Blue Note Hawaii

People sitting next to me at Blue Note sometimes ask if it is my first time here, and I happily respond– «no, I think I was at like 3 of the old Society of Seven shows and have seen now a few new shows as the Blue Note.» I also get asked if I am by myself– ‘Yes.’ I have no problem going to a great and enjoyable evening of music by myself. They may be asking also as if more people will come to the open table and want to know if they can sit in a different seat since the hostesses assign tables as you are greeted by the captain.
First off– the whole area has been updated and modernized from the old place. The old place wasn’t bad but it was — well nice way to say it ‘dated.’ Now the Blue highlights the name and the waiter/​waitress uniforms reinforce a touch of sophistication and jazziness.
It is still tiered seating. There are larger tables in the front and back and cozier booths in the middle. I would feel nervous carrying hot food between tables during a show but the crew really handles that space really well.
Just about all of the admin seems down to a NASCAR well-​oiled machine– just everyone knows all their roles and takes guests by the hand ensuring a well-​run show.
One thing you do notice is that it isn’t a drink minimum but a $ 10 person minimum. Their venue — their choice on how they want to run their event. I can totally understand it– there are some real Name headliners and the event venue only seats a few over 300 people so they have to have a way to stay in business.
Again– giving props to Blue Note… They do a really great job of promoting and showcasing great bands. They have little cards like 3×5 cards that have the upcoming dates and shows for easy reference — especially for tourists that may or may not be in town for that time period. There is also a wonderful little booklet that has page bios that bring out the highlights of bands.
Being critical– some people may look at the prices and feel sticker shock. They are up front about the menu– showing things in the lobby area under plastic wrap so you can get a really clear idea of what it will be like.
One super nice thing that they are doing that is really great for locals is when they hand you a complimentary ticket for two for a future show. I got 2 tickets for Kamasi and Livingston shows– each. I think if you have premium seating– then you may get a bonus set of tickets for a future show but I am unsure if it happens all the time.
They really are giving a great highlight for artists. This is a wonderful venue that is more modernized and is easily as good if not better than some venues for music in Vegas. You are so close to the artist that you can feel and be in the present moment with an artist and their music. It is great to hear bands that have headlined and now we have a chance to see them in a smaller stage setting along with other up-​coming artists that we get to hear first before they make it big or bigger!

This place is ok. Very fancy, very expensive. Expect to spend a lot of money if you plan to eat and drink here. It was miserably hot and uncomfortable inside. No fans or AC ughhhh! The service was excellent and the workers are friendly and helpful!

You sure do pay a lot of money to die of heat and leave smelling like food. Lame. Was the AC broken tonight? Also while there’s a comedian, I don’t think your entrance door should be allowed to open and close as much as it did. Super distracting.

My first experience at The Blue Note Hawaii was for the Christopher Cross concert.
The setting is very cool, I got the old classic jazz vibe, there isn’t a bad seat in the house. There is a $ 10.00 per person drink fee, we order salads and they are a big portion and amazing! Better then I expected. We also had an order of fries (which were eh, ok) and calamari which was good.
Drinks were ok but service were top notch!

Great venue! I’ve been here twice already for a Henry Kapono and Chris Cross concert and both experiences were quite fun. Love the intimacy with the audience and performers.
I highly recommend that you arrive early to lineup in line if you want to sit exactly where you want to. Seating is based on a first come first served basis for each section (Premium, Loge, Bar). There really isn’t a bad seat throughout the club, but if you’re one of those people that wants to get to your prime spot, this would be your best bet.
My only gripe would have to be the price of the food and cocktails. Pretty pricey but understandable in a business sense. I recommend pregaming at one of the nearby restaurants in the area if you don’t want to spend too much at the actual venue.
I will definitely be back for future shows. Hawaii has a gem with this place.

