Lani Kai

Great drinks, strong drinks, pretty drinks.
I like Hawaiian anything, becasue i am Hawaiian. And I love Lanikai, one of my favorite beaches on Oahu in Hawaii. I agree with many reviews that the atmosphere of this soho space is really great. I get confused by the upstairs-​downstairs difference (I think the upstairs is for eating, the downstairs if for drankin’). But every time I am downstairs I feel like I am in some kind of cavern near Waimea Bay or something in Hawaii, and I like that.
BUMMER on the closing!

I just heard that Lani Kai will be closing, and I realized that I never contributed my positive review for this upscale tiki bar. Though we walked in to find it rather empty on a Thursday evening, the few people at the bar happened to be long lost college friends — how strange!
Anyway, the drink menu was vast and included cocktails built from an array of alcohols. The Pacific Swizzle was a sweet and tart blend of rose-​infused white rum, lemongrass and hibiscus tea, lime juice, and passion fruit. The drink was packed with the fruity purée, which made it rather decadent. The Leilani’s Fizz was a refreshing concoction made from Southeastern flavors like lychee, lime juice, and lemongrass syrup, but their sweetness was cut by club soda and of course gin. The Southside Royale was crafted «London Style» (whatever that meant) and was fairly similar to the Fizz. However, by replacing the lemongrass and lychee with simpler add-​ins like mint and champagne, it maintained its balanced, refreshing flavor without being puckeringly sweet.
While the prices were high, the beverages were tasty, and the tiki theme was enjoyable. I am sad to see Lani Kai go :(

I went to Lani Kai for a Happy Hour. We didn’t get to try out their food but the restaurant portion of the venue seemed to be just as popular as the bar portion that they have going on in the basement. The basement can get a bit stuffy and uncomfortable if there are too many people, just a FYI.
Because Lani Kai Hawaiian themed, they have a lot of the fruitier mixed drinks/​slushies but we opted to stick with beers, which brings me to the only downside. They do not have your typical, run of the mill beers aka Coors, Heineken, or Stella. However, they do have a selection of about 5 – 6 beers that are far better than the ones that other bars provide on tap. I tried their Japanese beer, the name of which I can not seem to remember for the life of me, and that was my drink of choice for the rest of the evening.

My friend and I stopped by here for a drink late on a weekday. It was completely empty and last call was around 12:30. But we sat downstairs and had an awesome (slightly drunk) waitress who sat down and chatted with us. I had a mai tai (which was decent) and a painkiller (which was awesome… not sure if it was on the menu).
Kind of surprised at the lack of crowd… I guess it’s more of an after-​work spot. But I would definitely go back and try the food.

Let’s just say that this is not your typical manly infused testosterone bar; instead Lani Kai takes on a very feminine approach and makes everything in here feel pretty and nice!
With a Tiki Hawaiian theme and an over abundance choice of tropical drinks, this bar was attractive, spacious and had a relaxing vibe. The only thing that was missing was the sound of the waves but that was quite okay since their choices of drinks were beautifully made.
I came here on a Tuesday night and ended up trying their Pacific Swizzle ($ 13) and their Teeny Weeny Hot Bikini ($ 13). Although the Pacific Swizzle was more for show and definitely looked amazing, it did not deliver as there was way too much ice in the drink and it tasted more like Hawaiian punch mixed with rum. As for their Teeny Weeny Hot Bikini, it was certainly delicious and a good choice. The jalapeño syrup gave my drink the punch it needed and it was bold it flavor yet refreshing.
I also tried their pork belly buns ($ 8) and I have to say it was not worth ordering! Their steam buns were tiny and their pork belly was lacking flavor and felt like it was prepared by an amateur cook instead of a passionate professional chef.
In the end, as much as I wish I would have liked this place, I feel Lani Kai is only worth visiting once or perhaps during Happy Hour (5−7pm.) Personally, I feel like their drinks were way overpriced and their food is mediocre.
Although, I appreciate the feminine touch, their theme was way too much for my taste as I felt like my yin and yan was being push off balance by the Amamzon women of the jungle.
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Btw, they also need to update their website. Their happy hour drinks are no longer $ 8, but it is now $ 10.

Though Lani Kai is in an odd location, once you find it, it really is like visiting Hawaii. Lush tropical plants make the room feel like it’s a rainforest, and the low lighting really helps you relax.
The upstairs area isn’t huge, but there are about ten tables that will fit large groups of eight. There is also a small, five-​seat bar area upstairs (that actually got a little rowdy on the Tuesday night we were dining). Happy hour specials end at 7pm… and the discounted prices on the specialty cocktails make getting there early totally worth it. Try the Pisco Punch or either of the Swizzles. yum!
No matter what you order, you need a side of the Lobster Fried Rice ($ 12). It is a generous side portion and probably the best thing on the menu… I’m craving another helping right now!
Friendly staff, cool vibe… great for a date!

