Neighborhood wine hang with uneven markup energy
Kaimukī · Honolulu · Wine Café & Bistro · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Brix and Stones feels like someone in Kaimukī finally asked the question: why does this neighborhood have to drive to Kaka'ako for a decent glass of wine? The list is compact but clearly curated with some intention — California, France, Italy, New Zealand — hitting the regions most casual wine drinkers actually want to explore. It's a wine café doing the right things in spirit, even if the pricing math doesn't always work in your favor.
The list sits somewhere in the 30-60 bottle range, which for a neighborhood café is respectable — you're not drowning in options, but there's enough here to make a real choice. The regional spread leans toward approachable classics: expect California Cabs and Chardonnays alongside French staples and a nod to Italy and New Zealand. Meinklang Foam White showing up on the list is a genuinely interesting signal — that's an Austrian natural wine that screams intentionality, not a Sysco order. The gaps are real though: no deep dive into Burgundy, no serious Rhône presence, and the list doesn't appear to evolve aggressively.
With 10-20 pours by the glass, this is legitimately one of the stronger BTG programs on the east side of Honolulu. That range gives you enough to taste around without committing to a bottle, which fits the café format perfectly. The Meinklang Foam White by the glass would be a standout if offered that way — it's the kind of pour that makes regulars feel like they've discovered something.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon (carafe) — $58
Caymus retails around $80 a bottle, so getting it by the carafe at $58 is a genuine steal — you're drinking below retail, which almost never happens at a restaurant in Hawaii. Order this before they reconsider their pricing.
Meinklang Foam White
An Austrian natural pét-nat on a Kaimukī wine list is the last thing most people expect, and most diners will scroll right past it for something they recognize. Don't. Meinklang makes some of the most fun, food-friendly fizz in the natural wine world, and finding it here is a minor miracle.
La Marca Prosecco
At $40, you're paying nearly three times retail for a Prosecco you can grab at Costco for $15. It's the most overworked sparkling wine in America and the markup here is hard to justify when there are better pours on this very list.
Meinklang Foam White + Charcuterie board
The Foam White's light effervescence and bright acidity cut through cured meats and soft cheeses without competing with them — it's the kind of pairing that makes a casual café snack feel like an actual wine moment.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Brix and Stones is doing something genuinely valuable for Kaimukī — bringing a thoughtful, accessible wine program to a neighborhood that needed one. The Caymus carafe pricing is a bona fide deal and the Meinklang shows real taste, but watch out for the bubbly markups and a list that could use a little more rotation to keep regulars coming back.
Kakaʻako · Honolulu · Wine Bar & Spirits Lounge (BYO Food)
Brix and Stones is the kind of place that shouldn't exist in the form it does, in the city it's in — and that's exactly why you should go. The markup swings from genuinely fair to eyebrow-raising depending on what you order, but the natural wine focus and knowledgeable staff make it the most interesting wine stop in Honolulu by a comfortable margin.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Waikiki · Honolulu · Italian with local Hawaiian influence
Fresco is a solid resort wine list doing exactly what it's designed to do: keep guests comfortable and the floor moving. If you're looking for adventure, you'll need to look elsewhere — but if you just want a cold glass of something decent with a view of the Pacific, it gets the job done.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kakaʻako / SALT · Honolulu · Hawaiian-inspired / New American
Moku Kitchen isn't a wine destination, but it's a reliable neighborhood spot that doesn't gouge you — and in Hawaii, that alone earns real points. Send a friend here for dinner, not for the wine list, but tell them the prices won't sting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikiki · Honolulu · Steak and seafood with Hawaiian regional influences
Beachhouse at the Moana is a perfectly decent wine experience as long as you know what you're walking into: a hotel list with hotel markups and a stunning ocean backdrop doing the heavy lifting. Go for the Jordan with your steak, catch the sunset, and save the serious wine exploration for somewhere else on the island.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikiki · Honolulu · Seafood / Mediterranean
Orchids is a reliable wine program wearing a luxury price tag — the sommelier is real, the pours are properly handled, and the list gets the job done for the room it's in. Just know that you're paying the Halekulani premium on every bottle, and budget accordingly before you sit down.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Waikīkī · Honolulu · Regional
Hau Tree earns its Wine Spectator nod — this is a genuinely considered list in a setting where mediocrity would have been completely forgiven. If you're in Waikīkī and want a glass of something real with your toes near the sand, this is the place.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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