Paradise Views, Predictable Pours, Solid Execution
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Hawaii Regional Cuisine / Asian Fusion Seafood Grill · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Roy's Waikoloa Bar & Grill’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Roy's Waikoloa reads exactly like you'd expect from a polished resort restaurant on the Kohala Coast — California-heavy, approachable, and designed to move bottles without starting any arguments. It's not trying to surprise you, and it mostly succeeds on its own terms. Open the list and you'll recognize every name on it, which is either reassuring or a little deflating depending on who you are.
The list leans hard on California, with Oregon and Washington making token appearances and a smattering of New Zealand and France rounding things out. You're looking at exactly the kind of lineup you'd find at a well-run resort chain: Sonoma-Cutrer, Meiomi, Duckhorn — solid producers, zero risk, zero discovery. There's nothing wrong with any of it, but the list doesn't reflect the genuinely exciting Pacific Rim geography Roy's cuisine is built on — no skin-contact whites, no volcanic-soil minerality plays from anywhere interesting. The gaps aren't gaps so much as deliberate omissions in service of a safe, high-turnover program.
The by-the-glass program runs an estimated 10-16 options, which is respectable for a resort setting, and covers the basics well enough — a Chardonnay, a Pinot, a red for the table's steak-orderer. Pours clock in at $14-$20, which stings a little when the wines themselves aren't exactly rare finds. There's no visible rotation or seasonal glass program to speak of, so what you see is what you get, every night.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay — $15/glass est.
It's the best wine on a short list of obvious choices — genuinely good fruit from one of Sonoma's more reliable Chardonnay producers, and it handles the misoyaki butterfish like it was born to do exactly that. Not exciting, but legitimately good.
Duckhorn Merlot
Most people scan past Merlot on a Hawaiian seafood menu and go straight for the Pinot. Don't. Duckhorn's Merlot has enough structure and dark fruit to hold its own against the braised short rib, and it's better wine than most of what's around it on this list.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a grocery store wine dressed up in a resort markup. You're paying a significant premium for something you can grab at Costco on your way to the airport. The money is better spent anywhere else on this list.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay + Misoyaki Butterfish
Miso glaze, rich butter fish, and a cool, fruit-forward Chardonnay with enough acidity to cut through the fat — this is the one combination on the menu that actually feels intentional. Order both and don't overthink it.
The Bottom Line
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.
· 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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