Guidebook for Kailua-Kona
Food Scene
Island Lava Java
75-5801 Ali‘i DrGreat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Great view, too!
Our favorite "go to" restaurant. Great for lunch and dinner. Fabulous wine list, too. No view.
127 locals recommend
Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill Kona
75-5995 Kuakini HwyOur favorite "go to" restaurant. Great for lunch and dinner. Fabulous wine list, too. No view.
A local favorite. Huge menu with something for everyone. Great Burgers, Fish n Chips, salads. Also a great place to stop for a cold beer on a hot afternoon. No view. One of the few places open after 9 PM.
66 locals recommend
Quinn's Almost by the Sea
75-5655 Palani RdA local favorite. Huge menu with something for everyone. Great Burgers, Fish n Chips, salads. Also a great place to stop for a cold beer on a hot afternoon. No view. One of the few places open after 9 PM.
Romantic upscale dining with fabulous views of Kailua Bay since 1962. If Kona town has any “fine dining” this would be it. Great for celebrations and romantic dinners. A bit pricey, but usually reliable.
162 locals recommend
Huggo's
75-5828 Kahakai RdRomantic upscale dining with fabulous views of Kailua Bay since 1962. If Kona town has any “fine dining” this would be it. Great for celebrations and romantic dinners. A bit pricey, but usually reliable.
Great ocean front dining. A bit pricey but usually reliable for good food and friendly service. They have a good truck out front that serves the beach goers during the day.
91 locals recommend
Magics Beach Grill
77-6452 Ali‘i DrGreat ocean front dining. A bit pricey but usually reliable for good food and friendly service. They have a good truck out front that serves the beach goers during the day.
New on the Kona restaurant scene, but owned by the seasoned restaurant team responsible for Huggos and On The Rocks. It’s mostly pizza, burgers and tacos with a few other specials. Great beer selection. Friendly service.
21 locals recommend
Kai Eats and Drinks
75-5776 Ali‘i DriveNew on the Kona restaurant scene, but owned by the seasoned restaurant team responsible for Huggos and On The Rocks. It’s mostly pizza, burgers and tacos with a few other specials. Great beer selection. Friendly service.
Good made from scratch “slow food.”!When they opened it was great. The last couple of times we went it was just OK.
Maybe we ordered the wrong things. The Southern style pork chop is usually excellent.
Great bar.
100 locals recommend
Foster's Kitchen
75-5805 Ali‘i DrGood made from scratch “slow food.”!When they opened it was great. The last couple of times we went it was just OK.
Maybe we ordered the wrong things. The Southern style pork chop is usually excellent.
Great bar.
In fairness we’ve only been there twice for brunch. It was so-so, but it has the best restaurant view in Kona Town.
Lunch and dinner may be better.
106 locals recommend
Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar
75-5770 Ali‘i DrIn fairness we’ve only been there twice for brunch. It was so-so, but it has the best restaurant view in Kona Town.
Lunch and dinner may be better.
Excellent seafood and poke. Live music some nights.
154 locals recommend
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill
74-5599 Pawai PlExcellent seafood and poke. Live music some nights.
Great beer, nice garden atmosphere. OK food. Limited menu. Can be crowded with long waits. Best to get there around 11:30 for lunch.
226 locals recommend
Kona Brewing Company
74-5612 Pawai PlGreat beer, nice garden atmosphere. OK food. Limited menu. Can be crowded with long waits. Best to get there around 11:30 for lunch.
Fairly new micro brewery. When the kitchen is open (it’s not always) the food is excellent. Flat bread pizzas and pork tacos are out of this world!
64 locals recommend
Ola Brew
74-5598 Luhia StFairly new micro brewery. When the kitchen is open (it’s not always) the food is excellent. Flat bread pizzas and pork tacos are out of this world!
Excellent noodles and dumplings. Like a Japanese lunch counter. Usually crowded. Owner/ family run. Brusque describes them nicely, but they’re busy serving some of the best food in Kona a great prices!
