Sunset Views, Solid Pours, No Surprises
· Kailua-Kona · Seafood / Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Huggo's’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting oceanside in Kona watching the sun melt into the Pacific, and the wine list arrives. It's approachable and familiar — California, France, New Zealand, Italy, Portugal — the kind of lineup that won't challenge anyone but won't embarrass anyone either. It reads like a resort list, which is essentially what this is.
The regional spread hits the expected notes for a polished Hawaiian seafood house: West Coast whites and reds for the crowd-pleasers, some French and Italian options for people who want to feel like they made a choice, and a nod toward New Zealand and Portugal that hints at some self-awareness. Don't expect deep cuts or small-production finds — this is a list built to move bottles at a busy waterfront restaurant, not to surprise you. The focus on California and France makes sense given the seafood-forward menu, and there's probably enough white wine range to do the job. What's missing is any real sense of adventure or local identity — Hawaii's own emerging wine culture doesn't seem to factor in here at all.
By-the-glass specifics aren't documented in the sources we have, so we can't tell you whether the pour list is two options or twelve. What we can say is that a restaurant at this price point and resort orientation almost certainly has a glass program — just don't expect anything rotating or unexpected. Stick to whites and plan accordingly.
The Bottom Line
Huggo's is a reliable enough place to drink wine if you're already there for the view and the fresh fish — just don't come expecting value or discovery. The regional mix is competent, the setting is genuinely spectacular, and the list will get you through dinner without incident. If you're a wine-first traveler, this probably isn't your destination, but it's a perfectly reasonable stop if the ahi tuna is calling your name.
· Kailua-Kona · Wine Shop / Small Plates
Kona Wine Market is the kind of wine shop that makes you do a double-take when you're expecting tourist-trap bottles and instead find Shafer Hillside Select and a Campanian obscurity on the same shelf. The list is small but it's edited, not lazy, and the pricing is fair for Hawaii. If you're staying on the Big Island and want a serious bottle without driving to a resort bar and paying resort prices, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Seafood / Hawaiian
Umekes clearly puts its energy where it counts — the fish. The wine list is an afterthought, marked up steeply with no variety, no rotation, and no apparent interest in matching the program to what the kitchen does well. Order the poke, drink the Chenin Blanc, and don't expect much more than that.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kohala Coast · Kailua-Kona · Fine Dining Seafood
Brown's Beach House is a genuinely lovely place to eat, and if you're on the Kohala Coast for a special night out, it earns its reputation on atmosphere and food alone. But if the wine list is your primary reason to show up, you'll be disappointed — the program is resort-standard, California-safe, and priced to match the view rather than the quality in the glass. Order something cold and white with the butterfish, enjoy the sunset, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Seafood / Classic American
Kona Inn's wine list is exactly what it needs to be — competent, crowd-friendly, and anchored by a by-the-glass program that actually gives you options. Markup trends steep, as expected in Hawaii's resort corridor, but a few smart picks like Siduri Pinot and Lieu Dit Blanc de Mer reward guests who look past the Rombauer reflex. If you're eating here for the view and the seafood, the wine list won't let you down — just don't expect to be surprised.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Modern Hawaiian / Seafood
Moana's wine list is a fascinating contradiction: twelve bottles, a Rosewood price tag, and two Birichino natural wines sitting next to a 2006 d'Yquem. It shouldn't work this well, but the curation earns respect. Come for the ocean, stay for the Tokaji — just be prepared to pay resort prices for the privilege.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Hawaii Regional Cuisine / Asian Fusion Seafood Grill
Roy's Waikoloa is a reliable night out with food that outpaces the wine list by a full length. Drink the Sonoma-Cutrer with the butterfish, skip the markups on the obvious stuff, and let the view do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Harrah's Atlantic City · Atlantic City · Seafood / Steakhouse
McCormick & Schmick's inside Harrah's is a wine list on autopilot — safe brands, static program, and markups that remind you you're inside a casino. Drink the Port, keep your expectations low, and don't skip the cocktail menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Overland Park · Overland Park · Seafood / Steakhouse
McCormick & Schmick's isn't here to surprise you with wine, and it doesn't. At $7–$9 a glass the prices are fair, but the list is pure corporate default — grab the Riesling or the Sauvignon Blanc and put your energy into the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Historic Seaport · Key West · Seafood / Steakhouse
The Commodore is a reliable waterfront pick — the wine list won't surprise you, but it won't embarrass you either. Hit the happy hour if you can, stick to the Champagne or the New Zealand whites, and let the view do the rest.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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