Bar Leather Apron

This place has been on our list to visit once we arrived in Hawaii. We've been trying to get reservations here and being that this bar is one of the top 50 bars in the nation, it's pretty hard to get reservations. We couldn't get reservations online so we decided to take our chance and walk in. The bar is tucked inside the Topa Financial Center in downtown. Walking inside the center, I wouldn't even have thought a bar would've been in here. Pretty cool how it's tucked away. We got there a few minutes after they opened and the gentleman was able to let us sit at the bar. We were extremely lucky since there was a cancellation last minute. I can see why this place can get packed. It's very intimate and not a lot of seating. Justin took care of us and the drinks were amazing!!! His drinks and presentation is definitely a work of art. It was hard not to try the whole menu!Matcha old fashioned 10/10Leather soul 10/10 Japan 10/10Espresso martini 10/10 (has pandan in it)I'm not kidding when I say that all the drinks blew our mind. Each drink had its own unique twist and flavor. We loved all of it! Our top two had to be the leather soul definitely. The flavor was so rich and I never knew I would like a drink with tobacco in it. The second one we enjoyed is the matcha old fashioned. Never had an old fashioned with matcha before and I never would've thought it be good, but damn... that drink was so good. Every time we visit the family in Hawaii, this place is a MUST visit for us. We enjoyed the experience and the drinks. The service was top tier and I'm so glad we tried this bar finally! Thank you Justin!

I have been dying to visit Bar Leather Apron (BLA) for quite sometime now. Luckily, I was able to visit this amazing establishment and I had a memorable evening. Know before you go- reservations are highly recommended and can be difficult to get. They do accept a limited number of walk-ins. FYI: Bar leather apron is located towards the Fort Street Mall tower. Bar leather apron is a cozy and intimate bar offering limited bar seating as well as a small lounge area with several tables. For the best experience, I highly recommend sitting at the bar during your visit. It promises a truly delightful bar experience.I had such a great time savoring their specialty cocktails as a big fan of old-fashioned drinks and whiskey. It's hard to choose a favorite when I enjoyed the Matcha, Imperial, and Japan signature cocktail so much. The bartenders were a delight - they were so friendly and informative. I loved how they explained the ingredients and how everything came together to perfectly complement the whiskey.My visit to Bar Leather Apron was truly memorable and enjoyable. Wonderful cocktails and great service. I'm a fan! Can't wait to return soon for another memorable evening

Was lucky enough to snag a last minute reservation on a Friday evening. Bar leather apron is located on the lobby level (if you're taking the elevator) of a financial building. The space is very intimate. Justin was our bartender, and he thoroughly explained each drink as he made it. We had the mai tai, imperial old fashioned, sagano smoke, and leather soul. All of these drinks were tasty and balanced. It's really cool to meet someone who is so passionate about his craft. Would love to come again to try more of the menu!

This place is utterly amazing! We were lucky to get added to a reservation last minute and now I'm waiting to see when I can make my own reservation. Staff is awesome: friendly, knowledgeable, skilled cocktail artisans. The space is small and dark which makes for an intimate setting for amazing drinks. Certainly a memorable experience that few other bars could rival.It's amazing how reasonably priced the drinks are considering so many of the ingredients are made in house and the ice is hand sculpted. I'm not a whiskey girl so I really enjoyed the flowers for you, boomerang, and their take on the gin and tonic of. All fresh, fragrant, and so easy to drink. It's easy to see why their Mai tai was named world's best! It really was one of the best drinks I've ever had. Fun presentation that slayed the taste buds.We didn't eat much but the milk bread was really tasty and the chocolates they give at the end are really a nice finish to the evening.While they do take walk ins, consider calling ahead to see if they have the man power to serve.I'll be back!

Very interesting list of cocktails that you won't find anywhere else. A lot of Japanese ingredients. If you're into craft cocktails, this is the place to be if you're able to get a reservation or score a seat with walk-in. Drinks were overall good with quality alcohol and ingredients. I wish the appetizers were closer to perfection given the price they charged but still decent enough although we didn't finish everything so definitely they could be better. Amazing price with the entry level Kaluga hybrid caviar (1oz) upgrade for just $65. Worth the upgrade. However, the menu said it's imperial golden osetra (which generally is more expensive than kaluga hybrid) so that was a little misleading on the menu. I enjoyed the kaluga hybrid at least. I tried 3 drinks - Imperial, La Altena and Fruity and Floral. The Suntory whisky in Imperial was smooth! I could also taste the shiso in the drink, but the whole drink was a little too sweet for me. I think I'd prefer to just drink the whisky by itself lol. La Altena was definitely on the spicy side haha. Smooth tequila as well, but I didn't enjoy the drink as much as I was hoping to. I kind wish I ordered their Mai tai instead for my 2nd drink but I don't think I could handle a 3rd alcoholic drink lol so I went for their zero proof fruity and floral. The egg white and hojicha gave it a good umami flavor, and the frozen apple tasted like dipping dots! That was a very interesting drink and I gotta say it's ironically my favorite one out of the three...Highly recommend the smoked salmon dip! I wish the bread was a little fresher. The onion and scallion dip was good too, but again, the chips could be made better - they're too thick, over fried and over seasoned. None of us could finish it. The cheese and salami had some good options in there. I liked the figs, the cashews, salami and cheese. The pickled cucumber was a little too sweet for me. The Kaluga hybrid caviar had a good briny taste and buttery finish, but didn't have much of a pop, but it's excellent for the price point. Still wish it was the golden imperial osetra as stated on the menu. The service was excellent! Everyone was very nice and attentive. They care. It's amazing to see Jason do his magic in front of us. I don't see a point to come here unless you can sit at the bar for the full experience. That's part of your drink and the price you pay!

