Oʻahu’s New Downtown Hotel Offers a Different Perspective of Honolulu

Downtown Honolulu hasn’t had a new hotel open since the Executive Centre was built in 1984. With the pandemic fading and efforts towards the revitalization of the neighborhood on the rise, it was time.

Located at 1111 Bishop Street between the Hawai’i Theatre, Capital Modern Museum and ʻIolani Palace, the AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu sits at the core of Honolulu’s historic central business district. 

This is not your typical beachfront hotel (those are in Waikīkī three miles from here), this is museums, architecture, music, art, the island’s best restaurants and nightlife. This is Chinatown produce markets, craft cocktail bars, bookstores and chic boutiques; all within walking distance or quick bus ride to city hall and surrounding government buildings. In fact, from the Capital Suite you can see the top of Hawaiʻis state capital amidst a tree-lined cityscape that makes you feel more like you are in Washington D.C. than on a tropical island. 

The exterior of AC Hotel in Downtown Honolulu.
Photo: Courtesy of AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu

Highgate Hotels, which operates AC Hotel as well as Romer House Waikīkī and Romer Waikīkī at the Ambassador, designed 112 pet-friendly rooms with minimalist and contemporary sensibilities, providing, what the hotel says, “everything you need, nothing you don’t.” This means comfy beds, office space with desk and plenty of tech support, coffee, filtered water and well-insulated walls and windows for a quiet stay. The lobby, halls and onsite eateries are all adorned with artwork from local artists.

The minimalist bathroom in a standard room at the AC Hotel.
Photo: Courtesy of AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu

Along the “everything you need” lines are the hotel amenities, which include conference rooms, daily continental breakfast and three culinary destinations: Common Ground, The Dotted Line and Yours Truly. 

Common Ground is your “bougie” bodega serving Big Island Coffee Roasters coffee, hotel room essentials and locally-curated gifts. 

The Dotted Line‘s TDL Deviled Egg (left) and Fried Mala Chicken Sandwich.
Photos: Sarah Burchard

The Dotted Line offers “all-day-dine” with a modern global menu by chef Jared Astrinos. Its pau hana is especially popular with the local Downtown Honolulu crowd. From 3 to 6 p.m. daily you can enjoy the “7-for-$7” menu—7 bites for $7 each, including the TDL Deviled Eggs loaded with fried shallots, tobiko, togarashi and truffle oil and the craveable Fried Mala Chicken Sandwich on a brioche bun with cabbage slaw and spicy tonkatsu sauce. Beer, wine by the glass and cocktails are all $2 off including a Bulleit bourbon Manhattan smoked with cherry wood and a riff on a Penicillin that swaps Islay scotch for tallow washed mezcal. 

Nosh at The Dotted Line at the AC Hotel.
Photo: Courtesy of AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu

After dinner head downstairs to Yours Truly, a craft cocktail bar with a storied history. Where The Dotted Line pours riffs on classic cocktails, Yours Truly offers adventure and surprise in a swanky prohibition-era setting. Come here to be wowed and fill your Instagram feed.

AC Hotel extends its hospitality to the neighborhood with deals and specials aimed towards locals. Its “Proof of Play” offering gets anyone who arrives at The Dotted Line with a ticket stub to a nearby museum, art gallery or theater an appetizer or comparable “gift” from the restaurant as an incentive to come “play” downtown. With its “Park, Play and Dine” deal, guests spending $75 or more in food and/or beverage at the AC Hotel can park for free until 11 p.m. And on First Fridays The Dotted Line serves First Friday Capitol Martinis for $12.

The courtyard at the AC Hotel in Downtown Honolulu.
Photo: Courtesy of AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu

This is not the kind of hotel that offers a luxury spa experience or a pool for the kids to splash in. It’s a simple, yet classy, hotel with a few charming surprises, in an ideal location for business travelers who fancy good art, good food and a good time. 

Patricia Chang Moad, co-owner of the hotel and curator of all of the artwork and special details throughout the building, describes AC Hotel best: “It’s an executive’s playground.”

AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu, 1111 Bishop Street, Honolulu, (808) 599-6006, marriott.com/en-us/hotels/hnlac-ac-hotel-honolulu/overview