratcher), but well worth it. My wife says the cucumber/ginger cooler was even better than my tropical itch! The complimentary chips were good too!

    (5)

  • Bennett S.

    Wow! What a setting to watch the sunset in Waikiki while enjoying some signature tropical cocktails and listening to live local music. We went to House Without a Key on a whim based on other favorable Yelp reviews (thanks Jason G), and we were not dissappointed. The ambiance and environment are the signature reasons to stay and dine in Waikiki. You feel apart from the busy streets, shopping and noise, and feel like you are warped in time to another, more peaceful and romantic era. The food was good. I had the lamb chops, which they only serve on Tuesday and Thursday during their grill night. The yogurt sauce was ok and the lamb chops would have done better with a little more local sea salt. My wife had the baby back ribs, which were perfectly executed (she let me try them). The meat fell right off the bone. For dessert, you have to have the resort's coconut cake. Not too sweet, light and refreshing; it is how coconut cake should be. If you are in Honolulu don't miss this place!

    (4)

  • Kami H.

    Beautiful setting. But the menu was lacking. No steak, poor wine menu, overall lackluster on options. The food we ordered was acceptable. And the service was good. But the expectations of a place this beautiful were much higher. They did have a great gin drink- and I don't even like gin - that was out of this world. For the price, there are better options in Waikiki.

    (3)

  • Thomas D.

    This is a lovely spot right on the water. The live band playing traditional Hawaiian music with the occasional hula dancer makes for a tranquil, almost hypnotic experience. Everything slows down and the mood is peaceful. The large outdoor restaurant serves cocktails and a short list of seafood options. Appetizers and finger foods are available as well. We started with a few martinis and then moved to the Korean style BBQ ribs. Mmmm. Nice and spicy. We shared a bowl of New England clam chowder. It was an authentic version of this chowder that was creamy and filled with clams. We both ordered the spaghetti with seafood as our entree. A rich,red sauce covered the mahi mahi and prawns. Garlic bread accompanied this dish. Very nice. Service was genuine, unhurried and professional. Our server was excellent. She took such good care of us and a packed restaurant as well. We were too full to order dessert or espressos, cappuccinos etc. This would make an excellent "special night out " kind of place. Very romantic with Diamond Head in the background and the August meteor showers above.

    (4)

  • Paige B.

    Loved the atmosphere, and the beautiful entertainment during the dinner hour, right at sunset. The cocktail was fantastic, a lovely mai tai, the food unfortunately, not anything special. Veal Piccata was more dry than succulent, and the mac and cheese was floury and cheesy, not flavorful and gooey. Skip dinner and go for a cocktail, atmosphere, sunset, and entertainment.

    (4)

  • Trishia P.

    I would of gave them two stars for the blah menu but since the entertainment was classy and enjoyable they get an extra star. My server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and always offered to take our pictures. I had the Maui Onion Soup and Tuna Sashimi with shredded Daikon. Nothing on the menu was screaming innovative or extremely tasty so I went with the Sashimi, it was a tiny starter plate. My boyfriend had the Pan Seared Grouper - with shrimp, mussels,spinich and coconut curry with a side of rice. The Pan Seared Grouper was pretty good sweet and savory and tasted like a Filipino Soup called Ginataang Kalabasa. Probably the most interesting this on the menu. My beverages were the Mai Tai (tasty but strong, too much dark rum, wish it had a more fruity taste -- wasn't my favorite at Waikiki although it was the strongest), and a mango colada. Although a very beautiful place with a lovely kiawe tree, the food is okay, nothing special on the menu -- generic, and for the price is very STEEP. The view is also beautiful with ocean, stained sunset sky and a pretty good view of Diamond Head, but the hotel blocks the sun, well at least the night I was there. So I feel that other restaurants in Waikiki have a better view. Drinks are delicious and are enjoyable during the nightly entertainment of Hawaiian Music and Hula with the Waikiki Beach and Sunset in the background. I recommend going here for the drinks with a side of hula and music. *side note: I wish they had a better dress code, many of the people there were in my opinion way too CASUAL. I thought this was fine dining with entertainment, leave your fanny pack at home -- do not wear them with your crusty flip flops, un-ironed tacky shorts and frumpy beach tops.

    (3)

  • Law C.

    Million dollar view of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head. It's located at the north end of Waikiki and the way the shoreline curves, you can see almost all of Waikiki Beach. Perfect place to feel the tradewinds right before the sunset. Prices are pretty high for drinks and food but that's to be expected. We ordered some tuna poke which was around $18 and delicious. They also have a decent length menu of appetizers to munch on if you want to pass on dinner, which is even pricier. The service was attentive and friendly with frequent refills of the free chips for the folks there drinking and watching the sunset. Entertainment is great too. That night it was a local Hawaiian music band. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Nicole F.

    This time we did apps and I don't think they are as good of a value as ordering off the main menu although the pork ribs were good. Plus you do get complimentary Maui style chips that are addictive. The service and music is consistently good. Next time will order from the main menu and skip the apps. Plus the coconut shrimp is just too sweet even though I know most people love this.

    (4)

  • Anthony D.

    I wish I could pick 0 stars. The worst Mai tai I ever had. Have the one from the trump that's the best!!! Only five dinner choices and 3 of them are burgers. My wife had the pasta it tasted like sauce from a can. I hardly ever complain about a restaurant but this place is awful and is such a ripoff I don't want anyone else to waste money on this place. I can't believe they r still open it was really AWFUL!!!!!!!!!! One of the WORST meals I have ever had in my life

    (1)

  • Erica S.

    Best part of Hawaii is being able to eat outside, have a drink, listen to music, and see the ocean. This is one of the better places to do so. Sitting outside here is a great way to relax and enjoy the time. We came here for a late dinner. My husband had their burger and I had the Roasted Salmon with bok choy and mushroom in a nice broth. The food took quite a long time so we were getting a little impatient especially since we skipped ordering an appetizer. When we got our food, we were barely able to see it as it had gotten dark outside. Thanks to the camera, we got to see what our food looked like. See photos attached. My salmon with the broth was very good. Light and flavorful. The burger was good, but challenging to eat with a thick bun. Their dessert menu had a lot of unique flavored desserts so we had to get one. We chose the Matcha Tea and Vanilla Panna Cotta with pomegranate jelly. Kinda reminded me of yogurt. YUM YUM YUM!

    (4)

  • Amy T.

