The key thing to remember when heading out for the evening in Hawaii is you’re no longer on the mainland. Things are much more relaxed at night in Hawaii and although dress clothes are welcome, they’re definitely not a necessity, so leave your fancy club costumes at home and come to Hawaii prepared to relax and take it slow.

If you’re looking for something similar to the big city then Pipeline Café is where you want to spend your evening. The club has recently gone through some changes and is prepared to offer its guests even more excitement and fun. The club’s major focus is the live concerts (and even comedy shows on Wednesdays) with each night of the week featuring a different theme. This two-story club has separate rooms for dancing, pool, relaxing and the concerts. The upstairs area is built like a skybox and gives visitors an incredible view of the concert below. The Pipeline Café’s crowd is generally filled with twenty-somethings and the real excitement doesn’t start until after midnight. But once it gets going, Pipeline Café is one of the hottest nightclubs around.

Another nightclub that tries to mirror its big city siblings is Venus. Again, theme nights reign supreme at Venus but this club doesn’t focus on music genres for its themes, it goes out on a little bit of a limb and focuses on risqué topics. Sunday’s focus, what else – sex. Monday is all about promotions and something new and different is featured every week. Wednesdays are deemed wet and wild with an all male review and a hot DJ for serious dancing. Thursdays routinely feature Cukie Jones and the Babettes or Aiko’s Extravaganza Spectacular Review. Fridays feature more of the male review and some Las Vegas style excitement. Not your traditional relaxed Hawaiian atmosphere, Venus offers a lot of excitement and variety to those seeking stories to bring home to their friends.

For the perfect mix of trendy and old school (meaning those over 30 are also welcome) give Zanzabar Nightclub a try. This nightclub prides itself on the amount of money they’ve put into their club which doesn’t much matter if the DJ’s don’t rock and the clients aren’t hot. Luckily for Zanzabar, they’ve got all of that and more. You’ll hear the rhetoric that more than $6 million was spent on the club and that they’re the number one spot for tourists and locals alike, but don’t let the hyperbole scare you away. Definitely worth a visit, especially if you want to see and be seen. Hawaii is not known for its high-energy night life but Zanzabar is loaded with energy and keeps the party going all night.

If you’re looking for a good drink, a simple bar meal and a laid back evening then Moose Mcgillycuddy’s With happy hour happening every day from 4pm to 7pm it’s the perfect post shopping or after beach retreat for dinner. While traditional bar food is the norm, Moose Mcgillycuddy’s also serves up some great unexpected dishes including the seafood staple of the Hawaiian Islands. If you’re looking for a little more excitement, stay where you are. As the day drifts into night Moose Mcgillycuddy’s picks up steam and by the time the DJ rolls in you’ve gone from laid back restaurant/pub to happening how spot.

If a brew pub is more your speed then downtown Honolulu’s Brew Moon is just your speed. More laid back than a nightclub yet more upscale than a bar, Brew Moon features lunch and dinner menus with standard pub fare and their own award-winning, hand-crafted beers. This relaxing restaurant has been popular with the locals since it opened and is beginning to gain a pretty solid reputation among tourists. Weekdays feature shoppers, beach goers and people who have just gotten off work. Weekends can get crowded, especially when there is musical entertainment.

For fine dining with nightclub options, Indigo is an excellent choice. The cuisine is a fusion of French, modern Asian, and Mediterranean cuisine and a delight to all who come to dine. Once you’ve had your fill of food, leave a little room for after dinner drinks and enjoy the nightly music themes and drink specials. This is an excellent restaurant for a couple who is looking for a romantic Hawaiian experience. Not as laid back as some clubs and not as trendy and loud as others, it begs for romance.

The Mai Tai Bar originally cropped up on Oahu but now one can be found in Daytona and one is located in Long Beach. But each Mai Tai Bar offers its own little taste of the area and is uniquely spectacular. The unifying theme of each bar is the tropical feel. Drinks are exceptional and often times strong, the food carries the tropical theme and the nighttime brings a new wave of excitement. The Oahu Mai Tai Bar is located in the famous Ala Moana Center which makes it the perfect stop after a day of shopping. The casual elegance, the comfortable seating and relaxing atmosphere is an excellent escape.

Duke’s Barefoot Bar is probably what most tourists are thinking about when they picture Hawaiian bars and nightlife. With an open atmosphere and a view of the ocean, Duke’s gives you’re an unpretentious atmosphere in which to relax with your friends or loved one and simply watch the beauty that is Hawaii. Casual, quaint and with a weekend schedule of just the right tunes, Duke’s Barefoot Bar serves up the best of Hawaiian style.

Enjoy your nightlife even more by saving money on your hotel in Hawaii at Hotels Cheap.

(cc: photo credit: MarDodd)