For coffee snobs like me, this is the only place in town. I looked and found nothing but Starbucks and junk anywhere near Waikiki except this for a quality cup. Quality latte, tasty pour over, that steam punk cold brew machine (I didn't try this) and a choice of two local beans or Columbian. Bonus: get the toast with poached egg on top. Especially after a run/hike/bike up diamond head! Can also get it with avocado if you're into that. read more

Come for the coffee, stay for the food & don't leave without dessert. This place has it all! Artisan coffee that is crafted to perfection. Gourmet breakfast at an incredibly reasonable price and house-made gelato while taking in the beautiful artwork. read more

ARS Cafe - Almond milk cappuccino...please and thank you! - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Used to be one of our favorite breakfast spots on the weekend. We love the green bowl and also order the salmon toast platter. The royal milk tea with chai for me (perfection!) & Americano for my BF. The reason we don't come here as frequently now is that there are no guidelines or rules about hogging tables when patrons are finished with their coffee or food. In fact one morning when we were there a family came in and a woman who was by herself stayed seated at a 4 seat table with her laptop long after she was done eating even as other parties looked for a place to sit. There was also another solo patron seated watching videos the entire time we were there without consuming anything (coffee cup empty). The seating is too limited to accommodate this at busy times. Love the art concept but feel the art is at risk as it's hung at a height that diners can bump into or splash coffee on the pieces. read more

Stopped in here a few months back because I was seriously craving a latte. Right away it seemed like a really cool spot though there weren't many people frequenting it. Close to closing maybe? Ordered a latte and it was perfect, down to the cute design in the foam. My favorite part, as always was the warm and friendly staff. read more

ARS Cafe - Great little shop with some awesome coffee! - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Best coffee and breakfast that I had on my business trip. I had a pumpkin spice latte without the simple syrup. Soooo good. The avocado toast with poached egg was cooked perfectly. A must eat. Love it! read more

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I go out of my route to work just to go here! Solid coffee that features local, Central American and African beans when I've visited. Love the variety of drinks and also the atmosphere of this lovely coffee shop. read more

It's okay. It's nice to have independent coffee shops instead of Starbucks, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. Coffee is pretty strong but I wouldn't say that it's very smooth. It's something different for Hawaii, but in any big city this shop would not be remarkable :| Another time I ordered "royal milk tea" thinking it would be like Japanese milk tea but what I got was this horrible chalky melange of black tea and soy milk.. the flavors did not match at all and there was absolutely nothing that qualified it as milk tea. It was just black tea with soymilk mixed in (no sweetener), and it was terrible and cost $5. No thanks. I took one sip and put the rest of the cup on the counter and the girl just took it back without asking if there was anything wrong with it or if I wanted something else. -_- I would give 2 stars but am adding a star for the cleanliness and because it's a small business. read more

WOW...HNL upping it's hipster coffee game. From the bearded, slightly blase barista to the antique sort of steam punkish coffee bar--this place could literally be in Brooklyn or San Fran. I went in the middle of the morning so it wasn't crowded at all. It had a good amount of seats. Coffee is legit hipster good and there are some breakfast type foods as well. read more

I wanted to love this place. However, when I walked in the door I was not greeted and then I stood there for a minute trying to figure things out myself... is this self seating?, do you order at the counter?, is anyone working here? what kinds of coffee can i order? I finally found myself a food menu but no drink/coffee menu. We stood by the counter awkwardly waiting to be greeted and then we ordered a coffee and food from a reluctant staff member. My latte was ok. The latte art was non existent and the mug was chipped in several areas. I ordered the avocado toast with egg. Food was good and egg cooked perfectly. Not sure If I will go back. read more

Great vibe, decor, staff and coffee! We popped in here on the way back from diamond head for a iced coffee. Highly recommended! We dint try any of their baked goods but they looked delicious. read more