I've been wanting to try this place for over a long time now and FINALLY got a chance a chance to go!! Luckily it was early on a Wednesday night and we were able to walk in without reservations. But with only two guys working they limited the seating. Located in the a tiny intimate space with a bar and some tables I heard that the best seats are at the bar with front row seats so you can see the bartenders do their thing. We were seated on a table where we couldn't see but it's ok because we were engaged in conversation all night. Love that we all got different things and got to try each other's drinks. Everything was crafted with excellent care and beautifully and articulately presented with a short narrative about each drink. The starred ones were my faves. Round 1: ***E ho'o pau mai tai-12 year rum, spices: orgeat, fig lime, absinthe, keawe wood smoke. My friend said this was the world's best mai tai. I always wonder how anyone can make that claim unless they have literally travelled the world and tasted every maitai. They might not be wrong though, because this award winning drink was one of the best maitais I've ever had!!! Not too sweet, much more complex than your typical beach drink, and full of wonderful flavors! Masterfully made! **Kisetsu Sour/ lilikoi - changes seasonally - Nikka Coffey gin, mason pepper, yuzu, bergamot, lilikoi, lemon, tonic . This drink changes with the "seasons". Beautiful, refreshing and too easy to drink!Espresso martini- haku vodka, pandan, cynar, sesame, cold brew, whole egg. They smoke the espresso beans in front of you. My friend liked his drink more than I did. Round 2: Red Shiso smash- (not on the menu)-Toki, red shiso, lemon, yuzu, wasabon sugar, soda. Good but not my favorite. ***El Umami- tequila, mezcal, bergamot, strawberry, tomato, bergamot- lovely in looks and taste! A little sweet, a little smoky. Roma Norte- mezcal, chile verde, grapefruit, honey, black pepper, frozen apple. Super cool presentation. Good if you like smoky. ***Smoked salmon- bourbon smoked salmon, wasabi, dill oil, smoked trout roe. Soooo good! Great for sharing. Excellent servers knew we'd need more bread. Complimentary:Rice ball snacks Dessert: Ganache with yuzu- a perfect ending! Service by the guy in the leather apron and hat (sorry didn't catch his name ) was top notch. We were very well attended to. Love that they fill chilled water without having to be asked through the evening. I can see why people love this place and why it's James Beard worthy! Drinks nowadays are pricey everywhere. Theirs come with creativity, care, craftsmanship and class which give them more value than those at most other bars.

This bar is hidden inside of a conference building where every door is locked besides one. So you have to play charades trying to figure out which door to get in. Walked around the building twice trying to figure that out. Called the number listed with no answer. Even when you get inside the building you have to active your spider senses to find your way. Yelp says they close at 12. It's 11:20 when we arrive, the host says they do last call at 11:30. And adds that the last "seating" is at 10:30. ?? So can we order a drink or not lol. She said we already did last call LOL how long does it take to make a drink? Im not ordering a well done tomahawk with a twice baked potato. If Places that need to come with a treasure map to find it are your thing then this is the spot for you. If confusing guest is apart of the experience, they aced that. Wasted time and petty pocket change with a uber back and forth. Lesson learned. Do with that information what you will.

Our visit last night reminded me why Bar Leather Apron is the best cocktail experience in all of Hawaii. Justin and his team provide the most incredible service during each visit. The best seats are at the intimate wooden bar and every cocktail is truly a craftsmanship. They display all of the ingredients that go into your libation and watching them curate each drink is the best part. Their menu and liquor collection is so impressive and will blow any whiskey and bourbon aficionados minds! Getting a reservation here feels almost nearly impossible at times as they've gained so much popularity over the years with their awards and accolades. You can try your luck at making a reservation the first of every month. However, the lounge area welcomes walk ins and is well worth the wait.

I would definitely come back here for a nice evening cocktail. Note that you can either walk in or reserve seats on their website. However, the venue can only fit up to 16 seats. Yes, the venue is small yet a hidden gem. The reserved seating is right at the bar where the staff kindly pushes your seat in when you sit down. The ambiance is casual and not too loud with classic jazz music and covers but with jazz style. The venue is quite dim too but it's a nice touch to represent the drinks at the bar with the stage lighting. It's a nice little show where the mixologists present the ingredients and explain where these ingredients are originated from that will be mixed into your drink. I like how not only they present the ingredients but they also explain how they mix it (ex: fatwashing, dry washing, etc.). Lots of knowledge is explained for every drink and i feel like it's best that you see and hear it for yourself. The drinks overall, fantastic with a nice class-A buzz for the end of the night hehe.

This was one of my favorite bars that I've tried in Honolulu. Justin Park was such an awesome bartender/owner and paired each step of the mixing process with a masterful knowledge of each ingredient to help patrons better appreciate the different components of each cocktail as they are being crafted. Justin elevated the cocktail making experience with a flair for entertainment spectacle! The food was phenomenal and was just the right portions for an evening round of drinks!