Best Wine Lists in Hawaii

Magics Beach Grill

· Kailua-Kona · New American / Hawaiian

The Reliable

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.

Kai Eats + Drinks

· Kailua-Kona · Italian-Inspired / Casual

The Reliable

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.

Huggo's

· Kailua-Kona · Seafood / Steakhouse

The Reliable

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.

Kona Wine Market

· Kailua-Kona · Wine Shop / Small Plates

The Wild Card

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.

Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill (Umeke's Kōa)

· Kailua-Kona · Seafood / Hawaiian

The Lazy List

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.

Brown's Beach House at Fairmont Orchid

Kohala Coast · Kailua-Kona · Fine Dining Seafood

The Reliable

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.

Kona Inn Restaurant

· Kailua-Kona · Seafood / Classic American

The Reliable

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.

Moana Restaurant at Kona Village

· Kailua-Kona · Modern Hawaiian / Seafood

The Wild Card

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.

WSW The Steakhouse at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

· Hilo · Steakhouse

The Reliable

WSW won't make any wine lists' most-wanted lists, but it prices honestly, pours generously, and doesn't embarrass itself in a category where hotel restaurants often do. If you're in Hilo and want a bottle of wine with your steak without getting gouged, this is a safe call.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hilo Bayfront Restaurant

Bayfront · Hilo · Hotel Restaurant / Bar

The Lazy List

This is a wine list that exists because hotels have to have wine lists. If you're serious about what's in your glass, order a cocktail — the bartender probably cares more about that anyway.

Ponds Hilo

· Hilo · American / Seafood

The Lazy List

Ponds Hilo has a setting that deserves a wine list to match, and this isn't it. Grab the Prosecco split, enjoy the view, and save the serious wine drinking for somewhere else.

Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill Hilo

· Hilo · Contemporary American / Seafood

The Reliable

Jackie Rey's wine list is a genuine surprise for a neighborhood seafood joint in Hilo — thoughtful picks, fair prices, and enough range to keep a wine-curious table happy. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, just tell them to ask about the glass pours before they sit down.