ARS Cafe - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I live in the area and am a creature of habit, so...I never came here and frequented another coffee shop in the area. That was my bad, I can admit this now. Nice quaint atmosphere, real coffee, and my power bowl was delicious. When I say real coffee, the other coffee shop is not know for their coffee but more for food. My friend had the eggs Benedict and he gave it a thumbs up as well. It's nice here and comfortable with some interesting art pieces. think I'll be making the switch for new local coffee eatery... read more

I will not be spending another nickel at this establishment. The customer service is absolutely awful and the employees are terribly rude to millennials. I am a teenager, usually going to eat here with a friend or two, and every time I came here, they have forgotten about my food. Whether it's because I'm younger making me less of a 'priority' or this is just out of pure ignorance of the staff, it shouldn't happen more than once. Before I even start to wait for my food, I am ignored at the counter when I am ready to order. There's usually one or two people up at the front of the restaurant, one making drinks and the other taking orders. Sometimes, there's only the person making drinks, making it much less convenient. I understand very clearly that people ordered those drinks and the employee can't get to me immediately, but I am not even acknowledged and they started about two more drinks while I was waiting to order. A simple, "I will be with you in a second" would do. My parents are actually invited to the art events at ARs, and they refuse to go because they don't deserve business if they can't even be respectful to the customers. As long as I am a paying client, I shouldn't have to deal with this disrespect. I went to ARs just the other day, and there were no tables, even after I waited for it to clear out. I crossed the street to go to Sunny Days to eat, and I was very pleased with my experience. read more

You like Jazz? You like really good coffee? And well prepared food, in a wonderful small environment with a neighborhood feel, supporting local artists? ARS is the place to go! My favorite Café on the island. read more

The food and beverages are great. The environment is very nice. The little art galleries is nice and interesting sometimes. It may need a little more sitting though. read more

ARS Cafe - Eggs Benedict and mushroom & salmon sandwitch - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Yes I admit to being a sucker for atmosphere and a cute venue. This place just has a very cool vibe. Painted all black on the outside and resembling a bar from the 1920s. Very conveniently located down the street from the Diamond Head farmers market. Really just too crowded and no comfortable seating at the farmers market, so it's just a short drive toward the ocean to this little coffee shop on the corner. Related to Pioneer Saloon a few doors down, another place I enjoy. Fortunately got here before the crowd arrived so got the full attention of the barista Roland. Had to ask him what a cortado was (espresso mixed with milk) and a doppio ( expresso!).... but ended up having my usual latte. Arrived with a cute heart design on top. Also ordered the mushroom toast and the avocado. The avocado toast comes on a slice of thick toast with feta cheese, small pieces of red pepper, garlic pesto. It wasn't bad. But I do admit liking the avocado toast at Arvo better (thinner piece of crispy bread is more my thing). Mushroom toast came with mushrooms, grape tomatoes and a nice balsamic vinegar glaze. This was served on a thin piece of sourdough toast. Yes! Found out from talking to a couple other patrons that there is a very good yoga studio upstairs, which I will have to try. And then, I get to come downstairs for a cup of coffee after! Talk about convenient! Friendly service, clean and cute atmosphere with free parking on the street. read more

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Beautiful inside, although there was a line the wait was not too long, great cold brewed coffee that was worth the wait, had the granola berries and yogurt and couldn't be happier with the service the price and the ambience. You should check it out. Incidentally I was lucky enough to get a parking space right out front. The parking in this area can be a hassle. read more

ARS Cafe is a gem! Last week I was visiting from the Bay Area and had lunch next door at South Shore Grill (BEST FISH TACOS btw). After lunch I stopped in ARS and immediately loved the ambiance. I took my time looking at the café menu...latte, cappuccino, matcha latte and the like but decided to go for the cold brew. Now...I come from a place where Cold Brew is king so I was curious to how theirs would compare. Personally I like African blends for Cold Brew. Perfect richness and acidity BUT ARS' Cold Brew BLEW MY MIND! Their Colombian beans was such a great choice! Its crisp acidity and refreshing notes. I would definitely recommend getting the CB! Next time I'll try their food selection or maybe gelato! read more

