Drinking in Hilo: Bars

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Hilo is a small town, and as such, there is not a lot of public drinking to be done. Despite of a very lackluster nightlife, almost every bar has a cover charge. Still, there are a few places to wet your whistle, and maybe catch a live act.

• Detour A relatively new bar catering mostly to an Asian/Hawaiian clientèle. There is a dance floor with music supplied by a house PA system, there is no DJ. There is a bar/lounge area with pool tables, darts, TV's and sofas and a separate dance floor area. Fights tend to be common here also. On weekends there is typically a $7 cover charge.
• Shooters, Banyan Drive. They call this place a club, but the reality is this is a dive bar. That being said, service personnel are friendly and attractive, and drinks are relatively inexpensive. Music is mediocre, but not bad for a small town. It is within walking distance of all major hotels, so if you want to drink a lot in Hilo this is a good place to go. The fact they charge a $5 cover is a joke.
• Cronies, downtown Hilo, corner of Waianuenue and Kamehameha. General sports bar, closes at 9PM, not a spot for nightlife.
• Emerald Orchid, Keawe St., Downtown Hilo. A neat British pub-style bar with a nice selection of beers and liquor served by friendly bartenders. Features a small dance floor with the occasional live band or DJ. Attendance is hit or miss, with some days being packed and the next week being nearly empty. Very close to Hilo Hostel.
• Legends Bar & Grill (formerly Charley's) Recently bought and renovated, this bar in Keaau is now one of the few venues that frequently has live music. It's located in the Keaau shopping center, about 20 minutes from downtown Hilo.

• La Perouse Pinnacle