Located on Waikiki Beach, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel is also known as the Pink Palace Hotel and you can definitely see why. Next to all the modern hotels and high rises, the Royal Hawaiian’s Spanish architecture and color makes it stand out. We’re so glad we pulled the trigger and decided to extend our stay just to experience this hotel. See here for our list of to dos in North Shore and here for nearby Waikiki and South Shore List
Hotel Grounds
I don’t know if there’s an ugly part to this hotel. The Spanish architecture, the color, and the furniture make the hotel feel so charming and elegant.
Hotel Bar: Mai Tai Bar
Nothing more inviting than being situated right on Waikiki Beach under pink umbrellas. Noteworthy items to try are obviously its namesake, the Royal Mai Tai (available in a pineapple too) and the Hawaiian Blues. Can’t remember how many of these we ended up ordering during our stay here. Drinks are pretty pricey ($30 for pineapple drink) but hey, YOLO. They also offer a hibiscus Hefeweizen on tap that’s pink but I’d say you can probably pass on it. Did I mention, great place to people watch and see all sorts of interesting people?
Hotel Dining: Azure
Royal Hawaiian has a few dining options, but the one we tried was breakfast at Azure. It’s right next to the Mai Tai Bar so you get great ocean views. Surprisingly, the food was really good, especially the omelet. It’s also great if you come for an earlier breakfast since the beach will be empty so you can enjoy a romantic sunrise.
Hotel Pool
Royal Hawaiian has the smallest pool ever…but to make up for it, they share the pool with its neighbor the Sheraton which is much bigger (also, the beach is right across the way). Just walk up to the Sheraton towel stand and show them you’re room key. We didn’t mind using the Royal Hawaiin’s pool too much as the area was nice and we were more in the drink and lounge mood, which the small pool accommodates for. There is also a hot tub and attentive servers that offer the menu at the Mai Tai Bar. But if you’re expecting a family pool for everyone to splash around in, you’re better off just heading to the Sheraton pool.
Hotel Rooms
We stayed in the Ocean Room. There are two buildings – the historical building and the Mailani Tower. We opted to stay in the historical building which is the original hotel. The bed is super comfortable, turn down service at night, and more importantly – soft pink robes and slippers.
Would highly recommend staying here if you can.