    I was only here for a little time for drinks, but the waiter was prompt and friendly. We received our drinks right away and he helped us get the bill quickly, since we were in a rush. My boyfriend got the Mai Thai, which was good, not too sweet, but my favorite was the Chi chi drink. It's like a pina coloda. Coconut, pineapple, and vodka. They also gave us a side of chips to go with the drinks. It was at night, but I could hear the ocean and feel the nice breeze outdoors. The vibe was very nice and chill. I would like to go back to see how the view is of the ocean.

    (5)

  • Ken W.

    Clearly a classy and friendly place to sip a drink on Waikiki. We stopped by for ice cream and drinks because I heard they have the best Mai Tais in Waikiki. They definitely serve a more sophisticated version than the Royal Hawaiian down the beach, although both were very good. Despite not being guests at the hotel, our waiter secured a pool deck lounge chair for my pregnant wife so she could rest up before a dinner reservation at another restaurant, which I greatly appreciated. I found the birds that seemed to be all over the place charming.

    (5)

  • Candy T.

    I love it here! The food is so good; appetizer bread rolls, the vino/cocktails, the creamy coconut curry with opah fish, & the catch of the day is mouth quenching! The outdoor ambiance is so beautiful; with the live music, sound of the ocean crashing on the rocks, and the hula dancing. This is such a great romantic escape! We really love coming here to escape normal everyday life and enjoy a night of relaxation under the stars! Negs: They don't take reservations. If you want a good outdoor seating or just in general want good seat best to come early and hope you get seated with in 10 mins or so. Pos: good food, great service, romantic ambiance feel, bar/restaurant style (in a classy way).

    (4)

  • Doug C.

    Excellent sashimi, excellent grilled Mahi Mahi, delicious coconut cake. Drinks were pretty good although not spectacular. Tranquil setting, nic Hawaiian band.

    (5)

  • Jen G.

    This was nice -- they had a band playing Hawaiian music. It was really relaxing and nice. I had a nice piece of fish. The food overall was good.

    (4)

  • waleska p.

    Went while on vacation for HH since I heard this was the best place to see the sunset in Waikiki. Sorry Barefoot Bar, cheated on you one night!! Got there before 5 to get a good seat and enjoy the HH, which we did, in front of the stage for the local Hawaiian Band, who was a family and they were fabulous, also Ms. 2012 Hawaii did the Hula dancing while they performed, very beautiful and different from the other bars. Drinks were delicious and prices are high, but we were on vacation so let's not be cheap. Only had drinks and wine. The Ginger Lychee Caipirinha, Rangpur Guava Fizz, Mai Tai, and the Lilikoi drink, were my favorites. Did a lot of drinking and really enjoy the beautiful sunset at the house without a key. PS- Sunset is the same anywhere you are at, however the ambiance at this place is beautiful and that makes a difference, the music is really authentic Hawaiian (not what you get at the other hotels) and you can enjoy a beautiful evening here. If you want to romance, this is the place to go, go early, it actually gets packed, saw a lot of couples ordering bottles of champagne, so be prepared to pay.

    (5)

  • Raych D.

    Being that the restaurant is located in the Halekulani hotel I expected better of everything here.. Came here Saturday afternoon with some girlfriends for a belated girls day lunch...because we all have never been there and the other option The restaurant itself is really spacious and has the most miraculous view of the hotels pool and the ocean right in front. The tables wasn't as big as i wanted it to be and the bread that they served as appetizers wasn't soft or warm at all! In fact it was tiny and hard. I ordered the crab sandwich which was aaaaaahhhmazzzing!! The bun was so soft and the crab wasn't sunny or salty but just right! The side salad that came with it was just a mixture of different types of lettuce and this delicious vinaigrette dressing. My friend had the french press with the same side of salad and my other girlfriend also had the same side salad with her club sandwich. The pineapple drink that my friend ordered did look refreshing and yummy. Our waiter was very nice. The price was actually cheap being that it's a nice hotel...and the take out did come with a cute mini bag that can be reused as a lunch bag =)

    (3)

  • Erin V.

    Pros: great view, great grilling-BBQ food on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Good service. Great music. Great drinks. Coconut cake was amazing. Cons: kids spaghetti not great. Limited desserts.

    (4)

  • Yosapon T.

    Amazing Service Food was Great and Atmosphere was incredible. Highly recommend to anyone who would like to take someone special out for lunch or dinner. Food is a bit pricey but you get awesome atmosphere!! Try it to know it : )

    (5)

  • Kevin F.

    We've been making it a point to come to the HWAK for cocktails on our trips to Oahu. This is a fantastic place to view the amazing Hawaiian sunsets, listen to outstanding live Hawaiian music, and watch graceful hula dancing. Also, the drinks are exceptional, including one of the most authentic mai tais you will find anywhere, and the service is first-rate.

    (5)

  • Kim M.

    House without a Key is a beautiful indoor-outdoor lounge-type restaurant specializing in pupus and cocktails, serving regular course entrees as well. The food at House without a Key is good, but not outstanding; the scenery and ambiance are beautiful and serene; and service is excellent. I've only been here for lunch; never for dinner. The lunch menu features the usual suspects--salads, sandwiches, soups, and other Asian-influenced local lunch favorites. The food, to me, was not memorable in any way, so it must have been at least decent. House without a Key is located in the beautiful Halekulani Hotel. It's adjacent to Orchids, overlooking the ocean. Seating is available both inside and out, which gives this place more of a lax feel. Service was the only thing I really recall being outstanding. For it being in Halekulani, I would expect nothing less. Overall, this place is A-OK. If you are looking for a nice spot to chill and unwind, House without a Key is perfect. I recommend this place for light snacks, pupus, and cocktails. Yelp 365 - #103/365

    (3)

  • Justin N.

    I was staying at the Halekulani, so going down to House without a Key was a no brainer. Drinks were strong, staff was quick and entertainment was great. We had a larger group on 8 people (including my 4 month old son and my 90 year old grandmother) and everyone was taken care of and the food was great. Def a chill spot to lounge and listen to some hawaiian music, or come for the breaksfast buffet and enjoy the ocean view.

    (5)

  • Miss U.

    I had wanted to try House Without a Key for some time and was able to get in easily on a Friday night. Great outdoor dining with music. Our server, Jan, was amazing. Very attentive and funny. I like it when a server helps you with their informed opinion when you can't decide between 2 menu choices. She was very good with that. Service was great, cocktails were great, food was not all that memorable. Definitely check out the bathroom while you're there. It's awesome.