First time at the Blue Note thanks to Unilocal!Small intimate venue that opened earlier this year featuring an assortment of local and invited entertainers.
My plus 1 and I had premium tickets and were seated in a booth. We were told that depending on how packed it would be, we might have to share our booth with other folks, but lucky for us, no one joined us and we were able to have the booth the entire time to ourselves.
Arrive earlier than open door times to stand in line for the best seating for your ticket level. If you go early, you can enjoy pupus dinner and dessert as a full menu + drink menu is available. It is $ 10 minimum a person, I ordered a virgin piña colada which was $ 5. But because my plus 1 ordered 3 cocktails at $ 16 each, the server did not say anything about me ordering the minimum.
Because it was the first night that the artist, Christopher Cross, was playing, the sound team were still tweaking to make sure the sound was right. When coming to any future shows, I would suggest to come anytime after the first showing because they would have gotten the sound down.
I am lucky to have been able to see and hear an 80s legend, Christopher Cross, at the Blue Note!

Went there for the Christopher Cross show last night. We arrived at 5:45 and was politely greeted by the hostess who promptly sat us. Since we were fairly early she let us choose where we wanted to sit. We chose the far side of the room by the piano and away from the drums. It turned out to be a good decision because Christopher Cross ended up standing almost next to the piano.
The room is not big and holds about 150 people. Which really makes it a charming intimate venue for this type of live music. There’s not really a bad seat in the house. There are booths that seat up to four people and tables that seat up to 6 people. Whether booth or table, you are expected to share your space if necessary. We sat at a table and there was another couple that got seated next to us. It was a little awkward at first but then when they turned down the lights and the show started, we hardly knew they were there.
The menu is definitely on the pricy side. For example a burger with fries is $ 21. We had eaten prior but decided to share a main course dish of Unagi Glazed Atlantic Salmon on fried tofu with cherry tomatoes,
watercress and a side of jasmine rice $ 30. It was very good. The salmon was moist and cooked perfectly. The unagi glazed added a wonderful sweet and exotic flavor to the salmon.
Drink prices are also on the high side with glasses of wine starting at $ 13. I think the best value is the Glenlevit 12 $ 13. They do a 2 ounce pour which makes it worth while.
The service was excellent. Our waitress Shireen was attentive and very knowledgable about the food and drinks.
Since this was the first show of his 5 day stay and the first show of two shows each night, the sound mix was off the first three songs as we could barely hear the vocals over the instruments. By the time he played the fourth song, Sailing, the issue had been resolved. The show introduced Cross’s new material sprinkled with a few of his Grammy winning hits. My fave was when he went unplugged and did Laura. A touching song about a friend who passed away much too young.
The Blue Note is a unique and wonderful venue to see this type of live music. It is intimate, classy and perfect for date night. I wouldn’t hesitate to come back to see another show if I find that an artist I like is playing. Will definitely check out their line up for future shows.

First of all, thank you Unilocal and Blue Note for sponsoring tonight’s Christopher Cross Concert!
Great seats everywhere, in fact I don’t think I would have minded any of the seats in the house. This cozy new venue allows up close musical experiences no matter where you are seated. It almost feels like the artist was performing in my living room. Too bad I don’t have a full bar in my actual living room.
Christopher Cross and his group of musicians put on a superb concert playing both new songs that I had never heard before as well as his hits like Sailing, Arthurs theme, etc… I think that my favorite musician was the drummer. Mr. David Beyer is an Incredibly talented guy!
Food and drinks are priced about average for being in Waikiki. I’d suggest eating at Dukes or Hula Grill before the show and just have dessert at Blue Note.
For all of you designated drivers, sodas are not refillable, but iced tea is.
I hope that blue Note continues to fill the house as Honolulu really should maintain this top class venue to bring in these world class musicians!

First time to this world class venue. It’s like stepping back in time to a classy, intimate jazz club. High back ½ circle booths that remind me of the Flamingo Club where Sinatra sang. Food and service were excellent. Tony our waiter was fantastic! Can’t wait to return and see some of the acts they have booked for the summer. Front row with my girl, a drink and singing to Christopher Cross!

