Old-school Waikiki with a serious wine game
Waikiki · Honolulu · American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Hy's Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into Hy's and the leather booths, dark wood paneling, and live piano make it immediately clear this place takes itself seriously — and the wine list backs that up. Five hundred-ish selections, a dedicated sommelier, and a Wednesday half-price wine night that's frankly rare for a place this polished. This isn't a hotel bar wine list slapped together on a Tuesday afternoon.
The list leans hard into California and Champagne, which is exactly where you want a Honolulu steakhouse to live. Napa heavy-hitters are all accounted for — Opus One, Stag's Leap CASK 23, Far Niente, Caymus Special Selection, Silver Oak — alongside serious French benchmarks like Château Margaux and Château Lynch-Bages. Louis Jadot anchors the Burgundy side, and Dom Pérignon and Krug Grande Cuvée keep the bubbles credible. The gaps, if any, are likely on the natural or esoteric end, but that's not who Hy's is and they're not pretending to be.
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is a strong showing for a steakhouse, giving you real options whether you're doing a solo ribeye at the bar or working your way through a multi-course dinner. The Wednesday half-price wine night applies to bottles, which means the by-the-glass program on any given night is worth exploring before committing to a bottle at full price. We'd steer you toward their Champagne pours as an opener — the program skews strong there.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — Not listed
Jordan is consistently one of the best QPR Cabernets in the game — smooth, food-friendly, and typically priced well below the Opus Ones and CASK 23s that dominate this list. Pair it on a Wednesday and you're drinking very well for the money. Exact bottle price not confirmed but worth asking.
Château Lynch-Bages
Most tables at Hy's are reaching for Napa Cab, which means Lynch-Bages — one of Pauillac's most reliable over-performers — gets overlooked. It's a leaner, more structured pour next to the big California fruit bombs on this list, and it's exactly what a well-marbled New York Strip is asking for.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
At $195 a bottle, you're paying a significant premium for a wine that's become the house red of every airport lounge in America. It's fine. It's always fine. But with Stag's Leap CASK 23 and Far Niente on the same list, there's no reason to default to Caymus at this price point in this room.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars CASK 23 + Prime New York Strip Steak
CASK 23 is one of Napa's most refined Cabernets — structured tannins, precise fruit, serious backbone — and it meets a well-seared Prime New York Strip exactly where it needs to be met. The fat in the cut softens the wine's edges while the wine's acidity keeps the next bite interesting. Classic combo executed in a classic room.
Wednesday — Half-price wine on bottles every Wednesday — one of the better deals in Honolulu dining.
The Bottom Line
Hy's is the rare Honolulu restaurant where the wine list feels like it was built with intention, not just filled in around the menu. The markups are real, Wednesday half-price night is your friend, and sommelier Prestyn Timas is worth the conversation — this one earns the Wine Spectator hardware.
· 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
National Park Corridor / Parkway · Gatlinburg · American, Steakhouse
The Park Grill is a reliable dinner stop if you're winding down after a day in the Smokies and want a solid glass of California wine with your steak — just don't expect the list to reward curiosity or spare your wallet. Send your friends here for the food and the vibe; tell them to drink the Sonoma-Cutrer and not overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Stowe Village · Stowe · American, Steakhouse
Harrison's is the kind of reliable neighborhood anchor that Stowe regulars and ski-weekend visitors can count on — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't let you down either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink fine; just don't send them expecting a deep dive.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Denver · Denver · American, Steakhouse
Range is a confident, well-kept steakhouse list that won't surprise you but absolutely won't let you down — especially if California Cabs are your language. Just come in with your eyes open on pricing, and let Dan steer you toward the Jordan.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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