    (4)

  • D J.

    We're fans of the drinks and the entertainment. We always have a nice time sitting out by the music and hula. Eating back under the umbrellas in the dining area is more of a gamble. Our food was not very good. Mahi mahi was dried out from heat lamp, and although one salad was delicious, the other food was not--the veggie burger was so fat it was indelible as served. Go for drinks. Seems like entertainment runs from 5:30 to 8:30 or so.

    (4)

  • Shirley H.

    Very nice outdoor to sit down, relax, have a drink, and enjoy the traditional hawaiian music and dance with the ocean breeze cooling you down after dinner. Cost for the cocktails are on par for a place like this in hawaii but you do get free chips and free entertainment.

    (4)

  • Raymond H.

    Amazing in every way shape and form. The view itself is to die for at sunset. I've had every item on the menu for lunch and dinner and each was fantastic. Mai Tai's are best in the world, the coconut shrimp app is also one of the best I've ever had. If you happen to be here in the AM go for the lavish breakfast buffet. Woohoo! As good as it gets!

    (5)

  • Ally W.

    I wish I had known about this place earlier.... there is a good chance I would have stop by every night to enjoy the sunset / cocktails / live music / dancing..... it was truly a treat to experience. Scored a table right at the edge and it was prefect timing. The views of the ocean was breath taking, so was the rainbow that appeared after a light rain fall. The outdoor space could not be any more perfect. Service was attentive, food was wonderful and the drinks were strong. Time: 5:30 - 8:30pm Reservation: yes, for a table / no, if just drinks Romantic: yes Ahi Poke Sliders $18 - nori rolls, Japanese pickles, wasabi mayonnaise - three mini sliders - fresh ahi, so good you'll fall in love Coconut Shrimp $15 - coconut crusted tiger shrimp, orange mango coulis - the dipping sauce is rather sweet - great for sharing Maui Onion Soup $10 - caramelized Maui onion, beef stock, melted Emmenthal cheese - one of the best, ever Highly recommend - not to be missed!!!

    (5)

  • Samantha L.

    This is THE place to get a drink and watch the sunset. The drinks are pretty, the service is friendly, the live music and dancing is beautiful, and the view of the sunset can't be beat. My boyfriend and I came around 5:30 p.m. and got a lovely table, right in the middle of the courtyard area. Just let the hostess know if you're there for drinks or dinner and they'll seat you accordingly. Their tropical alcoholic drinks run about $12 each, and non alcoholic smoothies (also delicious) are just $7. So sure, it's a little bit pricy, but it's definitely worth it. Think of it this way- it's cheaper than paying to go to a concert. They have live music every night and dancing by former Miss Hawaii's. Here's the entertainment schedule: halekulani.com/living/di… Notes: -Free basket of potato chips to munch on! -They recommend "casual resort attire;" so try to look a little bit nicer.

    (5)

  • Priscilla L.

    Went there in the summer of 2010 and I still dream about this place. This is Hawaii! Amazing views, good music, and great food and cocktails! If you are in Oahu you must visit this place!

    (5)

  • Amy P.

    House Without A Key located in the Halekulani Hotel is clean and beautiful with warm, attentive, friendly service. If I have to pay inflated Waikiki prices for food and drinks, this is where I want to have it. Can you picture yourself sipping on a delicious cocktail while soaking in the sights and sounds of the ocean? I sure can. The best time to go is at sunset to check out the views of Diamond Head to your left and the perfect sunset to your right. Adding to your experience will be some live Hawaiian music to lull you into tropical heaven. Or perhaps you may want to go for their breakfast buffet complete with fresh fruit, an omelet station, bacon, fresh squeezed OJ...and banana pancakes with coconut syrup?

    (4)

  • Isabel H.

    I ordered a seafood penne and it tasted like something out of a can I could make myself at home. The dish came out within 10 mins after my order which is obvious that it was pre made and just heated up. The fish in the pasta was clearly frozen and not fresh. My boyfriend ordered joes sandwich which was a crab salad sandwich that tasted rotten and unfresh. View was nice, service okay, other than that was a very unpleasant meal

    (1)

  • Katie F.

    Hubby and I were looking for dinner and some live music and came across House Without a Key. We had previously been to Orchids and LOVED it, and thought would try its sister restaurant on this trip. Short wait for a table. They have a couple of menus, one for Tues and Thurs nights which features items made on the grill, and a regular menu for the other nights. Service is average with some of the servers looking pretty confused since you can see them wandering around and circling back. The menu is small - hubby doesn't each much seafood so there was pretty much only a few things he could eat. I liked my items and thought they were well executed - had the cream of watercress soup and the ahi poke sliders. The slider thing is totally getting overdone IMHO, but they had me with the magic words... "ahi poke!" Very cute, great wasabi mayo and nori mixed into the buns. Hubby's Caesar salad and steak were just average. The meat was quite flavorful since it was done on the grill outside, but definitely a fattier cut that could have been better trimmed. To finish, we shared the peanut butter cream chocolate cake - SOOO good we almost got another! Overall - nice casual dining option in the Halekulani, but I definitely recommend Orchids over this one if given a choice. (Hoping the budget will allow me to try La Mer next time!)

    (3)

  • Kamil S.

    My favorite Mai Thai that you can buy on the island - since my friend DangerRuss does not sell his magic formula. If you are looking for a tranquil spot to have a nice drink and talk story with your friends, this is the place to be. The prices are adequate for the atmosphere so come over and enjoy the live music while you are crunching the complimentary chips.

    (5)

  • Courtney T.

    The atmosphere is awesome, the service was good and the drinks were killer! However, the only real entree option for a vegetarian was a veggie burger... how generic can you get? The burger was really good, but its 2012, please give us some more options. That being said, everyone who I went with (no one else was a vegetarian) really loved their food! Did I mention that the drinks are amazing? I got the lilikoi daiquiri and tried my friends kiwi lychee martini... wow. I'd go back just for the drinks!

    (3)

  • Colin B.

