Having a sunset cocktail (or mocktail) overlooking the ocean is an iconic experience in Hawaii, especially in Kailua-Kona, where the visual phenomenon known as “green flash” regularly occurs when the sun sinks into the blue horizon. Many visitors throng to the veteran oceanfront restaurants and lounges along Alii Drive — Huggo’s, Don’s Mai Tai Bar & Restaurant, and Kai Eat+Drinks are among the most popular — while the new outpost of Hilo’s trendy Temple Bar in Kona’s Alii Sunset Plaza has quickly gained a following, too.
But you don’t have to be within sight of the sea to enjoy memorable drinks in Kona. Here are some of my favorites tucked away from Alii Drive.
Kona Brewing Hawaii

Kona Brewing Hawaii (formerly Kona Brewing Co.) opened its brewpub in 1998 in a warehouse area, near the busy intersection of Palani Road and Kuakini Highway but well hidden from view; by car, you have to navigate to the cul-de-sac of Pawai Place, now a shopping destination in its own right. The pub includes a 2,000-square-foot lanai with palm fronds and other greenery creating a hidden oasis, but for a truly out-of-the-way experience, book one of the tours of its cutting-edge sustainable brewery, which includes beer tasting in the Thirsty Gecko, a private lounge on a second-story lanai with bay and sunset views.

Besides the Kona Brewing beers that you may already know well (Longboard Lager, Castaway IPA), the pub offers seasonal, limited-edition brews such as Lemongrass Luau and Black Sand Porter. My new favorite nonalcoholic option: Kolea Hop Water, a sparkling water flavored with hops. Unlike beer, it has zero alcohol, calories or carbs; I like the version that adds a splash of blood orange to the tangy Mosaic and Citra hops.
12th Hawaii Distiller

12th Hawaii Distiller, named for the number of its state permit, lies in a corner of a small retail strip off Kaiwi Street in Kona’s Old Industrial Area. Sit at its handsome mango bar to taste distiller Dave Puckett’s wares: Hawaiian Vodka, the whiskey-like Distiller’s Reserve, Honeyshine and Kona Coffee Spirits. They’re all distilled in a copper still from a base of pure, raw local wildflower honey; Puckett also distills local purple sweet potatoes in his vodka and 100 percent Kona coffee (of course) in his coffee liqueur. The Distiller’s Reserve gets its rich color and smoky finish from resting in oak barrels charred with kiawe wood.
You don’t just have to sample his spirits in sips, either. The cocktail menu features several tasty concoctions — Dave’s Old Fashioned or Honey Mule, anyone? — while nondrinkers have several soft drinks and snacks to choose them.
Ola Brew

Around the corner from 12th Hawaii Distiller is the taproom for Ola Brew, which showcases locally grown fruit in its huge list of craft beer, hard seltzers, hard tea and hard juice, many available on tap and some only in cans. I’m partial to Ola’s Dragonfruit Lychee hard juice, but first-timers might enjoy trying the flight of Guava Lilikoi Orange, Orange Mango, Dragonfruit Lemonade and Pineapple Juicy flavors or building their own. Just keep in mind that hard juice has 6 percent alcohol by volume, compared with 4.8 for hard seltzers and 4.3 percent for hard tea; beers run anywhere from 4.2 percent (Da Hazy Light) to 7.4 percent (Aa IPA and Double Hefeweizen.)

The pizza menu here is pretty tasty, too, with toppings such as local gold and red beets and Alii mushrooms. Locally sourced options on the nonalcoholic menu include Ola’s own Pink Lemonade and Wai Meli Jun, a honey-based kombucha.
Piko Coffee & Wine

South of Kailua-Kona, in the Keauhou Resort area, the new Piko Coffee & Wine Bar can be found on the lower lobby level of the recently renovated OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa. The airy space, framed by lava rock and palms and overlooking the adult pool, offers nightly live music and a well-priced wine list, not to mention a full menu. California and French wines dominate the list, but other European countries are represented too, including a German Riesling, an Italian Prosecco and a Rosato, and Spanish Tempranillo. Fans of Oregon Pinot Noir and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc can rest easy, too.

Nondrinkers who don’t mind a buzz can savor an equally thoughtful selection of local coffees and preparations such as Pele’s Mocha, made with espresso, Hawaiian chili peppers and chocolate. Maui Brewing’s Ginger Beer and Wai Meli’s Lilikoi (passionfruit) Jun are also available. Anyone with a sweet tart should also consider the warm macadamia nut pie, topped with locally made Tropical Dreams Tahitian vanilla ice cream.