Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
Aston Waikiki Circle is the 3-star option where every room comes with a balcony and the round tower is a Waikiki landmark — a street crossing from the beach at a price below the 4- and 5-star resorts.
Aston Waikiki Circle is the 3-star option where every room comes with a balcony and the round tower is a Waikiki landmark — a street crossing from the beach at a price below the 4- and 5-star resorts.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The 100 rooms run smaller than a standard Waikiki room — about 18 to 22 sqm — which is the direct trade-off for the building's round shape. What you get in return is a private curved balcony on every room, the kind of spot built for a morning coffee. Rooms from the 8th floor up catch the ocean and a slice of Diamond Head; lower floors look down on the busy Kalakaua Avenue scene. Reviewers consistently note that the rooms are small but clean, and that having a balcony to sit on matters more than the square footage. Rates start around $185 a night.
Food and amenities
This is a lean operation: there is no swimming pool and no restaurant in the building, and the amenity list runs to free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk and air-con in every room. That sounds thin until you remember where you are — the streets right outside hold hundreds of cafes and casual restaurants, so you are never short of a meal. The front desk earns specific praise in reviews for being friendly and good at pointing guests toward tours and food.
Location and getting there
The location is the whole pitch. You are directly across the street from Waikiki Beach, a roughly 1-minute crossing to the sand, and right in the middle of the shopping and dining strip. It is a 5-minute walk to International Marketplace and Royal Hawaiian Center. Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is about a 20-minute drive away, and the round tower itself is so distinctive it doubles as a landmark for finding your way back.
Things to know before booking
Set expectations on space: rooms are smaller than standard at roughly 18 to 22 sqm, so this is not the pick if you need room to spread out. There is no pool on site — pool people will rely on the beach or a neighboring resort. And with no in-house restaurant, every meal means heading out, which is easy here but worth knowing if you wanted to roll out of bed to breakfast. None of this is hidden cost so much as a 3-star reality at a beachfront address.
Our take
This one is for couples and solo travelers who want an iconic building with a private balcony on a 3-star budget. The beachfront location and the simple pleasure of coffee on a curved balcony go a long way toward making up for rooms that are smaller than average. It is not the right call for families who need space or for anyone who wants a pool in the hotel — but for a beachfront perch in the center of Waikiki under resort prices, it is hard to beat.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Every room has its own curved private balcony — a real rarity for a 3-star in Waikiki, and the kind of thing you usually pay resort prices for.
- Sits directly across Kalakaua Avenue from Waikiki Beach, so you can cross the street and be on the sand in about 1 minute.
- The round tower is a genuine Waikiki landmark — easy to find your way back to from anywhere in the neighborhood.
- Rooms from the 8th floor up catch the ocean and a partial Diamond Head view, while lower floors overlook the lively Kalakaua Avenue scene.
- Front desk staff get singled out in reviews as friendly and genuinely helpful, including with arranging tours.
- Rooms are smaller than the standard Waikiki room, roughly 18-22 sqm, a direct trade-off of the circular floor plan.
- Facilities are basic — there is no swimming pool on site, so anyone who wants pool time has the beach or a neighboring resort only.
- There is no in-house restaurant, so every meal means stepping out, though the surrounding blocks have hundreds of food options.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Honolulu
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a room on the 8th floor or higher — that is where the ocean and partial Diamond Head views start; lower floors look at the avenue.
- Use the balcony as the selling point it is: morning coffee on the curved balcony is the whole point of this hotel, so do not skip it for a cheaper interior idea.
- Since there is no restaurant on site, ask the front desk for their food recommendations — they are praised in reviews and the surrounding streets are packed with cafes and casual spots within a 5-minute walk.