    For the last night of our honeymoon, I found House Without a Key on Yelp. I was attracted by the on-the-beach location, live music, hula dancing and all outdoors. House Without a Key didn't disappoint as a great last night, romantic dinner on Waikiki Beach. Go for sunset and live music on their awesome patio, have a fruity drink and order the frozen red one that is named after the hotel (can't remember the exact name)... it was easily the best tropical drink we had our entire visit in Hawaii. Had a salad to start... pretty good. Did the job. Had the Ahi Tuna pasta as our entree. However odd it may have been... Italian pasta, Asian fish topped with a Mexican pico de gallo, it still worked. Service was great, even if they looked and dressed like the hotel wait staff. I'd go back. Great dinner.

    (4)

  • Lisa H.

    Indescribably beautiful setting on the beach, classy hotel, wonderful hula dancing and music, tasty food and drinks. This is the Waikiki experience we came for. It was the place my husband and I celebrated the last night of our honeymoon, and it was the perfect end to a wonderful trip. Yes, it's pricey, but it's worth every penny. At the end of $130, we had eaten full meals and appetizers, enjoyed the hula dancing and sunset on the beach, and drunk five cocktails. Fantastic! We got to the House at about 5:30 p.m. and got great seats close to the band. I highly suggest this. We then proceeded to have a drink marathon of cocktails, all of them were fantastically yummy. This included two kinds of mai tais, the Blue Hawaiian and the Chi Chi (pina colada, i think). They do not skimp on alcohol. We then enjoyed a leisurely dinner. We were there, in total, for about 4 hours just relaxing, eating and drinking slowly, and not once did anybody try to rush us out even though we had a great spot. We really enjoyed the seafood platter, the french onion soup, and the grilled veggies- all wonderful and fresh. I won't talk about the cool hula dancing or the band since other reviewers have commented on those. We loved absolutely everything about this place. We'll be back for sure!

    (5)

  • Shawna H.

    Great outdoor seating. Very pleasant setting and upscale-feel. Food is decent. Joy's sandwich is good. Mac & cheese good as well. Caesar salad ... Don't waste your time. Kids enjoyed kids meals, although $10 for a hot dog on a bun & fries or chips is a rip off. Beverages: Rangpur Gin Fizz is delicious, although not very much gin taste. One & done. Excellent Mai Tai. Would go again for the ambiance & drinks. Food is good, with the exception of salad.

    (3)

  • Paul T.

    Breakfast buffet here is completely off the hook! I did a search for 'breakfast' on Yelp, and this restaurant popped up as the number one spot. When I went searching for it, I was surprised to see that it was a hotel restaurant. We were promptly shown to our seats, but made a beeline for the chafing dishes, which were appropriately classy, since the hotel seemed to be a bit uppity. The food was amazing. I went for three rounds before giving up on stuffing more food in my belly, and one of those rounds was nothing but banana pancakes and coconut syrup. Oh yeah, did I mention that we were OVERLOOKING THE EFFING BEACH for breakfast? Amazing ambience. I'll be back to Oahu someday to complete my tour of the island, and I'll definitely pay a visit to House Without A Key.

    (5)

  • Kelvin C.

    I tried this place out mainly because I saw it on the food network... I'll break down the pros and cons. Pro: Good service, great entertainment, excellent view of the sunset sky. Tasty drinks, chicken kabob was tasty Cons: Price, price, price, and the food. I guess I wasn't surprised by the prices but the food kind of sucked. My girlfriend ordered the surf and turf. While the shrimp was tasty, the steak was definitely way over cooked and lacked any sort of flavor. I ordered the swordfish and that was pretty bad also. Although it looked nice, it too was lacking in flavor. Someone must have forgotten to season this thing with anything other than salt. Drinks were tasty but expensive. I would come here and just order two drinks and enjoy the entertainment/scenery. Stay away from the overpriced, mediocre food.

    (3)

  • Alma D.

    One of the highlights during my trip to Oahu in March 2013. Request to sit on the patio during sunset! They had live hawaiian music and a renowned hula dancer. Expect the food/drinks to be on the pricey side, BUT you get what you pay for. The portions of the food are big and so is the flavor. I ordered a burger and fries, and I don't usually finish my food, but it was so good that I surprised myself when I cleaned the plate. The service was top-notch. We forgot our parking stub in the car to get validated, so the server got the assistant manager to sign and validate a business card so we wouldn't have to go back to the car. I'd definitely recommend this place to all tourists :)

    (4)

  • Ryen L.

    This is the quintessential definition of a trip to Hawaii. Whenever I have friends over from the mainland, I always take them to House Without A Key for dinner and the live show. The atmosphere is unlike anywhere in the world: it is magical. Make sure to go when the band and the former Ms. Hawaii is performing (every night a little after sunset). They don't take reservations and especially if you are in a large group, make sure to get there early. The food is passable. It is not outstanding but with the atmosphere, who cares?! The portions are very small (even for the entrees). But you're not there for the food. You're there for the experience you can't get anywhere else in the world. A MUST!

    (5)

  • Marc M.

    Of all the restaurants I ate at when I visited Hawaii (few years ago). This place is one I remember. The food was the best. The fresh air right off the beach, the beautiful mountains to look at, live hawaiian band, what else can be said.

    (5)

  • Bryan B.

    One of my all time favorite places in the world to grab a cocktail. Fantastic, albeit pricey MaiTai. However, you'll be hard pressed to find a better place to relax, sip on a cocktail, and enjoy the perfect views and weather of Hawai'i.

    (5)

  • Stephy S.

    Hands down, the BEST Mai Tai I have ever had in my life was served here. It's strong, it'll make your naughty bits tingle and when you are sitting here watching a killer sunset, listening to Hawaiian music and watching a young lady sexily sway to the soothing sounds, I have a hard time believing it gets much better. As for the food, the appetizers are the way to go. I loved the ahi sliders, the chicken satay and the lobster spring rolls. The entrees however were a bit of a miss. I had the salmon and it was cut way too thin and overcooked. The consensus of the rest of the table was the same on their entrees as well. The desserts however, wow, that coconut cake is the stuff dreams are made of! If you are in Oahu and want to see a proper sunset with a proper cocktail, I HIGHLY recommend coming here. Don't miss out!

    (4)

  • Roger C.

    They say the maitais are great AND they are! I've never had a bad item here. The ahi is premium grade. Their take on a spicy tuna roll is awesome: think something more like a Thai style fresh spring roll: mint, ahi, roe, a bit of heat spice-wise. A must see in Waikiki.

    (5)

  • Zach R.

