Review House Without A Key - Honolulu

Great vibes and cocktails here at this beach facing bar and restaurant. We came here at sunset to try their famous Mai Thai, but it was very busy - the bar was full and there was a 30 minute wait for a table. However, we could order some drinks and sit in the waiting area and watch the sunset and enjoy the live music whilst we waited to be seated. The cocktails were expensive but strong and delicious. We also tried their famous coconut cake which was like eating clouds. It was so light and fluffy and delicious, a must try at this hotel.

Overall, very good experience. The hula and music were lovely, as well as the ambiance. I think our waiter was just very busy or something because other tables near us were definitely a bit better taken care of. I generally find it off-putting when I have to ask for a dessert menu rather than it being offered. Dessert is a crucial meal element. Overall the food was very good. We got the ribs which were amazing, as well as the local catch of the day which my boyfriend raved over. I got the margarhita pizza and while the crust was definitely inferior, the rest of the flavors were wonderful. The best part of the meal by far was the drinks and the bread service. This is the best bread service I've ever had. It's that good.

The atmosphere of this place is amazing. Very cool live music with an awesome stage backlit by a tree. Sunset was off the charts. Food was so so but service was excellent. Also $$$$ pricing for the food so be aware. But all in all a lovely evening.

We walked in to this restaurant on a Wednesday late morning for some early lunch. It was just convenient since it’s located at the hotel we were staying, Halekulani Hotel. The restaurant quickly filled up during lunch time. Nice atmosphere, good food and good service. The coconut cake was delicious. The best time to dine at this restaurant is actually in the evening. It is very popular and happening for sunset meals, cocktails and live Hawaiian entertainment. We watched some part of it from our balcony one night and also while dining at the other restaurant in the hotel.

My family came here for my birthday. Delicious meal and great service. Ask for Jan as your server. The mai Thai is delicious and strong and food is cooked to perfection. I wasn't impressed with the coconut cake but the apple crisp was amazing. Hula dancer and band were great entertainment. Beautiful views. Expect to spend $300 for 4 people though.

Honestly I think the view and their live music show and the outstanding service are already worth it before even bringing the food into this review. But I do love my shrimp and octopus dish. Could use a bit less butter but overall delicious.

This isn't just dinner, it's an experience. The food, service, and atmosphere couldn't be more perfect. October 2023 was our second visit, the first being 9 years before, and nothing about the experience had changed. Book your dinner so the sun sets while you're there - it can be spectacular. If it rains, staff rushes around to give everyone umbrellas, though we were under the canopy.

We came for our honeymoon and my husband’s birthday. Absolutely an enjoyable experience! Nice food, nice music, and a super sweet waitress. Would recommend it to anyone who wants an upscaled yet lively dining experience.

Wow ! This restaurant is an absolute gem. The ambiance did not miss - From the live music, hula performance, the views, the service, and the food, it was such a good experience. Came here on a Monday evening for sunset as a walk-in for "Dinner seating" and the wait was about 1.5 hour. Side note - whatever day of the week it is, I'd highly recommend making a reservation because this is definitely a hot spot for dinner (esp at sunset). But your other options are to either get lucky and find a seat at the bar which you can also order dinner, or also add yourself to the "Cocktail seating" which lets you sit, enjoy the ambiance and have some drinks while waiting to be seated at a more formal table. We lucked out and ended up getting a dinner seating after about 30 minutes of waiting. As for food, while awaiting our meal they served us bread & it was yummy. It's tinted purple dough, as a Filipino I got excited and immediately thought of Ube - It was good, even their butter is good, lol. We ordered the four cheese pizza - YUM! All the different cheeses and their crust! I don't know what Hawaii puts into their dough but it's always good ! If your a cheese fanatic, you'll be pleased with the pizza. Also ordered the crab cake appetizer, initially I was a bit off set with it being $32 for one piece of crab cake BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY WORTH IT. The BEST crab cake I've ever had - you can taste the quality and freshness. So my recommendation is to make a reservation for dinner and definitely come for sunset because the views are so magical along with the live music. Happy dining !

House without a key was an amazing dinner venue from the ambiance. They have a large outdoor area with perfect views of Diamond Head to the left and the sunset to the right. They had live music playing traditional Hawaiian songs and had a hula dancer join a little later in the evening. It's a sophisticated feel, but also family friendly. They have a large grassy area where children were running and playing.

Great restaurant by the water in Waikiki. They have a nice outside area, with a beautiful tree and amazing ocean views. The cocktails from the bar are top notch and the food was delicious, we had a poke trio, a beet salad and the catch of the day and enjoyed every dish. They also had good Hawaiian music live which made our dinner even more special.

I had noted how highly recommended this restaurant is in all the Facebook Hawaii travel planning groups I’m in and so made a point to book dinner plans here for our 11th anniversary celebration. Made a reservation months in advance via the OpenTable app; would recommend to book sooner than later so as not to be disappointed. We were promptly greatly, wished a happy anniversary and soon seated. The view and ambiance was absolutely breathtaking, situated in the classy Halekulani hotel. We ordered the seafood roll, burger and fries for our toddler, herb crust skirt steak and shrimp crab cake paired with two cocktails. Our meal was simply delectable, artfully presented and savoury. We were also surprised with a lovely dessert in honour of our anniversary, a wonderful touch. We enjoyed the evening dance and music presentation as well as took the obligatory sunset photos. We still talk about this dining experience, thank you for making it so special!