Upscale tiki bar in the sleepy SoHo section by the Holland tunnel. The space is lovely, dark, but inviting, and perfect for conversations. It feels loungy and zen and fun all at the same time. I loved the layout.
The drinks were supposedly really tasty, especially if you’re a fan of sweet and fruity. I didn’t partake, but people looked happy.
The food was okay. It was creative and looked nice, but wasn’t much to write home about. We ordered a mix of short ribs, pulled pork, appetizer platters, and got some skewers on the house. Portion sizes were good. My favorite dish was the lobster fried rice.
Service was on top of things, cleaning up often, refilling glasses, and making sure people were happy. I’d definitely plan a party with drinks and apps here, but maybe skip the entrees.

After signing a lease on a new apartment, my partner Honeybee (not his real name) and I went seeking a celebratory cocktail. We stumbled into Lani Kai — he’d been before, but I hadn’t — and had some truly spectacular service and some yummy drinks.
The place is smartly, stylishly «themey» without being cheesy, I would say that Lani was giving us «Sleek Polynesian Realness,» if I were a drag queen. Just a really cool place.
What sold me though was the bartendress. Her name was April and she’s amazing. Completely upbeat, personable, and beautiful. Like a Disney princess or something. She was real, sociable and an Excellent & Knowledgeable Mixologist.
The reason why I’m putting this review squarely on April’s lovely shoulders is because my partner and I were the only ones in there at the time. I assumed that when more people showed up, April’s allure would suffer … and I was wrong. The bar filled up pretty quickly post 5:15pm and she didn’t lose any of her introductory luster. Just a real class act.
The Happy Hour menu is perfectly realized too. $ 6 for a delicious frozen bermuda triangle. The HH cocktails were $ 10 which may seem high for Happy Hour until you see the dedication it takes to make them.
They also have some appetizers on the HH menu that were quite yummy too — ribs in particular that were delish. Me likey!

Came here with one of my girlfriends on a Friday night after seeing photos of it on a friends page and wanted to check it out. I’m glad I did, April was really helpful with guiding me with selections. I believe I had something peachy but it was a little tarty. Drinks were between $ 12 – 14. I didn’t try any of the food but that will be on my to-​do list.
Décor: Classy, tropical feel without being cheesy. It had a elegant spin on it. Downstairs bar area was quite large and liked that there was a fireplace.

Lani Kai is a decent after-​work haunt in SoHo that specializes in Hawaiian-​flavored beverages. Unless you spend long stretches of time staring at the flower in your drink, you might confuse it with every other meat market in the west downtown area.
During Unilocal Drinks week, they had some nice specials on their overpriced drinks. To be fair, the drinks are overpriced because it apparently takes 20 – 30 minutes to make each one, which gives you time to chat up a stranger at the bar. There are those among us who just want to get a drink when they march up to the point of purchase, so they may want to think about streamlining the process a bit. It will certainly reduce the strain on bartenders who are trying to balance a high-​volume customer base with meticulous preparation.
Overall, a good time was had by all who imbibed the bazooka-​size cocktails, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to return anytime soon.

I wanted to take advantage of the Unilocal Drinks event last week and chose Lani Kai mostly because of their menu — I’ve spent time in Honolulu and basically crave authentic Hawaiian food all the time. I arrived early on a Friday evening with a friend and we ended up at the bar on the top floor. The bartender was great and I ended up getting a Hawaiian Iced Tea (delish!) and ordered pork buns, tuna poke and loco moco.
The food was tasty and reminded me of being back in Hawaii. My only regret is not moving to the bar downstairs (it opens at 7pm), where there was more space to spread out, and you didn’t feel like people were on-​top of you (like the upstairs bar).
Also, there are three bathrooms downstairs vs. just the one upstairs.
I’ll be back!

