Backstage Pass: Surfing into the Surf Bar Waikiki in Waikiki

by VICTORIA ELIZABETH

Located in the bustling heart of Waikiki in the stately Waikiki Resort Hotel, the Surf Bar Waikiki is the city’s premier nightlife destination for delightful late night libations, high energy DJ sessions, and select “nightclub” events that will surely have you dancing late into the night.  The Backstage Pass crew and I were presented the exclusive opportunity to return to this acclaimed establishment, owned and operated by serial entrepreneur Cristina Dutea and her husband. 

Upon our arrival, we were warmly greeted by Dutea, who introduced us to her friendly staff of hosts, servers, and bartenders, before we were directed to a cozy corner that had been specially reserved for our party. A live DJ spun some upbeat tunes, featuring both instantly recognizable Top 40 hits as well as island classics, which set a lively, festive mood for the evening. 

Known throughout the island for already legendary specialty events and themed nights (check the Surf Bar website and social media pages for exclusive updates), a talented live DJ is featured every single day aside from Monday starting at 9:30 p.m., turning this relaxed island bar hideaway into pulse pounding nightclub. 

Featuring a chic, intimate atmosphere, sophisticated-yet elegant-decor, and warm mood lighting, Surf Bar Waikiki has become a fast favorite for locals to unwind for a drink after a long day at work and tourists to enjoy a well-crafted beverage as they escape the hustle and bustle of the “real world.” 

The menu at Surf Bar is impressively expansive, featuring some of the finest quality beverages you’ll find on the island, all utilizing premium ingredients and top shelf liquors for a truly unmatched and unparalleled experience. 

We began our evening at Surf Bar by ordering the Pumpkin Spice Martini, a rich, satisfying, seasonal beverage.

Our top recommendations are:

PUMPKIN SPICE MARTINI: Served in a classic martini glass and featuring a deep mahogany color palette, this flavorful fall libation features a decadent blend of Irish cream liqueur, and pumpkin puree, topped off with spices of cinnamon and nutmeg. 

KEY LIME MARTINI: A perfect blend of vanilla vodka, key lime juice,simple syrup, and cream of coconut, along with the creamy element of half -and-half for an authentic key lime pie-like flavor.

CORAL CRUSH: An exclusive, Bianca-specialty, this sinfully sweet and delightfully indulgent vacation libation, includes banana liquor and Lilikoi, the Hawaiian name for passion fruit, that will have you craving another as soon as you’ve finished the first.

Our resident non-drinkers, my mom Lynn (the photographer for Backstage Pass) and our constant travel companion, Mimi, enjoyed savoring a variety of Virgin cocktail options including: 

VIRGIN MANGO MOJITO: Light, crisp, and refreshing, this tropical, fruity variation of the classic mojito features: mango nectar, fresh mint leaves, lime juice, simple syrup, and club soda. 

VIRGIN PINA COLADA: This island standard mocktail features rum, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut as well as fresh pineapple chunks, and a squeeze of lime juice. 

CHARCUTERIE BOARD: No visit to Surf Bar Waikiki is complete without ordering the charcuterie board, which features a scrumptious and beautifully curated blend of gherkin pickles, assortments of gourmet cheeses, green olives and dates , apricots, and varieties of meats, sure to satisfy your cravings and serve as a sublime compliment to your cocktails of choice. 

Special thanks to the wonderful Cristina Dutea and the entire Surf Bar Waikiki staff for hosting our visit for this spotlight feature.

WEBSITE: https://www.surfbarwaikiki.com

INSTAGRAM @surfbar.waikiki 

PHONE NUMBER: +1 (808) 785-1592