Looks like The Study studied up. This stylish hotel bar, just off the lobby of The Modern Honolulu, always had good bones; now it has an intelligent lineup of tasty bites and entertainment to match.

A couple of years ago, I visited The Study and found it lacking. The biggest problem was that some food items weren’t done right.

During the past few months, I heard that the bar had raised its IQ. I’ve visited twice now, and from my experience, that’s true. Happy hour offerings are presented well. Drinks are delicious. And the surroundings are coolly classy.

The experience

The menu at The Study is reliable. The service and attention to detail in the room are gratifying. Those pleasures clear the way to enjoy the sleek, contemporary setting.

As designed by New York architects George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg, The Study is “highly stylized,” as the architects describe it. With its “secret” entrance behind a gliding bookcase, black oak flooring, soaped oak walls and a curved, shell-like bar, it has a sleek, chic look and feel. It’s set up to be a place to people-watch or to be watched, and to feel like an urbane traveler.

On my recent visits, the food and service had improved in both obvious and subtle ways.

The Study continues to present itself as a flirtatiously bookish environment, but some of the “clues” in an earlier incarnation, such as vintage books in a far corner with questionable titles, have been removed. That’s a plus, removing distractions so that the chill elegance of the room itself remains a focus.

The food

Good food means good times, and the menu at The Study is on the right side of the curve. Happy hour offerings are plated in generous servings, with creative embellishments that give the dishes an upscale panache.

I sampled the hummus and naan bread, $8 (regularly $15), mini-burger sliders, two for $10, and a grilled pizza with sausage and pepperoni, $8 (regularly $11). These were all good, with the sliders the best of the bunch.

The mini-burgers were juicy and aromatic, topped with bacon jam, frisee and cheddar cheese, and served with a generous side of thin-cut fries. If you’re not excessively hungry, this would be a fine meal for one and a good pupu for two.

The hummus came as a very generous serving, with fresh pita bread and a pool of olive oil in the center of the dip. Balsamic vinegar-marinated cherry tomatoes and onion on the side rounded out this plate, again making it suitable for a light meal, and great for sharing in a group.

These two appetizers were so generous that I only took a bite of the pizza. It was fine, but the other two offerings were more outstanding.

The drink

The drinks menu is strong. While it continues to include literary references, the cocktail recipes live up to the aspirations of the imaginative titles, and the menu has been updated with creative, original options.

I was looking for a colorful cocktail to include in our photos, and ordered a Women Are From Venus: Jose Cuervo Traditional Tequila, “kissed” with St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur and sweet ‘n’ sour “a la minute” (I take that to mean made up on the spot), served in a wineglass with a “bonnet” (floated topping) of cabernet. If not for the contrasting colors, I might not have tried it, but I’m glad I did: It’s heady and delicious, with the elderflower liqueur and tequila in sweet-tart balance, and the wine providing another (literal) layer of assertive flavor. Don’t stir the drink; it’s best as served.

During happy hour, you can also get well drinks at $7 (they’re usually $9), and local beer such as Big Wave Golden Ale at $6 (usually $8). There’s a well-thought-out wine list, with house wines offered during happy hour, and a limited-to-average selection of imported beer available by the bottle.

The verdict

With an intelligently designed menu that meets the standards of its environment, The Study is a pleasurable place to meet for pau hana, whether for a date, an after-work drink with a colleague, or to gather your group before heading out for more adventures.