Cocktail Bar
Unclaimed profileSurf Bar Waikiki
Honolulu, HI · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Surf Bar Waikiki pours an ambitious cocktail program with 21 hand-crafted island cocktails, from the smoked Maunakea Mai Tai to the Ube Piña Colada. The spirits list spans Scotch, Japanese whisky, bourbon, tequila, and more, including tequila flights. A recent customer praised the cocktails as well-made and visually appealing, with the piña coladas singled out as outstanding. Wine covers white, red, and sparkling, with pours from $13 and bottles up to $680.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Maunakea Mai Tai ($23), a rum and mezcal blend with pineapple, citrus, dry curaçao, orgeat, and a dark rum float, smoked with flavored wood chips. For a tropical twist, the Ube Piña Colada ($19) pairs rum with pineapple, coconut, and a plant-based ube foam. Customers have called the piña coladas outstanding.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail enthusiasts seeking creative island-inspired drinks will find a wide range of options at $18-$23. Spirit aficionados can explore a broad selection including Scotch, Japanese whisky, bourbon, tequila, and mezcal, with tequila flights available for tasting.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Signature cocktails range from $18 to $23. Wine pours start at $13, with bottles up to $680 for Dom Pérignon. Spirits pours range from $15 to $60, and tequila flights are priced at $85.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail list is extensive and creative, featuring ingredients like ube foam, ancho chile, and smoked wood chips. The Maunakea Mai Tai is smoked with flavored wood chips, adding a theatrical touch. Tequila flights offer a curated tasting experience across the spirits program.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
A 21-item signature cocktail menu focuses on hand-crafted island drinks with creative ingredients. The Maunakea Mai Tai, Ube Piña Colada, and Midnight in Waikiki showcase rum, mezcal, Hennessy, and tropical flavors. Recent customers describe the cocktails as well-made and visually appealing, with the piña coladas singled out as outstanding.
Menu strengths
- — Signature cocktail menu lists 21 cocktails, offering extensive choice within a tight $18-$23 range.
- — Cocktails are described as hand-crafted island cocktails with creative ingredients like ube foam and ancho chile.
- — Recent customer account notes cocktails are well-made and visually appealing.
Standout selections
- — Maunakea Mai Tai ($23): Rum, mezcal, pineapple, citrus, dry curaçao, orgeat, and a dark rum float, smoked with flavored wood chips.
- — Ube Piña Colada ($19): Rum, pineapple juice, coconut, and plant-based ube foam.
- — Midnight in Waikiki ($20): Hennessy, dry curaçao, orgeat, lemon, and a red wine float.
Pricing: $18-$23
Wine
The wine list covers white, red, and sparkling categories, with by-the-glass pours starting at $13 and premium bottles reaching $680. Selections include recognizable New Zealand, Napa, Paso Robles, and Oregon wines, plus Champagne and sparkling options. The range is practical but lacks a distinctive regional or stylistic focus.
Menu strengths
- — Wine list includes white, red, and sparkling wines, covering multiple styles.
- — Pricing spans accessible by-the-glass pours from $13 to high-end bottles at $680.
- — Includes premium sparkling options such as Dom Pérignon and Moët & Chandon.
Standout selections
- — Dom Pérignon (750ml) at $680 offers a high-end sparkling pour.
- — Justin Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($16) is a solid red by the glass.
- — Yealands New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc ($14) provides a crisp white option.
Pricing: $13-$680
Spirits
A broad spirits program spans Scotch, Japanese whisky, bourbon, vodka, cognac, rum, tequila, and mezcal. Tequila flights offer a structured tasting experience.
Menu strengths
- — Spirits menu covers eight categories from Scotch to mezcal, offering wide variety.
- — Tequila flights (Blanco and Reposado) provide a curated tasting option.
- — Includes sought-after pours like JW Blue, Blanton's, and Don Julio 1942.
Standout selections
- — JW Blue ($55) is a top-shelf Scotch whisky pour.
- — Blanco Flight ($85) offers a tequila flight for comparing blancos.
Pricing: $15-$60 per pour; flights $85
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