Restaurant
Unclaimed profileSwell Restaurant and Pool Bar
Honolulu, HI · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Swell Restaurant and Pool Bar serves a wide-ranging beverage program with a creative cocktail list, a functional wine list, local Hawaiian beers, and thoughtful nonalcoholic options. Signature pours like the 'Alohilani Mai Tai and Spiced Margarita anchor a poolside-focused menu. Wine spans regions and price points, while beer highlights Kona and Maui Brewing.
- What should I order?
- Start with the 'Alohilani Mai Tai ($25), which layers Kuleana Nanea rum, Ferrand yuzu curaçao, mac nut orgeat, and a lilikoi vanilla dark rum foam. For something lighter, the Spiced Margarita ($19) brings habanero heat with cucumber tequila and cilantro.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Pool-goers and visitors seeking a full bar with something for everyone will find it here. The broad cocktail list and local beer selection suit groups with varied tastes, while the nonalcoholic menu gives designated drivers and abstainers real options.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Signature cocktails run $19–$25, frozen drinks $19, and breakfast cocktails $15–$17. Wine by the glass is $12–$16; bottles $52–$175. Draught beer is $15, domestic $10, imports and local craft $12, with a six-beer bucket at $55.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail menu leans on Hawaiian ingredients like lilikoi, guava, and mac nut orgeat, while the beer list brings in Maui Brewing and Ola Brew. A poolside setting suits the tropical-leaning drinks and frozen options.
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
An extensive signature list spans tiki-inspired rums, agave, gin, and vodka, with creative touches like yuzu curaçao and turmeric. Frozen drinks and a breakfast cocktail menu add range. Seven signature cocktails and several frozen options provide depth beyond a typical pool bar.
Menu strengths
- — Seven signature cocktails with original ingredient combinations, from the 'Alohilani Mai Tai to the ho'ola with 'ōlehena turmeric.
- — Frozen drinks include a Lilikoi Lemonade and Dragon's Breath, broadening the tropical appeal.
- — Breakfast cocktail menu covers Bloody Mary, Mimosa, and Red Beer for early service.
Standout selections
- — 'Alohilani Mai Tai ($25) — Kuleana Nanea rum, Ferrand yuzu curaçao, mac nut orgeat, lime, pineapple, and lilikoi vanilla dark rum foam.
- — Spiced Margarita ($19) — Hornitos cucumber habanero tequila, fresh lime, agave, and cilantro.
- — Guava Lane ($19) — Del Maguey mezcal with guava, cinnamon, and grapefruit.
Pricing: $19–$25 signature; $19 frozen; $15–$17 breakfast
Wine
A compact but well-rounded list covers sparkling, red, rosé, and white. Selections lean on familiar names like Veuve Clicquot and J. Lohr, with a Provence rosé and Caymus red blend. Bottle pricing tops out at $175.
Menu strengths
- — Four wine styles represented, from sparkling to rosé, giving flexibility for different occasions.
- — Several options available by both glass and bottle, including Mionetto Prosecco and Seaglass Pinot Noir.
- — Inclusion of Veuve Clicquot Brut offers a premium sparkling choice.
Standout selections
- — Mionetto Avante Garde Prosecco ($12/$55) — Treviso DOC, Italy.
- — Domaines OTT Rosé ($14/$55) — Provence, France.; Conundrum Red Blend ($14/$52) — Caymus, California.
Pricing: $12–$16 by the glass; $52–$175 by the bottle
Beer
The beer menu mixes Kona draughts with local craft from Maui Brewing, Ola Brew, and Kohala Brewery. A domestic option and a bucket deal keep things casual. Prices are straightforward, with draft at $15.
Menu strengths
- — Local Hawaiian craft representation includes Maui Brewing's Pineapple Mana and Ola Brew's Ma'a.
- — Draught list features Kona's Big Wave Golden Ale and Longboard Lager.
- — A six-beer bucket for $55 suits group drinking by the pool.
Standout selections
- — Pineapple Mana ($12) — Maui Brewing Co., wheat ale at 5.5% ABV.
- — Ma'a ($12) — Ola Brew, island lager at 5.1% ABV.
- — Lahaina Haze ($12) — Kohala Brewery, hazy IPA at 6.3% ABV.
Pricing: $10–$15 per pint; $55 bucket of six
Nonalcoholic
A dedicated Free Spirited menu includes mocktails like Queens Julep and Virgin Lava Flow, while a Matcha Latte and fresh juices round out options. Customers note the passionfruit lemonade as refreshing and well-balanced for warm days.
Menu strengths
- — Free Spirited cocktails are crafted with ingredients like sumac syrup and fresh watermelon juice.
- — A Matcha Latte with coconut milk and maple syrup offers a nonalcoholic coffee alternative.
- — Passionfruit lemonade receives customer praise for being refreshing and well-balanced.
Standout selections
- — Queens Julep ($15) — fresh watermelon juice, mint, soda, sumac simple syrup, lime.
- — Virgin Lava Flow — coconut, pineapple, strawberry.; Passionfruit lemonade — refreshing and well-balanced, praised by customers.
Pricing: $15 Free Spirited cocktails; $7 soft drinks, juices, and iced tea
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