It’s a cool experience, don’t find a lot of these kind of music venues here in Hawaii.
Can’t complain about the food or drinks.
Only downer is the price, you’re basically paying for the location and ambiance… But hey if you have the money, then go for it!!!

Came here invited as an Unilocal guest. The venue was full, despite that today is Tuesday.
Christopher Cross and his band are playing till June 5^th.
Lots of tourists and nice servers. The tables are kind of small and food & beverages are a bit pricy, but with the music, it is so much more fun!

Jazz club… never been here before and my date made a good selection of taking me here.
We came on a Wednesday night to see the Stanley Jordan Trio, for a Wednesday night, there was a good amount of people inside to see him play! I was impressed with the venue, service, drinks and of course, the music.
LOCATION: Inside the Outrigger, above Duke’s and same level and across of Hula’s Grill.
PARKING: It’s Waikiki! Valet or park in a garage, either way, all is in walking distance. We walked over after our dinner and we parked in the same garage as Top of Waikiki.
VENUE/​ATMOSPHERE: Wow! Nice, dark, jazzy feel to this place. Mature crowd. Loved it!
FOOD: Unfortunately we haven’t tried their foods yet because we came from a dinner.
DRINKS: I was definitely pleased with their drinks. Their Old Fashion and their Sazarac was on it! The bartender has some experience! Pricey, but reasonable for this kind of venue.
MUSIC: Stanley Jordan was amazing! The venue makes for great sound. Not too loud where you can’t talk to your date but great set up where you can enjoy the music, even if you’re sitting front row.
I’m not experienced with jazz clubs but for someone that doesn’t frequent this type of places, I was impressed. It’s a nice place to bring your date, or even just to enjoy live music with a bunch of friends.
Buying tickets to their shows is convenient. You can go online or buy them at the front. Their hostess and servers were very professional. Dressed nice and provided excellent service.
I’m already looking up their next shows! I definitely want to bring more people here to experience this venue and the live music!

Cool new venue in Waikiki for a chill musical experience. Loungey atmosphere with a close, intimate view of the artist you paid to see. There are certain seats that are «community tables» which basically means that you may sit next to a stranger, but who cares if you are both fans that are ready to see an awesome artist. I liked the small space and the ability to get an up close view of the artist.
The food was pretty good, but pricey. Same goes with the drinks, but that’s to be expected in a Waikiki hotel. There is a $ 10 minimum for food or drink (which I thought was hilarious since there was nothing on the menu for $ 10 or less). All and all a great addition to the concert venue scene.
BTW, no need to pay for the expensive seats since they are all great, unless you want to be so close that you can touch the performers.

