Best of the Best Kona
Food Scene
Lovely outdoor dining area, great local food, and awesome staff.
61 locals recommend
Holuakoa Gardens and Cafe
765897 Kona Belt RdLovely outdoor dining area, great local food, and awesome staff.
Great coffee, and they have two locations…one off Palani Road in the center of town. They also have the best granola around.
6 locals recommend
The Kona Coffee and Tea Company, Inc.
74-5035 Queen Ka'ahumanu HwyGreat coffee, and they have two locations…one off Palani Road in the center of town. They also have the best granola around.
Locally brewed beer! And good pizza, great salads, and a bacon sundae that's pretty great.
226 locals recommend
Kona Brewing Company
74-5612 Pawai PlLocally brewed beer! And good pizza, great salads, and a bacon sundae that's pretty great.
Original Thai Cuisine LLC
75-5629 Kuakini HwyBYOB and a great meal for super cheap.
Mahina Pizza
75-5744 Ali‘i DrBest pizza in town, for sure. Plus the hostess is the cutest puppy named Emma.
The best French Toast sandwich…and best chai in town. The green flash smoothie is pretty amazing too.
30 locals recommend
Green Flash Coffee
75-6000 Ali‘i DrThe best French Toast sandwich…and best chai in town. The green flash smoothie is pretty amazing too.
Amazing crepes and extra strong coffee. Great after the farmer's market on Saturdays.
16 locals recommend
Peaberry & Galette
78-6831 Ali‘i DrAmazing crepes and extra strong coffee. Great after the farmer's market on Saturdays.
Cool little spot with big acai bowls. So good after the beach. Try the Drifter! It's my favorite.
32 locals recommend
Basik Cafe
75-5831 Kahakai RdCool little spot with big acai bowls. So good after the beach. Try the Drifter! It's my favorite.
The Teshima family has owned and operated Teshima's restaurant for years. The food is always good and plentiful…a great stop if you're in the mood for Japanese. Try the Deep Sea Trio! So ono.
54 locals recommend
Teshima's Restaurant
79-7251 Hawaiʻi Belt RdThe Teshima family has owned and operated Teshima's restaurant for years. The food is always good and plentiful…a great stop if you're in the mood for Japanese. Try the Deep Sea Trio! So ono.
Kona Mountain Coffee
73-4038 Hulikoa DrGreat coffee and an awesome shop to grab souvenirs.
Great spot to watch the water and have a good cup of coffee.
69 locals recommend
Daylight Mind Coffee Company
69-201 Waikōloa Beach DrGreat spot to watch the water and have a good cup of coffee.
Laulima Food Patch
75-1027 Henry StI love this little farm-to-table spot. Such a great place for breakfast or lunch!
This place has the best shave ice on the island. They make all the syrups fresh ...it's a perfect treat on a hot day! Try the Tahitian lime, Lilikoi, Coconut (TLC) combo - it's amazing.
24 locals recommend
One Aloha Shave Ice Co.
75-5711 Kuakini HwyThis place has the best shave ice on the island. They make all the syrups fresh ...it's a perfect treat on a hot day! Try the Tahitian lime, Lilikoi, Coconut (TLC) combo - it's amazing.
Magic's Beach Grill is a great spot for sunset cocktails or lunch after a day at Magic's Beach. Don't miss the Fried Ulu or any of their burger specials. One of my favorite spots around!
91 locals recommend
Magics Beach Grill
77-6452 Ali‘i DrMagic's Beach Grill is a great spot for sunset cocktails or lunch after a day at Magic's Beach. Don't miss the Fried Ulu or any of their burger specials. One of my favorite spots around!
Da Poke Shack is right down the street! It takes 10 minutes tops walking, and 2 if you drive. Super fresh fish and awesome poke bowls.
132 locals recommend
Da Poke Shack
76-6246 Ali‘i DriveDa Poke Shack is right down the street! It takes 10 minutes tops walking, and 2 if you drive. Super fresh fish and awesome poke bowls.
Shopping
Best surf shop…they have board rentals too. The shop is owned by a surfing family who are all very knowledgeable about the area and are just plain awesome.
Pacific Vibrations
75-5663 Likana LnBest surf shop…they have board rentals too. The shop is owned by a surfing family who are all very knowledgeable about the area and are just plain awesome.
This is a charming, renovated old store that sells great souvenirs and local good and also serves chili, hot dogs, hamburgers, and specials daily. Definitely worth a stop!
Keauhou Store
78-7010 Mamalahoa HwyThis is a charming, renovated old store that sells great souvenirs and local good and also serves chili, hot dogs, hamburgers, and specials daily. Definitely worth a stop!
This a locally owned boutique with fantastic stuff, and jewelry made right here on the big island.
7 locals recommend
Quill & Feather
75-159 Lunapule RdThis a locally owned boutique with fantastic stuff, and jewelry made right here on the big island.
