LA Mariana Restaurant & Bar, Honolulu

This was the Hawaii / Oahu we were hoping to find and we are so happy that upon our arrival to Oahu, we had a our first meal on our trip at La Mariana. Our son and his girl friend had found this treasure of a Hide away Tiki Bar straight out of the 1940s on their first night and decided to bring us there for our first dinner in Hawaii. Our vacation was 15 days long and we dinned there 3 times. La Mariana should be made part of anyone's itinerary while in Oahu for its off the beaten path and a little difficult to find...but the guarantee is this...The sunsets are second to none, The drinks are top shelf, The food is great, and the ambiance is old school Hawaii. If your lucky enough, Lady Lorna will be singing a few songs in the Tiki Bar that night... Dan & Rose Fialko Homer Glen, Illinois

Food is great and atmosphere is something right out of Hawaii 5-O. Marina and airport right there just waiting for the deal to go down.... Lots of industry in the area to complete the look but it's safe and well lit.

The best "old Hawaii" Tikki bar you will find.. There is a lot of love in this place. I love Thursday nights when all the old timers (80) plus come out and have a great time..

Did not like this restaurant at all. Service was extremely friendly, but food was below average standards. I ordered the open faced turkey sandwich and it was nothing to write home about. My boyfriend ordered the calamari steak and offered some of his mashed potatoes...when I took a bite, they were COLD...not even room temperature but cold. The waitress was so friendly instead of bringing it up to her, we just ate our food and left. Just like the Crouching Lion Inn...food is way overrated, people are friendly, and I won't return. As for the tiki bar, I could care less...I pay for the food, not the ambiance, and the food was edible, but lousy. Damn Rachel Ray for advertising this place.

After a few missed turns we finally found La Mariana. Fortunately in time to see the sunset over Keehi and the La Mariana Sailing Club. I would have enjoyed knocking back a few My Thais in the Kon Tiki Bar, but our group was hungry. My scampi was good but others ordering the Ahi complained that it was over cooked. Unanimously we agreed that ours or anyone's Hawaiian experience is enhanced by a trip to La Mariana. Two blind gentlemen provided the music: one skillfully on the piano and the other on bongo drums. Normally this enough would provide a lasting memory. What I will mainly remember is a throwback to an Hawaii Five-O experience in a place that made this mainlander feel like a local. Go there !!

It’s a Tiki place like any other – only more so. Deliciously tacky. OK food, OK price. Go for the awesome atomosphere. The fact that it’s sooooo hard to find makes all the better when you finally do.

Christmas Eve at LaMariana was a pleasant surprise. Among our party of 5, we came up with many of the lyrics to most of the songs played by the blind pianist. It is amazing that we finished our delicous meals considering we sang almost from start to finish. The mahi mahi florentine was as good as I remembered from 5 years ago. I ordered the rice (standard local fare) when I found out the potatoes are fake. No big deal. Talk about not talking with your mouth full, we sang! I was smiling so hard my head hurt. One of us knew many of the songs from the 40's that her father used to sing. She ordered the stuffed eggplant and said it was good. Someone else ordered the steak and lobster and said it was good. Another of us would make the, "Time to take a break" announcement at the just the right times when the pianist was taking a break. We laughed and ate and sang. Best of all, it was a nearly private party. We were seated at a large table two feet from the piano and only two other window tables were taken but the occupants left early. The few patrons at the bar were far enough away to make it seem like we had the place to ourselves. We are planning a return trip for a Birthday celebration. Good feelings all around.

the food is OK but the place is awesome great drinks live piano bar and one of the last real tiki bars to be found

Go if you read the other reviews and feel you must see the place but a word of caution. The place is way overpriced for what you get. Dehydrated instant mashed potatoes do not belong on a entree plate costing $18. The service was lackluster. Kitchy is one thing but old dirty seat cushions are not. If you really want to see the place then go there planning on only having a round of drinks, belly up to the bar, look around and then go spend your dining dollars at someplace getting by on taste not tacky.

I love la Mariana, it's my first stop after the airport...I grew up in the 60s heyday of tiki bars and much prefer bamboo and lauhala mat ambience to waikiki modern chrome and glass...this and a few precious other island institutions tucked into odd corners are all that remains of HI of the 50s and 60s, let's treasure them. if you must have the newest and most expensive restaurant experience to brag on, kindly avoid la Mariana. If you miss Tops Waikiki and King's Bakery, this is a nostalgic remnant of those times.