Great Manta Rays, Rough Wine Prices
Kailua-Kona · Contemporary American and Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Ray's on the Bay’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The setting does all the heavy lifting here — open air, oceanfront, manta rays gliding below at dusk. The wine list, unfortunately, is doing far less work. What you get is a roster of grocery store staples dressed up in hotel prices.
The list runs 25-50 labels and leans almost entirely on California, Washington State, New Zealand, and Australia — a perfectly predictable lineup of approachable, mass-market brands. You'll find Meiomi, Josh Cellars, Matua, Mondavi Private Selection, and Ménage à Trois. Nothing adventurous, nothing that reflects the islands or surprises you in any way. There are no small producers, no interesting regional picks, no nods to anything beyond the bottom shelf of a Costco wine aisle.
Six to twelve pours by the glass, but the selection mirrors the bottle list — familiar commercial names with no real rotation or seasonal thinking. You're essentially choosing between different shades of safe. The view from your glass is better than what's in it.
Meiomi Pinot Noir California — $54
Still overpriced at 170% markup on a $20 retail bottle, but it's the least offensive markup on the list and actually drinks reasonably well in a warm, salty air setting. If you're ordering wine here, this is your least bad option.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Columbia Valley
Most people pass on Riesling without a second thought, but Ste. Michelle makes a genuinely food-friendly, off-dry version that holds up well against island fish preparations. The 280% markup is painful, but the wine itself is actually a smart call with fresh seafood.
Ménage à Trois Red Blend
Forty-two dollars for a wine that retails at $11 and tastes like it. A 282% markup on one of the most generic red blends in existence is the kind of move that tells you everything you need to know about how much this program respects its guests.
Matua Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough + Fresh Island Fish
Matua is a workhorse Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc — bright, citrusy, with enough acidity to cut through fresh Hawaiian fish without competing with it. It's not exciting, but it's functional, and on an oceanfront patio, functional counts for something.
The Bottom Line
Come for the manta rays and the sunset, order a cocktail, and make your peace with it. The wine list is a hotel afterthought dressed in markup we can't recommend with a straight face.
· Kailua-Kona · Pop-up Wine Bar / Events
Kona Wine Nights earns its Wild Card badge precisely because it defies the normal restaurant wine calculus — you're buying into an experience led by a sommelier, scored by local musicians, and framed by a Hawaiian sunset. We can't verify the specific bottles or pricing, so we're not going to pretend otherwise, but the concept is genuinely compelling for anyone who wants something more than a Caymus pour at a hotel bar. If you're in Kailua-Kona and want a wine night that feels like it was designed with intention, this is worth the ticket.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Modern Hawaiian / Tasting-Style
CanoeHouse is a beautiful place to drink wine — the setting, the seafood, and the overall experience justify the splurge on a special night. But the wine program itself appears to be resort-standard: solid, Champagne-and-Burgundy-leaning, and priced for the zip code rather than the quality in the glass. Come for the view and the lobster tempura; don't come expecting a list that surprises you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hilton Waikoloa Village · Kailua-Kona · Steak & Seafood
Kamuela Provision Company has a stunning setting and almost certainly a strong kitchen, but its documented wine program is barely a program at all. If you're here for the view and the fresh catch, order something off the cocktail menu instead — one Chardonnay at a 3x markup isn't worth building a dinner around.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · New American / Hawaiian
Magics Beach Grill earns its reputation on atmosphere, not its wine program — and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you know what you're walking into. If the sunset and the fresh fish are the draw, go for it; just don't expect the list to keep pace with the view. A happy hour window from 2–5 pm and again at 8 pm to close gives you a reason to order a glass without overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Italian-Inspired / Casual
Kai is a great place to watch the sun drop into the Pacific with something cold in your hand — just don't expect the wine list to be the reason you went. The program is serviceable for the setting, but with resort-level markups likely baked in, the cocktail menu might be a smarter play. If wine is your priority, lower your expectations before you sit down; if the view is your priority, you're exactly where you should be.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Seafood / Steakhouse
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.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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