Drinks & Nightlife
Best bet for sunset cocktails. They're famous for their Mai Tai but I like the El Dorado margarita. And don't forget to try the Rice Paper Ahi!
69 locals recommend
Kona Inn Restaurant
75-5744 Ali‘i DrBest bet for sunset cocktails. They're famous for their Mai Tai but I like the El Dorado margarita. And don't forget to try the Rice Paper Ahi!
Kenichi Pacific
6831 Ali‘i DrThis a fantastic sushi spot with a great happy hour in the bar.
Essentials
The Keauhou Farmer's market is on Saturdays from 9-12. Good local produce, honey, and baked goods.
58 locals recommend
Keauhou Shopping Center
78-6831 Ali‘i DrThe Keauhou Farmer's market is on Saturdays from 9-12. Good local produce, honey, and baked goods.
Island Naturals is good for groceries as well as a good, quick, healthy lunch, smoothie, or juice.
61 locals recommend
Island Naturals Market & Deli Kailua-Kona
74-5444 Makala BlvdIsland Naturals is good for groceries as well as a good, quick, healthy lunch, smoothie, or juice.
Target
74-5455 Makala BlvdIf you forget your toothbrush or anything…it's Target after all.
Waimea Farmer's market has great local food, produce, and arts & crafts as well.
7 locals recommend
Parker School
65-1224 Lindsey RdWaimea Farmer's market has great local food, produce, and arts & crafts as well.
If you forgot anything, or want to grab beers on your way to the beach, Banyan Mart has the basics and is right down the road! Super convenient.
10 locals recommend
Banyan Mart
76-6265 Ali‘i DrIf you forgot anything, or want to grab beers on your way to the beach, Banyan Mart has the basics and is right down the road! Super convenient.
Keauhou KTA is my favorite grocery store! (I don't know if that's weird or not, but I love it.) Great produce, awesome beer selection, good bakery (the buttermilk donut holes and mochi donut holes are the best!). Has everything you need and the best spot for Locals Slippahs too.
156 locals recommend
KTA Super Stores
74-5594 Palani RdKeauhou KTA is my favorite grocery store! (I don't know if that's weird or not, but I love it.) Great produce, awesome beer selection, good bakery (the buttermilk donut holes and mochi donut holes are the best!). Has everything you need and the best spot for Locals Slippahs too.
Entertainment & Activities
This is hands down the best snorkel cruise. Definitely try for the morning cruise as it's the best time for visibility and they serve a great bbq burger lunch.
49 locals recommend
Fair Wind Cruises
78-7130 Kaleiopapa StThis is hands down the best snorkel cruise. Definitely try for the morning cruise as it's the best time for visibility and they serve a great bbq burger lunch.
Ossian (pronounced Ocean) is lifeguard certified and has years of surfing experience as well. 808-557-7089
FBI Surf School
Ossian (pronounced Ocean) is lifeguard certified and has years of surfing experience as well. 808-557-7089
Kahaluu is great for snorkeling, SUP, and surfing. There are rentals for everything on site and turtles love this beach!
239 locals recommend
Kahaluu Bay
Ali‘i DriveKahaluu is great for snorkeling, SUP, and surfing. There are rentals for everything on site and turtles love this beach!
One of the Big Island's Treasures. If you have 4wheel drive, definitely drive down…carefully. Stop in historic Honokaa town or grab lunch and famous malasadas at Tex's Drive Inn.
201 locals recommend
Waipio Valley Lookout
One of the Big Island's Treasures. If you have 4wheel drive, definitely drive down…carefully. Stop in historic Honokaa town or grab lunch and famous malasadas at Tex's Drive Inn.
Everything Else
Need bulk Chocolate Covered Mac nuts? Or Kona Coffee for a deal? Or gas? Costco's the place.
153 locals recommend
Costco Wholesale
73-5600 Maiau StNeed bulk Chocolate Covered Mac nuts? Or Kona Coffee for a deal? Or gas? Costco's the place.
Kona Boys are awesome! They are very knowledgeable, have a great shop, and rent kayaks, surfboards, snorkel gear…definitely worth a stop.
28 locals recommend
Kona Boys, Inc.
79-7539 Hawaiʻi Belt RdKona Boys are awesome! They are very knowledgeable, have a great shop, and rent kayaks, surfboards, snorkel gear…definitely worth a stop.
Pololu is an amazing valley on the north end of the island. Stop in Hawi for coffee, then hike down to the black sand beach. It's a great alternative if you don't have 4wd and can't do Waipio.
140 locals recommend
Pololu Valley
Pololu is an amazing valley on the north end of the island. Stop in Hawi for coffee, then hike down to the black sand beach. It's a great alternative if you don't have 4wd and can't do Waipio.
Parks & Nature
This is one of our islands great treasures...such wonderful history and lots of art by the late local artist Herb Kane.
270 locals recommend
Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park
State Highway 160This is one of our islands great treasures...such wonderful history and lots of art by the late local artist Herb Kane.