The Hideout is a mellow spot for drinks and a quick bite

Hideout is the restaurant and lounge for The Laylow, a new boutique hotel in Waikiki just Ewa of the International Market Place on Kuhio Avenue. Open just about two months in a site previously occupied by an Aqua hotel, Hideout offers a basic set of happy-hour options in a laid-back yet stylish atmosphere.

The experience

Hideout is on the second floor of the hotel; take an escalator up from Kuhio Avenue if you’re on foot. The bar and lounge area occupies a half-covered space that opens up to the sky facing Kuhio Avenue. Happy-hour pricing is offered only at the bar, which has about a dozen seats, but you will still have a nice view of the lounge, and street noise isn’t an issue. Chances are, if the sun is out, it might be a bit warm out there anyway during the early part of happy hour. There’s live music every night starting at 7 p.m., so even though happy hour will have ended by then, it still might be worthwhile to hang out and enjoy the music.

The bar itself presents a relaxed, inviting atmosphere, with warm wood tones in the cabinetry, mixed in with a white, leafy design on the bar and behind the liquor bottles on the back shelves. It’s probably one of the few bars left in Waikiki that doesn’t have sports showing on flat-screen televisions, so the atmosphere is geared toward relaxation and conversation.

The food

The happy-hour menu offers three food items, so you’re really getting a snack rather than a discounted meal.

Two of the offerings are somewhat island-oriented: kalua pork egg rolls ($7 happy hour, regular $9) and edamame ($4, usually $6). The egg rolls were satisfying, with the kalua pork lending a nice smokey flavor to the dish. They weren’t greasy, either, which can sometimes be a problem with dishes like this. A pineapple jam was served as a dip, lending a sweet touch. The clump of slaw that came with the dish was lightly flavored, so I mixed in a bit of the sauce from the edamame — a blend of Korean chili, soy and garlic. It spiced up the slaw and made for tasty edamame as well.

The third item, Italian flatbread ($9, regular $16), came with pepperoni and Portuguese sausage. It was appropriately cheesy with melted mozzarella, but otherwise it was nothing special. I suppose I prefer my pizza with a crunchier crust.

If you’re really hungry, you’ll probably want to order off the full menu. The dinner menu offers island-style options including a Mauna Kea sandwich ($18), with kalua pork and wagyu-style beef, and Kiawe Smoked Chicken ($25).

The drink

Hideout has a short list of drink specials for happy hour, from Kona Longboard and Maui Bikini Blonde at $5 each to Rawson’s Retreat Cabernet Sauvignon and Callaway Cellar Selection Chardonnay at $8. Also available are Pau Maui Vodka and Old Lahaina Silver Rum at $7; you choose the mixer. You’ll save $2 to $4 on these drink orders during pau hana.

The regular drink menu also offers a number of specialty cocktails. Assistant manager Rylen Komeiji ran down some of the options on my visit.

If you’re in the mood for a flavored cocktail, Hideout’s selections are tempting. The coffee-flavored Before You Pau ($14), made with Patron Xo Cafe, cacao and Stumptown coconut foam will give you a burst of energy. The No. 120 ($14) — so named because The Laylow is the 120th hotel opened by the Marriott chain — is made with Pau Maui Vodka and various fruit juices, and has an amusing twist with boba bubbles.

Hideout’s version of the mai tai, called Mai Taime ($15), was also good, mixed up with Old Lahaina Silver Rum, lime orgeat and bitters, and lilikoi foam to top it off.

The verdict

Hideout is a convenient place in an attractive setting — nice for a quick pau hana bite and a moment of relaxation. If you’re in that locale, it would be a cheerful, convenient spot to meet someone before an evening out in Waikiki, with neither the food nor the drinks requiring much time or commitment.