Location: Blue Note is located at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach, 2^nd Floor. Take the escalator up, near the Hula Grill.
Entertainment: My fiancé is a huge John Cruz fan so when I told him the Rough Riders will be playing, he immediately bought tickets. I went to the website to order tickets. If you want the kamaāina rate, you need to call the number listed.
Venue/​seating: First come, first serve. They have tables and booths We bought premium tickets for the 6:30pm show and door opened at 5:00pm. I wanted to get there early enough to get a booth but they were all taken. We choose a table near the stage, it was empty so we choose to sit next to each other to face the stage. I knew when people were to come to our table they would ask us to move one of us so we can sit across from each other, and 2 couples did. I politely declined since one of our backs would be toward the stage.
There was 3 tiers of seating. The section below tier was elevated from the premier seating. I think we would sit here the next time we come.
It is a pretty intimate venue and dark with candles on the table with blue hue lighting.
$ 10 minimum order (drinks and/​or food) per person to sit at the table or booth.
Bathrooms are located near the entrance door of the venue.
Food: Expensive. After looking at the menu before coming here, I knew we wouldn’t do dinner here. Caprese Salad with lemon sorbet-​hard to go wrong with tomatoes, mozzarella and balsamic dressing. It was as expected. The sorbet was refreshing.
Shrimp wrapped in prosciutto-​There were 3 large shrimps with a tangy/​chili sauce. It was pretty good and hot when it came out.
Drinks: Pricey and average for Waikiki prices. I had a vodka tonic and 3 glasses of wine. The wine/​glass ratio was just right. I’ve read previous posts that the pour was less than half. They must’ve stepped up their game. My fiancé got a Sapporo (bottle) and 2 Guinness (large can), which they poured in a large glass for him.
They have a wide range of drink options from whisky, bottles of wine to champagne.
Parking: We stayed in Waikiki so we just walked to the venue. The website has parking information. They do validate when you park at their preferred hotel garage. You would need to bring your ticket to the Gift shop.
Service: There was a maitre d who escorted us to our table, very friendly. The servers were quick to fill and bring our orders before the show started. During the show, they were a bit less around as everyone was more focused on the show. They were discreet to asking weather we needed another drink and to remove empty plates.
Conclusion: We had a great evening, reminds me of being in a Las Vegas dinner and a show. The Rough Riders were awesome. I do wish it wasn’t first come, first serve. If we have an ability to reserve a booth online or table (for bigger parties) or call ahead, I would do it.

This upscale Jazz lounge is a new hot spot in Waikiki that everyone should check out! We got free tickets from Unilocal Hawaii to see The Wailers last night and had so much fun at this event! Based on other Unilocal reviews, it looks like they have a wide array of performers who play here, not just from Jazz genres.
The lounge itself has a very intimate setting. There are a few large tables in front of the stage for bigger parties but all other seats were 2 – 4 seat tables and booths. We sat in a booth at the far end against the wall, opposite of the entrance but since the seating is tiered, we still had an awesome view regardless of how far we were! Based on the smaller size of this venue, I don’t think there are any ‘bad’ seats. There are blue neon lights that light up the lounge which makes you feel like you’re no longer in Hawaii, but maybe NYC or Las Vegas: D
I would love to give this place 5 stars, however I found the food and drink menu to be wayyy too over priced! They require a $ 10 minimum on drinks so if your choice of drink is beer, you’re forced to buy 2 since they charge $ 9 a bottle. Cocktails & wines btg range from $ 12 — $ 20+. We ordered the cheese platter which came out to $ 28 and it was nothing spectacular. It consisted of 5 blocks of different types of cheeses, 8 little pieces of baguette, and a few grapes (some that were mushy). The bread to cheese ratio was definitely not enough but our server was kind enough to bring extra baguette slices for free.
I would suggest to eat either before or after your show because you could spend less for better quality & satisfying food at the many surrounding restaurants. It wouldn’t feel right to not have a few drinks while enjoying live music so just prepare to spend money on dranks!

NY Jazz club now in Hawaii. Blue Note clubs now also in Japan and Italy. World class entertainment not just Jazz and Blues including local Hawaiian star artists like Kalapana, Kapono, Melveen Leed and the top names in island music. 2 shows nightly every night of the year. 15% Kama’aina respect on ticket price saw Kalapana for $ 17 sat in bar. Also standing room in Bar area. Drinks same price as hotels. Not a bad seat in the house. Great staff and Mr. Marco runs the whole show with class and style. GREAT club, great show Kalapana, it just took my spirit soaring across time and space. Will be back for Chaka Khan.

