Mai Tai Bar - Ala Moana

The Mai Tai Bar in Ala Moana is one of the best bars on all of Oahu. Just outside of Waikiki in the Ala Moana Shopping Center, this wonderful open-air space has packed in a good mix of locals and tourists from opening day. Don't let the shopping center location deter you. The Mai Tai Bar in Ala Moana is not some themed Disneyesque "bar" reluctantly placed in a shopping mall to entertain bored dads and under-aged suburban teens with flair, silly outfits and forced cheerfulness. Consistently voted "best" in bar, outdoor bar and live music categories, the Mai Tai Bar is a true destination that attracts patrons to this already popular shopping center.

Great drinks and pupus, a casual yet elegant tropical atmosphere, fantastic service from good looking, genuinely friendly waitresses and lots of live music are a winning combination.

The inviting open-air space is located on the third floor of the Mai Tai Bar in the Diamond Head side of the mall and has a tropical feel with comfortable seating areas spread throughout. The bamboo and rattan love seat/coffee table style arrangements ringing the perimeter are great for accommodating larger groups and are very popular as the evening revs up. Once you are settled in, you won't wait long for one of the friendly waitresses to stop by and help you pick one of the many kinds of mai tai or other tasty but potent tropical drinks from the available full bar. The pupu menu is compact but sufficient, and the pupus are refined and well executed. Hang Ten Happy Hour from 4pm to 7pm features very good specials on tropical martinis, draft beer in pint and pitcher forms and pupus.
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The Mai Tai Bar's reputation for showcasing live music is reflected in the high level of talent that performs on the modest stage tucked away in the corner of the bar. The first musical act of the evening performs from 4 to 7 and the talented, and typically solo, performer provides a good back drop for lively conversation with your friends or new people you will surely meet at this friendly establishment. The place fills up quickly, and the energy level picks up around 9:30 for the late evening performer. People are up and dancing in no time, swaying in rhythm to popular Jawaiian, Reggae and old school rock and island tunes. The Mai Tai Bar occasionally hosts special musical competitions or showcases and then the crowd really rocks. The performance calendar lists all the acts for the month.

The crowd is really friendly and comfortable with a great mix of tourists and locals. Dress spans the spectrum from beach, biz casual to dressy, and the scene is decidedly cool without being overly hip or attitude laden. Put it all together and it is a great place to take or make friends for drinks, for music, for whatever.




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