By Kris Hazard
The best bars in Kona share something in common — the Pacific Ocean is almost always nearby. Whether you want toes in the sand, a craft beer from a local brewery, a hand-crafted mai tai at sunset, or a lively local spot to close out the evening, Kona's bar scene delivers. Here is where to drink on the Kona Coast.
Key Takeaways
- Huggo's On The Rocks is the quintessential Kona beach bar, where you can have sand between your toes, nightly live music, and tropical cocktails right on Kailua Bay
- Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Kona Resort is a Kona institution for sunset drinks and widely considered home to the best mai tai on the island
- Kona Brewing Company is the birthplace of the Kona brewing brand and one of the best bars in Kona for fresh beer at the source
- Sam's Hideaway is Kona's beloved local bar, with affordable drinks, nightly karaoke, and an authentically local atmosphere
Huggo's On The Rocks
The best bars in Kona are measured against Huggo's On The Rocks. Opened in 1998 on the waterfront adjacent to the historic Huggo's restaurant, it created the casual toes-in-the-sand beach bar experience that Kailua-Kona had been missing. Tables sit right along the shoreline of Kailua Bay, the bar is horseshoe-shaped, and the Pacific is never more than a few feet away. The cocktail menu leans into tropical classics, and happy hour runs daily from 3–5pm with discounted drinks and pupus.
What to Know Before You Visit
- Located at 75-5824 Kahakai Road in Kailua-Kona, directly on Kailua Bay
- Happy hour runs daily from 3–5pm with cocktails and pupus at reduced prices
- No reservations are accepted — the waitlist through their website is the best way to manage arrival time during busy evenings
- Nightly entertainment runs from 6–10pm, including live musicians and hula dancers on the sand floor
Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Bar
If there is one bar that defines drinking in Kona, it is Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Kona Resort. Perched on the edge of the resort overlooking Kailua Bay, this open-air oceanfront bar is the largest of its kind in the area, and its mai tai is widely considered the best on the island. Happy hour runs from 4–6pm. This is a welcoming bar that happens to have one of the best ocean views on the Kona Coast.
What to Know Before You Visit
- Located at the Royal Kona Resort at 75-5852 Ali'i Drive, it is open to the public with no resort stay required
- The sunset view during happy hour is one of the most reliably spectacular in downtown Kona
- The mai tai is made from Don's private recipe and widely regarded as the standard against which other Kona mai tais are measured
- Live Hawaiian music plays Thursday evenings alongside tiki torches and panoramic bay views
Kona Brewing Company
Kona Brewing Company is where the world-famous Kona brewing brand began, and drinking here is genuinely different from ordering a Longboard lager on the mainland. The brewpub produces beers fresh at the source with a tap list that goes well beyond what appears in bottles and cans nationally. The outdoor setting with ocean breezes, an informal brewery tour option, and a well-executed pub food menu has made it one of the most visited spots in Kona. It draws both visitors and locals and tends to be busiest in the evening.
What to Know Before You Visit
- Fresh beers on tap include brews not available in the nationally distributed bottled or canned product
- Informal brewery tours are available, giving guests a look at the production side of one of Hawaii's most recognized brewing brands
- The outdoor setting and broad food menu make it practical for groups with different tastes and interests
- Arriving earlier in the afternoon rather than peak evening hours gives you the most relaxed experience and the best seat selection
Sam's Hideaway
For visitors who want to see where Kona actually drinks rather than where it takes tourists, Sam's Hideaway is the answer. This is Kona's beloved local bar, with affordable drinks, a laid-back atmosphere, nightly karaoke, and the kind of friendly bartenders who make you feel like a regular on your first visit. It sits tucked away from the main tourist corridor, which is part of what gives it its authentic character. The drinks are priced for the real world, and the karaoke is genuinely fun with a crowd that is invested in the experience.
What to Know Before You Visit
- Prices are significantly more reasonable than the oceanfront tourist bars, making it the practical choice for a longer evening out
- Nightly karaoke is an institution
- The tucked-away location off the main strip keeps the local character intact and rewards visitors who seek it out
- Cash is useful and arriving earlier gives you the best shot at a seat at the bar
FAQs
What is the best bar in Kona for a sunset drink?
Huggo's On The Rocks and Don the Beachcomber are the two most consistently recommended options. Both are on or immediately adjacent to the water with western-facing views. Don the Beachcomber's happy hour from 4–6pm is timed to the golden hour and the mai tai is iconic.
Are the best bars in Kona expensive?
The oceanfront bars on Ali'i Drive are priced at Hawaii tourist rates. Sam's Hideaway offers a significantly more affordable evening. Kona Brewing Company sits in the middle and is a reasonable value given the quality of fresh draft beer on offer.
Is there live music at Kona bars?
Yes. Huggo's On The Rocks features nightly live entertainment including musicians and hula dancers from 6–10pm. Don the Beachcomber has live Hawaiian music Thursday evenings. The bar scene in Kona generally reflects the island's strong live music culture.
Contact Kris Hazard Today
Kona's bar scene is just one of the things that makes this place so easy to fall in love with. If you are exploring the Kona Coast as a potential place to buy or invest, I would love to share what I know about living here.
Contact me, Kris Hazard, to connect and let's start the conversation.
Contact me, Kris Hazard, to connect and let's start the conversation.