I was excited to see Maxi Priest last night, 2.27.16, after reading other Unilocal reviews & seeing their pictures. Kama ‘aina rate is 15% off regular priced tickets but you have to call their box office & place your order via phone.
Tickets were easy to pick up at will call, which is right outside the entrance. After you pick up your tickets, be prepared to stand in a long line until the doors open, which is normally 30 minutes before scheduled show time. After entering, you’re escorted to your designated area (we chose loge).
We ordered drinks (French kiss martini for me & sidecar cocktail for my bf). Cocktails are pretty pricey at $ 14-​$ 16, but is consistent with Waikiki drink prices at other venues & tasted good.
For food, we shared the beef short ribs entrée, served over a polenta cake with greens which was tender & flavorful & salmon with unagi glaze over greens which comes with a bowl of rice. The salmon portion was a lot smaller than the beef short ribs entrée and was cooked well & had good flavor but the short ribs was my favorite. My bf had the French onion soup which he said was pretty good. Food is a little expensive but tastes good & is consistent with Waikiki prices too. Instead of a cooked dessert, I opted for a dessert that I could drink & had a chocolate macadamia nut cocktail, which was delicious.
Maxi Priest was scheduled to go on at 9:30 but didn’t start until 10:10. He & his musicians put on a great performance & got the crowd involved with some of his songs. The venue isn’t too big so everyone had a good view of the stage.
Our server was super nice & was helpful with keeping us informed with drink order status (the bar was backed up a bit). We were given glasses of Prosecco on the house to thank us for our patience, which was nice.
Thank you other Unilocalers, for recommending parking at Outrigger East on Kuhio & Kaiulani for $ 6 with validation from Blue Note (which you obtain at the Blue Note gift shop). Check the Blue Note performance schedule for upcoming shows & make sure to call in advance to get your Kama aina discount.

Another surprise date night and I found myself walking to the outrigger beach hotel and thought… are we going to Dukes? Or the Society of Seven?
I’m totally dating myself… but now know that SOS is no longer playing there but Blue Note Hawaii is there! I can’t rave enough about this place and am soooo thankful that Hawaii has a new Venue to watch live musicians both local and from the mainland perform here.
Here’s the scoops:
Go on line and look up
you will see their entire calendar of performers and when they will be performing here. Tickets can be purchased on line and picked up when you arrive. Last night we watched Anuhea, Paula Fuga and Rebel souljahs wow!!! They were so good and the premium seats we had were amazing. The premium seats were 45 $, Loge seats 35 $ and bar space 25 $. If you are kamaaina you’ll get an additional 15% off of the seats. I would recommend paying the few extra dollars and getting the premium seats. The seating is first come first serve per area. The show started at 930p and they start seating at 9pm. We were maybe 25−30^th in line and we’re waiting there from 845p. In premium and the Loge seating you have your choice at seating at tables good for large groups and you can also choose the booths perfect for couples. Of you choose Loge seating it’s just one aisle above premium so the seats are still good and you’ll be able to hear the performance fine.
They have a minimum 10 $ fee per set. So being that the drinks are 14 $ each you can order 2 drinks and be fine! There’s also a full dinner menu available to eat as well but we were full from an earlier dinner. We tried the andagi poi bread pudding with vanilla ice cream and it was Yummy!
I was impressed with the décor of the inside with blue lighting and a comfy setup the seating process was smooth and there were ushers escorting you in, it was not like a cattle heard and you are scrambling to find seats.
Music! Was awesome Anuhea performed her older and newer songs and her voice is so soothing. Shes transitioned into a confident talented singer and really connects with her audience. Paula Fuga is an amazing artist and is so multitalented. She’s the type of performer that can mesmerize you with her ability to sing the high and low notes and you can just feel the passion that’s in her music. She can sing multiple genres and I recommend listening to her perform live when you have a chance. She’s performed with artists like Jack Johnson and many other various others. Rebel souljahs was the secret friends that was mentioned and they rocked the house. It was a 2 hour show and I loved every minute of it. I felt that the the tickets were very reasonable and I truly liked this type of intimate setting to hear these artists instead of in large auditorium settings.
I’m already checking my calendar because Maxi Priest and the Rough Riders are playing soon (Henry Kapono, John Cruz and Brother Nolan NOT the DMX crew!)
We parked at outrigger east hotel up the street and they validated it was 6 $. Great place to listen to live music and I’ll be back for other performances!
My only deduction of a star was because I thought the drink prices were a little high for the quality of drinks they were putting out. Other than that it was a 5 star place.