    Excellent food, Perfect service, and Outstanding location. Prices are a little high, but well worth it. The dinner menu is small, however, offers many succulent appetizers and entrees. The cocktails are perfectly mixed, and the wine selection is very nice (and not too pricey). When dining, you get complimentary bread and crakerbread with butter brought to your table. The candles are a very nice touch, and the soothing, easy listening live Hawaiian music and accompanying Hula dancers are a very nice treat. The restaurant features beautiful views by way of an outdoor patio that overlooks Waikiki beach, as well as a covered dining room (which is also open-air). Our waiter was super attentive and made sure we had everything we needed (he was very quick and polite too). I ordered the Maui Onion Soup and Coconut Shrimp for an appetizer to share with my fellow diner. The soup was amazing with just the right amount of sweet/slightly salty onion broth and fresh onions intermixed. The crouton was toasted to perfection and topped with delicious Swiss cheese, and melted just right. The Shrimp were HUGE! and the coconut breading was crunchy, light, and not oily at all. For the main course, I ordered the Salmon fillet with bok choy and chantrelle mushrooms. Simply put, it was exquisite. I am originally from Seattle, so Salmon prepared correctly is a big deal for me. It came steamed with a light shoyu glaze which permeated the mushrooms and bok choy, but did not overpower. Throughout the meal I enjoyed 3 adult beverages to include their fantastic Mai Tai, a glass of french Pinot Grigio during the main course, and finished with a Vodka Martini (dirty) as an aperitif. Every cocktail was masterfully mixed and came to my table with a smile and professionalism that people come to Hawaii for. I will be visiting House Without a Key very often, not only for dinner, but also to just enjoy the drinks and calm ambiance. I would offer that the prices are a bit steep, but well worth it if you want an experience that will satisfy; I know it satisfied this foodie!

    (5)

  • Maile N.

    Oh haha, I thought this place was called "Room Without a Key" in my search - good thing Yelp is smart enough to figure out what I was trying to find. We had lovely drinks here with friends while we watched the gorgeous Waikiki sunset with all the tourists. A nice, relaxed place with live music to accompany. Loved it! Aloha!

    (4)

  • S Y.

    What a beautiful view of the ocean, the sunset and of Diamond Head! To add to it - a live performance of classic hula and Hawaiian music... Or was it the alcohol? Cause they sure do make em good! I usually opt for the Lava Flow, but the Lilikoi Daiquiri won me over! Yummy passion fruit juice and rum... Mmm. Our waitress kept insisting I try their Mai Tai's- they're known for making the best ones. But let's just say - me, Bacardi 151 AND Bacardi Gold... we don't get along! We didn't order any apps to go with our drinks but they looked pretty appetizing! I suggest starting off your trip here - get that view of the sunset, the good drinks and toast to a good vacay! I don't suggest ending your trip here! It's a little depressing knowing your leaving soon as you stare at the sun set with a cold glass of that Lilikoi Daiquiri in your hand knowing it'll be awhile before you get to experience all this again...

    (3)

  • Robyn J.

    This is my go-to place when in Waikiki. My husband and I visit a lot, as he has work in the area. This place could not be more elegant and beautiful. The food and drinks are pricey, but delish and you can stay as long as you want and enjoy the lovely atmosphere and live music against the magical ocean view. Regulars love the talented and fun band and lovely past Miss Hawaii who performs traditional local song and dance. I adore this place and will always return.

    (5)

  • Nique F.

    WOW. How I could I award less than 5 stars to this stunning locale? Although it's in the heart of Waikiki, it feels like a hidden gem once you're enveloped in the grassy, beachside ambiance. A gorgeous, crooked banyan tree frames the view of the ocean from where you'll sit sipping your freshly-shaken kiwi martini. As the sun begins to sink, the ukelele players will become dark silouettes against the purple sky. Words cannot describe how perfect the setting is. If your ideal evening consists of a relaxed (almost hushed) setting, artsy tropical drinks, soothing music, and a picturesque sunset...you've got nothing to loose by grabbing a table at House Without a Key. On your first night in Honolulu, this place will set the tone and send you into vacation mode, for sure.

    (5)

  • Emily H.

    The babe took me here one night while we were vacationing in Hawaii. It's located in the back of the Halekulani Hotel right next to the water and the main pool. They have both outdoor and indoor seating and the entertainment is nightly that includes live Hawaiian music with dancers. An excellent choice for a place to chill with others. We got there for dinner and the babe started with a lava flow - mixture of rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, banana, and strawberries....yum! I got the "ahi and pasta" which was a rigatoni pasta in pesto cream with seared ahi on top. It was awesome! It even made for a great presentation as you can see from my picture. :) The babe got the catch of the day - is was mahi mahi with shrimp and served with a citrus pineapple sauce. Excellent as well. For dessert we got a scoop of both the pineapple and lychee sorbets. I'm not sure if they are homemade, but it was a fantastic way to end the meal! Overall, a great place for a nice relaxing evening with good service and wonderful views.

    (5)

  • Leah R.

    Went for their buffet sunday bruch based on reviews and I don't understand what the ratings were all about. I wasn't impressed at all at the typical hotel buffet brunch. Edible, but not good. Fruit, pastries, omelet station. Nothing to write home about. There are so many other places to go for brunch. if you want a nice hotel buffet brunch, on special occasions, the Plumeria Beach House at the Kahala hotel has a great one. Everything from pastries, omelets and fruit, to sashimi, prime rib and pies. It blows this buffet out of the water.

    (1)

  • Renee M.

    My husband, son and I went to House Without a Key on 8/29/11 for sunset and dinner. We sort of missed the sunset while we were waiting for them to seat us, but in all fairness, we cut it close and they only took about 15 minutes. We were seated in a side area off the main dining room that was warm (no AC), but had a view of the entertainment, which was traditional Hawaiian music with soft hula. Our neighbors at the table enjoyed it so much, they danced in front of us, which was interesting, and sort of quaint. Food: I ordered the NY steak au poive and my husband and son ordered the special of the evening - a Crusted Mahi Mahi. Their's was good, but a very small portion. Sides were jasmine rice and mashed potatoes and had it not been for those, they both would have been very hungry after. My steak was very, very mediocre. A large portion, but the sauce was more a gravy and missing that "punch" that most good au poives have. The meat was tough at both ends, with the only truly tasty part being in the middle. Desserts were good - I recommend the chocolate tarte with marshmallow ice cream that my son and I had and my husband enjoyed the pineapple sorbet. Drinks were okay - I had the Planter's Punch - tall glass, very strong; he had a good merlot. Overall, a good meal and not too pricey; view decent and service a little more than above average. Don't go here expecting anything too over the top and you won't be disappointed.

