The 5 Best Places To Eat Outside in Ward and Kaka‘ako Right Now

When one door shuts, the outdoors open. Here are some of our favorite restaurants in Honolulu for dining alfresco.

Find more outdoor dining options in the August issue of HONOLULU. Look for it in our online store.

Photo: Katie Kenny

Aloha Beer Co.

When breweries in the area reopened, Aloha Beer Co. flexed its outdoor seating. The street level parking area once used for private gatherings is now a beautifully socially distanced lānai with low tops, high tops and adorable tables for two in front of the purple houses in the back. What else has it changed? The menu. Now guests can order thin crust pizzas from the popular Saturday morning market pie guy Fatto a Mano (@fattoamanohi), who has set up shop at the dog-friendly local brewery with six delicious options. One of our favorites is the From the Garden vegan pizza, which comes with tomato sauce, spinach, marinated artichoke hearts and roasted mushrooms (we add a sneaky bit of cheese too). It pairs so nicely with the Waimānalo Farmhouse Ale (a Belgian-style brew) and the Red Zeppelin (a deep red, old-school IPA).–KK

700 Queen St., (808) 544-1605, alohabeer.com, @alohabeercokakaako

SEE ALSO: The 4 Best Places To Eat Outside in Chinatown

Photo: Katie Kenny

Merriman’s Street Burger and Beer Garden

Update in December: Full service at Merriman’s has reopened

On July 5, Merriman’s Honolulu announced a new pop-up concept. It promised burgers, hot dogs, Mexican street corn ($5), Caesar salad ($7), New England clam chowder with bacon ($8), a Beyond vegan bratwurst ($10), wine ($9 per glass), and local brews from Waikīkī Brewing Co. ($6) and Paradise Ciders ($9). It didn’t take long for the (socially distant) lines to form on its V-shaped lānai along Auahi and Kamakeʻe streets. Right at the point of that V is a huge barbecue filled with various juicy meats. My prayers have been answered. Maybe it was the social post; maybe it was the drool-worthy smells wafting through the streets that pulled the masses back to the Ward neighborhood spot.—KK

Open daily 11 a.m.–8 p.m., 1108 Auahi St., (808) 215-0022, @merrimanshonolulu

SEE ALSO: 10 We Tried: The Most Pet-Friendly Bars and Restaurants on O‘ahu to Grab a Drink With Your Dog

Moku Kitchen

Update in December: Moku Kitchen has partially reopened

Some nights you just want to stare at people, preferably with a Muscat Mule cocktail in one hand (with house-made cayenne ginger beer) and a slice of Hāmākua mushroom pizza drizzled with truffle oil in the other. A railing is the only thing that separates the outdoor seats at Moku Kitchen from all the action so you can check out the line upstairs at Butcher & Bird or all the folks strolling across the courtyard. The quieter outdoor area is also better for conversation. Make reservations early, especially if you plan to show up before 5:30 p.m. or after 9 when the half-off-all-small-plates deal draws a crowd. –CY

660 Ala Moana Blvd., (808) 591-6658, mokukitchen.com, @mokukitchen

Piggy Smalls

Say goodbye to Piggy Smalls’ long communal outdoor table (or good riddance, from those of us who never liked eating that close to strangers, anyway). With Smalls reopening on Dec. 17, the covered corridor now hosts small parties on separate tables for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, plus brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Stand on the cute pig markers while you wait to check in, use the proper doors (one-way only) and enjoy a bowl from the new rotating menu of 12 Vietnamese noodle soups. –KV

1200 Ala Moana Blvd., (808) 777-3588, thepigandthelady.com/piggysmalls, @piggysmallshawaii

SEE ALSO: These 4 Popular Honolulu Eateries Are Making it Big in Japan

Photo: David Croxford

Waikīkī Brewing Co.

All tables at Waikīkī Brewing Co. are technically alfresco. The neighborhood brewery reopened in June with six picnic tables with umbrellas set up next to an Instagram-friendly, fresh-from-February Pow! Wow! mural—the black-and-white artwork accentuates the hues of your pint of beer. While we did love playing cornhole, giant Connect Four and Jenga, and watching kids chalk up the ground before COVID-19, guests are now asked to stick to their designated tables. It doesn’t dampen the mood. There’s always a line (make a reservation!), the food and drinks arrive fast and if you bring your dogs with you, they’re sure to be less skittish without the sound of Jenga blocks falling all around them.–KK

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

SEE ALSO: Here’s What It’s Like Grabbing a Beer at Waikīkī Brewing Co. in Kaka‘ako During Quarantine