Located on Kapiolani Boulevard on the 2nd floor of the Honolulu Design Center is the Amuse Wine Bar. For those not familiar with Amuse, it is a wine bar that features ATM-like self-serve wine stations. The first of its kind on Oahu, it also features a tapas style (small plates) menu and live entertainment on Wednesday and Friday evenings. Parking is free in the Honolulu Design Center lot.
With over 80 different wines to choose from, connoisseurs and amateurs (like me!) alike can appreciate the wide selection. At Amuse, you purchase wine by the “shot” (1-ounce serving) which is great especially for those that don’t know much about wines. This gives you a chance to try a plethora of wines without committing to a full glass until you find just the right one! At Amuse, they say, “You pick the vintage, you decide the amount to pour and you pick the company.”
Wine samplings range from $.80 to $10+. There are two ways to start sampling wines: either purchase a wine card ($20 minimum) or run a tab on a card and have it added to your food bill.
It was a bit odd walking through the furniture store to get to the bar, but once you get there you forget where you are. Amuse is a relaxing environment and an especially great place to unwind after work. We went on a Friday and there was a duo performing contemporary music.
We decided to share two tapas and a dessert. We ordered the Imu Pork Quesadilla and “Steak Frites” to start with. The Imu Pork Quesadilla is described as “Shredded Pork, Mozzarella Cheese, Avocado, Hamakua Springs Tomato, & Tortilla”. This quesadilla was pretty good, with the best part being the avocado and tomato on the side. The avocado and tomato added a lot of flavor to this dish.
The other tapa we ordered, “Steak Frites”, is a 6-ounce skirt steak with green garlic butter, served with French fries and ketchup. This dish was my favorite of the two. The steak was juicy and flavorful and the fries were covered in a very tasty Cajun seasoning.
Lastly, we got the “Kula” Strawberry Shortcake. Although this dessert was huge, we finished the whole thing! The shortcake was made with Swiss cheese butter cake, Jack Daniel’s Vanilla Ice Cream, toasted almonds, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and strawberry sauce. The butter cake was heavenly and the strawberry sauce was exceptional.
The menu also offers other appetizer type food, such as a cheese plate, burger, and chicken wings. You can even try featured desserts from STAGE, a full service restaurant also located on the 2nd floor of the Honolulu Design Center.
On designated days, you can get 50% off a wine card! That means you could get a $50 wine card for only $25! Call the bar to check which nights of the week they offer this special deal.
Final thoughts: If you’re a “wino” or aspire to be one, check out Amuse! It’s an entertaining way to sample a diverse range of wines, even on a budget. Amuse yourself.
| Service: |   | Average |
| Food: | | Average |
| Atmosphere: |  | Above Average + |
| Overall Value: | | Average + |
Amuse Wine Bar
Honolulu Design Center, 2nd Floor
1250 Kapiolani Boulevard Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: 808.237.5428
Wine Tastings Open Nightly:
5:00 pm – 10:30 pm
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