Hilo Town Tavern

168 Keawe Street
Hilo, HI  96720
808-935-2171
http://www.hilotowntavern.com/
Hours: Monday through Sunday: 11:30 am – 2:00 am

March 2019 UPDATE – I stopped in again on St. Patrick’s Day afternoon with Fluffy and waited outside to see if I could find an employee to confirm if dogs were still allowed inside the bar or if I should/could sit outside in their nice, large covered patio area.  A bar patron waved me in, “Come in, they are super dog-friendly!”  I hesitantly stepped in and was quickly met by a server who asked if Fluffy was a service dog (I cannot lie!)…”No, she’s not.”  She let me know that someone recently was there with a dog, and another customer reached out to pet the dog, and the dog bit the person, so the Tavern is being sued.  So, if you do go to Hilo Town Tavern and have a non-service dog, you must remain in the outdoor patio area.  They still love dogs though!  It’s just really unfortunate about the incident and a lesson to us all…If you know your dog is not good with unexpected petting…or you do not know your dog well enough yet, please do not bring them to a place where other people are around.  All it takes is one incident to ruin it for all of us.

March 2018 – I had heard that the Tavern was dog-friendly and finally visited on St. Patrick’s Day during lunch time with Pepper.  I wasn’t sure where to enter, so I walked through a gated area to an outdoor patio area that had picnic tables and a stage.  Nothing fancy, no grass, but we sat and waited.  I looked around, couldn’t tell who was working there, but no worries, I was just appreciative that we were allowed there.  The bartender from inside the tavern walked out and asked if we would like to sit inside, and I said that Pepper was not a service dog, and he said enthusiastically, “That’s okay!  Just as long as he doesn’t start barking, he’s fine to sit with you in the tavern.”  WOW!  I was not expecting that!  So, we walked inside, and I buckled Pepper’s leash to my bar stool, and he politely sat next to me. Since it was St. Patrick’s Day, I ordered a Guinness in a can (not available on tap), but they have a nice selection of local beers on tap.  I did not order any food, but they do offer standard pub fare such as chicken wings (an “A to Z” selection that looks world class to me!), burgers (with grassfed beef!), nachos, salads, quesadilla, and breakfast (Will definitely have to come in for the Pulled Pork Loco Moco!).  It was pretty quiet at that time, and with every new customer came a series of ‘coos’ and pats on Pepper.  We will definitely be back!