Suuuuuper friendly and fun staff you won't believe!
My favorite bar in Waikiki hands down.
Strong drinks, doesn't overcharge you like other clubs in Waikiki.
And ladies, you might wanna come here if you want to have a nice girls night out...gay bar=no creepers to bother you and so fun :)
Great, chill and friendly atmosphere! I honestly just love their specials:
Margarita Mondays
$2 Tuesdays
2for1 Wednesdays
Tequila Thursdays
$5 Absolute Fridays
...such great deals. The bartenders are not only cute, but they've always made my drinks strong and treated me well.
For those out of town- Feels like Hulas has become the go-to tourist spot since its advertised well within tourism trade pubs. But Bacchus is the fun, local crowd I think youll also enjoy just as much, if not more.
Bacchus is fun. It has the same laid back atmosphere as Hula's, but the guys tend to be more 20's something.
The drinks are always strong, and the bartenders are friendly.
They also have good drink specials throughout the week like Tequila Thursday and 3 dollar Monday.
Bacchus used to allow people to drink and smoke on the lanai, but not now (which is good and bad I guess).
The only downside, like said by many others, is that horrible smell that appears sometimes. My roommates and I went last week and we did not even want to step into the doorway because the smell was seeping out from inside! Maybe its the smell from the Thai restaurant next door?
What a find in Waikiki! Â My partner and I stopped in for a drink and were pleasantly surprised at this very down to earth place. Â Nothing pretentious here. The crowd was welcoming to an older couple and several people (locals) stopped to say hi. Â Definitely would go again. Adam was tending bar and was very friendly. Drinks were not very expensive.
Review Source:I have been to Honolulu twice in the last 8 months and love this bar. Â It has become my "go to" place when I am in town. Â The bartenders are some the friendliest ones I have ever come across. Â They really make you feel welcome from the moment you step in the door.
I was really shocked to read the negative review from the guy who complained about the decor and smoking issue and the only reason he goes there is because his friends are obsessed with the bar. Â I would say to him, go someplace else. Â I am sure your negative energy probably brings your friends mood down. Â You are not doing yourself or any of them any favor by joining them at place you don't like.
Hands down, my favorite bar in Hawaii!
I would just like to say that baccus is the place to be. Hunter was awesome and a lot of fun. It got very packed at 10pm and was a great time indeed. I will defenitely come back to baccus again. Even the customers were awesome. A 5 star experience indeed. I also want to and that wednesdays is one of the better nights to come out to bacchus since then have a 2 for 1 deal on certain drinks. I also really like when then dim the lights later in the night. To me, it adds to the party mood.
Review Source:Small, stinky, WTF decor, breaks local SMOKING laws!
I honestly don't get the appeal of this bar compared to some of the others. Its service is no better or different than the other bars, it depends on your server. For the most part they are nice and friendly. So I got nothing negative to say about them.
The crowd though is another thing, for the most part the scene for this bar seems to be a little mean with attitude. The tourists seem cool so maybe it is just the regulars who bring this place down. Don't know what it is but it makes me feel uncomfortable.
This bar, again not unlike all the other gay bars in Honolulu, is pretty small and when there is a big crowd (which just 25 can make this place feel cramped) it becomes claustrophobic for me. There is limited seating so if you come when there is a crowd you will probably have to stand and drink all night. Dancing is limited to shuffling around trying not to step on people's feet or spill your drink.
Entertainment can be hit or miss. I came out once and they were having a trivia night, no music. The guy wasn't funny it was just boring. I left that place in a hurry, couldn't stand his annoying laugh when he would be the only one laughing at his bad jokes.
Music videos during the day must be kept on a loop or something because I kept seeing the same shit looped over during an hour period. Usually not even good stuff or random selections from old to new music. When they have DJ's (again not that different from the other gay bars) it is typically one of the local DJ's who plays all the gay bars so you can't really judge them on that since they don't have exclusive DJ's. They need a better sound system as others have observed, yikes. Good enough music to dance to but again dancing is a little problematic here because of the lack of space. At night they close their doors to keep the sound pollution down but that makes the crowding worse.
