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    ARS Cafe

    4.3 (273 reviews)
    Closed 6:30 am - 4:00 pm

    ARS Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    ARS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - ARS Cafe

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    Reiko S.

    The drinks aren't the same! I keep trying on occasion but end up being disappointed. I miss Roland dearly.

    Cortado
    Cherie C.

    You can get beans grown and roasted in Hawaii here. It's got a 90s coffee shop feel. They seem to take coffee seriously. And it appears to attract as many locals as tourists. I enjoyed my cortado. There's cool art on the walls.

    Jennifer C.

    Cute little artsy coffee shop. Walking distance from Kapiolani Park! There's bar seating, tables in the back and a couple out front. Baristas were chill and had a fun vibe. Matcha was ok. I think it could've used a little more syrup, but I'll have to say that next time. A solid 7/10! I'll be back though, I have to try their lattes!

    Kristi T.

    Consistently a staple spot in the neighborhood--maybe the only coffee shop in a few blocks? Or many blocks tbh.. I can't think of another coffee shop in walking distance. I really love their drinks, not too sweet. I think they make some or most of their syrups in house, which is big points in my book. Really well kept as well, classy and homey vibe at the same time. The staff here has always been friendly. I can see why it's stuck around for as long as I can remember!! Also side note they seem to support and feature a ton of artists. LOVE THAT.

    Hot Vanilla latte - 12oz in ceramic cup
    Mia C.

    So far, so good! BEST consistent cup of coffee I've been having is ONLY here! Different baristas every time but consistency and quality is the same! I also love the cafe's dog, Lucrecio! Sweet and polite dog! Start your day off on the right foot with a good cup of coffee and a bagel

    Fried rice
    Rebecca C.

    Cherry croissant was freshly baked and such a crisp great flavor. Cherry and almond wasn't just a fake flavoring. The ube scone was more of a cookie texture, it definitely didn't crumble the way a scone is supposed to but the ube taste was great. Great pour over coffee! 100% Kona beans coffee! Cute little cafe spot that features a lot of artists. Tiny tables of indoor seating. Breakfast bagel was gigantic and had so many veggies packed inside. Fried rice was really nicely done, and had a good amount of Portuguese sausage. Egg was poached perfectly!

    Patrick H.

    You gotta love a coffee shop that's playing Coltrane don't you? Artsy neighborhood vibe. Excellent espresso served in a china cup...not paper. Friendly efficient service makes Ars a great stop for a quick shot or a nice place to meet a friend and enjoy the local atmosphere.

    Ice pour overs
    Linda C.

    Got iced pourovers with the single origin beans offered. The flavors were on the weaker side, kinda diluted. But the place was cute.

    Drink menu as of 5th of September
    Steve S.

    Nice wooden interior like a mix of an old library and coffee bar. They play good jazz to go along with the coffee.

    Madonna M.

    Sadly we didn't like the coffee , service was also rushed and nonamicable. Food items we got to go were just OK (egg salad sandwich and ham/cheese croissant).

    Interior

    Great quality coffee and AMAZING syrups. Obsessed with the sweet miso, very balanced and smooth and not too sweet. Friendly baristas and calming nice interior

    Art in the shop
    Tessa R.

    This is such a intriguing coffee shop. Love that it's a small and unique place. Unfortunately the espresso machine was broken so lots of drinks were not available. They still had coffee, teas and cold brews. I actually came in because my 2 year old really had to use the restroom and they were extremely cool about letting us use theirs. I ended up ordering a matcha with macadamia nut milk and two iced vanilla milks for my kids. Both were drank with ease. They also have a selection of baked goods as well as avocado toast and some eggs and such. Didn't have time to try the food but lots of other people were! Service was great and very friendly. They have a bunch of art hanging throughout the shop and a beautiful wood coffee bar. It's a little unfinished and could use some cleaning (if you are going to paint everything white you must keep it white) but over all a great spot. I would love to come back and try an espresso drink and definitely plan on it.

    6/17/23 outside view
    Mary E.