I came here a little while ago with two friends for dinner. Made it there while they still had happy hour drinks! The drinks were tropical and fun as you would expect them to be. The place isn’t too big. They have a commual table in the middle and small tables along each wall, but its a cute little setting. I think they have a downstairs area also, but i didn’t check it out.
We started with the pork buns and a pu pu platter and everything was super delicious. I basically try pork buns at every restaurant that I go to and these were pretty great. In the pu pu platter we had the wings, ribs, crab wontons, and chicken skewers i think? (It was a little while ago that i went here) The wings and the ribs definitely stood out to me though.
I had the loco moco for my meal, and my friends had the mussels and hanger steak. I wanted to try the loco moco because my friend from hawaii always talked about how much she loved it and it was good! They did a more modern interpretation and made the rice a little crispy which was good. The mussels and steak were also good. The one thing you have to order though is a side of lobster fried rice YUM. Who wouldn’t love that combo?
Overall, a good place to go to and if you can, rush there to get to happy hour!

I have never gone out for NYE. Ever! I’m usually at home, glued in front of the television, passing judgement on the musical performances & outfits until the ball drops. So, when my boyfriend suggested we try to find a nice place for dinner & drinks, my mind wandered to Lani Kai, a lounge that’s been on my radar since I was scouting for birthday spots. And, as luck would have it, Lani Kai was having a prix fixe dinner, followed by a 3-​hour open bar NYE party!
Alright, Lani Kai … I have decided to spend my very first NYE event with you, sight unseen. No pressure, right?
(Pardon my length, because this is two reviews in one: dinner & drinks)
DINNER:
As we walked in, the hostess greeted us & offered to check my coat. There were 4 other groups seated for dinner, and the soft music & candlelight made the meal feel extra special. First up was a cucumber mint cocktail & an amuse bouche, followed by the first course. I had Maitake Salad, & my boyfriend had the Ahi Poke. My salad was delicious! Just the right size, with a small drizzle of dressing & something crunchy on top which tasted like pork. BF’s ahi tuna had caviar as well, and it was flavorful & delicious.
For our second course, we both chose the Kalua Pork Ravioli. It came in a light broth (which reminded me of the «soup» in wonton soup). The raviolis were perfectly cooked & the pork inside was so tasty. As a self-​proclaimed Hater of Soup, Lani Kai is trying to make a liar out of me!
Our third course was a Grilled Angus Hanger Steak with Soy & Sake Demi Glacé over Azuki Rice with Broccoli Rabe. The steak was amazing. Perfection! It was beautifully cooked, and the soy & sake demi glacé was unbelievably delicious. The azuki rice was good, but I didn’t like the beans. I don’t like beans in general, so I can’t really hold that against them. The broccoli rabe was perfectly cooked. And, of course, everything tasted better dipped in the demi glacé.
Dessert offered the choice of a Double Crust Haupia Tart or Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Both came with a sweet whipped cream. The pineapple upside down cake was my favorite. The combination of the warm cake, sweet pineapple, and cool cream … there was no better way to end that amazing meal.
DRINKS:
We headed downstairs after our meal, & I was practically breathless at what I saw. What a beautiful lounge! Tasteful tropical décor, an intimate feel, and the perfect mix of oldies, reggae, & Elvis playing over the speakers. In addition, the ceiling was filled with balloons & there were leis, NYE hats, & noisemakers on all the tables. There were plates of hors d’oeuvres scattered around the room as well. We claimed one of the little tables next to the fireplace & studied the cocktail menu. As the room began to fill, the space never lost any of its charm. It wasn’t overcrowded or too loud. Waitresses took our drink orders, but we could also go up to the bar. There was a huge variety of cocktails, so luckily we were able to try a variety of drinks that we normally wouldn’t have the guts (or funds) to try. Each drink was unique, delicious, and stronger than you’d expect for open bar!
With about 15 minutes left, the staff started passing out glasses of champagne for the countdown and toast. I counted down with the crowd, yelled «HAPPY NEW YEAR!» and got my midnight kiss. We partied with the happy, friendly crowd for another hour before heading home.
I’m not gonna lie: I had pretty high hopes for my first tropical luau NYE party. And my experience at Lani Kai was everything I thought it would be, and then some! Beautiful lounge, delicious food, amazing drinks, chill crowd. I cannot wait for my next chance to go back … birthday party, perhaps?

A Tiki bar close by to one of my favorite seafood spot (Atlantic Grill)? Hell Yeah !!
Great Drinks — Mai-​tais, Blue Hawaiian (my personal fav is the Aisle of Islay Swizzle)
Good Ambiance
Awesome and friendly waitress (Thanks C (K)ari) !!!
Def would come back for some of that Swizzle baby.

Drinks 4 stars
Happy Hour with $ 8 mai-​tais is a pretty good deal for the ‘hood; they were great if a very, small super-​iced size
Food 3 stars
The fish taco was gross, with canned tuna-​like fish; the pulled pork slider was delightful though, and a perfect bite on its tiny brioche
Tiki Mondays?
5 stars!

