Made reservations online pretty far in advance. Small bar with great ambiance. Lots of good whiskey options. Every drink we ordered was explained to us in detail. Definitely worth it!
Truly a phenomenal drinking experience, if you love drinks that exceed the expectations of anything you could imagine, I can wholeheartedly recommend this bar. Our server and coowner justin was experienced and knowledgeable. You will love the time spent here. 10/10.
Drinks are of true hand crafted quality. Service was top notch. It’s a good hire intimate atmosphere. We tried 4 different cocktails and all was high quality and amazing flavors and presentations together with a Friendly and thoughtful service. We wanted to come back but unfortunately bar was closed on Monday. Def recommend for whiskey lovers.
It's tricky to find, but the bar itself is a great experience.
Instructions to find the place after-hours:
- The building's front entrance will be closed, so you have to enter through the door on Ala Moana Blvd (aka Nimitz) that is next to the garage entrance.
- After entering the building, walk all the way past the reception / security desk, and turn left into the long hallway.
- Bar leather apron will be up the stairs on the left.
This is one of my favorite bars to go to when I'm in Honolulu. It's super small and intimate which is nice, but also bad because it gets filled up quickly. You should definitely try to make reservations ahead of time. The selection of cocktails here are wonderful and carefully thought out. I don't think I've had a bad drink here. I really enjoyed the Imperial cocktail (a modified version of the old fashioned) and if you like the smoky and piety drinks, try the In The Soul. The Yuzo Sour and Sagano Smoke are also good cocktails. The bartenders are super friendly and knowledgeable about the cocktails. I highly recommend going to this place if you enjoy some quality cocktails and spirits.
This is perhaps the best cocktail bar I've been to. The attention to detail was impressive. I thoroughly enjoyed drinks I'd never have ordered under other circumstances. Highly recommend, will visit any time we're in town.
If there is a better bar on the island, I can’t find it. Incredible, detail-oriented and imaginative cocktails that have deservedly won many awards.
Every ingredient is scrutinized and evaluated by the crafter of their drinks list.
If you like Bud Light, this place is not for you. If you care whether your rum is column still or pot still aged and it’s origin and aging process, this place is for you. Very large whiskey collection as well.
The small food list is very good and pairs well with their cocktails.
Small and a little hard to find in an office building, this place is truly unique. One feels like one is in a Bond film while inside.
Even if the reservation list is full, it is possible to walk in.
This slightly hard-to-find place was well-worth the walk around the building. Once we finally found it and walked upstairs, we were transported to a land of amazing cocktails. I started out with the drink I first fell in love in the photos - the earthy, lightly sweet, swampy-looking Matcha Old Fashioned. What a way to start! Next up was The Umami - a bright yet rich flavor that went down way too smoothly. Then I decided I needed another drink that I don’t even remember drinking. Anyhoo, this place is the best. The people are great and nice and helpful. I would literally drink here every night if I could.
We dipped in here real quick since the whole place was rented out 20 minutes after we got there. The staff is just genuinely nice people who love their craft and man are they good at it. The drink from creation to consumption is an event, but not in an overdramatic way. Just right. The bartender explained the ingredients, the flavor pairings and the feeling of the drink. I can't explain it better, just go experience it for yourself!
Visited BLA during our honeymoon and was blown away by the entire cocktail experience. Loved the dim lit setting. Most importantly, Justin and team know how to provide exceptional service.
Cocktails were amazing, even for someone like me with the palate of a child (just make sure you order the right ones). The mai tai, amaretto sour, and yuzu sour were a very well-balanced sweet.
We scored reservations for a bar seating, and the presentation of the cocktails completely elevated the experience. It was so much more than simply sipping a delicious drink. We enjoyed and appreciated seeing and understanding the process of building the drink, it was a huge part of the fun. Justin was great to converse with as well.
By far the easiest 5-star review. Next time we're in Oahu, will definitely visit again!
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