Decor...really. Right now for Christmas they have upside down Christmas trees and deer manikins hanging precariously from the ceiling. I am afraid something is going to fall in my drink or on my head. As for their usually everyday decor, from what I heard they used to be a wine bar that turned into a full gay bar. Walking in you can tell that. It's kind of funky but it gives it some character compared to the other gay bars which I kind of like.
Now to my main complaint. SMOKING! I don't smoke and I hate breathing it in from inconsiderate smokers. Bacchus does not follow Hawaii's Smoke Free law which doesn't allow for smoking "within 20 feet of doorways, windows and ventilation intakes for the prevention of secondhand smoke drifting into enclosed areas." This law applies to private businesses "that are open to the public" and "are places of employment." They let their customers smoke on the balcony. I am surprised that they have not been reported to the Department of Health. There is a Thai place next-door that also suffers from the smoke drifting towards it's entrance. It is just a matter of time, they should put an end to it before they get into serious trouble.
Lastly, as others have noticed, there is an odd bad smell that resides in the place especially once they close the doors. You kind of forget about it once you are used to it but it is not pleasant, hope they fix that. If it wasn't for my friends obsessions with this bar I would go elsewhere all of the time at least until they fix my main problems with the place.
TOPLESS BARTENDERS (HOT!).
Great selection and decently priced drinks (COOL!).
No dance floor but lots of awesome music&videos (Hot!).
Plenty of air-conditioning (Cool!).
But what's up with that smell? (Stink!)
I didn't see any food around, but I was just there to keep my gbf company, and he enjoyed himself. The crowd was 99.5% gay guys (a mix of tourists and locals) but somehow I didn't feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb here, even though I clearly did. Everyone was pretty cool; bartenders, tourists, regulars and even the drunks. I enjoyed watching all the action from a stool against the barrels, and it wasn't too crowded so I didn't get to bump into those topless MALE bartenders. My only suggestion is to get rid of that smell. Â I have tagged along over the years to all of the gay bars here and never smelled that. However, this is one of the better gay bars, so 5 stars from me.
The End.
(If you're wondering how I ended up here, Â it was by no accident. My gbf was here for his annual visit and on his last weekend he wanted to "go out". I've been out of the loop so I thought I'd get a few friends together...
10:45pm (text to my bar hopping yelp expert friend): Where you at?! GBF wants to go out, I'll meet you somewhere.
10:46pm (response from her) Just finished dinner. Still hungover from First Friday last night. Damn I can't believe you're going out! I can't go out, I'm hanging bad.
Okie Dokie. Next.
11:03pm (text to my gay friend): Hey where do I take my gbf? Wanna come join us in case I get left behind?
11:04pm: I'm about to turn in for the night. Try Bacchus or Wang's. Bacchus is pretty chill but only music videos. Only other option is Lojax or Fusion. Have fun! Night!
Wait! Where is Bacchus?
Once again, Yelp app to the rescue!! Â Oh yes, this was Tim's ROTD place! I quickly read the other great reviews from my other friends, so it must be legit because they tell it like it is.)
I still don't know how you pronounce Bacchus, god of wine and intoxication. Bat-ches? Back-us? Bach-is? BITCHES, JUST GO!
Fun new Waikiki bar, not sure on what was here before but seemed kinda like it was a little 2 story strip mall or motel. Upstairs with a nice little balcony to relax and have a drink. Perfect for grabbing a drink with friends after a fun day on Oahu! Drinks were good and moderately priced. Nice look inside, but restrooms are a little awkward.
Review Source:Possibly the funnest gay bar!
There's a different drink theme for everyday of the week, I've been here on Tuesdays and Thursdays and there's just the right amount of people every time. The music is great, playing the top 40 or your "classic gay" favorites, songs by Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, etc. It's the best place to get in a party mood.
The bartenders are extremely friendly and are always generous with the alcohol. Whatever drink specials they have for that night, the prices are always reasonable.
It's easy to get to know people as well as bring a group of friends to be amongst yourselves. Good atmosphere with good vibes!
I only went once, so take it with a grain of salt.
Dark. I don't need to feel like I'm hiding or that I'm ashamed to be seen in the place. Not saying that was the intention in designing the place, but it just feels too dark.