I'm only giving ARS 5 stars because it has a very cool atmosphere and the coffee is some of the best ANYWHERE. This place is a textbook example of local craft coffee made individually by hand. The problem with giving ARS a 5 star rating is more people will go there and there is a chance it will become the next Starbucks. Awesome. read more

Several of my favorite things put together: smooth coffee, tasty gelato, art, and a clean bathroom. I'm not even lying about the last part. Ars has amazingly smooth handcrafted coffee but it may not be to the taste of those who like their drinks overly sweet the way Starbucks does it. Expect a bit of a wait for your coffee, they use all those fancy coffee machines. The gelato is my go-to item to get. The strawberry and cinnamon praline are two of my favorites. They only offer keiki and regular size but the keiki(about $3) is definitely enough to fill one's craving. Prices are a bit steep for me to fulfill my daily caffeine intake here but it's definitely a place I'll come back to for their quality coffee. Especially after payday. read more

Best coffee on the island. Period. They use Ritual Coffee beans from San Francisco - so smooth! No acidity, rich flavor. Love the home made lemon bars too. On the first of every month they have an art opening featuring local artists. Cool ambiance! read more

The mastermind behind Pioneer Saloon Hawaii and Monsarrat Ave. Shave Ice just openned his cafe and art gallery so I paid them a visit. The spot is really nice with a great retro look and a dope art gallery in the back. I sampled some of the baked goods like the banana bread and the cinnamon rolls that would make a great sidenote for coffee drinkers (i don't drink coffee). The menu of breakfast items, sandwiches, and salads looked good too, but I had a plate lunch from Pioneer Saloon so I have to return to review those. I did however get to sample the gelato even though they are unveiling them later in the week and can say I know I will have tough decision making days ahead between Monsarrate Ave shave ice and the gelato here (coconut and strawberry are flavors I personally will select). The spot is newly opened and I look forward as they continue to grow in the Diamond Head area. read more

My husband and I usually share food so we can try double the items on a menu... but in this place I scolded him and slapped his hand away from my avocado toast. I couldn't bear to lose even one bite. It was one of the tastiest things on our entire trip. The pork eggs benedict was also excellent but I can't recommend the avocado toast enough. And you must add the poached egg on top. The coffee is great but I don't need all the fancy preparation but it was interesting. I wasn't sure how much to tip because it's counter service but they hand craft the coffee in a pretty intense manner. I don't know. Anyway, I'm rambling at this point, but this is a must-stop on the way to or from Diamondhead and even if you're not heading there, it's worth the trip off the Waikiki promenade. read more

I took a weekday off (!) and decided to try out ARS Cafe since it was just down the street and it was way too hot to make coffee at home. Walked in and was immediately transported to somewhere other than Hawaii. Lots of points for atmosphere: warm wood finishes, dark paint, high ceiling, old timey music (sorry, I don't have a better description), bright gallery space in the back. I ordered a coffee and a baked item and waited patiently. This is not a place to go if you are in a rush- they do pour over coffee and it does take a few minutes. Sadly, I did have an appointment to get to, so I had to take my coffee to go. Both the coffee and the avocado bread (not to be confused with avocado toast, which they also have) were excellent. Price wise, it will set you back more than a coffee at Starbucks or the Coffee Bean, but your individual cup of coffee is made to order instead of sitting in a giant vat. It was pretty quiet given that it was mid-morning on a weekday- only a couple of other customers came in. I'm not sure how it will be on weekends or earlier in the morning when people are heading to work or school. It's also important to note that this place has air conditioning. So many businesses on Monsarrat don't or if they do they don't use it, so it was nice to take my first sips of piping hot coffee indoors before stepping back out into the sweltering heat. I can see my self hanging out here once summer really hits. read more

I really love the vintage look of the shop, their machine matches everything. However, kind of disappointed by their latte, it was too foamy... read more

Best coffee in Hawaii for sure, and hands down the cosiest and most classy little cafe I've seen here. Haven't had a chance to try their food but it looks amazing and is very well priced. read more

