What’s so cool about… Waikiki?

Once a gathering place for Hawaiian royalty, Waikiki is now a gathering place for the world. It’s no surprise, then, that you will find something going on in “Tourist Town” nearly every night. Whether you’re looking for live music, hula, clubs, or pubs, Waikiki’s got it all.

Here are a few of Waikiki’s nightlife hotspots:

Waikiki is the new South Beach, so it’s fitting that Kevin Aoki (son of Benihana’s Rocky Aoki) chose to open his Doraku Sushi here. Located on the top floor of the refurbished Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, this hip spot is often the first stop on a nightlife crawl. Just order up a flight of sake (there are 20 options) or a classic cocktail, and see where the night leads. DJs spin on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays starting around 9.

Visit Duke’s Canoe Club or RumFire in the Sheraton Waikiki for live music and great drinks, or take the elevator up to The Twist at Hanahano for the best view in Waikiki. The Hanohano Room is set 30 floors up and surrounded by glass walls and breathtaking views. It hasn’t changed much since the ’70s. The nightly live entertainment which starts between 7 and 9 features the same smooth jazz, Hawaiian classics and lounge standards your parents probably danced to.

Zanzabar Nightclub, in the Waikiki Trade Center, is anything but mellow. The $6 million nightspot, with room for nearly 1,000 people, is all dance floor and amped up music. It is cutting edge, open every night, definitely the place to go for mingling, mixing and dancing with the rich and famous.  Just downstairs from Zanzabar is The Shack, a recent addition to the nightlife scene in Waikiki that has Friday lunch buffets and plenty of live music and party life.

Once you’ve had your fill of Waikiki’s vibrant nightlife, enjoy a late night breakfast at Mac 24/7 in the Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio, serving the biggest pancakes in Hawaii.