Not so friendly clientele. I travel a lot and meet people wherever I go ... and generally have a nice time. This place, hmmm ... a bit of a 'tude. Bar severs were friendly, though.
Their well gin ... whatever it is ... blech.
I recently moved to Honolulu in Feb. Â I think I have been to all of the "Gay Bars" on this island. Â This is by far my favorite. Â Staff has always been friendly. Â Drinks are always good. Â I've experienced a few new drinks at this bar as well which have been delicious. Â I'll keep coming back to this bar!
Review Source:Being a "new gay" to the islands I've been reading and analyzing which gay spots would fit my style. I'm pretty low key when I go out, and I'm not a huge clubber (but I do like to go out every now and then). Â I wanted to chill and people watch at a friendly, clean and adequately spacious place. Bacchus had everything I was looking for!
I really enjoyed the ambiance: dark, rustic, unique seating with an open floor, good music (but not blaring as to yell my drink orders to the bartenders), and strong drinks. The outside seating gives a good view of Kuhio St, and the darts room is intimate and great for taking those "I'm having an awesome time at a gay bar" iPhone pics. Keith and Nick are fantastic bartenders and they DON'T water down their drinks. I went on a Monday night so I wasn't expecting the place to be raging. There were a few groups of friends here and there racking up the $3 margaritas and happy hour drinks. Even after the specials the drinks are typical price ($5-$6 cocktails).
Nick was super helpful in hipping me to other gay clubs and lesbian hangouts, and what days and times they're popping. After 5 drinks a piece and a buttery nipple shot later, my roommate and I were having the best Monday night! We hugged Nick & Keith goodbye and went home happy as clams.
Bacchus seems like it will become my "go-to" spot for a chill gay night out in Waikiki. Can't wait to try it on a weekend night as I'm sure there will be more people and more antics.
Charming rustic look to the newest gay bar in town. Plywood floors, barrel tables, and beautiful wood trusses give a unique look to a generally staid Hawaii gay bar scene. The music videos repeat too often, but at least the volume is at a level that allows you to have a conversation.
The service is friendly, the drinks are well made, and the crowd is multi-generational. I think I counted 5 beers on tap including Blue Moon, Sapporo and some kind of American lite beer.
I was there on a Friday night, but it never got very crowded. I have heard that it can get packed at times - that will probably be tonight since it is a Saturday and St. Patrick's Day. A good excuse to go drinking.... Again.
The prefect bar except for ONE thing... the sound system is wack.. a couple  small Bose speakersfor a space this large is the equivalent of playing music out of computer speakers.  The DJ is playing thumping music but there is no thump and to compensate he turns up the music til its just distorted shat..the DJ should know better but he is just a kid...maybe you cant have a louder sound system because of your neighbors but you can have a better quality one....at least it does not have to be painfully and fatiguingly tinny...and music played through distressed and distorted speakers IS fatiguing on the body...and bad for business, that is if your business is wanting customers to hang out and drink.  Invest in some better speakers...it will payoff in the long run...i love this bar, thanks!
Review Source:My wife and I stopped in here while out on a walk. Â We saw the sign for $3 Margaritas, and well, we're not made of stone.
Didn't know it was a gay bar at first. Â She picked up on it before me, right after i talked about making it my usual place when she's out of town. Â That being said, it probably won't be my usual while she's gone, but when she's around I could definitely see coming here often.
It's a great bar. Â Nicely decorated. Â It has a rustic, but clean and comfortable feel. Â Amazing drink specials and the staff is incredibly friendly. Â
Strong, cheap drinks and good music. Â I guess how you would frequent this place depends on your orientation or level of comfort, but I completely recommend it.
Perfect watering hole to kick back and have a few in a friendly, comfortable environment.
Happy Hour?! Â On a Saturday afternoon?! Â Oh, the humanity!! Â Having said that, my husband and I loved it here, so much so that we've vowed to bring guests from the mainland. Â Hands down, the barman, Hunter makes the best Manhattans around. Â He admitted to me that he was more of a wine guy, but you'd never guess it by the way he made his Manhattans. Â It is far enough away from the tourist crowds of Waikiki and there is more of a local vibe to the place, but even though we live here, I don't believe tourists would be unwelcome. Â Loved the music and conversation. Â We can't wait to return!