Amazing, amazing, amazing! A bucket list restaurant if coming to Waikiki. We went in the evening and were seated close to the musicians and hula dancer. Loved the live entertainment while enjoying our tea and desserts. The coconut cake & panna cotta are a must try if coming here. Absolutely wonderful experience. Servers were attentive and very friendly. Highly recommend! We can’t wait to visit again :)

House Without a Key, a delightful beachside spot, tempts patrons with its stunning ocean views, relaxed ambiance, and delectable food and cocktail offerings. Yes, it may appear a tad overpriced compared to nearby locales, but in terms of experience – lounging in the relaxing patio, away from the thrum of tourist activity and with the ocean in view – it was an indulgence well worth the price. We arrived for a late lunch and found the place comfortably half-empty. While the ambiance was on point, the service had some hiccups. Our servers, albeit apologetic, were noticeably clumsy, dropping plates, soy sauce, and napkins on our table. Such mistakes were odd and quite uncharacteristic for a restaurant associated with a five-star hotel. On to the food: The Ahi Tataki was somewhat lackluster - a basic Tuna Tataki without any standout flavors. The Tobiko did add an interesting texture, but the dish was generally uninspiring. The Crabby Shrimp Cake burger, despite its great potential, turned out slightly dry and underwhelming. The citrus remoulade sauce added a zesty flavor and the toasted bun was a pleasant touch, but it didn't justify the dish's lofty price. However, House Without a Key made a comeback with the remaining dishes. The Poke Bowl was simple yet executed superbly - generous chunks of fresh Ahi tuna, perfectly seasoned with a lime soy glaze, making it one of the best poke bowls I've enjoyed on the island. The Loco Moco, with an unconventional addition of pickled onions and Portuguese sausage, was a delightful surprise. The tangy sweetness from the pickled onions complemented the meats perfectly, saving the patty from the usual dry, overcooked fate it often suffers in many Loco Moco renditions. Inspired by the oceanic backdrop, their cocktail selections were also impressive. A colorful blend of tropical fruits in their cocktails added an extra splash of enjoyment to the overall experience. Despite a higher price tag and minor service hiccups, House Without a Key stands as a fantastic place to unwind, offering a great view and food, making it a must-visit for those seeking to savor the slower, more relaxing side of island life.

Lovely outdoor venue. Came for the live Hawaiian music and hula dancer. The cocktails are pricy, but considering you are in paradise to drink them with the ocean and Diamond Head views, fabulous ukelele and guitar playing and singing, and the lovely hula dancer ( Miss Hawaii and Miss Hawaii USA) , it’s all good! The $29 tiny fried seafood roll was a joke.

House Without a Key is a charming spot! The ambience is lovely, especially with live music and hula dancing from 6 PM to 8 PM. The ocean view in the background adds to the beauty. It's a perfect place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. If you're into live music and a fantastic view, this is a must-visit!

Highly recommend their drinks!! We got to tried almost everything on their menu, all very good! Foods are just ok, I only liked their bread to be honest. Live musics are great, come before sunset to enjoy the ambience!

This is a great place to start vacation and really feel like you are in Hawaii. Food was decent. I had the Lau Lau chicken , my husband had a steak which was 4.5/10. There was definitely a point where our waiter must have forgotten about us, as there was 30 min gap between when he served our beverages and finally took our entree order. A couple that was sat after us received their meals before we even got to place our order. I really enjoyed the entertainment. The music and hula dancing really makes you feel like you are on vacation. Beautiful venue. You definitely come here for the ambiance. The dinner was only ok and the service left much to be desired!

I never write reviews but in this case I must say this was the best ending to the most memorable day of my life. The love of my life and I got married and went to House without a key for dinner and couldn't of dreamed of a better night. The friendly and charming staff really took care of us right from the beginning. The musical performance was amazing and authentic. The prime rib was hands down the most delicious piece of meat I've ever eaten in my life. As I was thinking the night could not get any better they informed us that we should save room for a complimentary dessert. After we were all full and happy as could be the waiter then brought us a small wedding gift which really showed us how caring and dedicated they were to making this night as memorable as possible. I just want to thank everyone at House without a key one more time you will get our business anytime we come to Honolulu we can't wait to come back. I don't think I emphasized enough how delicious the meal was I would have licked the plate but I didn't want to embarrass my wife.

It was an excellent Friday evening with great company, good food, and memorable entertainment. Sitting near the ocean does something to the soul. I had the Opakapaka with baby bak choi and it was well prepared and delicious. Others tried the Lau Lau Chicken, and the Coconut Crusted Shrimp and Ribeye appetizers was a great starter for the night. The atmosphere was comfortable and the friendly wait staff took good care of us. The company was the main point of the gathering and I couldn't ask to be around a more amazing group of friends. I would definitely return to this lovely restaurant and will highly recommend it.

This place did not disappoint!! The cocktails were good and our meals were delicious! The Hawaiian dancer and band were very good and entertaining. The waitstaff was very polite...would definitely recommend this restaurant!

Such a lovely restaurant! Our waitress, Melissa, was sweet and attentive. The food was exceptional! Great Pina Colada! We started with coconut shrimp (yum), split a great salad and lobster that was so well seasoned that it needed no butter. Then, the best coconut cake and macadamia ice cream EVER! In the background was a talented trio performing traditional Hawaiian music with a beautiful hula dancer! We went back tonight after dinner elsewhere for more coconut cake and to hear the musicians!

My favorite to place to take family & friends awesome breakfast buffet fresh juice nice atmosphere & mesmerizing view. Staff is always friendly & bunus is when they've been there's as long as you remember Artemio made us a fresh strawberry 🍓 smoothie 👍 It is my new favorite drink 😍

Beautiful live entertainment, Amazing hula dancer, Gorgeous venue, great Mai Tai's, but unfortunately no vegan options on the menu except for a few salad items. Only giving it 3 stars because a place like this should be more sensitive to the needs of others in this day and age.