    6/17/23 this place definitely serves quality coffee. I haven't been here in several years but the space is still beautiful with the wooden details and art. On a Saturday morning there were several customers hanging out inside enjoying the espresso. They have ample seating both inside and outside. Several tables and chairs and also a bar seating along the wall. Customer service was ok. The workers could be a bit more smiley. My cappuccino was smooth and delicious. There's some street parking right in front. I noticed their food menu but will need to come back and try it. Yes, I'll definitely be coming back to this place.

    Teddy Graham Latte ($~7)

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    3 months ago

    Delightful latte and absolutely phenomenal avocado toast breakfast adorned by lovely artwork.

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    9 months ago

    Fun. Good food. Good coffee. Good vibes. Guy can be a little standoffish but he makes damn good coffee.

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    Page 1 of 7

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    Review Highlights - ARS Cafe

    Since we were there so early, we were able to find parking on Monsarrat across the café without a problem.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Downtown Art Center

    Downtown Art Center

    4.9
    (16 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    I recently visited this place a couple of times because I was attending a meeting nearby. They are…read morelocated at the Chinatown Gateway Plaza on the 2nd floor. This is the same building that has the satellite city hall office. Parking is either on the street or in nearby lots. There is a municipal parking lot in the same building which entrance is on Bethel Street. Parking is cheap. Both times I went, it was on a Sunday. I found the DAC to be so interesting with the artwork displays from mostly local artists. There is a different exhibit each month and the best part, it's free to visit. They also hold art classes there. The layout of the center is a decent size, white walls, and spacious walking thru. They also have their own restrooms which were very clean. In January, the monthly exhibit was about the WWII internment camp in Waipahu as part of the Honouliuli National Historic Site's 10th anniversary celebration. It was informative & I learned somethings that I never knew before. In March the Hawaii Watercolor Society had a member's showing, which was also an interesting exhibit seeing the beautiful water color paintings. Overall, nice experience to check out.

    Visited the Downtown Art Center to view an exhibit entitled Contemporary Photography innHawaii…read more2026. The space was on the second floor and was sorta generic gallery space. Not particularly well laid out with a table right as you walk in. Seemed clunky. Also - I was bugged that the work was not necessarily level...either the pieces were cockeyed or the labels were...sometimes both. And it was also weird that the labels didn't seem to be uniform...with one (maybe 2?) artist(s) having a QR code. Perplexing. The show itself was good...if kinda redundant.

    Photos
    Honolulu Jazz Quartet 1/19/25
    Honolulu Jazz Quartet 1/19/25
    DAC Holiday Invitational 2023
    DAC Holiday Invitational 2023
    Touching Hawai'i Donor Quilts

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    Touching Hawai'i Donor Quilts
    The Arts at Mark's Garage

    The Arts at Mark's Garage

    4.4
    (41 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $

    If you're looking for something cultural and artistic to do while exploring Chinatown, there is…read morealways something interesting going on at The Arts at Mark's Garage. As the name implies, this is a parking garage that happens to have ground level storefronts including The Arts. During open hours, you can go inside. Typically there is an art installation in the lobby area, which is bigger than it looks. These change frequently, so there may be something new to see and explore. There is often a gift shop part that goes with the exhibit. There are parts that are always there including a shelf of books, movies, and other media for sale by donation (put the money in the karma jar in the front). The front area as a welcome desk and a bar, which is mostly used during live shows. They have a full theatre area as well that can maybe fit 50 people. We came to a few shows over the years including an interactive Rocky Horror Picture Show and a Star Wars trivia night. Drinks are mostly used for your enjoyment and as a fundraiser. Be sure to check their website and social media for upcoming events and to buy tickets if needed. The back area also has office space for Honolulu art installations and festivals. It's definitely a hub for fun things in the city and worth your time to stop in and support.

    A Hidden Gem in Downtown! This art installation is a…read morefantastic gem in the heart of downtown. So many different artists showcasing their unique styles and creativity. The atmosphere was inspiring--I even had a great conversation with a houseless man who was simply enjoying the beauty and emotion that art brings. Truly a space where everyone feels welcome and connected through art.