    (3)

  • Nabil A.

    If you love delicate precision and minimalist beauty, this is your space. The food is superb--every fish I've had here was cooked perfectly, not a second more, not a second less, than required. The drinks are spot on--best Negroni on the island. And, of course, if you taste the coconut cake, you will dream for it again and again. Expensive but you won't think about it after you take your lover home.

    (4)

  • Bruce W.

    Just came with family for drinks and music/hula in light rain and sunset on our 45th anniversary. What a beautiful spot. Mai-tais were wonderful and the servers very helpful and friendly, even though were were obviously not hotel guests. I'd like to return for dinner one day. The hotel is off budget....

    (5)

  • Susan V.

    I love the ambience of House without a Key. My bf and I came here for drinks during the late afternoon. I ordered a pina colada which was very nice and had their soba noodles (ok, not memorable). Since their food was "ok" I took away one star. I really love the fact that House Without a Key is a bit away from the touristy madness. You get the beauty and splendor of Honolulu here in this restaurant. The dining area is just so close to the water it feels like you're floating. There's also this nice breeze that runs throuout the Halekulani hotel and into House w/o a Key that is so refreshing. I especially love the view (just pure blue from sky to the ocean) and to the left you see Diamond Head. I would recommend coming here for just a few drinks or just a low key night with entertainment. Its relaxing and romantic.

    (4)

  • Jim H.

    Spend 12 days there over xmas and ate here 4 times.. Ann our waitress was fantastic and made us feel welcome. I have been here many times and we will come back many times more. Try the burger... it's the best you will have ever had.

    (5)

  • Janet T.

    Awesome view but not so awesome food. My cousin and her husband were celebrating their 5 year anniversary and we all decided it would be nice to find a good restaurant with a nice view to celebrate. That's all this place was - just a nice view. There were 6 of us in our party and we were lucky enough to snag a table outside on the lanai right in front of the performers & dancers. Live hawaiian music under the warm hawaiian breeze with an absolute beautiful view was the perfect setting. The menu was small with only a few entrees so our choices were minimal: *Sage Roasted Chicken olive mashed potato, chipollini onion jus -$20 I'll save you the time and money and recommend that you don't order this dish. The chicken was too salty and there was no flavor whatsoever. Needless to say, we weren't fans and we both regretted it and didn't touch the dish. * Roasted Salmon baby bok choy, Hamakua mushroom and miso nage - $20 * Ahi and Pasta rigatoni pasta, pesto cream, marinated tomato - $25 Meh...I got to try some of this and wasn't a huge fan, the ahi comes sliced and seared on both sides. * Catch of the Day which was ono, kitchen's creation highlighting fresh island fish - $25 For 6 people + 3 cocktails and a bottle of red wine our bill came out to be around $400 with tip which wasn't too bad considering we were in a celebratory mood.

    (2)

  • Shannon K.

    After reading the various Yelp reviews, I never expected House Without a Key to be like this: an intimate setting outdoors where all the benefits of an upscale resort (e.g., think tablecloth, resort-wear, and rich vacation-goers) meet the soft beauty and grace of the Hawaiian culture (e.g., think outdoor performances against the blue ocean backdrop, soothing ukulele music, graceful hula dancers (like two former Miss Hawaii's and graduate students who study the art of Hawaiian dancing) underneath a beautiful, century-old Kiawe tree. What an amazing treat that takes you away from the touristy bustle and hustle of Waikiki. House Without a Key is nestled in the back of the Halekulani Hotel, which is the most fantastic Hotel ever! (Think $430/night for a basic room.) The famous mai tais taste stronger here. If you want to split a mai tai, they'll happily do it for you. The service is impeccable and the sunset views cannot be beat. The food here looks fancy. If you're looking for "bar food," you won't find it here. You'll find delicious pastas, ahi tuna, etc. here.

    (4)

  • J T.

    Pricey but worth it. Excellent food and service, but a truly spectacular location. If you are from Honolulu, this is a great place to take out of town guests, especially for breakfast/brunch. If you are just visiting, don't miss it for breakfast/brunch or afternoon drinks.

    (5)

  • Soly Z.

    Phenomenal view and a great, relaxed atmosphere to enjoy the sunset and have appetizers and drinks. Excellent service. Did I mention the spectacular view?

    (5)

  • Katherine O.

    If this is your first night here, please come here for a drink around sunset and listen to the ukuleles and watch the hula dancers. We used to listen to the ukuleles from our room at the Sheraton. Drinks are around $10-$15, but totally worth it for the ambiance.

    (5)

  • Eve C.

    How could I not love House Without a Key. Although located in the heart of touristy Waikiki, the Halekulani is an oasis of gracious Hawaiian hospitality. Even if you don't stay here, you can experience the magic that is Halekulani by spending an evening at this beachside restaurant. We arrived very early (4:30) and enjoyed a cocktail sitting at one of the regular dining tables just at the edge of the grouping of lower cocktail tables. Since we wanted to order dinner later, this was a better option for comfort. Our friendly server Jan never made us feel rushed as we nibbled the chips and waited until after 5 to order some food, as we wanted to stay for the Hawaiian music and beautiful hula performance. It's also an outstanding location to view the sunset, although we found the people rushing away from their table to take selfies in the sunset more entertaining. The watermelon salad with cucumber, bacon and Thai basil was outstanding,. It was grill night (Tuesdays and Thursdays) so I had the BBQ baby back ribs, prepared with a Korean-inspired sauce. Delicious! Hubby had a burger, which was too greasy for his taste. I think they may have just over-buttered the ciabatta. Dessert of coconut cake was the perfect ending. 3 cocktails, one glass of wine, one beer, a salas, 2 entrees, 1 side, a dessert and coffee was about $150. We stuffed to the gills and don't usually eat like this, but what a great place to splurge on calories. I consider the price a great value. This is truly not to be missed.

    (5)

  • Jocelyn P.

