High-volume bars for markets and festivals
Honolulu Night Market bartenders
We’re the bar staff at Honolulu Night Market in Kaka’ako. If you’re organizing a market, block party or festival, we can staff yours too.
5.0 on Google · 500+ Oahu events
Kaka’ako, every quarter
The bar team behind Honolulu Night Market
Honolulu Night Market brings food, shopping, music and a big crowd to Kaka’ako, near SALT at Our Kaka’ako. It now runs quarterly, and we staff the bars.
A night market bar is a different job from a wedding bar. The crowd comes in waves, lines can build in minutes, and people want a drink fast so they can get back to the food trucks and the music. Our team has done this many times over, and we plan every market around one goal: keep the line moving without cutting corners on ID checks or responsible service.
For event organizers
How we keep a busy bar moving
Staffing for the peak
We staff for your busiest hour, not your average one, with a lead bartender or manager on site the whole night. Our bartenders are pour tested once a month, so service is fast and drinks are consistent.
More than one bar
Spreading service across two or more bars cuts lines and keeps foot traffic flowing past your vendors. Each extra bar setup is $150.
A simple menu
Big crowds move fastest with a short menu: a few beers, a wine or two and one or two easy cocktails. We’ll help you pick drinks that pour quickly.
Ice you won’t run out of
Running out of ice halfway through the night stops a bar cold. We size ice to your attendance and hours, and we’d rather bring extra than leave you short.
Insurance and COIs
We carry $2M liquor liability, general liability and workers’ comp, and we can name your organization or landlord as additional insured on a certificate of insurance for $150.
Setup and breakdown
We arrive 60 to 90 minutes early, set up tents, tables and coolers, and break it all down at the end. Shade tents are $100 each.
Who pays for the drinks?
Pick the right bar for your event
Your organization holds the license. Many markets and festivals already have their own liquor setup. We staff your bar and follow your rules, with our own trained team and insurance.
Cash bar run by us. Guests buy their own drinks. For each cash bar we apply for a one-event special license from the Honolulu Liquor Commission in our name, so we need at least 8 weeks’ notice (approval is up to the commission). Minimum bar sales apply.
Hosted bar. For a private or invite-only event where drinks are free to guests: you bring the alcohol. We pour on your behalf.
Not sure which fits? Call us early in your planning and we’ll talk it through.
Night market bar FAQs
How far ahead should an organizer book?
For a cash bar, at least 8 weeks, and earlier is better. If your organization already has its own liquor setup in place, reach out as soon as your date is set. Popular weekends fill up.
Our event is ticketed and drinks come with the ticket. Is that a hosted bar?
Probably not. When guests pay anything to drink, including a ticket that includes drinks, the event may need a liquor license. Talk to us before you set ticket prices and we’ll help you plan the right setup.
Do you do recurring events?
Yes. Honolulu Night Market is quarterly, and we also bartend Bishop Museum’s monthly After Hours. By the second event, we know your layout, your crowd and your busiest hour.
What else do you bring?
Bar tools, a 6-ft bar table with linen and your first cooler come with every event. Ice, cups, mixers, extra coolers and tents are on our add-ons page.
More on night market and festival bartending, corporate events and pricing, or see all FAQs.
Organizing a market or festival?
Get a quick quote online, or call or text us at 808-445-9094 and we’ll map out staffing, bars and ice with you.
5.0 on Google · 500+ Oahu events