O’ahu’s first adults only hotel is a welcome addition to Waikīkī.
Words by Marc Graser
Images courtesy of Romer House Waikiki
The first thing you notice when you enter Romer House Waikīkī is the sound. More specifically, the lack of noise. There’s no screaming. No crying. No kids.
Kids are great. Yes, they’re our future. But when you don’t personally have any, the addition of children to any vacation experience isn’t usually high on the list.
That’s why in a resort town like Waikīkī, the opening of the first adults-only hotel on O’ahu is welcomed with open arms.
Not even a month after opening, Romer House Waikīkī already felt right at home. On a Friday night, its bar was packed with locals. Its restaurant was filled with sought after Honolulu influencers enjoying themselves, not working to hype the place. Its staff was professional and calm. Attentive in every way. And a team that recognizes you when you return. That’s tough to find these days.
Opening a hotel is hard. Things can go wrong. A lot of things usually do. But as a new concept for Highgate Hotels, behind the more family friendly Romer Waikīkī, The Ambassador, Romer House has nailed a comfortable aesthetic and easygoing attitude that never feels overproduced, or missing something, which often plagues the introduction of so many other new hotel experiences.
That’s because Romer House never feels like it’s trying too hard. But the effort it’s made is definitely noticeable.
Its 179 guest rooms offer more space than the previous property, The Pearl, and reflect a Waikīkī apartment lifestyle with a calming blend of woven textiles, warm, and matte black and midnight blues that channel the island’s urban-beach chic aesthetic. Large-scale glass sliders open up to lanais in most rooms.
There isn’t a lot of furniture cluttering the spacious rooms, and the rounded wood pieces, particularly the armoire, that were chosen exhibit a handsome upscale chic that connects with everything going on downstairs.
For light sleepers, the rooms are pitch black when curtains are drawn. And then there’s the silence again from a lack of noise from other rooms or the hallway.
Romer House has nailed a comfortable aesthetic and easygoing attitude that never feels overproduced, or missing something, which often plagues the introduction of so many other new hotel experiences.
The hotel has leaned toward a vibrant local arts community for its vibe. Guests are greeted by large black and white photographs by renowned surf photographer, Arto Saari.
A rotating gallery wall, with unobstructed views from the restaurant, currently features paintings by Chelsea Kinch. The pool deck features an original mural inspired by Waikīkī’s original fishponds by Hawaiian artist Cory Kamehanaokalā Holt Taum.
Other little details, like vintage red phones and photos of sky-blue pay phones around Honolulu, by Joe Rovegno, are a cheeky reference to the kind of analog connection the hotel’s designers are trying to encourage between guests.
On the second floor, The Backyard is a brand new outdoor pool deck that includes cabanas and loungers with rows of umbrellas and a bar for classic cocktails, bites and bentos. It’s an inviting space surrounded by hotel and apartment towers, with hanging lights that provide nice charm in the evening. You can tell that the hotel has a lot of plans for this spot in the future, and it will be fun to see what happens here.
Yet it’s Romer House Waikīkī’s restaurant that is the star.
Carrying through with the hotel’s phone theme, Izakaya 855-Aloha is a reimagined celebration of Japanese traditions and Hawaiian flavors.
The concept is by acclaimed restaurateur Patric Yumul, and TableOne, behind a number of creative dining concepts across the country, including Mother Tongue, in Los Angeles, The Sundry, in Las Vegas, Kin Gin in Manhattan, and Mara, in Honolulu.
The look and feel of the long but inviting dining room feels like it’s lifted from the West Coast, especially with its club-like beats of a soundtrack, warm lighting and dark tones. But it never feels out of place. It’s a trendy space that still feels modern and fresh. There’s an intoxicating energy. It’s young and cool without being arrogant — and that’s key. It’s something Honolulu has needed.
As with most Izakayas, ordering multiple dishes is recommended, and you’ll have plenty of delicious options to choose from on the playful menu.
Chef recommendations include a delightful oko-oko pancake, and a sendai curry yakisoba noodle dish. The poke sampler of ahi tuna, kampachi ceviche, and spicy octopus; miso caesar salad and miso-dressed sugar snap peas are all winners. The prime beef tongue and fried chicken karaage pairs well with the menu’s inventive cocktails. The Japanese wagyu steak trio is a great way to try the A-5 rib eye grilled tableside teppanyaki style.
My husband and I absolutely loved the Party Line, a build-your-own sushi hand roll platter of maguro, hamachi, hotate, tobiko, cucumber, pickled daikon, tamago, inari, shiso, and rice that you wrap in crispy nori. Additions like spicy tuna, caviar, shrimp tempura and wagyu tartare are also available. Sendai-born Chef Shotaro “Sho” Kamio, deserves kudos for this fun option for groups.
Romer House never feels like it’s trying too hard. But the effort it’s made is definitely noticeable. There’s an intoxicating energy. It’s young and cool without being arrogant — and that’s key. It’s something Honolulu has needed.
The restaurant’s expansive bar is one of Waikīkī’s only late-night social spots, with an inspired menu of drinks like the Ring, Ring Ring (Kikori Japanese whisky, Mr. Black coffee liqueur, ginger, sweet soy, espresso and black sesame); Who You Gonna Call? (Suntory Toki whisky, Yuzu Curaçao, sesame honey, plum bitters, lemon, salted coconut macadamia foam); and Kiss Me Thru the Phone (Awayuki white strawberry gin, mint, matcha, lemon and egg white) that comes in a ceramic Japanese bowl.
Expect new creative concoctions to continue to flow here, with the hotel planned pairings with innovative mixologists in Hawaii and elsewhere through pop ups that are sure to keep the menu fresh.
Like its sister property, Romer Waikīkī at the Ambassador, Romer House Waikīkī isn’t located on the beach, but you’re not far from the ocean. The neighborhood is safe and walkable and offers plenty of retail options, activities and places to explore.
Both Romer hotels like being part of their neighborhood, in fact, and boast a Mayor of the Block, who oversees a Love Thy Neighborhood program. Guests enjoy a “key to the neighborhood” that unlocks special perks around the island, and elevates sustainable organizations like the Genki Ala Wai Project with Waikīkī Community Center, and Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative. It also serves as a steward of the local King Kalākaua Park.
In a short amount of time, it’s clear that Romer House Waikīkī has already built a solid foundation for success.
Hotels often desire to be spaces for locals to hang out, but that doesn’t always work out. Locals in Honolulu have a lot of options, and being authentic means a lot here. You either are or you’re not.
Romer House Waikīkī has that “it” factor it was going for. You could clearly relish in it at the hotel’s opening party, a cheeky sleepover-themed event that had the city’s influencers roaming the property in pajamas and signing up for impromptu tattoos.
Now it’s just up to the staff to continue to have fun and make it a fantastic hideaway in Waikīkī.
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