The majority of my week is spent downtown. It's where I work and most often where I pau hana.

But when downtown gets to be a bit too much, I'll venture elsewhere for something specific. A mechanical bull, dartboards with plate-size bull's-eyes, or even a jukebox that spits at you if you select a Lady Gaga song are all reason enough for me to visit someplace new.

With none of those in existence—to my knowledge—at Lulu's Waikiki, you might think the drive there wouldn't be worth it. Well, Lulu's has one of the best locations on the island, and that alone was reason enough for me to rush over to the corner of Kalakaua and Kapahulu avenues to meet up with friends recently.

Drinks after work can be necessary when you're stuck in an office all day, and knocking a few back here while enjoying a gorgeous sunset and views of Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach can feel like a minivacation. Throw in sporting events on a dozen screens and a menu with range like Whitney Houston in her heyday, and you can legitimately claim Lulu's as one of the best beach clubs in Hawaii.

First, we spent time enjoying the restaurant's open-air seating, moving to the bar after an amazing sunset. A few rounds of classic island drinks, like $4 daiquiris and $5 sangrias, and we were ready to eat. The fruity drinks must have softened me up a bit, because a humongous plate of nachos no longer seemed appealing. Instead, we opted for Teriyaki Steak Bites ($13), Ahi Poke ($13) and the Honolulu Hot Tuna ($14).

The teriyaki steak glaze and the Honolulu Hot Tuna's soy-Dijon sauce were pretty good, but what was unexpectedly amazing was how fresh the poke was. Simply flavored, the fish had perfect texture; you just don't find that at most restaurants catering mainly to tourists.

Service at Lulu's is provided by a staff that is fun, helpful and good-looking.

(I hear they have mandatory tanning sessions instead of lunch breaks—or perhaps they just spend a lot of time working out with the bar's Nintendo Wii system and shuffleboard.)

Overall, Lulu's is an excellent choice for a getaway from downtown or just a quick escape from laying on Waikiki Beach. If you're willing to mix it up with the tourist crowd, you might find yourself back here for weekly “;vacations.”;

”;Pau Hana Patrol”; is a weekly look at Honolulu bar and restaurant happy hours. E-mail happy-hour tips to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).