Came here for a sponsored event by a vendor, thanks Britanny and MH! The specialty drinks are strong, most of them very delicious highlighting at least one wonder that you can’t pronounce. Tried samplers of the pork sliders, egg rolls, and fried dumplings. None of them dissappointed. The poi doughnuts tend to be hot so watch out. Cool off with the swizzles.
Service was super nice and accomodating. I would love to say it wasn’t the first time, but I ended up fighting with another patron/​former restaurant group marketing manager about the value of Unilocal – love vs. hate. We had to walk away from each other at the end, but it was still good to hear different points of view.

Even though Lani Kai isn’t a speakasy, it can be as ridiculously difficult to find as one. This section of Broome splits off into Watts and Broome. You would think as Broome is the major street that the larger street that it splits into would be Broome. No, it’s Watts. Broome is the tiny little street that you don’t see.
Maybe Lani Kai is like our version of Lost’s magical island that moves around. Difficult to find unless you know exactly where you’re going, wifi and cell phone coverage is spotty in the area so poor communication between those in Lani Kai and the outside world, the real world denies it existence (I tried calling 411 for info, but 411 denied that Lani Kai existed), and once you’re there, you’re in a tropical paradise with tiki drinks.
Warning #2, it’s an estrogen heavy place. Almost everyone there was a female, except for the couple of gay men, and the lone straight guy who was there with his date (from their body language we guessed Date #2 or 3).
Lots of lovely fruity sweet drinks. The noshes we ordered were delicious. A must is the asparagus tempura, which had a crispy crunchy batter with a spring sweetness of t he asparagus. It was a lovely evening out with my girlfriends.
When we left, we turned to each other and said, «We gotta go back.»

I have been here twice so far and each time it was equally satisfying. I had a baked eggs with shrimp the first time. It was creamy, buttery and delicious.
Second time around, I ordered their house omelette and thanks to Gilt City coupon, we tried 4 sides and cocktails. i have to say I love the cheddar grits a lot. It is creamy and cheesy. The potato cakes are super crispy and delicious. Maple bacon is delicious too.
my boyfriend got their grass fed burger and it is very juicy and delicious.
However, the most memorable thing is their cocktails. I got this very girly lani luau and it is huge! It has rum, grilled pineapple, ginger and lime juice in it. It is refreshing, sweet and simply flavorful.
I cant wait to come back and try more food and drinks!

I’m a fan of Julie Reiner’s Clover Club so I was curious about this place but I also got mixed reviews about it from friends. When I did get a chance to check it out myself last Friday, I was unexpectedly won over.
I never understood the whole tiki bar concept, let alone the almost fanatical craze that surrounded it. The word tiki in my head conjures images of tiki torches on the beach, a fire in a pit, sounds of ukulele, and sure, a tropical drink on my hand. But why attempt to recreate it within the confines of a city building? A form of escapism? Sure, but I’m sorry, tropical escapism does not work like that for me.
Atmosphere & Appearance: 4 stars. Lani Kai is tiki/​tropical in theme, but it’s chic tiki. And she says so herself. Reiner, who loves NY but grew up in Hawaii wanted to create a place that would combine the two somehow. And I do believe she managed to succeed. This is my kind of tiki bar. The décor is nice, especially the chandelier made of shells.
Drinks & Food: 4.5 stars. My friend tried the pork buns and said it was not very good. But the doughnuts I ordered to satisfy my sweet tooth was excellent. And the drinks are vacation-​appropriate. And by that I mean, I’m glad I was drinking on a Friday night. I tried the Leilani Fizz with lychee and lemongrass and found it very refreshing. Definitely a summer drink. For my second drink I opted for someting more boozy, The Black Pearl. Very good and made me happy for the rest of the night. I did try a sip of my friends’ drinks as well and I liked their swizzles a lot.
Accessibility: 4 stars. It wasn’t crowded at all when we went and the crowd was laid-​back and unpretentious.

When you first get to the door there is always a security guard that asks, «Can I help you?». They check ID’s at the door, even though we were there for dinner … which led me to believe that you have to be 21+ period to be in this place.
Our group of 4 got a great corner booth in the upstairs dining area and was served very quickly. Their specialty drinks were great and so was the service. The food is all ordered individually, which does give people the opportunity to try everything, but because the majority of the items are priced pretty high (i.e. $ 9 for 1 slider), you’ll still have the dilemma of picking & choosing your favorites.
A couple of us tried to go back here the other night, but they were having a private party. Which meant it isn’t much of a «drop in as you will» place, so make those reservations and you’ll be just fine.