Neighborhood wine hang with uneven markup energy
Kaimukī · Honolulu · Wine Café & Bistro · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Brix and Stones Cafe @ Kaimukī’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
· Honolulu · Steakhouse
Morton's Honolulu gives you a competent, Cabernet-saturated list that will reliably satisfy the guest who came for a big steak and a big red — just don't expect any surprises, and watch the markup on the entry-level bottles. Send a friend here if they want comfort, not if they want discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikiki · Honolulu · Latin American / Tasting Menu
El Cielo earns its reputation on atmosphere and food, but the wine program is a black box — and in a city where you're already paying tourist-tier prices, a list you can't see or trust is a list you should probably skip. Order a cocktail and save the wine night for somewhere that wants to earn it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikīkī · Honolulu · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Waikīkī is a dependable splurge for steak night, but the wine list is corporate comfort food — Napa-forward, markup-heavy, and unlikely to surprise you. If wine is the point of your evening, this isn't your destination; if steak is the point, it'll get the job done.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
Waikiki · Honolulu · Seafood / Steak
Chart House Waikiki is giving you a safe harbor, not a destination — the list is functional, the by-the-glass selection is surprisingly broad, and a couple of smart picks exist if you know where to look. Come for the ocean views and the fish; just don't expect the wine list to match the scenery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Honolulu · Honolulu · Hotel Wine Bar
Vintage 1901 is a well-organized hotel wine bar doing exactly what it should — giving visitors something better than the minibar without demanding too much effort or knowledge. The port program is legitimately great and worth your time; the rest of the list is competent, if a little sleepy on value.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Honolulu · Rooftop Wine Bar
Tchin Tchin is a perfectly pleasant place to drink wine with a view, and nearly everything being available by the glass means you can graze without committing to a bottle. Just don't come expecting discovery — come expecting a solid pour and a great sunset.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
