Restaurants in Downtown/Honolulu Harbor (Honolulu)

Don Ho's Island Grill

Named after Honolulu's favorite musical son, Don Ho, this is a casual and inexpensive place that sees its share of surfer dudes. Located at Aloha Tower Marketplace, the menu features such items as Hawaiian-Style Chicken Salad. The Tiny Bubbles Bar pours cold beers and fruity cocktails. The service is as bubbly as the beverages. Weekend nights, the place turns into an afterhours club. Bands and DJs are presented, and the younger crowd (18+ on Saturdays) is out in full force. Don't expect to see Mr. Ho here, though. He hangs out in Waikiki.

Chai's Island Bistro

Fresh seafood and produce are prepared with Pacific Rim flair at this waterfront gem located at Aloha Tower Marketplace. The Asian-style Osso Bucco with Kabocha Pumpkin is truly a culinary work of fusion art. You will not go wrong with the Bistro Bouillabaisse, the house specialty. For an appetizer, try the Kataifi and Macadamia Nut Encrusted Jumbo Black Tiger Prawns. As day turns into evening, some of the most famous names in Hawaiian music set up a tiny stage on the restaurant courtyard. The haunting harmonies of their voices float away into the Hawaiian dusk, bringing a feeling of peace to anyone lucky enough to be here for it. Tuesday through Friday 11am onwards.

Murphy's Bar & Grill

This hybrid bar and grill is somewhere between a Irish Pub and a laid-back island-style café. Set in the middle of downtown Honolulu, it is a favorite hang-out for the business and media communities and one of the only places in the Hawaiian Islands where you can get a pint of Guinness from the tap. While the bar roars with excitement, the restaurant serves great salads, steaks and other fare at decent prices. The food is fresh, and the service is congenial.

Hong Kong Harbor View Seafood Restaurant

Authentic Cantonese cooking is this restaurant's specialty, but cuisine from several other regions of China is also offered. Located in the lively Aloha Tower Marketplace on the waterfront, the restaurant is particularly known for its fresh seafood specialties. Prices are moderate. You can dine in comfort and style in the exotic, elaborately decorated dining area. The harbor views are teriffic (as is expected, given the restaurant's name)!

Auntie Pasto's

A family favorite for casual dining, this restaurant offers consistently good pasta and standard Italian specialties like Eggplant Parmesan or Veal Marsala. Few items on the menu are more than $10. Checkered tablecloths and a chalkboard menu are highlights of the comfortable decor. Great fresh-baked bread is brought to your table, along with a small plate of raw veggies. Alcoholic beverages are available for about $4 per glass. It can be difficult to find street parking in the downtown neighborhood.

Sunset Grill

Offering a central location, a highly professional staff, a fabulous menu and a pleasant upscale atmosphere, this restaurant is a favorite of discerning diners from around the globe. It has been written up in national and local publications and wins the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year. The menu focuses on kiawe-grilled meat and fish and boasts a mouthwatering dessert selection. This is a great place for dates, nights out on the town, or any other occasion to remember.

Brasserie Du Vin

With a few steps, you can leave urban Honolulu behind and transport yourself to a European haven. You can dine in the grand room, decorated in dark wood tones, or choose to lounge in the airy outdoors. The menu was created to compliment the extensive wine list. Most portions are tapas-style so plan on family-style dining. The plates run from $3 and up, with marinated olives, escargot and baked brie to tempt your taste buds. There are also daily specials of fish, meats and pasta. Wine by the glass range from $6 and up. -Kim Fujiwara

SoundHouse

Located in the heart of downtown Honolulu, SoundHouse provides a wide variety of entertainment options. Special events include open mic night on Mondays and live alternative rock bands Thursday thru Sunday. SoundHouse is located upstairs and the staircase to enter reminds me of an old lighthouse. Once inside there's enough room for about 200 people with a stage for live music, a few booths, a couple couches, and several tables with chairs for a comfortable experience. The inside walls have been painted by local artists, and it's not unusual for out of town bands to be performing. An added bonus is the ability for patrons between the ages of 18 and 20 are allowed entry though under constant supervision and often for an added fee. -Rex Davidson

Aku Bone Lounge

Apart from being blessed with tranquil waters, fresh air and pleasant aura, Hawaii also has rich and varied cuisine. Relax at the Aku Bone Lounge, as Sauteed Prawns, Poi, Chop Steak and Alaskan King Crab are served. Such is the taste, that no one can resist the delicacies and go in for second helping. Entertainers take-up the stage and invite guests to join in the dance. The good food will surely pep you up and you will break into a song at the karaoke section. You will surely enjoy the friendly and casual atmosphere, making it a memorable meal.

Pavilion Cafe

Located inside the prestigious Honolulu Academy of Arts, this cafe is an attraction in its own right. The serene, shaded patio provides an escape from downtown Honolulu, while the healthy, inexpensive menu is great for lunch. The volunteer staff is low-key and friendly. The short menu changes often, but it always offers a variety of soups, salads and sandwiches. The vegetables and the bread are always fresh and delicious. If you eat here, you'll be helping a good cause. All profits from the restaurant go toward the Academy.

Cafe Viii 1/2

A San Francisco native comes to the tropics, and the result is this charming neighborhood eatery. It's just the sort of place - casual yet chic, laid back yet ultra-modern - that you find all over San Francisco or Miami Beach. However, in Honolulu it's a bit of an anomaly. Simple, perfectly-prepared Northern Italian cuisine is a delight. Homemade pastas and kiawe-grilled meats are all delicious. Vegetarians can order the kiawe-grilled vegetables.

Cassis by Chef Mavro

George Mavrothalassitis, chef and owner of one of the top 10 restaurants in the world, opened Cassis by Chef Mavro so that everyone could enjoy his world-class cuisine in a casual setting. His new restaurant, overlooking Honolulu Harbor and decorated with mahogany woods and teal walls, invites the casual diner to enjoy French and Island fusion cuisine. Wines are carefully chosen to be paired with each dish. Appetizers range from shellfish to socca, chickpea flatbread served with various dips, and entrees range from duck breast to steak frites. Friendly service, delicious food and tasty drinks makes this restaurant an experience not to be missed. -Kim Fujiwara