Skull & Crown Trading Co.

Tucked into downtown Honolulu’s historic Chinatown, Skull & Crown Trading Co. is a tiki bar like no other. Walk past the unassuming entrance on North Hotel Street and step into a hauntingly atmospheric space filled with tiki carvings, floral wallpaper, nets, pineapple lamps, and skulls—every corner weaving storytelling into its design. Created by experiential artists Noa Laporga and Angelina Khan, this “dark tiki” hideaway blends theatrical flair and cocktail craftsmanship. Above the bar looms a creepy but captivating mermaid sculpture—a nod to Hawaiian legend and local artistry. Vintage tikis and tropical relics give the space a timeless, adventure‑laden glow—as if the bar has quietly existed here since the 1920s. Cocktails lean rum‑forward and often theatrical—signature drinks like the flaming ‘Awa‘awa Mai Tai (layered with Campari, orgeat, lilikoi, and Ko Hana Agricole Rum) and the flamboyant Skull & Crown—served flaming in a ceramic skull—are standout experiences. The Trader Noa’s Old Fashioned is a smoky surprise: it’s presented under a dome filled with Kiawe wood smoke, blending Cynar, brown sugar, orange bitters, and local flair. Beyond cocktails, the venue offers a compact yet inventive food menu: skewers (lemongrass chicken, lamb kofta, char siu pork) served in bowls or banh mis, duck bao, Chesapeake oysters, and even Dole Whip soft serve for a sweet finish. Whether you’re craving a creative Mai Tai, a theatrical presentation, or a night framed by tiki mystique and culinary delights, Skull & Crown delivers a uniquely immersive Honolulu experience.