Bordeaux and Burgundy under the palm trees
Waikīkī · Honolulu · Regional · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · May 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Hau Tree’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting under actual hau trees, sand basically within sprinting distance, and the wine list opens to Burgundy and Bordeaux classified growths. It's a little disorienting in the best possible way — this is not the laminated tourist list you feared. Someone here actually cares.
The France-California axis runs strong: Jadot and Drouhin anchor the Burgundy side, while Bordeaux classified growths give the list some real weight and ambition. California holds its own with Kistler and Far Niente on the Chardonnay front and Stag's Leap and Jordan flying the Napa Cabernet flag — all recognizable names that earn their spots rather than just filling pages. Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir rounds out the new world contingent and feels like a genuine nod to cooler-climate California rather than a checkbox. At 150–250 bottles, there's real selection here without the list becoming a burden to navigate.
Twelve to twenty pours by the glass is a healthy number for a beachfront restaurant, and with sommelier Elton Gjonaj steering the ship, you'd expect those slots to be used thoughtfully rather than just defaulting to whatever's cheapest to open. Pours clock in at $12–$18, which is honest money for this caliber of program in Honolulu. No notable rotation or glass program beyond the standard list, but what's here is solid.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley — $40s–$50s per bottle (est.)
Jordan always punches above its price point — structured, food-friendly, and crowd-pleasing without being a pushover. On a Honolulu wine list where markups can get creative, this one tends to land at a number that doesn't make you wince.
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Most tables here are locked in on Napa Cab or French Burgundy, but a well-chosen Sonoma Coast Pinot is exactly what you want with the ocean breeze and lighter seafood-leaning menu. Don't sleep on it.
Bordeaux Classified Growths
The prestige bottles are real, but classified Bordeaux at a beachfront Hawaii restaurant is almost never priced to move — you're paying for the address as much as the wine. Save those splurges for a cellar-focused spot and drink something that actually makes sense in the setting.
Kistler Chardonnay + Lobster Eggs Benedict
Rich, buttery Kistler Chardonnay and lobster hollandaise is not a subtle choice, but it's a correct one. The wine's texture and restrained oak hold up to the richness without steamrolling it — this is the move for a slow Sunday brunch with sand in your shoes.
The Bottom Line
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.
Chinatown · Honolulu · American Brasserie
Livestock Tavern is a genuinely good neighborhood hang with a wine list that supports the food without embarrassing itself. The pricing skews steep for Honolulu (not unusual in Hawaii), and the program won't wow a devoted wine nerd — but if you're going for the smoked prime rib or the tavern burger, there's something on this list that'll do the job. Go for the atmosphere and the kitchen; treat the wine as a reliable co-pilot, not the main event.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· 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
Historic Third Ward · Milwaukee · Regional
Ash is a reliable, California-centric wine program that earns its Wine Spectator nod without overreaching. Send a friend here if they want a good bottle with a great meal — just tell them to stick to the West Coast and avoid the trophy bottles.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Easton · Easton · Regional
The Stewart is a genuine surprise on the Eastern Shore — a cocktail lounge with a brass-and-marble soul that quietly runs a Wine Spectator-recognized program with a real sommelier steering it. Hit it on a Wednesday and you've found one of the best wine deals in Maryland.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Franklin · Franklin · Regional
Red Pony is exactly the kind of reliable wine program a well-run regional restaurant should have — familiar producers, fair prices, and no real landmines. It won't blow a wine geek's mind, but it'll keep a table of six happy on a Saturday night, which is honestly the harder job.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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