This place appeals to every single one of my senses: the visual aesthetics, the smell of delicious coffee and then the taste of that coffee coupled with the nearly everything on their food menu, the comforting sound of music that is just loud enough to hold a conversation... and so much more. I am looking forward to making this place a part of my weekly routine! read more

I was walking by today and seen that they finally opened. I decided to go for the milk tea with earl grey. He said it would be strong. When i tried it i was surprised at the flavor, it tasted so good. It was rich, deep, and felt healing. In sorta lactose, and i had zero problems after drinking it. I was impressed! They dont hold back on the quality, and the foamed milk was thick and silky. read more

Really enjoyed my toast with egg! Slurp! Ltd seating though we were lucky to snag a table!

This place is tastefully decorated, has a warm, trendy feeling and cooled with A/C. The drinks and treats are lovely but it doesn't get 5 stars b/c there's no wi-fi. Add wifi and it will be a 5 star winner. read more

No decaf for my pregnant wife, no menu to look at while in line and the girl behind the counter didn't look like she really wanted to be there. Not a good Sunday morning at Ars Cafe. Too bad, it has potential in our cool hood! read more

Only downside to this lovely joint is convenience. I often have to pass up a trip to ARS because I don't have the time. But when we have a leisurely morning we love coming here for excellent coffee, great breakfast/brunch items. read more

Can't get enough of this place. Coffee is great, the food I've tried were all very good, friendly staff, beautiful atmosphere. Two thumbs way up. I tried avocado toast, which is my favorite. Chopped avocado and tomatoes, basil, feta cheese, over a thick cut toast. Add a poached egg on top. Mm! I also had the roast beef sandwich. It's flavorful, and the meat is tender. I had a bite of my friend's Caprese, and you can't go wrong with that. It's an Italian Grilled Cheese. I love ARS Cafe!! read more

Hands down best coffee/espresso/baristas near Waikiki. Quality experience. No wifi so people don't sit too long and take up seating. The avocado toast with egg is filling and delicious. The cinnamon roll was not too sweet and warmed perfectly. Best cortado I've had in years served in a ceramic cup in a gallery setting. Friendly service. read more

Fantastic little coffee shop on Monsarrat, stoked to have a place like this in the neighborhood! The Kona coffee is amazing, staff is friendly, and very cool atmosphere. Def recommend! read more

This place has this old time feel. The design and atmosphere reminds me of some places in NY. I had the macchiato. Nice sour and bitter taste. While served with a cool looking ceramic cup. Not too crowded (I came on a Sunday). Parking I found on the street. I definitely would come again and try some food too. read more

This place was a welcome addition to the neighborhood and breath of fresh Brooklyn air. It's not what you would imagine in surfer-casual Kaimuki next to a taco shop. They host monthly art nights and feature local artwork so it functions as a pop-up gallery for the neighborhood. It could be a place to linger, but not having wifi makes it a difficult place to study or work. It's a neat spit to meet up with old friends and the matcha tea latte I ordered was artfully prepared and very Instagram picture-worthy. It was quite tasty once properly sweetened but pricey for the size and quality. Would return, but definitely not a regular coffee spot based on the prices. I haven't tried any off the food yet, but based in the pictures, it looks worth a return visit. read more

Last year I looked at this commercial rental space and dreamed of opening a coffee shop- a really good one like Ritual coffee in SF. Lo and behold, ARS Cafe delivers and they even bring in fresh roasted beans from Ritual! This place is cool; exceptional coffee pours and fresh breakfast... try the avocado on toast with egg... Perfect! Great contemporary art and super chill jazz...the remodel and buildout is old world elegant; the vibe is hip!!! Check out this happening scene, pronto! read more

I come to Hawaii all the time for work and quite honestly haven't found my coffee shop on island till now. Excellent coffee, beautiful esthetic, and in a great location. For sure found my place. read more

Cute small cafe on Monsarrat Ave. The best ahi sandwich in town! Coffees and Pastries are delicious too!!

Our favorite place for coffee after a morning walk. Great selection of food at reasonable prices. Relaxing environment and friendly staff.