    We had dinner here on August 19th. We chose House Without a Key because of all the wonderful reviews it had on Yelp. Upon arriving (with no reservations), we were seated immediately, yet we weren't greeted by our server until 15 minutes later. (the restaurant was not busy at all!). The rest of the evening, the service got worse. Worst ever during our time in Hawaii! Wondering if our server just forgot about us OR didn't see us because we were sitting in the darkest part of their outdoor seating area. Also, the live entertainment was the most generic Hawaiian band I've ever heard. Food was horrible as well. The only items we enjoyed on the menu were the cocktails. If you are ever in the neighborhood, please do not waste your money here,go to Roy's which is just a few doors down.

    (2)

  • Scott O.

    Great venue and enjoyable music, but on the night we went the kitchen was way, way off. Food took too long and had to be sent back twice. We left hungry, and even though management comped us for our trouble I wasn't keen to go back. Management said it was a new chef getting up to speed, but if it was a known issue there should have been more support. This was a visit during the Xmas holidays, so it was packed. Even when this place is working well, I don't think it's at all about the food. Go for a drink, take in the wonderful, wonderful scenery and great live music, have a memorable dinner at Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin nearby instead.

    (3)

  • Nuke L.

    a must see great service and drinks plus local music

    (5)

  • Joshua B.

    Beautiful location! We went here based on Frommers best of Oahu locations. I will say I did enjoy it very much. Awesome Mai Tai's (at $13 each, which is par for the course in Hawaii). Very pretty sunset looking out from Waikiki beach. Good live music nightly with Hula dancing. Perfect walk to and from Waikiki beach area.

    (4)

  • Gene K.

    This is the quintessential lounging Hawaiian experience. It really is the best time to come at 5:30pm to 6pm so that you can get a decent seat near the entertainment and get a good unobstructed view of diamond head at sunset. It is cool, calm, and relaxed. You feel the cool breeze while listening to Hawaiian music, watching hula and sipping on your mai tai. And speaking of this delicious award-winning mai tai, they are ridiculously pricey at $12 each. They are good, but it is hard to justify. But every time I come here in the future, I will get it. I tried this other punch thing which was not as good. We didn't get any other food, but they had complementary potato chips that were really crunchy which was nice to stimulate your need to drink more. I think I would come here when guests come to visit from off-islands and have my mai tai, but otherwise, only on special occasions because of the cost. At least they validate!

    (4)

  • Josiah S.

    To quote Fletcher Reede (Jim Carey in "Liar Liar"), "I've had better!" I was very excited to try HWAK, but I found the food to be lack luster and the ambiance to be overhyped. In the end, if you are looking for a stereotypical "Hawaiian" experience for out of town guests, this is a good spot to go for a drink, a sunset, some Hawaiian music, and an admittedly amazing view of Diamond Head (the rest of the restaurant is a typical concrete pool area with one famous Kiawe tree), but save your money and eat somewhere else! My lady and I had some good drinks (the Mai Tai was good, and she got the Limeade with Citron vodka added; turned out nice!) and our initial pupu, the Ahi Sliders, was delicious (fresh ahi poke on little bones with a wasabi mayo and pickled daikon in a simple but nice presentation). Things only got pricier and less impressive from there. The Maui Onion soup was nothing special in my book, the salad was light on dressing (I am a dressing guy!) and the tomatoes "could use some work." We finished by splitting the catch of the day, Mahi Mahi in a mango beurre blanc sauce. The sauce was good, but to me the fish was too salty and not that fresh. the staff was very attentive (perhaps too attentive), and the music pleasant if not generic (sorry guys). But in my book, it did not live up to the hype. I'd go back, but only for drinks ($10-12 FYI, standard for an upscale hotel bar to be sure), the sunset (definitely not standard!), and maybe those ahi sliders (which were pretty good, even for $18).

    (2)

  • Lauren C.

    Fireworks and live Hawaiian music on a cozy lanai overlooking the ocean. Hmmm, could there be a more romantic date spot!?! We lucked into the fireworks because a convention was in town, but the view, the music and most importantly, the signature cocktails, made this venue amazing on its own. The Halekulani is absolutely beautiful! I can understand why there are so many weddings here. I walked in awe as we explored the grounds and when we came to the restaurant, was even more excited. House Without A Key is the less expensive of their two restaurants but definitely did not feel second best. Amazing all around!

    (5)

  • Norm C.

    This place gets my vote with some of the other Yelpsters.... Great for cocktails or coffee at Sunset w/great music. Great for drinks with a date or desert. Coconut cake. My pick Coconut cake and Coffee... I hear the house Vanilla Ice Cream is awesome too... but I always go for the cake and coffee. You can't beat the ambiance here. I'm only rating the deserts.. not the food, I don't know about that.

    (5)

  • Adam M.

    Although you wouldn't know it, House without a Key is located next to the big Sheraton Waikiki inside Hotel Halekulani. I kid you not when i say that House without a Key was hands down, all-things-considered, the finest dining experience I've had in years (if not ever). I was asking around for a resto reco because our friends had just gotten married and we wanted to take them out to a really nice dinner. After Yelping, i started asking about House w/o a Key and no one knew what was talking about. Maybe they were playing coy about competitors but i did get the feeling that it's a lesser known gem. The restaurant is so named because it's entirely outdoors with the only "indoor" spot under a door-less cabana, which is where we sat. Each night they feature authentic Hawaiian music and dance by a former Miss Hawaii. The setting is spectacular, facing out to the Honolulu ocean, sunset, and the famous Kiawe tree. It's been nearly 9 months since i went so i don't recall precisely what everyone ate (or more appropriately, devoured). After trying to find decent sashimi at two other restaurants on Oahu I had finally succeeded. Something I'll never forget was the mind blowing service. Our server always anticipated when we needed something and the specialty drinks, although expensive (but are everywhere) were very very good and seemed to show up seconds after we had ordered them rather than when the ice had already started to melt. In the end, i got mad props from everyone in our group and our newly-wed friends loved the gesture. I suppose I owe you some thanks too, Yelp-verse. So, uh, you know. Much love and stuff. Let's not make this weird. Anyway, If you're looking to step it up one night in Waikiki, definintely add Room without a Key to your consideration list. Guaranteed you won't be disappointed, whether you visit for just drinks or a full on meal.** **not really guaranteed, but you get the point. subject to change. not available in all areas. see restaurant website for details. bring your benjamins. (C) 2010.

    (5)

  • Nancy K.

    The view was awesome, the entertainment was great, very relaxing atmosphere. The drinks were pricey at about $12 each. Rum based drinks, you get more alcohol, vodka based was a little light on the alcohol, I didn't even get a buzz after 2 drinks. The food was great but pricey but you go there for the view, the drink/food is just icing.