Review Source:Funny story! Â My boyfriend and I were staying at the Courtyard across the street while I was in town for business. Â The first night (Thursday) we decided to pop over to this bar across the street. Â We were meeting up with a friend that was local and she had heard it was a good bar so we were happy. Â To our surprise the drinks were SO CHEAP and SO GOOD! Â The place was nice, clean and the people working were friendly! Â We stayed from like 7:30 until 9pm.
Friday night rolls around, we grab dinner and hang out, about 8:30 we decide to head back to the bar by our hotel. Â We get there around 8:45 and there are like 4 people in the bar. Â As I get up to order our first round I realize its a gay bar :) Â Within 10 minutes the place went from 4 patrons to 40 and you could tell this place has a huge following. Â The bartender/server was AWESOME and had some fun little conversations with us. Â I live in the Mission in SF and he let me know that there is also a Bacchus in the Castro just a few blocks from me!
Anyways, love gay bars, just thought it was funny that we didn't have a clue until Friday night when I realized I was the only girl in the place. Â The drinks were great and the staff was awesome, definitely recommend wether your gay or straight!
For every gay man visiting Honolulu, Bacchus should definitely be included on his weekend nightlife agenda! Having heard about it a few months back, Bacchus has made a name for itself as the place where gays gather while the night is still young. That's because, at around 11pm on a Friday/Saturday night, the place is brimming with locals and tourists alike.
Unfortunately, because this place is so popular on weekends, it gets crowded. Prepare to be violated. On busy nights, it's hard to even squeeze through the doorway.
PROS
- Great place to socialize and meet "friends of Dorothy"
- Good selection of liquor with experienced barstaff
- Clean bathrooms
- Great ambiance
CONS
- A bit out of the way as it's on the other end of Waikiki
- Parking?
Having never stepped door in this bar, I decided to stop in after a few friends asked for a suggestion for a Tuesday night  party location to chill with a gay friendly atmosphere.  This place has a unique charm all it's own.  Peaceful booths to relax after a long day, drinks are pretty reasonably priced and the wine cellar room is a must see. Â
The Good: Bartenders are very knowledgable on local drinks and trust me they keep them flowing. Â Bar is dimly lit and can offer anyone looking for a space to unwind away from the hectic's of Waikiki will find refuge inside this bar. Bathroom is clean and well lit.
The Bad: Such a small place with only one entrance could deter those with a desire for easily escaping that creepy guy or gal you want to get away from. Â
Things To Try: Bartenders have a vast knowledge of the local drinks, but try The French 75, The Mind Eraser and the Bellini. Â You wont be disappointed.
Wine bar, Leather Bar, Bear Bar? Â Who knows?
It's gay, which suits me just fine.
The atmosphere is nice and since it's a new gay bar it hasn't quite established it's regular clientèle yet which is nice since it's a varied group of people every time you go in.
The bartenders are nice, and can do their jobs. Â
The place is clean and tidy. Â The feel of the place is a bit strange to me. Â On the one hand it has the decor of a wine/whiskey bar, with the feel of a backalley NYC leather bar, and yet there are giant screens playing pop/dance music. Â It works for the most part.
My only gripe is the music really. Â It's a wide span of music. Â While mostly pop/dance it spans decades. Some of these decades really could be left behind. Â The music really should be more heavily weighted towards more current trends (not Vanilla Ice or Kid n Play).
Parking sucks, but then again it's Waikiki, whaddya expect.
Its a good place with good drinks and a nice chill atmosphere most of the time. Â A nice diversion from the handful of other gay bars that have become tired n typical.
First off, anyone who says this a "mixed" crowd was lying. Â This is a gay bar. Â Through and through. Â The shirts came off from behind the bar!
Moving on, I really did enjoy myself. Â Once I made a bartender friend, the drinks were free flowing and they were even pretty cheap. Â Win! Â
Not much dancing, but the music was great. Â There was a DJ and then they have some sort of CD system that just continues where the DJ left off. I was dancing in my seat itching for a dance floor or a space near me that I could get up and move.