6 locals recommend
Daiichi Ramen
74 -5452 Makala BlvdExcellent noodles and dumplings. Like a Japanese lunch counter. Usually crowded. Owner/ family run. Brusque describes them nicely, but they’re busy serving some of the best food in Kona a great prices!
Excellent Japanese food off the beaten path. Located in the Keauhou shopping center.
Extensive menu. Great happy hour in the small bar area, but you have to get there early.
43 locals recommend
Kenichi Pacific
6831 Ali‘i DrExcellent Japanese food off the beaten path. Located in the Keauhou shopping center.
Extensive menu. Great happy hour in the small bar area, but you have to get there early.
Coffee @ Kai
75-5776 Ali‘i DrPart of Kai Eats and Drinks where you can get great Kona Coffee and pastries.
Drinks & Nightlife
Next door to Huggo's. Casual "toes in the sand" bar and restaurant. Food's OK. Live music some nights. Great view!
149 locals recommend
On the Rocks
75-5824 Kahakai RdNext door to Huggo's. Casual "toes in the sand" bar and restaurant. Food's OK. Live music some nights. Great view!
Located inside the Royal Kona Resort. Great for lunch, Happy Hour. Food's pretty good, but pricey. Great view, live music on Thursdays featuring the best of the Hawaiian music scene. Can get crowded at sunset. Validated parking.
38 locals recommend
Don's Mai Tai Bar
75-5852 Ali‘i DrLocated inside the Royal Kona Resort. Great for lunch, Happy Hour. Food's pretty good, but pricey. Great view, live music on Thursdays featuring the best of the Hawaiian music scene. Can get crowded at sunset. Validated parking.
The only true night club in Kona. Mostly gay but friendly to open minded individuals who are seeking the club scene. Owners Rocko and Curtis go above and beyond to create a fun and friendly atmosphere.
My Bar Kona
74-5606 Luhia StreetThe only true night club in Kona. Mostly gay but friendly to open minded individuals who are seeking the club scene. Owners Rocko and Curtis go above and beyond to create a fun and friendly atmosphere.
Oceans Sports Bar & Grill
75-5811 Ali‘i DrLaverne's Sports Bar
75-5819 Ali‘i DrMusic most nights featuring Latin, jazz and Hawaiian from local musicians. Dancing, full dinner menu or just drinks.
60 locals recommend
Gertrude's Jazz Bar
75-5699 Ali‘i DriveMusic most nights featuring Latin, jazz and Hawaiian from local musicians. Dancing, full dinner menu or just drinks.
Essentials
Best grocery store in town. Huge selection of everything. Great deli. Open 24 hours.
130 locals recommend
Safeway
75-971 Henry StBest grocery store in town. Huge selection of everything. Great deli. Open 24 hours.
Locally owned grocery store chain. Not as good as Safeway, but only 5 minutes away by car.
156 locals recommend
KTA Super Stores
74-5594 Palani RdLocally owned grocery store chain. Not as good as Safeway, but only 5 minutes away by car.
Nice newer store. Has just about anything you might need including groceries. Not as crowded as Walmart.
70 locals recommend
Target
74-5455 Makala BlvdNice newer store. Has just about anything you might need including groceries. Not as crowded as Walmart.
Shopping
Huge store. Good prices. Conveniently located in town but usually crowded. We prefer Target.
72 locals recommend
Walmart
75-1015 Henry StHuge store. Good prices. Conveniently located in town but usually crowded. We prefer Target.
Discount store for members only. Great prices. Can be very crowded on week-ends.
153 locals recommend
Costco Wholesale
73-5600 Maiau StDiscount store for members only. Great prices. Can be very crowded on week-ends.
Sightseeing
The number one activity in Kona is the night five or snorkel with giant Mantas. These gentle giants glide gracefully through the water creating a lovely ballet often coming within inches of the spectators!
50 locals recommend
Manta Ray Dives of Hawaii
74-380 Kealakehe PkwyThe number one activity in Kona is the night five or snorkel with giant Mantas. These gentle giants glide gracefully through the water creating a lovely ballet often coming within inches of the spectators!