I just got home from Blue Note Hawaii where Anuhea & Friends are performing. Anuhea, along with Paula and Kimie, will be there for two more shows on Saturday night and two more shows Sunday night. Monday, Anuhea will fly out and be the opening act for UB40. Go get tickets to see their show. They brought the house down. These women can sing. I had so much fun singing along. I knew most of their songs because they play them on the radio so much.
The Blue Note is at the Outrigger Waikiki. It’s the old venue where the Society of Seven used to play. The place had a million dollar overhaul and looks completely different. It’s classy and sophisticated, glowing with blue lights.
The food is excellent. We had the French Onion Soup, Caesar Salad with Salmon, Braised Beef Short Ribs, and Crème Brûlée. We polished off everything. The food is on the pricier side and the portions are modest.
They have valet parking at the Outrigger Waikiki, or self parking at the Outrigger Ohana East on Kuhio Avenue. It’s $ 6 for four hours with validation. Just remember to get a stamp from the Blue Note Gift Shop before you leave.

What a great addition to Honolulu’s nightlife! The former Society of Seven showroom has evolved into an intimate stage for some top notch entertainers the likes we don’t often get to see up close and personal. So maybe it’s a little pricey, about $ 36 for the ticket purchased by phone, but it is well worth it! As other Unilocal reviewers advised, there also is a $ 10 minimum charge for food, easily spent on a drink.
On our night, Earl Klugh was the featured performer, and I gotta say TEN yes 10 fantastic stars for the entertainment — Earl Klugh and his band are true performers, stirring audiences to a frenzy of clapping and woots! If you’re a fan as I’ve been since Wishful Thinking came out in 1984, you’ll be happy to know it sounds ten times better than the tape cassette! Ahem, yes kiddies, there was such a thing … Google it!
Loved the band’s high energy and warm personable connection to audiences, both on and off stage. Following the performance, audiences can get band members autographs, take photos and purchase CDs in the retail store right out front of the showroom. I even got to shake hands with Al Turner (guitarist) after I untangled my ring from my scarf, and that was followed by a quick hug from the tall sexy saxophonist!
Funny thing about Blue Note is that it did seem like the room was infused with blue color. Somehow even my Caesar salad ($ 11) with grilled chicken ($ 9) looked blue but tasted crisp and delicious. The cheese platter ($ 28) came with a cluster of dark purple grapes, 10 cracker rounds and 4 wedges of cheese, and yes, one was a blue cheese! Thankfully we asked and received extra crackers, no charge!
The girls ordered a bottle of wine, the pizza of the night (shrimp and scallops), crabcake sliders (2 to a plate for $ 16), French onion soup ($ 9), and deemed everything delicious. Pricey, but delicious and expected. After all, we were in Waikiki to celebrate Tracy P.‘s birthday!
Service was friendly; our waitress was so nice and sweet, and the wait help brought out the orders quickly. My only small annoyance was that 3 different servers tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if we were done eating, interrupting my enjoyment of the performance. Uhm, I just told the last guy no, we’re not done until every last scrap of the expensive food is eaten, lol! I think because there’s a small window to get ready for the second show, the wait help were anxious to remove all the plates and stemware. So be warned, and maybe move your empty plates to the edge of the table.
Speaking of tables, it’s a bit of a tight fit between tables and if I leaned back on the chair, my head was almost touching the shoulder of the guy seated behind me. It made for an awkward standing ovation at the end of the night as well.
Parking is at Outrigger East, er, Ohana East on Kuhio Avenue, $ 6 with validation for 4 hours.
All in all, Blue Note has a lot of high notes and a couple of flat ones, but is overall — IMHO — a cool new venue that fills a void in Honolulu’s musical repertoire. I would love to go back. Please bring in The Rippingtons and I’ll be there!