    (4)

  • Ash R.

    I've only ever come here with my family.... So I haven't sampled their happy hour :( But I have eaten here many times and everything has always been really nicely plated and fresh. Good quality but never super tasty, the menu is American style with some Japanese dishes geared towards the obvious. It's on the steeper side of the price range but it's located in a 4 star hotel in an open air restaurant on Waikiki beach. I know that for sure on weekends they have live music and hula around happy hour time, not 100% sure if this is offered on weeknights as well. Staff is very hospitable and friendly and attentive. The views are really quite beautiful and we've sat after eating just admiring the scenery. Tables are spread out enough so that you won't hear your neighbors conversation, it's really a relaxing vibe, unlike some of the other offerings further down the beach.

    (3)

  • Michael B.

    This review is for the Sunday brunch buffet. The best part about this meal was either the omelet station or the fresh squeezed pineapple juice. The scrambled eggs and bacon were good as well and I am a fan of the coconut syrup with the waffles too. I ate pretty much everything but was just expecting more of a unique touch and it was just eh. Everything was decent but I didnt feel it warranted the hefty price tag with all the other competitors along the beach. The view was amazing I will say that and the service was on point it just wasnt the killer place for us. Seemed like a much older crowd than we expected too. It was good but I'll keep trying others before we head back.

    (3)

  • Steffen G.

    I was taken here on a business lunch, and what doesn't taste better than a free meal? The food was spectacular. I'm skinny, but a big eater and the portions could have been a bit bigger, but they're likely just the right size. I believe I got the salmon, and it was cooked and flavored to perfection. Everyone loved the food that they got. The drinks were delicious as well from what people were saying, but I just got an iced tea. The service here was quite amazing. Its hard to find a restaurant in Hawaii that is upscale, yet not snootie. This place has the perfect blend of great service and friendly attitude. This place did everything right on my visit.

    (5)

  • Lynne K.

    We went here twice on our trip. The first time, on a quest to find the perfect Mai Tai, as it was listed as the second best on Oahu. Well, that was probably untrue. BUT! The atmoshpere was so lovely and the staff was so accomodating that we went back later in the trip for lunch and oh my heavens, it was divine! I got the Joy Special, which is a crab sandwich with avocado and bacon. So, seafood, bacon and some minor veggies. Big win. It was absolutely delicious and I think I didn't speak aside from moans of "this is so amazing, I can't even form coherent sentences!!!" I grant you, it was a pretty expensive lunch, BUT it is Waikiki and basically everything on that strip is expensive. So, go. Get the Joy's Special and a Tropical Itch and enjoy the lovely view of Diamondhead. Sigh... wish I was there right now!

    (5)

  • Kellie P.

    Ate here for one lunch and had breakfast here each morning of our vacation. The food was always good. The buffet included these amazing banana pancakes the first day I was there. They didn't have them again, but my last morning there, the chef made them for me when I requested them. I truly appreciated that show of excellent service. Everything on the buffet was good -- fresh fruit, wonderful pastry, made-to-order omelets, and more.

    (4)

  • Brittany Y.

    My FAVORITE place on Waikiki! The music was great, and Kanoe Miller's hula was beautiful. Maui chips are served in the cocktail area and a variety of delicious rolls are served in the dining area. Service was 5 stars...wine glasses and waters were always full. We got the grilled salmon and the curry grouper. Our server asked if we wanted it served with rice. YES! Unfortunately, they ended up being $7/bowl!!! Didn't find that out until we got the check. Oh well... The food was delicious anyway. We will be back!

    (4)

  • Reimy K.

    Yes, it's pricey--but you're in Waikiki and at the most beautiful hotel with a breath taking view of Diamond Head and oh yes--the food is great too! This restaurant is very kid friendly, as my very active 21-month old son enjoyed his breakfast and most of all, enjoyed sitting outside and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. The buffet is not the grandest of buffets, but has all the essentials--pastries, fruit, yogurt, waffles, pancakes, sausage, eggs, omelet station, smoked salmon, Japanese food too---and everything is VERY VERY fresh and top quality. My mom who is very picky on her coffee said that the coffee was VERY good. The service was great too--as I think the servers were happy to see locals and were very talkative (but not too much either ..)and helpful to us too. My son's cup of juice was always full and when my grandma went back for her omelet, our waitress came to cover her plate so that the flies and birds wouldn't go on it-- very nice touch! =) The breakfast buffet is $28 a person--so again, it is pricey, but it's totally worth it--- and they validate parking so you're able to stroll in Waikiki afterwards too. And I need to add that a nice bonus was that when we were waiting for our car, one of the valets gave each of us a cold bottle of water--- now that's service! =)

    (5)

  • Anisha G.

    Rangpur Guava Fizz Arugula and Big Island Goat Cheese Salad Halekulani's Coconut Cake Apparently their coconut cake is suppose to have "World's Best status," but honestly I didn't really think it was the most amazing thing on earth...(and I love coconut!) I did, however, love the salad and the gauva drink. Both were so refreshing and full of flavor. The goat cheese that came with the salad, had like a breaded and fried crust and the cheese was still creamy on the inside. This was pure perfection!

    (5)

  • Ben C.

    It's a tourist trap. That's not necessarily bad, the setting is beautiful, the band is lovely and they try with the service. I'd give it four stars for drinks. Unfortunately, the food is not good. Not a single entree at the table was very good - the bass was tough, the ribs were candy sweet (and tasted like they were parboiled), the chicken was dried out, etc. The ahi sliders were OK - but somewhat tasteless. We passed on dessert when we found out the "legendary" coconut cake was reduced from a multi-layer to a dumbed down mini-cake version. Wine selection was undistinguished. Back to the service. If you're dropping hundreds on dinner, you shouldn't be subjected to the "who had the ribs" "who had the bass" dance as if you were at Denny's. Although the waitstaff is very friendly, they should take notes and provide service commensurate with the price. I'd go there for drinks again, but NEVER for dinner - Honolulu is a town with a density of great and diverse choices unlike most cities I've been to. If you're one of those doughy main-48 tourists, you'll find the chain standbys (like Hard Rock) and if you're one of those people, you'll probably like House Without A Key.

    (2)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :7:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Valet
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Romantic
    Noise Level : Average
    Music : Live
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : No
    Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

House Without A Key

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