No new hotel has opened in downtown Honolulu since the construction of the Executive Centre in 1984. With the pandemic waning and efforts to revitalize the area increasing, it was time.
The AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu is located at 1111 Bishop Street between the Hawai’i Theater, Capital Modern Museum and ʻIolani Palace, in the heart of Honolulu’s historic central business district.
This is not your typical beach hotel (those are three miles from here in Waikīkī), but museums, architecture, music, art, the best restaurants and nightlife on the island. These are the produce markets of Chinatown, cocktail bars, bookstores and chic boutiques; all within walking or quick bus ride to City Hall and the surrounding government buildings. From the Capital Suite, you can even see the top of Hawaii’s state capital amid a tree-lined cityscape that makes you feel more like you’re in Washington DC than on a tropical island.
The exterior of the AC Hotel in downtown Honolulu.
Photo: Courtesy of AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu
Highgate Hotels, the AC Hotel and Romer House Waikiki And Romer Waikīkī with the Ambassadorhas designed 112 pet-friendly rooms with a minimalist and contemporary flair, offering, as the hotel says, “everything you need and nothing you don’t.” That means comfortable beds, office space with a desk and plenty of tech support, coffee, filtered water, and well-insulated walls and windows for a peaceful stay. The lobby, hallways, and on-site restaurants are all decorated with artwork by local artists.
The minimalist bathroom in a standard room at the AC Hotel.
Photo: Courtesy of AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu
The hotel’s amenities reflect the motto “everything you need,” including meeting rooms, a daily continental breakfast, and three dining destinations: Common Ground, The Dotted Line, and Yours Truly.
Common Ground is your “boutique” bodega serving coffee from Big Island Coffee Roasters, hotel room items and select local gifts.
The TDL Deviled Egg (left) and Fried Mala Chicken Sandwich from The Dotted Line.
Photos: Sarah Burchard
Dotted Line offers all-day dining with a modern international menu from Chef Jared Astrinos. pau hana is especially popular with Downtown Honolulu locals. Daily from 3-6pm, you can enjoy the “7 for $7” menu – 7 bites for $7 each, including the TDL Deviled Eggs with fried shallots, tobiko, togarashi and truffle oil and the delicious Fried Mala Chicken Sandwich on a brioche bun with coleslaw 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 variation on a penicillin that replaces Islay Scotch with tallow-washed mezcal.
Dine at The Dotted Line at the AC Hotel.
Photo: Courtesy of AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu
After dinner, head downstairs to Yours Truly, a cocktail bar with a rich history. Where The Dotted Line serves up twists on classic cocktails, Yours Truly offers adventure and surprise in a chic, Prohibition-era setting. Come here to get wowed and fill your Instagram feed.
The AC Hotel extends its hospitality to the neighborhood by offering deals and specials for locals. The “Proof of Play” offer provides anyone who arrives at The Dotted Line with a ticket to a nearby museum, art gallery or theater with an appetizer or similar “gift” from the restaurant as an incentive to come downtown and “play.” The “Park, Play and Dine” offer allows guests who spend $75 or more on food and/or drinks at the AC Hotel to park for free until 11 p.m. And on First Fridays The Dotted Line serves First Friday Capitol Martinis for $12.
The courtyard of the AC Hotel in downtown Honolulu.
Photo: Courtesy of AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu
This isn’t the kind of hotel that offers a luxurious spa experience or a pool for the kids to splash around in. It’s a simple but elegant hotel with some charming surprises and 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 artwork and special details throughout the building, describes the AC Hotel best: “It is a playground for executives.”
AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu1111 Bishop Street, Honolulu, (808) 599-6006, marriott.com/en-us/hotels/hnlac-ac-hotel-honolulu/overview
