21 Honolulu Bars Open on Christmas Day
Whether you’re visiting the island and forgoing your white Christmas for a tropical retreat or looking for an escape from your aunt’s “famous” eggnog recipe, you can find temporary liquid fulfillment at any of these local bars open on Christmas Day. And tip generously… though you’ll assuredly want to after getting a drink exponentially better than Aunt Edna’s piteous excuse for that ‘nog...
Kaka'ako
Forget the Christmas ham. Have some holiday sushi and lychee cocktails instead.
Kaka'ako
All you wanted for Christmas was to toss back a few glasses of fruit-flavored soju? And belt out your best rendition of whatever you normally sing in the shower in front of friends and strangers? You do you.
Kalihi
Wings on Christmas! Add a craft brew on draft for optimal holiday happiness.
Ala Moana
Instead of gifting your dad another tie he’ll never wear, try a cold Kona Longboard Lager and a platter of pulehu steak for Christmas. You might even be promoted to favorite child.
Ala Moana
This Korean tapas bar's spicy pork plate and cocktails topped with a giant pink puff of cotton candy scream summertime over Christmas, but who says summer solstice in December isn't a fine trade (and only possible in a place like Hawaii).
Ala Moana
Give yourself the gift you really wanted: vodka martinis with blue cheese-stuffed olives and four medium-rare petite filet mignon sandwiches that you can have all to yourself.
Waikiki
Watch the sunset over the sailboat-filled harbor at this beach bar and relish the fact that you are in Hawaii on Christmas and so many others are not.
Waikiki
Open every day of the year, this whiskey bar is on call for your holiday drinking needs, from sunrise until the wee hours of the morning.
Waikiki
This truly difficult-to-find dive bar is open for day drinking, from at 6am all the way until 2pm. Take those hours as you will.
Waikiki
Sink into a plush white sofa and sip crafted cocktails at this upscale hotel lounge.
Waikiki
Take in a view of the Pacific as you sip a mango mojito, and be thankful for a Christmas that is green and bright.
Moiliili
Wanted to watch Steph Curry take on LeBron James instead of another year's viewing of It’s a Wonderful Life? Leave the story of George Bailey to someone else and take in this championship rematch with a pitcher of something filled with barley and hops.
Waikiki
Swap the tackily dressed evergreen tree for tall palm trees, rum-flavored cocktails, beachside breezes, and Tiki torches at this modern lounge.
Waikiki
Clink a couple glasses of Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale and golden tequila margaritas while overlooking Queens Beach.
Waikiki
With happy hour specials from 4-7pm daily, cheap drinks at this basement-level dive near the boat harbor are made even better with crispy-crusted pizza.
Waikiki
This 24-hour restaurant and bar proclaims to keep its doors open unless it snows, so thank the island for its favorable meteorology. That means its enormous flaming MAC-cano eruption cocktail and pancakes bigger than your head are all yours, all day long.
Waikiki
If you’re looking for a laid-back, oceanside bar, this is your spot. Throw back a cocktail or beer, then head to the beach and try your hand at a sand angel.
Waikiki
Diner by day and night, and nightclub later in the night, this all-in-one bar has a daily happy hour, including Christmas Day.
Waikiki
Come for the absinthe, but stay for its nightly live jazz music. With its dim mood lighting and dark wood paneling, this upscale lounge is perfect for a Christmas table for two.
Waikiki
Tucked in Waikiki’s pink hotel, this oceanfront bar will meet your fruity-drink, umbrella-garnished needs. The views of Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach are an added bonus.
Waikiki
Swap out your glass of milk and sugar cookies for a bottle of sake and Japanese-inspired dishes -- it’s probably, maybe what Santa would’ve wanted, too.
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Summer Nakaishi is a freelance writer, who used to wish for a “cold” 70-degree Christmas day.