The space is interesting. Â It's not that large, but there are tables and benches, inside and outside. Â There's also a room that can have private parties. Â I was there for a lucky night that they had Hookah. Â I think they should have Hookah most nights!
All in all, this gay bar was a good time. Â Nice addition to Waikiki nightlife.
I haven't been out in Waikiki for almost a year because I was so uninspired with my options. Â
Well, Bacchus has change that. Â
The interior is very charming with the low lighting levels and red lamps galore. Â I love the mixture of dark wood and shiny chrome around the bar. Â
Perhaps my favorite place in Bacchus is the intimate lounge complete with comfy chairs and that crazy piece of art on the wall. Â It's a great place to sit and relax with friends. Â Well done!!
To some readers, it may not be a surprise to know I came to a place like this...because of $4 Whiskey Cokes... Why else? Why? What are you thinking?
To keep this short: The GOOD: This place is interesting, once aspiring to be a wine bar, is now simply a bar. Manager Jodie (NOT like Foster) explained yesterday that what matters most is giving people a good deal, and you can't do that while charging $15 for a glass of fancy red wine. Plus, to me, I am an equal opportunity employer when it comes to alcohol - and - the cheaper the booze, the "funner" the night; never mind the morning. Â Wednesday is also now declared, Whiskey Wednesdays, so for $4, you get a healthy glass of fancy fire water mixed with devilish cola. Tuesdays, $2 beers, and the remaining aspects of the week have yet to be figured out - although I did suggest. Tequila Thursdays, $3 Patron please!
The BAD: it's like a western saloon, meets early 90s George Michael's Bathroom. Yeah, it was supposed to be reminiscent of a wine cellar... when it was an aspiring wine bar, but now... it's like one of Lady Gaga's wet dreams.
OVERALL: I am sure I won't be able to avoid this place much. Especially it being a 'Ban and Pham adventure, Tim P. is likely to frequent this western-hearted-discothèque and I will most likely be in toe to join him. Plus, how can I avoid cheap alcohol - no matter where it is.
18/365
Bacchus is not exactly on the main strip or in the most prestigious address, but it is sure to become one of the hottest spots in town. They offer good drinks, service, and very good prices.
Located in the old Pane & Vino, it still keeps the old rustic charm, while making some updates that create an open and airy feeling. It features lots of flat screen tv's that showcase the music videos of the music playing which is a nice touch. The music selection is good and extensive.
The drinks are well-poured and the selection of liquors is great. They also have a modest selection of wine which will hopefully expand over time. Prices are rather reasonable with rotating selections of specials. Service is good with the with servers always nearby.
Parking can be the one challenge, but it is Waikiki after all?
Yelp 365 Challenge: #13/365
Bacchus, the god of libations, has come! Located in the old location of Pane and Vino - it's now lost the crummy waiting and adopted a new persona as a gay bar.
I first heard about this place two months ago in San Francisco, believe it or not! I met the owner of Bar 440 in Castro, Gordy, and he told me that he was opening a new gay bar in Waikiki. How damn serendipitous is that? To have found the guy opening a bar in your hood almost 3000 miles away? I was stoked and promised him that I'd be his first customer and first reviewer!
Bacchus has all the same charm as Pane and Vino. The dark wine cellar cool still resides, but there are a few nice improvements. First off there is two new private areas, a raised platform in the back and a really sweet loungey VIP room. The decor in the VIP room is amazing, a wall of wine bottles and couches to just chill and enjoy your wines.
They gave this place life that Pane and Vino lacked. Previously it was just dark and moody, now there's pop electronica music playing and televisions with music videos hanging (the signatures of a gay bar). Couches and clunky tables have been replaced with hipper tall bistro tables for more stand-up socialization.
At the point of the soft opening, they only had about 10 wines available, hopefully that will change in the near future. The waiters were super sweet (and hot!) - all of them eager to answer my yelpy questions about the bar.
Unfortunately, they did away with Pane and Vino's kitchen (which previously had a handful of pastas from Mediterraneo). But one of my waiters, Matthew, assured me that there's a possibility of bar snacks in the future.
I really like where things are going here in Waikiki. 5 years ago, all of our gays bars were sketchy and creepy. Things are really starting to look up for the gays in Hawaii! Hurrah!
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