Are you looking for the best restaurants in Kona for your Hawaii honeymoon? Keep scrolling for this list of the most romantic restaurants in Kona Hawaii totally worth a reservation.
This list of the most romantic restaurants in Kona Hawaii was written by Marcie Cheung (a Hawaii travel expert) and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Kona gets overlooked sometimes because everyone assumes Maui is the romantic island. I’d push back on that. Hard.
After visiting Hawaii 40+ times, some of my favorite romantic dinner memories are from the Big Island: sitting on a lava rock coastline watching the sky turn orange, eating fish that was literally caught that morning.
There’s something about Kona that feels less performed than some of the more tourist-heavy spots. The sunsets are just as good, the food is often better, and you’re not fighting through Lahaina crowds to find a table.
That said, not every restaurant here earns the “romantic” label just because it has an ocean view.
A few are worth going out of your way for. Some are overhyped. One I’d skip for a date night entirely (looking at you, Honu’s, more on that below).
Here’s what I’d actually book, based on real-world Hawaii travel planning over two decades of trips.
Quick answer: The best romantic restaurants in Kona include Huggo’s for oceanfront fine dining, Jackie Rey’s for elevated local cuisine in a cozy setting, Magics Beach Grill for a casual sunset dinner on the water, and Voyagers of the Pacific for a full Hawaiian evening with food that actually lives up to the setting.
Huggo’s Restaurant
If I’m taking someone special to dinner in Kona, Huggo’s is where I go. It’s been on the Kona coast since 1969 and has earned its reputation the old-fashioned way: consistently good food, right on the water.
Fresh fish sourced directly from local boats, a teriyaki steak that’s been a menu staple for decades, and daily specials that change based on what actually came in that morning.
The feel is casual elegant. Nice enough for a honeymoon dinner, relaxed enough that you won’t feel out of place in a sundress and sandals. Expect to spend around $60-90 per person with drinks.
Book ahead on OpenTable. It fills up fast at sunset.
Good fit if: you want a proper sit-down dinner with a real ocean view and food that matches the setting.
Huggo’s On the Rocks
Next door to Huggo’s but a completely different experience. This is the toes-in-the-sand, tropical-drink-in-hand spot, and one of my favorite places to spend a couple of hours in Kona.
I love getting the poke nachos and a tropical cocktail and just sitting there watching the water. Live music starts up in the evenings, and the crowd is happy.
The menu is casual: fish tacos, poke bowls, kalua pork. Happy hour runs 3-5pm daily, which makes it a smart stop before dinner elsewhere, or a perfectly good low-key night on its own.
Good fit if: you want live music, a laid-back beach setting, and something less formal than a sit-down restaurant.
Kona Inn Restaurant
The Kona Inn has been on the waterfront since the 1920s, and the horseshoe-shaped koa wood bar is the kind of thing you don’t see anymore.
Seafood is the main event: fish brought in daily by local fishermen, sashimi, calamari, and solid surf-and-turf options. The open-air dining room frames the sunset beautifully.
They’re not currently taking reservations so walk-ins are welcome, which makes it a good option if you didn’t plan ahead. Expect to spend around $50-75 per person.
Good fit if: you want old Hawaii atmosphere and a waterfront view without the formality.
Magics Beach Grill
Across from Magic Sands Beach, this is a consistent couples’ favorite and for good reason.
The oceanfront lanai looks straight out at the water, the Hawaiian fusion menu is creative without being weird about it, and the fish tacos and seared ahi are the kind of thing you think about after you get home.
Live music Friday and Saturday evenings from about 4:30-7:30pm.
Worth knowing: Magics had a brief health closure in April 2026, resolved within 24 hours after corrections were made. It’s been open and operating normally since.
Expect to spend around $55-80 per person with drinks.
Good fit if: you want oceanfront dining without a resort price tag, especially on a weekend evening with live music.
Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill
A longtime local favorite that feels more neighborhood restaurant than tourist trap, and that’s a compliment.
The food is where Jackie Rey’s earns its reputation: the Seafood Trio with seared ahi, coconut shrimp, and crab cake is one of the better appetizers you’ll find in Kona, and the handcrafted cocktails are serious.
The open-air setting is warm and romantic in a quiet way that doesn’t try too hard.
Happy hour runs 3:30-5:30pm daily. Not on the water, but the atmosphere more than makes up for it. Expect to spend around $50-75 per person.
Good fit if: you want excellent food and a cozy setting, and don’t need to stare at the ocean to enjoy your evening.
Papa Kona
Perched above the black lava rocks with an ocean view and live music every night.
It’s a solid choice for couples who want a fun, relaxed evening with a view without committing to a full fine dining bill.
The avocado fries are worth ordering. Mid-range pricing, around $45-65 per person.
Voyagers of the Pacific Luau at Royal Kona Resort
I want to be upfront about something: I spent 20 years as a professional hula dancer.
