ESPACIO opened in September 2019 on Waikiki Beach with just nine suites, each taking up an entire floor. Every suite measures 2,250 square feet, with a private lift, a jacuzzi on the balcony and its own dry sauna, and interiors of Italian marble and Moroccan metalwork. Service follows omotenashi, the Japanese idea of anticipating a guest's needs before they are spoken, and stays include airport transfers both ways, use of a Mercedes-Benz for exploring the island and in-suite dining through the day. On the roof an infinity pool, whirlpool and fire pit look out over the Pacific. MUGEN, the 34-seat restaurant, serves tasting menus under executive chef Colin Sato, and Mamoru Tatemori cooks private kaiseki dinners. The ESPACIO Spa has two treatment rooms. The hotel and MUGEN both hold a Forbes Five-Star rating, and the hotel is rated AAA Five Diamond. With nine suites in the middle of Waikiki, it offers something rare in Honolulu: the privacy of a residence with the attention of a very small hotel. The spring and autumn shoulder months are quieter.
- Nearest airport
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Honolulu (HNL), 6 Miles / 10 Kilometres
- Rooms
- nine full-floor suites
Insider tip The car is included, so plan a slow drive along the Oahu coast on a clear day.
Why I choose it Nine full-floor suites in the middle of Waikiki, for Honolulu with the privacy of an apartment and the service of a small hotel.