53 By The Sea
53 By The Sea is an independent fine dining restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii, operating since 2012 and serving Hawaii Regional Cuisine to tourists, local residents, and private event clients through tasting menus, dinner service, and ocean-view private rooms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersHonolulu, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What 53 By The Sea does
53 By The Sea is a privately held fine dining restaurant operating since 2012 from a single location at 53 Ahui Street in Honolulu, Hawaii. The restaurant's core offering is Hawaii Regional Cuisine built on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, premium seafood, and hand-cut meats, executed across three tasting menus (Naupaka at $110/person, Kaimana at $130/person, and Kaui at $160/person, each with optional wine pairings) and an à la carte dinner service Wednesday through Sunday. The business is anchored to a structurally scarce asset — unobstructed ocean views of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head — which the venue monetizes through an iconic grand staircase, three second-floor private dining rooms (sized 12, 20, and 50 guests with F&B minimums of $1,200, $2,000, and $2,700 respectively), and the T's at 53 sub-brand, a Japanese-inspired cocktail bar modeled on the Trinity House in Kitayama, Kyoto.
Revenue is generated entirely through on-premise consumption: dinner service, weekend lunch, weekend happy hour, à la carte and tasting menu purchases, full beverage program, and private event bookings ranging from 5 to 150 guests. Pricing is pay-as-you-go at the cover level, with a 3% kitchen service fee (paid entirely to employees) added to each check. Distribution runs through OpenTable for reservations, the restaurant's own website for menu/inquiry and event leads, and social channels (Instagram @53bythesea_hawaii and Facebook 53ByTheSea) plus an email list for direct engagement. Customer segments are horizontal, split between tourists and visitors seeking premium Hawaiian dining experiences and local Hawaii residents using the venue for special occasions and private events, with a secondary use case in corporate/business events.
Operationally the company is independent and bootstrapped — no parent company, no funding rounds, no disclosed headcount, and a small named leadership team led by General Manager Tony Castillo with event coordination by Anjela Kim. There is no public ticker, no M&A activity, and no signals of venture or private equity ownership.
53 By The Sea firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 53 By The Sea
- Legal name
- 53 By The Sea
- Website
- https://53bythesea.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 53 By The Sea is an independent fine dining restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii, operating since 2012 and serving Hawaii Regional Cuisine to tourists, local residents, and private event clients through tasting menus, dinner service, and ocean-view private rooms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
53 By The Sea industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fine Dining Restaurant
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fine Dining Restaurants (THAFACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- All-Day Dining Restaurants (THAFACAJ)
Keywords
Where 53 By The Sea is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Honolulu
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
53 By The Sea business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Dinner Service: Fine dining dinner service Wednesday through Sunday, featuring multi-course tasting menus and à la carte options with premium seafood and meats
- Lunch Service: Weekend lunch service Saturday and Sunday with curated menu items at moderate price points
- Happy Hour: Weekend afternoon happy hour with discounted food specials and beverages from 2:00PM - 4:30PM
- Private Event Dining: Private dining room rentals with food and beverage minimums ranging from $1,200 to $2,700, accommodating 5-150 guests
- Beverage Service: Full bar service including signature cocktails, extensive wine list, craft beers, and non-alcoholic options
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Naupaka Tasting Menu - $110/person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kaimana Tasting Menu - $130/person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kaui Tasting Menu - $160/person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dinner Entrées |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Dining Room Minimums |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Happy Hour Food |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
53 By The Sea product offering
Product offeringCore offering
53 By The Sea is a fine dining restaurant in Honolulu offering Hawaii Regional Cuisine through dinner service (Wednesday-Sunday), weekend lunch, and weekend happy hour. The menu emphasizes seasonal locally grown ingredients, premium seafood, and hand-cut meats, supported by multi-course tasting menus and a beverage program featuring signature cocktails, wines, and Japanese-inspired selections at T's At 53 bar. Three private dining rooms are available for events with capacities from 5 to 150 guests.