So I walk into every luau in Hawaii with very specific (and probably unfair) expectations about the cultural presentation. Most of the time I leave a little disappointed.
Voyagers of the Pacific is one of the few that didn’t disappoint me.
The food surprised me. The Hawaiian buffet is well above what you’d expect from an event-style setup.
The oceanfront setting on Kailua Bay is beautiful. And the show, while designed for visitors, handles the cultural storytelling with more care than most. The fire knife finale is exciting even if you’ve seen it before.
The luau runs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, with gates opening at 4:45pm.
Online tickets in 2026 start around $168.65 for adults and $65.88 for kids 6-11, with discounted pricing available for the first 100 guests each show night. Book in advance, it sells out. Check rates here.
Good fit if: you’ve never been to a luau, or you want a quintessentially Hawaiian evening that’s more than just dinner.
Skip it if: you’ve already done a luau on a previous trip and want something more intimate.
‘ULU Ocean Grill at Four Seasons Hualalai
The splurge option, and it earns it. ‘ULU is the only Forbes star-rated restaurant on Hawaii Island.
The menu leans hard into local sourcing: around 75% of ingredients come from Hawaii Island farms, and the kitchen works with over 160 local producers.
The result is food that tastes specifically like this place, which is rarer than it should be at this price point.
Set right on the beach, dinner service starts at 5:30pm nightly. Non-resort guests can call 7 days in advance to book a reservation. Worth the call. Expect to spend $120-180+ per person.
Good fit if: you’re celebrating something significant and want the most memorable meal of the trip.
A Note on Kenichi Pacific
Kenichi Pacific at Keauhou Shopping Center has solid sushi and seafood, and it’s been a popular date night spot for years.
Worth knowing: it was briefly shut down in July 2025 for multiple food safety violations including cockroaches in the kitchen, then cleared to reopen after corrective action in August 2025.
It’s currently open. Whether that changes your comfort level is a personal call.
What About Honu’s on the Beach?
Honu’s shows up on a lot of romantic dining lists for Kona, and I understand why on paper.
It’s at the Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, the views of Kamakahonu Bay are nice, and the Saturday prime rib and seafood buffet has its fans.
But in my experience it’s overhyped for a date night. The food is fine, the setting is fine, it just doesn’t feel special.
I’d rather put that money toward Huggo’s or Jackie Rey’s and actually remember the meal.
Sunset Dinner Cruise
Worth mentioning even though it’s not a restaurant. Body Glove runs the only sunset dinner cruise departing from Kailua-Kona pier, heading to Kealakekua Bay with a Hawaiian-style buffet, open bar, and live music. About 3 hours total.
For couples who want a memorable evening that isn’t just another restaurant reservation, this one delivers. Book through Viator.
Tips Before You Go
Reservations matter in Kona, especially at Huggo’s, ‘ULU, and Jackie Rey’s. During peak season (December through March, and summer) book a week or more ahead.
Sunset runs roughly 6-7pm depending on time of year, so aim to be seated by 5:30pm if a view is a priority.
If you want photos that actually capture how good it looked, Flytographer is my go-to for a professional photographer on location. Save $20 with that link.
Need a car to get around? I always book through Discount Hawaii Car Rental for the best rates on the Big Island.
Romantic Restaurants in Kona FAQ
Is Kona a good place for a honeymoon dinner?
Yes, one of the best on the Big Island. The oceanfront options are plentiful, the food quality is high, and the sunsets are hard to beat. Huggo’s and ‘ULU are the two I’d point honeymooners toward first, depending on budget.
What is the most romantic restaurant in Kona with an ocean view?
Huggo’s is the most reliably romantic for a sit-down dinner. Magics Beach Grill and Kona Inn are strong runners-up, especially around sunset.
How far in advance should I book restaurants in Kona?
For Huggo’s, Jackie Rey’s, and ‘ULU, at least a week ahead during busy seasons. Kona Inn is currently walk-in only, and Huggo’s On the Rocks doesn’t take reservations.
What is the best luau in Kona for couples?
Voyagers of the Pacific at the Royal Kona Resort. It’s the most convenient for couples staying in Kona proper, the food is better than average for a luau, and the oceanfront setting on Kailua Bay is hard to beat.
Is ‘ULU at the Four Seasons open to non-resort guests?
Yes, but you need to call 7 days before your desired date to book. It’s worth the extra step.
Still figuring out the bigger picture for your Big Island trip? Where to stay, how many nights, whether Kona is the right base?
That’s exactly what I help with in a Hawaii travel consultation. One conversation usually saves people hours of research and a few costly mistakes.
My Big Island travel guide covers everything beyond dinner, and the Hawaii Travel Made Easy podcast goes deep on Big Island planning if you prefer to listen.
You came to Kona for a reason. Make the reservation. The sunset will handle the rest.
