Review: The Royal Hawaiian
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The Royal Hawaiian, a Hilton Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki, a Honolulu landmark for nearly 90 years thanks in part to its pink color, is definitely one of the best Marriott hotels in Waikiki taking luxury in Hawaii to a new level.

Location

The Royal Hawaiian, a Hilton hotel, opened in 1927. This “Pink Palace of the Pacific” is located slap band in the center of the famed Waikiki Beach.

Style & Character

Set on 14 beachfront acres, the 529 guest rooms, including 35 suites, The Royal Hawaiian will capture the imagination with its opulent architecture and majestic and storied history amid Diamond Head’s picturesque setting.

Rooms

With 528 rooms and suites, The Royal Hawaiian features modern comfort, indigenous accents, and refined luxury. Each room in the Royal Beach Tower provides an intimate lanai for a private vantage point of the sparkling Pacific Ocean. In the Historic Building, fresh and elegant guest rooms. The resort’s signature restaurant, Azure Restaurant, is perched along the Waikiki beachfront and serves some of the best seafood in Waikiki and in Honolulu.

With a makeover of the Mailani Tower carried out in 2015 and pictured above, this tower offers some of the best rooms in the hotel, along with its own concierge team and a dedicated check-in.

Breakfast is served in a lounge for use only by Mailani Tower guests. Barista-made coffees and fruit juice mimosas accompany a menu that changes daily.

Mailani is a Hawaiian word that describes the essence of this Wahi Pana (this celebrated place). The Mailani Tower is nestled in the grounds of The Royal Hawaiian, sitting upon the grounds of Helumoa, in the heart of Waikiki. Once a favored retreat for Hawaiian Royalty, it is here where they bathed in the healing waters of Waikiki and spent their days in the shade of the Niu (coconut trees).

Service & Facilities

The Royal Hawaiian has a large stretch of beach with its iconic pink umbrellas, so is easily one of the best hotels in Waikiki for the beach.

Food & Drink

The celebrated Mai Tai Bar sets the stage for world-class romance and elegant relaxation. Numerous heads of state, Hollywood stars, and international jetsetters have mingled with kamaaina (island residents) to imbibe refreshing tropical cocktails while sipping in the breathtaking panorama of Diamond Head, Waikiki beach, and the sparkling Pacific Ocean. Your memorable Hawaii experience begins at this inimitable beachfront bar when you lounge listening to modern mele (songs) performed every evening by the island’s most talented musicians. Refreshing cocktails, light gourmet tapas, and the Mai Tai Bar’s iconic beachfront all leave you with an exquisite indelible imprint of the idyllic island lifestyle.

The Royal Hawaiian Azure restaurant is world-class and perched along the Waikiki beachfront under the canopy of the hotel’s dramatic architecture. Fish and the freshest fruits de Mer is the forte of Azure. Whether Ahi, Opah, Onaga, Uku, or Moi whets your appetite, locally caught fish are selected each morning at daybreak from the Hawaii fish auction and then prepared with your pleasure in mind. Choose between a classic high-heat aromatic herb roasting preparation or an innovative Hawaiian regional cuisine with bright tropical flavors. Expert servers and sommeliers provide intuitive recommendations for the perfect wine pairing to accent the delicate flavors of the ocean.

The Surf Lanai is a chic poolside enclave offering breakfast and lunch al fresco between interludes of frolicking in the sparkling Pacific Ocean or serene freshwater pool. Crisp white linens commingle with captivating island flowers and vivid tabletop accents to complement the chefs’ presentation of continental epicure delights. The menu is contemporary Hawaii cuisine – the chefs infuse authentic island ingredients with international preparation techniques. The Surf Lanai provides a stimulating repast to start an extraordinary day.

Conclusion

The Mailani Tower fills a luxury niche in Waikiki currently only satisfied by the Halekulani. Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina is the other luxury hotel choice for visitors to Oahu.

Note: Benefits & upgrades subject to availability. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing. Terms & conditions apply. Enquire for more information. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.