5 Restaurants, Bars and Breweries for Football Sunday Brunch in Honolulu

Thanks to early kickoff times, Sunday now means new breakfast and brew options.

Photo: Courtesy of Waikīkī Brewing Co. 

Football Sunday begins earlier in Hawai‘i than anywhere else in the country. Though at least we get to sleep in an extra hour—thanks to daylight saving time, NFL games now start at 8 a.m. in Hawai‘i. But whether you’re a football fan or not, football season is an opportunity for new Sunday breakfast choices—with a side of triumph and despair on screen and from the armchair athletes around you. 

Here are a few of our favorite spots that open early for Football Sunday breakfast and brews:

Waikīkī Brewing Co. in Kaka‘ako

By 8 a.m. during football season, fans can find a welcoming home at Waikīkī Brewing Co.’s Kaka‘ako location. The flavorful but unfussy food and drinks align with the convivial indoor/outdoor atmosphere. The Sunday brunch menu, served from an on-site food truck, includes a brisket Benedict ($14)—the traditional brunch staple topped with a Kona coffee rubbed beef brisket, along with a side of smoked smashed potatoes. On Football Sunday, the Aloha Spirit Blonde Ale is just $5 a pint. 

831 Queen St., (808) 591-0387, waikikibrewing.com

SEE ALSO: The Most Dog-Friendly Bars and Restaurants on O‘ahu

Pitch Sports Bar

If open-air microbreweries aren’t your style, Pitch Sports Bar provides a refuge from the humidity (though the AC can’t do much when tempers get heated). Located on the second floor of Kaka‘ako’s SALT, this intimate space serves beers and bar fare including a short rib loco moco ($18) and chicharron ($11), a basket of fried pork and chicken skins. 

685 Auahi St. Suite 216/217, (808) 379-2550, pitchsportsbar.com

SEE ALSO: How to Build the Perfect Plate at a Brunch Buffet in Hawai‘i

Smith & Kings

Breakfast shots ($9) with maple syrup and candied bacon, mimosa pitchers ($14) with sparkling wine and POG and liliko‘i juice—Smith & Kings is the place to be if you’re looking for a nonbeer buzz. The Southern-inspired fare includes chicken and waffles ($18) and pork belly ($5). The eight large TVs play football and, if you need a break to get your blood pressure down, Bob Ross painting videos.

69 N. King St., (808) 537-2222, smithandkings.website

SEE ALSO: Drink Local Guide: Where to Get Locally Brewed Craft Beer in Honolulu

Side Street Inn on da Strip

The Kapahulu location opens at 8 a.m. on Football Sundays with TVs turned up and a brunch menu with portions to feed your entire football fantasy league. The short but sweet menu includes oxtail soup ($15.75) and pork chop moco ($15.50). Drink a Hail Marrrray ($7), with a housemade bloody mary mix, or, depending on where your loyalties lie, The Saints ($7), with grapefruit juice and vodka. Brunch runs from 7 to 10:30 a.m. with the regular lunch menu beginning at 11. Throughout the day, football fans and enthusiastic staff keep the mood light as beer, cocktails and food flow freely along with each NFL game. The only challenge is parking. If using the adjacent lot, be sure to pay at the machine. 

614 Kapahulu Ave. #100, (808) 739-3939, sidestreetinn.com

Pint + Jigger

Photo: STEVE CZERNIAK

Football and Pint + Jigger go together like Tom Brady and the Patriots. Open in time for kickoff, Pint + Jigger offers mimosas for $8 and menu options include a Monte Cristo ($12)—basically, a deep-fried ham and cheese sandwich—and crepes ($10) that are like an apple banana cream pie in crêpe form. Or you could go for the parfait ($6.50) with oatmeal cooked in whiskey and stout, which might be the only way to get us to eat oatmeal at a bar. Or not. During breaks, head to the shuffleboard in the back for a less concussing sport.

1936 S. King St., (808) 744-9593, pintandjigger.com