Good Restaurants in Downtown/Honolulu Harbor (Honolulu)

Bikini Cantina

Bikini Cantina, located at the water-front, is a local favorite for it's relaxed ambiance. The warm and friendly atmosphere, makes you feel at home. If you're tired of the routine fish and chips, visit this restaurant. You will thoroughly enjoy the authentic Mexican recipes. Fresh and fine ingredients further enhance the taste. If you're in no mood for a full meal, grab a bite of the Baja burger. The drinks served perfectly complement the sumptuous meal. Do visit the place and you will surely have a good time.

O'Toole's Irish Pub

Creating a real "social house environment" is the secret behind the success of O'Toole's Irish Pub. The bartenders and the regular visitors outgoing attitude put you to ease in an instant. Wood, brass rails and dim lighting, give the place a cozy feel. It always has a mix bag of guests, right from military personnel to working executives who gather here to share jokes and talks with their buddies. With unlimited rounds of local chatter and whiskey, live entertainment is an added bonus. Drop-in at this downtown bar to enjoy a carefree and relaxed evening.

Laniakea Dining Room

Located in the heart of Downtown Honolulu across from the Iolani Palace, this historical spot is the perfect setting for those wanting an alfresco lunch escape from the high-rise offices and busy noontime crowds. Luncheon here is calm and refreshing with menu selections that feature items like sauteed salmon, mushrooms, new potatoes, asparagus, red wine-black olive vinaigrette or North Shore Cattle Company free-range hamburger with house-baked brioche. - Lottie Tagupa

Mandalay Restaurant

This flashy Hong Kong Chinese restaurant is not your typical hole in the wall. They do upscale banquets and special events for political movers and shakers and others who move in the island's power circles. The large restaurant fills daily with mainstream islanders and area office workers looking to quell dim-sum cravings in a more refined setting. Street parking is impossible on weekdays, so opt for the lot in Alii Place next door. - Lottie Tagupa

New Liberty Grill

What could be more classic than this plain, old-school diner in the midst of the hustle and bustle of downtown Honolulu. It's been there longer than most of the high rises, and locals have flocked for years for fresh coffee, a friendly smile and a switch from fast-food spots. At lunch, the office workers make their way for reasonably priced plate lunches and other local-style specialties. The teri-beef plate is yummy and cheap. - Lottie Tagupa

Stonegrill Hawaii

On the ground floor along Restaurant Row in Waterfront Plaza, this modest restaurant offers alfresco seating with tables perfect for people-watching and casual lunches. The menu is a vast array of items that are seared and served on special hot stones which make their way to the table with a sizzle that will whet your appetite. Beef, fish and much more are prepared simply and served with lots of pizzazz. - Lottie Tagupa

Payao Thai Restaurant

Grab a seat in this charming and inviting Thai spot, and you will be served quickly and attentively with lots of consideration for the busy and sometimes short lunch hour. The curry is a specialty, and the menu offers several types hot, cold, spicy and mild. The rice is sticky like some of the tropical afternoons, so a seat inside the cool air-conditioning is refreshing for noon-day meals. - Lottie Tagupa

Bonsai

Located in a quiet corner of Restaurant Row in the Waterfront Plaza is a fresh and inviting spot where the décor is bold, modern and fresh. Everything from the bar to dining area is stylish. It's certainly an islanders-only spot where locals gather for lunch, after-work decompression sessions, dinner and even dancing. No shorts or surf-wear here. It's a spot to see and be seen and to dress to impress and catch the attention of urban islanders. - Lottie Tagupa