On my last trip to Waikiki, I think I found my new go-to hotel. Now, I love the grand jewels of Waikiki as much as the next girl (do other people dream of staying at the Royal Hawaiian and the Moana Surfrider? Yes, no?), but sometimes you don’t need the full resort experience. And I’ve found that amidst the city vibes of Waikiki, I’m usually happier at a low key (and lower budget hotel) so I don’t feel guilty when I’m out running around the island all day instead of at the pool or beach.

But I’ve found a place that brings the best of both worlds!

This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Mousin’ Around possible.

The Laylow Review

The Laylow is a high end city hotel with the vintage Hawaiiana charm everybody dreams of.

Location

The Laylow doesn’t sit beachfront or have ocean views (rooms on the very upper floors may have a distant side view), but it’s just about 2-3 blocks from a public access point to Waikiki Beach (near the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort & Duke’s Waikiki). The hotel sits on busy Kuhio Ave in a bustling part of Waikiki.

Shopping and dining options abound and it’s a great location for walking pretty much everywhere in Waikiki.

Lobby & Check In Experience

The Laylow definitely “lays low” and feels a bit hidden when you first pull up. You turn into an alley just past Duke’s Lane where the valet will check your car in and direct you up the escalator to the lobby.

Once you step off the escalator into the open air lobby, you’ll instantly feel a world away from bustling Waikiki down below.

The lobby area feels like a low key hang out spot catching people in transition from the check in desk, the coffee shop and restaurant, and the pool which all converge in a relatively small space. But it’s well laid out and feels like a cozy, pleasant space.

The check in desk is small, but when you see that famous wall of vintage hula girls, you know you’re in the right place!

Check in itself was quick and smooth. There was no lei greeting like you’ll find at some bigger resorts, but they had a bowl of individual orchids and bobby pins at the desk (presumably so you could pin a flower in your hair if you’re so inclined).

Heads up: The Laylow is one of Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection hotels so you’ll square away status based upgrades, point gifts, breakfast vouchers, etc. when you check in.

Rooms

The rooms at the Laylow are all pretty spacious and bright. The room I booked featured two king size beds (something I’m finding more common in city hotels where a group of adults may be traveling together) and there was plenty of floor space.

My only complaint here (and so many hotels have this problem) is that there aren’t nightstands and outlets on both sides of the beds. So plan to pack an extension cord and use a chair or a suitcase as a makeshift nightstand if you want access to a charger next to the bed.

The bathroom is modern and bright (I LOVED the wood grain tile in the shower) with their own brand of toiletries.

The Laylow is fairly insta-famous and they’ve done a good job carrying that over to the rooms. The colorful wallpaper and ukulele make a fun photo op and every room gets a FUN gift basket featuring branded flip flops, refillable water bottles, snacks, and some other fun goodies.

And if you’re a person who likes hotel robes, you’ll be happy to know they also have waffle cotton robes branded with their cute pink logo.

***Want to save major $$$ on your trip to Hawaii? I get asked ALL the time how I’m able to travel so often to Hawaii and stay at really nice resorts. Well, my favorite travel hack is cashing in points to score free airfare and free nights at some of Hawaii’s most high end resorts. Read my full guide on the exact system I use to max out credit card rewards here. Seriously, it’s going to save you soooo much money.

Service

I don’t have much to say in this category in either direction. Everyone I interacted with at the Laylow was very friendly and helpful, but it’s largely a self service oriented hotel so don’t expect a Four Seasons experience.

The guys at the valet were always on top of it, the lady who checked me in was pleasant, and we had a great server at breakfast every day and in the coffee shop.

We declined housekeeping, but it was available.

I didn’t hang around the pool much during the day, but I do believe they have food and beverage runners from the Hideout.

You get your own towels for the beach and pool from the little gift shop kiosk (or the front desk when they’re closed) and there’s a GREAT water and ice refill station (plus a microwave) on the main floor by the elevators (although I wish there was one on every floor).

They’ve done a lot to make sure that you always have everything you need, but it’s largely a self service property.

Dining

The Hideout is the hotel’s open air restaurant, bar, and coffee shop. It’s set up to serve hotel guests pretty perfectly, but it also attracts a crowd from Waikiki in the evenings. The stylish space is located on the same floor as the lobby and pool (just a short escalator ride up from the sidewalk below) and it has a nice rooftop feel.

