Murphy's Bar & Grill

In central Honolulu’s historic commercial core, one block from Nuʻuanu Avenue, Murphy’s sits on Merchant Street near the edge of Chinatown and the financial district. The business says Don Murphy acquired the former Royal Hawaiian Saloon in 1987 and has maintained an Irish-pub identity connected to the local community ever since. Its website describes sixteen draft beers but does not publish a current tap list with guaranteed availability; a 2013 interview said Guinness was kept on draft, useful history but not a substitute for checking today’s line-up.

The kitchen gives visitors a clear way to plan a meal as well as a drink: the lunch menu lists a Blarney Burger with cheddar and Guinness cheese for $15, an Irish Burger with Irish blue cheese for $19.50, fish and chips, and an Irish Dip with Guinness au jus for $22.50. These are restaurant-published prices and can change. The venue takes reservations by phone and offers takeout. Its access page names metered street parking, an open-air lot on Nuʻuanu, and several downtown garages; it does not say that parking is free or validated by the pub.

Murphy’s also explains how to reach it from Waikiki: routes 19, 20, and 42 leave riders, according to the business, one or two blocks away. TheBus’s visitor guide, revised in August 2026, lists routes 2, 2L, 13, 42, E, and W among Waikiki-to-downtown connections. Use both sources to plan the exact route and check for changes. On Saturday, the bar opens at 3 p.m. and the kitchen serves from 4 to 8:30 p.m.; it is closed Sunday. From Monday through Friday it opens at 11 a.m., while closing time varies by day and is not specified on the homepage.

Reviews tied to 2 Merchant Street often mention quick, friendly service, the wood-and-bar atmosphere, and comforting dishes such as the open-faced turkey sandwich. The building’s history and the Merchant Street location make Murphy’s a natural stop for lunch paired with a downtown visit or an afternoon in Chinatown, away from Waikiki’s hotel strip. Public sources support Guinness as part of the pub’s past offering, but since its current beer list is not posted, ask what is on draft before ordering.

Use the local Irish-pub guide to plan your visit: read the Honolulu pub guide.