This is the place

Mai Tai Bar

There’s an old Hawaiian saying that’s impossible to repeat after even one Mai Tai: “A’a i ka hula, waiho i ka maka’u i ka hale.” Roughly translated it means, “Dare to dance, leave shame at home”. That, more than anything, sums up the Hawaiian vibe and the lure of the Mai Tai Bar, located at the heart of The Royal Hawaiian Resort, unmissable on Honolulu’s seafront thanks to its flamingo-hued façade.

But this isn’t just any Mai Tai bar. It’s a place where you can walk in barefoot and be welcomed by big smiles, open arms and a round of drinks. It’s where the 1950s and ’60s A-list – from Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra to the Beatles – came to kick back and quaff the tropical rum concoction as the riotous pinks of an ocean sunset mirrored the hotel behind them.

Since then, nothing much has changed at this seaside spot. Locals and visitors still flock here for sundowners, the metronomic crash and hiss of the waves punctuating colourful tales told in even more colourful shirts. The in-demand seats are the dozen or so stools at the bar because the best stories are told by the bartenders, most of whom have been mixing drinks here for years.

There are now seven Mai Tais to choose from but the Royal Mai Tai is the original – it was created in 1953 – and arguably the greatest. So put your toes in the sand, feel the gentle trade wind blowing away the heat of the day and toast a Honolulu sunset.

2259 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu; royal-hawaiian.com