The coffee shop opens at 6AM as does the main part of the restaurant for breakfast. It’s not super crowded in the mornings and it’s mostly just people staying in the hotel. I got coffee (and sometimes a danish/pastry) pretty much every morning and it was really pleasant to sit on the couches and chairs out on the deck even for just a couple of minutes before heading out for the day.

We had a sitdown breakfast at the Hideout one morning when we had somewhere to be early and it was a great meal. My Marriott Bonvoy status (Platinum at the time) entitled me to two $15 vouchers to be used in the restaurant every day, which covers the continental type offerings, but you’ll pay a little extra for the hot options.

We had great service for breakfast and the food was honestly just as good as everywhere else we had breakfast (including top, popular spots).

Happy hour (5-6PM) features $12 mai tais and $10-15 pupus. A full dinner menu is served from 5-9:30PM.

I always get mai tais when I’m in Hawaii, but multiple people told me that their old-fashioned is exceptional.

Facilities & Amenities

The Laylow definitely feels more like a city hotel than a resort, but one with a really relaxed vacation vibe.

So don’t expect a sprawling resort packed with amenities, but what they offer is really nice.

The pool area is sleek and a little lux. The pool towels you can check out are pretty substantial and work great for the pool but also for taking to the beach or around the island for adventures. Just don’t forget to check them back into the front desk when you’re done or you’ll get charged. I actually thought about keeping one as a souvenir, but I didn’t have room in my suitcase.

The gym is on the main level and faces the pool area. It was adequate but didn’t have any equipment to write home about (no Peloton bikes, etc.).

And I already mentioned the water/ice/microwave set up.

There’s a small gift shop by the pool with pretty limited hours, but they have a nice selection of branded Laylow merchandise.

Style

This is where the Laylow really shines! I think they cater perfectly to a demographic that’s in Waikiki for more of a city vacation (instead of going to Maui or Kauai) but still wants that classic Hawaiian laid back vibe and modern amenities.

They’ve really leaned hard into the vintage Hawaiiana vibe. In some ways, I think of the Laylow as the Royal Hawaiian’s (little) sister property.

It’s big on style, and has an overall “nice” feeling, while staying light on amenities and services.

Value for the Money

I wouldn’t call the Laylow a budget hotel (especially since it’s in a city with so many truly cheap hotel options), but I think it’s an excellent value for what it offers.

The Laylow is frequently in the $300-$350/night range which is quite a bit cheaper than good beachfront options, especially considering how stylish the Laylow is.

If you’re just looking for a place to shower and sleep while you’re out exploring the island each day then you can definitely find a cheaper place. But if you value coming back to a “nicer” hotel, but don’t want to pay beachfront prices, the Laylow is a great option.

There’s a daily $35 destination fee and valet parking is $50/night.

Overall

The Laylow is definitely my new go to Waikiki hotel. I don’t love paying the big $$$ for the nice hotels on the beach when I’m usually a bit more on the go then when I stay on Maui, Kauai, or even other parts of Oahu, but the Laylow still feels like more of a destination hotel than most budget friendly hotels in Waikiki.

Where to Book

Click here to book and check rates at The Laylow.

Want to read more posts about Oahu? I’ve got plenty!

My Favorite Things to Do on Oahu // Things to Do in Waikiki // 5 Day Oahu Itinerary // Oahu North Shore Guide // Oahu Windward Coast (Kailua) Guide // Easy Hikes on Oahu

My Favorite Boutique Hotels in Waikiki // Where to Stay on Oahu Besides Waikiki // The Laylow Review

The Best Luaus (and the Worst) on Oahu // Paradise Cove Luau Review // Is the Polynesian Cultural Center Worth It? // Paradise Cove vs Polynesian Cultural Center

Where Locals Eat in Waikiki // Jurassic Park at Kualoa Ranch // Shangri La and the Honolulu Museum of Art // Tips for Visiting Pearl Harbor

Tips for Staying at Aulani // Is Aulani Worth It? // How Many Days to Spend at Aulani // Aulani Character Schedule // Ka Wa’a Luau Review // Things to Do Near Aulani (in Ko Olina) // Where to Eat Near Aulani

Everything You Need to Know BEFORE You Go to Oahu