Since its legendary opening in 1927, The Royal Hawaiian—fondly dubbed the “Pink Palace of the Pacific”—has anchored Waikiki romance, welcoming royalty, Hollywood icons, and travelers to its oceanfront Mai Tai Bar.

Key Takeaways

  • No reservations: The Mai Tai Bar is first come, first served, open daily 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. (last call 10:45 p.m.), with food from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. as of October 2026.
  • What a mai tai costs: The Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai is $22, Vic’s 44 (a take on the 1944 original) is $21 and the aged-rum Ali’i Mai Tai is $40, before tax and tip.
  • Best time to go: Arrive by 4:30 or 5 p.m. for a front-row table before sunset; live music plays every day from 6 to 10 p.m. To stay near the evening action, see where to stay for Waikiki nightlife.
  • Centennial year: The hotel turns 100 on February 1, 2027, and Royal Hawaiian Mai Tais bought in October 2026 help fund Hawaii nonprofits chosen for the celebration.

The Legendary Mai Tai Story

While “Trader Vic” Bergeron invented the Mai Tai in California in 1944, he was hired by The Royal Hawaiian in 1953 to create its official island version, introducing pineapple and orange juices to harmonize with dark Jamaican rum and orange curaçao. Sitting beneath the pink umbrellas at the beachfront Mai Tai Bar remains a timeless Hawaiian rite of passage.

Experience Aspect The Royal Hawaiian Reality
The Historic Setting Moorish-Spanish pink stucco architecture set amid lush sacred coconut groves
Signature Drink The Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai ($22): silver rum, orgeat, fresh pineapple and orange juice, dark rum float
Atmosphere Relaxed historic elegance with toes-in-the-sand views of Diamond Head surfers
Bakery Treat Royal Hawaiian Bakery banana bread and the signature Pink Snowball cake

Check Rates at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Visiting the Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai Bar: Hours, Seats and Rules

The Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai Bar sits right on the sand at 2259 Kalakaua Avenue, between the hotel’s pink facade and the surf breaks off central Waikiki, with Diamond Head framing the view to the east. It is one of the few bars in Waikiki where you can sip a cocktail a few steps from the water.

  • Hours: open daily 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; cocktails until 10:45 p.m., lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (last order 9:45 p.m.).
  • Seating: no reservations; tables are first come, first served. Groups of five or more pay a 20% service charge.
  • Music: live Hawaiian music daily from 6 to 10 p.m.
  • Dress: resort casual; swimwear cover-ups are fine at lunch, but most people dress up a little for sunset.
  • Takeout: call the hotel operator and ask for the Mai Tai Bar, or order with a staff member. Food and soft drinks can be delivered to the hotel’s pink beach umbrella sets, but state law bans alcohol service on the sand.

There is no happy hour listed as of October 2026. If you want discounted drinks first, see our best happy hours in Waikiki, then come here for one celebratory round.

What to Order: Mai Tais, Pink Snowballs and Pupus

The October 2026 menu lists five mai tais, so it pays to know the difference.

Drink Price What’s in it
Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai $22 Silver rum, orgeat, fresh pineapple and orange juice, dark rum float
Vic’s 44 $21 Aged rum, dark rum, dry curaçao, orgeat, fresh lime
White Wash $21 Silver rum, dry curaçao, orgeat, lime, pineapple, dark rum and coco foam
Rye Tai $20 Rye whiskey, orgeat, pineapple, lemon, bitters
Ali’i Mai Tai $40 Hawaiian agricole and 15-year rum, dry curaçao, orgeat, pineapple, lime, coco foam

First-timers should start with the Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai, the sweet, fruity island style; cocktail purists will prefer Vic’s 44, which is tart and rum-forward. Beer drinkers can try the Royal Sunset Ale ($11), a pink-hued cream ale with a hint of dragon fruit brewed by Honolulu Beerworks exclusively for the hotel.

Food is island-style American: the Royal Double Smashed Burger ($31), a lobster roll ($38), an ahi poke bowl ($31) and garlicky South Shore shrimp ($31). Save room for the Pink Snowball ($15), a vanilla sponge cake with haupia (coconut) cream and coconut flakes. In the morning, the Royal Hawaiian Bakery sells the hotel’s famous banana bread from 6 a.m. to noon.

The History Behind the Pink Palace and Its Mai Tai

The Royal Hawaiian opened on February 1, 1927. Matson Navigation Co. spent $4 million building a six-story, Spanish-Moorish resort for its steamship passengers, painted it pink and earned it the nickname “Pink Palace of the Pacific.” The site was once home to Queen Kaahumanu’s summer palace, and the hotel’s Coconut Grove recalls the royal grove that stood here.

  • World War II: after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Navy leased the hotel as a rest and recreation center for service members; it reopened to guests in 1947 after a full restoration.
  • The mai tai: Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron created the drink in Oakland, California, in 1944. In 1953 it was brought to Hawaii and first served at The Royal Hawaiian, where pineapple and orange juice gave it the fruity island character it still has.
  • The original recipe: the hotel publishes a version with 1 oz light rum, 1 oz dark rum, half an ounce each of orange curaçao and orgeat, 2 oz pineapple juice and 1 oz orange juice, finished with a dark rum float.

Guests can also browse the hotel’s Historic Gallery of archival photos and exhibits, and the shops and free cultural classes of the Royal Hawaiian Center are right next door. For the best light, time your visit with our Waikiki sunset guide.

Where to Stay Nearby

Staying at the Pink Palace itself makes the Mai Tai Bar your backyard; our Royal Hawaiian review explains the Historic Wing versus the Mailani Tower. If you are torn between two historic icons, read Moana Surfrider vs. Royal Hawaiian. For a lower rate next door, the Sheraton Waikiki shares the same beach, and its guests can use the Stay at One, Dine at All program, which extends dining benefits across the Sheraton, Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surfrider.

Find Hotels Near Your Plans

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a reservation for the Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian?

No. The Mai Tai Bar states that it does not take reservations and seats guests on a first come, first served basis. For a beachfront table at sunset, arrive by 4:30 or 5 p.m., especially on weekends and holidays, and be ready to wait a little.

How much is a mai tai at the Royal Hawaiian?

On the October 2026 menu, the Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai costs $22, Vic’s 44 and the White Wash are $21, the Rye Tai is $20 and the premium Ali’i Mai Tai is $40. Hawaii’s general excise tax and a tip are added to the bill.

Was the mai tai invented at the Royal Hawaiian?

No. Trader Vic Bergeron created the mai tai in Oakland, California, in 1944. The Royal Hawaiian says the drink was brought to Hawaii in 1953 and first served at the hotel, where the fruity island version with pineapple and orange juice became famous.

Is there live music at the Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai Bar?

Yes. The bar has live Hawaiian music every day from 6 to 10 p.m. It is open from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., so you can also visit at lunch for a quieter drink and a clear view of Diamond Head.

Can non-guests visit the Mai Tai Bar?

Yes. The Mai Tai Bar is open to everyone, not only hotel guests. Walk in from Kalakaua Avenue through the hotel grounds or along the beach path; there is no cover charge, and you simply wait for the next free table.

Photo credits