Honolulu Weekly

When a non-nightclub establishment enters the nightlife scene it can be a risky proposition. Especially these days, due to the economy and overall promotional clutter, what was once a surefire way for promoters to bring the party people in has become a much more hit-and-miss proposition.

Trying times and mediocrity aside, Pleasure Lounge at the Honolulu Design Center isn’t the undisputed talk of the town yet—it’s just the number one contender.

To test the waters, promoters HISociety and HDC management decided to go on a trial run by giving their weekend venture a go every first and third Saturday only. Surprisingly, the overload of other options proved little resistance. After a month of impressive crowd turnout, the venue almost had no choice but to make it a weekly party.

Instead of the standard approach of blowing people away with hype from the jump, the promoters decided to attract people more organically, by setting a high standard and trusting that the crowd will be there. You can never truly go wrong when you stress fine wine and a cool vibe over cheap drinks and a sweaty club.

After finding the only entrance (inside the parking structure), take the elevator to the second floor, where you’ll be greeted by the Amuse Bar and more than 80 different wine selections by the glass.

If the Amuse Bar is a little too fancy-schmancy, the bar in the Stage Restaurant to the right is just as appealing, if not equally popular. Because of its size and location, the Ice Bar can easily go unnoticed but serves as a quaint chill spot, pun intended. Venture even further into the Cupola Arena and you will find a large lounge area with about a dozen tables to kick it with friends in style.

DJ Mixmaster B keeps the decks in check and good sounds at just the right level. As the excitement picks up (usually around midnight), so does the music. Video mixing can be an aesthetic bore but not when it’s projected on an 80-inch video screen.

“My partners and I were looking to create something that we felt was missing and I think we did a great job with creating that,” said promoter Keoni Chan. “We will continue to work hard to make sure it stays that way.”

Scoring a venue with the contemporary style of HDC should already speak volumes and the promoters of the Pleasure Lounge have certainly taken full advantage of things so far. Overall, Pleasure Lounge gives locals the taste of the good life in a calming environment without the high price tag. That fact alone makes venturing into new club lounge territory totally worth it.

Pleasure Lounge

1250 Kapiolani Blvd.

Second floor Honolulu Design Center

9pm–2am

Getting In: $10

Dress Code: Crazy, sexy, cool

Soundtrack: Groove and club bangers

Signature Drink: $6 drinks, $150 Crown Royal, $200 Patron, Grey Goose

Sightings: Karlel Crowley, Chris Nakano, Jackie Lee, Rick Rock