Product overview
53 By The Sea is a premier fine dining restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii, offering Hawaii Regional Cuisine since 2012. The restaurant features a unified fine dining experience centered on its breathtaking ocean views, combining seasonal locally grown ingredients with succulent seafoods and hand-cut meats. The core product is its dinner service, supplemented by weekend lunch, happy hour, and dessert offerings. The portfolio includes T's At 53, a sophisticated bar and lounge inspired by Japanese hospitality featuring handcrafted cocktails and a Fazioli piano; private dining rooms for events accommodating 5-150 guests; and premium tasting menus (Naupaka, Kaimana, Kaui) priced from $110 to $160 per person. The restaurant's philosophy emphasizes omotenashi (hospitality), shitsurai (preparation), and furumai (professionalism).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- T's at 53: An upscale bar experience inspired by the original exclusive bar inside The Trinity House in Kitayama, Kyoto, offering handcrafted cocktails and fine spirits with a Hawaiian-Japanese fusion atmosphere.
Companies that use 53 By The Sea
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
53 By The Sea technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
53 By The Sea partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- OpenTablecoreOpenTable integration for restaurant reservations, allowing guests to book tables directly through the restaurant website with booking links and availability checks
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
53 By The Sea competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Orchids at Halekulani: Open-air fine dining overlooking Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head at Halekulani; one of the most directly comparable oceanfront fine dining experiences in the same micro-market.
- Azure at The Royal Hawaiian: Beachfront fine dining at The Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki offering ocean views and seafood-forward menus; a direct competitor for premium Waikiki dinner occasions.
- La Mer at Halekulani: French-inspired fine dining at the Halekulani hotel in Waikiki with ocean views; competes head-to-head with 53 By The Sea for the same premium tourist and local occasion guest in Honolulu.
- MW Restaurant: Honolulu fine dining focused on Hawaii Regional Cuisine with tasting menus and seafood; the closest peer to 53 By The Sea's Hawaii Regional, multi-course tasting format.
- Nobu Honolulu: Upscale Japanese fusion in Waikiki offering premium tasting menus and bar program; comparable premium pricing and tourist-driven clientele in the same Waikiki micro-market.
- Beachhouse at the Moana: Beachfront restaurant at Moana Surfrider offering premium seafood and steak fare with Waikiki views; comparable view-driven, seafood-heavy, tourist-targeted offering.
- The Veranda at Moana Surfrider: Beachfront fine dining at the historic Moana Surfrider on Waikiki Beach; directly comparable oceanfront premium-dining experience and tourist guest mix.
- Hy's Steak House Waikiki: Long-running upscale steakhouse in Waikiki serving premium steaks and chops at comparable price points; competes for high-end tourist and business diner occasions in the same micro-market.
- House Without a Key at Halekulani: Iconic oceanfront Halekulani restaurant with live Hawaiian music and Waikiki views; directly comparable in view-led Waikiki dining experience and tourist customer base.
- Alan Wong's Honolulu: Pioneering Hawaii Regional Cuisine fine dining founded by chef Alan Wong; shares the Hawaii Regional Cuisine positioning and Honolulu fine dining guest mix.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
53 By The Sea social profiles
Digital presence53 By The Sea financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
53 By The Sea leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
53 By The Sea funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
53 By The Sea M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 53 By The Sea
What does 53 By The Sea do?
53 By The Sea is a fine dining restaurant in Honolulu offering Hawaii Regional Cuisine through dinner service (Wednesday-Sunday), weekend lunch, and weekend happy hour. The menu emphasizes seasonal locally grown ingredients, premium seafood, and hand-cut meats, supported by multi-course tasting menus and a beverage program featuring signature cocktails, wines, and Japanese-inspired selections at T's At 53 bar. Three private dining rooms are available for events with capacities from 5 to 150 guests.
Is 53 By The Sea a public or private company?
53 By The Sea is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was 53 By The Sea founded?
53 By The Sea was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 53 By The Sea based?
53 By The Sea is headquartered in Honolulu, United States, in the North America region.
How does 53 By The Sea make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Dinner Service is the primary driver. The others are lunch Service, happy Hour, private Event Dining and beverage Service.
Who are 53 By The Sea's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Orchids at Halekulani, Azure at The Royal Hawaiian, La Mer at Halekulani, MW Restaurant, Nobu Honolulu, Beachhouse at the Moana, The Veranda at Moana Surfrider, Hy's Steak House Waikiki, House Without a Key at Halekulani and Alan Wong's Honolulu.
Does 53 By The Sea have an API?
No public API is recorded for 53 By The Sea.
What industry is 53 By The Sea in?
53 By The Sea's product category is Fine Dining Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAA, Fine Dining Restaurants, with a secondary code of THAFACAJ, All-Day Dining Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.