Good Drinks
Editors’ Picks
Best view from a barstool
RumFire
To tell the truth, RumFire is kind of an enigma. Located in the Sheraton Waikiik in the old Esprit Lounge location, they’ve gussied the joint and have the drink prices to prove it. But you can’t deny they have one of the best views, particularly at sunset, which coupled with the plush seating makes the $14-per go down a little easier. –Dean Carrico
2255 Kalakaua Ave., 922-4422
Best 6am Bar
Hideaway
If you’re at the bar at six, that means something. It’s not likely that you happened to wake up an hour previously, showered, shaved, eat a hearty breakfast and then decided to sit in a dingy dive bar. More likely, you’ve been up all night, either drinking or working, and probably a little–or a lot–of both. Who knows what these people do for the two long hours where you can’t get a drink between 4 and 6am, but it rarely seems to slow them down, and The Hideaway is the only place we’ve seen that has a line before they open. You can argue that most of these people would happily drink out of a puddle on the ground by that point, but really, they’re lining up both to keep the party going and because of Ron Savoy, who has opened the doors at the crack of dawn for over eight years, with the patience of a saint, the skills of a babysitter, the humor of a comedian and perhaps most important, the physique of a bouncer. All these traits are necessary, as Savoy deals with the kind of crowds most bartenders have nightmares about (ironically, it’s usually the bartenders that need the most handling). If you’re out and about when the sun comes up and not ready to call it a night, it’s one of the last games in town, at least when there isn’t a game on, but be ready for a wide assortment of clientele, from professional drinkers to members of the oldest profession. And mind your manners. –D.C.
1913 Dudoit Ln., no phone
Best Latte
Downtown
While the foam art–feathery looking leaves and milky swirls–make for a fancy latte topper, it’s the taste of the espresso at Downtown Coffee that will have you hooked. We all feel there’s something a little Evil Empire about Starbucks anyway, so why not opt for better quality coffee at a shop where the owner is right there working the espresso machine and greeting the regulars? All this, plus a commitment to fair trade product, punch cards that promise every 11th cup for free, and the slogan, “make coffee, not war.” –Adrienne LaFrance
900 Fort Street Mall, Suite 100
Best place to pick up military personnel
Any club in Waiklkl.
Enough said.–M.S.
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