    Photos
    The Arts at Mark's Garage
    The Arts at Mark's Garage
    The Arts at Mark's Garage

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    Fishcake

    Fishcake

    4.3
    (51 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$$

    My favorite place in all of Hawai'i !!…read more I always come here because I love their events and the vendors here sell THE BEST food. I'm always excited to try the vendors they have. Every time I come here I'm always amazed by the options and vibe they curate. The owner is an interior designer and you can tell, it's a cozy and calm area with a nice amount of open space. They also hold art exhibitions here and it's nice to see them activate so many small businesses!

    Matcha fest was wild and I noticed they've been having a lot of theme events lately? I wish it was…read moreon a weekend so it wasn't in the middle of a work week but I digress. I was shocked that so many freakin' people pulled up before the event even opened... like bruh.. LOL Could barely even walk inside the establishment.. I feel like they're definitely outgrowing this space - maybe move it to somewhere more spacious? Just a thought lol Other than that on days when they don't have theme nights you can find pop-ups from up-and-coming vendors starting their own individual businesses. It's always great to go and support and I appreciate Fishcake for providing a space for budding entrepreneurs to grow and expand to get their name out there! I also really enjoyed the Neko Art exhibit with the cats. My friend liked the cat art prints and purchased a few and stickers. As you can see there is something for everyone here lol.

    Photos
    Chef Jayson from Bintana and Matcha drink mixer extraordinaire Mike from Kynd! 5/5 star service here!
    Chef Jayson from Bintana and Matcha drink mixer extraordinaire Mike from Kynd! 5/5 star service here!
    Kynd Tea: Golder Hour & Guava Princess
    Kynd Tea: Golder Hour & Guava Princess
    Artwork

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    Artwork
    The 808 Urban Refuge

    The 808 Urban Refuge

    5.0
    (1 review)
    3.7 mi

    The Refuge is the physical manifestation of 808 Urban, a non-profit arts collective founded by John…read more"Prime" Hina in 2006 with its mission to "keep at-risk youth off the streets and to revitalize Hawai'i's communities through large-scale mural art." (Source: http://www.oiwi.tv/community/communitynews/behind-the-wall-help-808urban-to-continue-its-work-with-hawaiis-youth/). Urban art aficionados may recognize Prime's acclaimed graffiti work found on a number of large wall murals around Honolulu. While walking through the Honolulu Night Market last month all by my lonesome, I had the opportunity to browse and familiarize myself with a number of businesses, food vendors, and places like this that caught my eye (or ear, or mouth, or appetite). I saw some local kids working on a piece of art outside of the store, decided to walk in, and wala'au'd (talked) with one of the girls behind the counter. The store has been open since mid-2012 and provides a physical space for the teens in 808 Urban to sell their art (t-shirts, prints, postcards, greeting cards, etc.). It's a chill retail setting and, while I didn't buy anything, I'm definitely going back again just to see what's new. Going home, I browsed through their website and learned that the space serves multiple purposes: as a location to hold educational workshops/events and as a a "collaborative workspace for the community" (Source: http://808urban.org/programs/the-refuge/). They have "junior boards" at schools such as Farrington High, Waipahu High, Wai'anae High, Kamehameha Schools, and more. As a former at-risk youth and person who's engaged in multiple forms of art - drawing, small-scale metal sculpture, welding, jewelry-making, and woodwork - this store tugged at my creative, bleeding heart. Prime appears to have filled in a niche that was underserved for too long of a time. Just a few months ago, they collaborated with artists from Pow Wow 2013 for a graffiti workshop. These kids have some mad talent and are putting their skills to use in way that helps to beautify the community and utilizes their creativity. If you're around at the next Honolulu Night Market, go check 'em out! REVIEW #230

    Photos
    The 808 Urban Refuge
    The 808 Urban Refuge
    The 808 Urban Refuge

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    ARS Cafe - galleries - Updated July 2026

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