The Solomon Islands' largest hotel with 106 rooms, perfectly positioned on the oceanfront in the heart of Honiara. This landmark property combines convenience with ocean views, featuring an excellent Japanese restaurant and proximity to shopping and attractions. The hotel has been a Honiara institution for decades.
Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel occupies a prominent oceanfront position on Mendana Avenue in central Honiara, directly on the edge of Iron Bottom Sound. As the largest hotel in the Solomon Islands by room count at 106 rooms and suites, it has served as Honiara's social and commercial anchor since its establishment as a Japan-Pacific joint venture, a partnership reflected in the Japanese management aesthetic that permeates both the service standards and the dining programme.
The building faces the water directly, giving a broad category of rooms views across Iron Bottom Sound toward the islands of the Florida group on a clear day. Room categories range from standard singles and doubles to deluxe oceanview units and suites, all air-conditioned with modern bathrooms, flat-screen satellite television, and in-room safes. WiFi is available throughout the property at no additional charge.
Dining is a pronounced strength of the property. The Japanese restaurant is regarded as the best in the Solomon Islands, drawing both hotel guests and Honiara's Japanese expatriate community. Authentic teppanyaki, sushi, and set menus using fresh local tuna are mainstays of the menu. A separate bar and lounge serves cocktails, local beer, and lighter Western meals through the evening.
A fitness center occupies one wing, and the business facilities — meeting rooms, AV equipment, and currency exchange — make the Mendana the default venue for international conferences and diplomatic functions in Honiara. A gift shop stocking local crafts, and a tour desk arranging outer-island charters and battlefield day tours, complete the practical offering.
Service is formal by local standards, trained along Japanese hospitality lines with an emphasis on consistency and anticipating guest needs. The front-desk team manages both direct bookings and significant corporate accounts across the region's aid, diplomatic, and government sectors.
Amenities
- oceanfront location
- swimming pool
- Japanese restaurant
- bar and lounge
- free WiFi
- air conditioning
- fitness center
- business facilities
- tour bookings
- currency exchange
- gift shop
Location
Mendana Avenue, Honiara, Guadalcanal Province
-9.4332, 159.9495 View on map
Highlights
- The Solomon Islands' largest hotel — 106 rooms on the oceanfront of Mendana Avenue with views across Iron Bottom Sound
- Japanese restaurant widely considered the best in the country, featuring teppanyaki, sushi, and fresh local tuna
- Japan-Pacific joint venture with formal Japanese service standards and full corporate conference facilities
- Fitness center, currency exchange, and gift shop carrying locally crafted goods
- Tour desk managing outer-island charters, WWII battlefield day excursions, and government delegation logistics
Tips for visiting
- Reserve a table at the Japanese restaurant before arrival — it fills quickly on evenings when conferences or diplomatic functions are in town.
- Deluxe oceanview rooms face Iron Bottom Sound; request a high-floor unit on that side when booking to maximise the view toward the Florida group islands.
- Currency exchange at the hotel front desk is convenient but marginally less competitive than central bank branches downtown; for large transactions, use the bank.