With literally hundreds of hotels to pick from in Waikiki, what should compel you to book a room at Romer House? Well, with refreshing, blue-toned mid-century modern design, tons of cultural programming, and serious sustainability chops, this adult-oriented urban escape is the antithesis of the stereotypical, overcrowded tourist trap and a boon for more discerning Honolulu travelers.
Originally built as student housing in the 1960s, the newly renovated building offers a balcony (or lanai) with most rooms, though light sleepers will likely want to request a room towards the back (the discordant sounds of the city below permeate street-facing rooms). A convenient location a few blocks from Waikiki Beach and other guest perks like complimentary bike rentals and stellar on-site food and drink options seal the deal on a standout boutique hotel experience brimming with cosmopolitan flourishes.
Why stay at Romer House Waikiki?
No matter how you like to vacation, Romer House delivers on comfort, convenience, and style. For those drawn to the allure of sand and surf, the hotel offers unlimited beach towels and three complimentary beach rentals—umbrellas, chairs and the like—from Beach Candy, a rental shop located about 15 minutes’ walk from the hotel.
During my five-night press trip, I enjoyed the breakfast and dinner at 855-ALOHA and drinks from the Lei Stand, a former dive bar originally located in Honolulu’s eclectic Chinatown that now serves truly excellent craft cocktails. The cool, dark confines of the lobby served as a refreshing respite after a late morning hike at nearby Diamond Head (easily accessible by bus), a long day spent snorkeling in Hanauma Bay and hiking to Makapuʻu Lighthouse, or just back-to-back afternoons spent on Waikiki Beach. Given the coastal proximity, I can forgive the fairly narrow wading pool, which sits atop a deck created using carbon capture technology.
What are the rooms like at Romer House Waikiki?
Across 179 rooms, Romer House Waikiki has two types of suites—a two-bedroom option that sleeps up to eight and a two queen bed suite that sleeps up to six—plus nine room types with various combinations of king or two queen beds, balcony or window, and ADA-compliant showers.
Over the course of my stay, I was able to stay in a Premium King with Balcony and Junior Suite Two Queens with Balcony and Sofabed. All rooms offer house branded toiletries (plus extras like a sewing kit, a spare toothbrush and a shower cap), slippers, a kettle with locally sourced tea and coffee, a mini-fridge and two complimentary reusable metal water bottles.
Midcentury design elements and calming neutrals are offset by pops of color (a midnight blue navy sleeper sofa, a bright orange armchair) and photographed prints of a bygone era in Waikiki. The overall effect feels more like an apartment than a hotel room, making it ideal for longer stays.
For the price, I found both room options to be comfortable and offer plenty of space and amenities. Once I moved to a larger Junior Suite facing the street, I noticed the room was exposed to significantly more city noise—which made it a little more difficult to sleep in, but not impossible. My only minor quibbles were the difficulty of dispensing the sulfate-free soap from the wall-mounted containers in the shower (the pumps are relatively short), and the distance from where the hand soap and lotion were mounted relative to the bathroom sink.
Which are the best dishes and drinks at Romer House Waikiki?
As a professional food writer, I was particularly impressed by the on-site food and drink options. Even with the glut of restaurants just steps away from Romer House, I recommend planning for at least one dinner at 855-ALOHA, whose name draws inspiration from Hawaii’s once-vibrant payphone culture (compared to the mainland, payphones persisted far longer on the islands, though they’re also sadly disappearing).
The upscale menu is inspired by local cuisine, which itself draws upon Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese and Korean, and the end result is a tightly curated, highly creative bill of fare that offers chef-driven takes of island classics like garlic shrimp, tuna poke and tonkatsu. The restaurant also serves a more straightforward breakfast that includes a loco moco, kimchi fried rice, and an acai bowl. For a large group or a special occasion, I recommend springing for the enormous 855-Sundae, a tropical, honey toast- and boba-topped take on a banana split that’s served in a scorpion bowl and torched upon arrival.
The Lei Stand, the hotel’s on-site bar, is equally worth stopping in for before or after dinner. Beyond universal standards and a large selection of beer and wine, the bar executes tropical house creations like the Soup Soup, a clarified coconut mix of tequila, pineapple, falernum and absinthe with razor precision.
What is the service like at Romer House Waikiki?
From the front desk to housekeeping, service here is thoughtful and top notch. When my friend and I were able to score a pair of the complimentary beach cruiser rentals—note: they get reserved quite fast!—we discovered one of the seats was too high, which rendered one of the bikes essentially unrideable. Within minutes, the front desk quickly dispatched one of the house engineers to fix the issue.
What are the gym and pool like at Romer House Waikiki?
The heated wading pool is ideal for laps and casual lounging. Though there’s no gym on-site, Romer House Waikiki offers weekly workout and yoga classes on the pool deck, plus complimentary gym access at FIT Waikiki, located inside nearby Alohilani Resort.
What’s the area like around Romer House Waikiki?
Bustling, to put it lightly. Romer House Waikiki is located in the bleeding heart of ultra-touristy Waikiki, which is now just as famous for its luxury shopping malls and dizzying array of restaurants as the beautiful turquoise blue waters of Waikiki Beach. You’ll be close to standout culinary imports like Marugame Udon and Restaurant Suntory, plus well-known international chains like the Cheesecake Factory and the Hard Rock Cafe. Within walking distance you’ll also find the International Market Place and the Royal Hawaiian Center, with the even larger Ala Moana Center a short bike or bus ride away. If you’re looking to be in the center of it all, this is the neighborhood for you.
Why should you book a stay at Romer House Waikiki?
For a stylish, eco-conscious and reasonably priced stay on Oahu, you can’t do much better than Romer House. This newer boutique hotel grants you access to everything Waikiki has to offer—and then some more.
DETAILS
Address: 415 Nāhua St, Honolulu, HI 96815
Price per night: Rooms start at $190 per night, midweek.
Closest transport: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is a 20-minute drive from the hotel
Book now: via Booking.com
Time Out makes a small commission from the affiliate links included in this article. These links have no influence on our editorial content, but they do help us to bring you more recommendations every week. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.