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    Cafe 'Alalā

    4.7 (32 reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 4:30 pm

    Cafe 'Alalā Photos

    CAFE 'ALALĀ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Irene M.

    Came for the matcha... Stayed for some lunch as suggested from the other location at Aloha Tower as this Topa Financial Center location have a full menu including sandwiches and looking at their menu there was some familiarity from the former Cafe Daisy and to find out that it's exactly the same so I'm not sure if it was just a name change and thought it was strange as their clover screen still says Cafe Daisy at Topa and my receipt says Cafe Daisy as well. Like I said I came for the matcha or specifically the new item "Banana Bread Matcha" and as my first sip was exactly that the creator of the syrup smiled and agreed with me as we talked about it further and couldn't get enough of it and wished I could have this every day. For lunch it was the "Jalapeño Grilled Ham n Cheese and made it a combo to add Tomato Soup was absolutely delicious the insane cheese pull that went on with each bite was filled with ham and jalapeños making it a perfect pair. The staff is so nice and friendly and love that they have lots of seating as I enjoyed my lunch at my leisure but ended up enjoying the rest of my matcha on the Rooftop Garden as the elevator to the top of the parking structure was just steps away from the restaurant which was a nice way to take in the beautiful view. Thank you!

    cafe
    Tiana H.

    matcha - AMAZING! i got an iced banana bread matcha latte after hearing many good things about it on social media. safe to say it did not disappoint! both the banana bread and matcha flavors were strong and meshed perfectly together. this was especially perfect for this time of year in fall. i'm definitely coming back :) service - super quick and friendly staff! ambiance - a small cafe at aloha tower, mainly catering towards HPU students so more of a grab and go type of cafe. there is no indoor seating, but they do have lots of outdoor seating.

    Lisa P.

    Really tasty pumpkin dirty Chai. Courteous worker. There were many other delicious concoctions, I had a hard time deciding at first but I never had a dirty chai. There is alot of parking. You need to ask for a code to the bathroom.

    Ruth M.

    In the topa financial building I just was here for someone else, I'm never downtown! Lol theres a lot of little food cafes and bento shops in here so I'm glad I got to try something new! This place is near the security desk and across from aloha bakehouse cafe. This place has a lot of seating. They have a breakfast menu and lunch menu. I ordered a strawberry matcha and the it was pretty good! Strong match taste and it was one the thicker side. They have fresh juices but note that it comes in a pretty small cup I saw. It's quite pricey starting $8.99 for 12 oz. I got an avo egg cheese croissant and it was tasty! They have bagels, espressos, smoothies, juices, matcha, and specialty lattes, cold brews and frappes. Lunch menu is pretty much same as breakfast with wraps and sandwiches but with salads. Very convenient for employees and people in this area. Service was fast and friendly.

    Strawberry matcha
    Germaine J.

    MATCHA -- I came here for the matcha because of the social media hype. I got the strawberry matcha. I would say that their strawberry flavor is more on the artificial side -- similar to a Nesquik strawberry milk flavor. You can taste the matcha pretty well. SERVICE -- The barista/cashier is friendly. My friend forgot to substitute their milk for oat milk and the barista was able to accommodate their request even after already paying for the drink. I asked for extra napkins since I had a runny nose and she gave me a great amount of it. She also gave us the restroom code in the building when we needed to use it. AMBIANCE -- The store is pretty small, there was still a considerable amount of space when you enter but there were no seating inside the store. It was almost always empty when I visited around noon-early afternoon on a Wednesday during the summer. There were Aloha Tower outdoor seating right outside of the store, perfect for hanging out. It was such a hot week in July and it was shaded and breezy in that spot. Review is for my visit on July 30, 2025.

    Kona Cold Brew with strawberry foam
    Ashton Celine Q.

    I have been coming here way before their rebrand as Cafe 'Alalā and I can always say that their drinks never miss. I love their house beans and I'm so happy that they brought another espresso bean option which is Kona. The drink I got today was their Kona Cold Brew with the strawberry foam they use in their strawberry matcha #iykyk. If you love their strawberry matcha but feel like switching matcha for coffee, I HIGHLY recommend this drink! Staff is always so nice and friendly, and I appreciate their drink recommendations when I'm feeling indecisive. If you're ever in the downtown/Aloha Tower area, this is definitely a place to check out!

    Banana bread matcha latte w/ macadamia nut milk, Pistachio foam matcha latte w/ almond milk.

    Banana bread matcha latte: 10/10! So, so good. Matcha was rich and bitter, syrup was a bit on the sweeter side, but had a really good nutty banana flavor. Pistachio foam matcha latte: also 10/10! Really good as well, perfect balance of sweetness and matcha flavor. Parking in the underground parking garage is ridiculously expensive, 21 minutes was $6.00. No validation. Better to find street parking and walk. Baristas were super nice and helpful! Lots of seating, good place to study or catch up w/ friends :)

    The awesome owner, Jean, of Cafe Alala!

    Another great drink and sandwich from Cafe Alala!! I got the ham, egg, and cheese croissant with avacado and a matcha brown sugar with oat milk. DELICIOUS!! I also had some of their homemade tomato sauce to go with the sandwich...I mean seriously..., the container it comes in definitely needs to be bigger! Thank you Jean for always taking the time to 'talk story' a little when I come visit. See you next week

    Alala cafe has clean and cool design. I tried the Kona coffee cold brew, and it was really delicious. I also had the salmon bagel the salmon was soft and full of flavor. Everything was well-balanced and tasted amazing. The friendly staff also made the whole experience even better.

    Pistachio Cream Latte with Oat milk

    Love this place! I work nearby, so I would always visit this location when it was Cafe Daisy. I was surprised to find this Aloha Tower Location and the one in the Topa financial building rebranded, but they have the same friendly staff and yummy coffees. They changed their look and vibe, plus added some new additions to the menu! I was about to go into cardiac arrest once I saw a LOX BAGEL and PISTACHIO cream latte, two of my favorite things ever! Plus, the lox is so reasonably priced! It's hard to find lox bagels that don't cost an arm, a leg and my soul. Side note: As an Italian, I love strong, smooth espresso. They also offer Kona beans now next to their signature blend, which I decided to get with my pistachio cream latte. Very delicious. Excited for this new chapter of Cafe 'Alala!

    Lauren P.

    I work hybrid but every time I'm in Downtown, I have to come here. Usually I get their matcha banana frappe (shoutout nik, ash, & Jean for always remembering LOL), but I wanted to their new menu item. Think it was called expresso cream latte w the brown foam. It was so GOOD UGH. All my downtown baddies, this is the spot!

    Jennifer H.

    not a lot of people here when we went! it was so peaceful and quiet. we got the strawberry matcha and the banana bread matcha! it was truly so tasty and it might be one of my new favorite matcha places!

    Absolutely love this place and it's super cute. Had some trouble figuring out what to get and the staff were super friendly and patient. I ended up with a lox cream cheese and it was done super quick and so yummy.

    bacon croissant

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    1 year ago

    Amazing service! All the baristas are amazing and have a great energy. The cafe has a great atmosphere and delicious drinks!

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    1 year ago

    The staff is so attentive and remembers me! The quality of beverages is so good! A great start before class!

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    1 year ago

    I always come here before classes. Great Service! I usually get a turkey egg and cheese croissant and a strawberry and creme redbull.

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    1 year ago

    Amazing customer service! Accommodating and also the breakfast sandwiches were great and priced perfectly.

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    1 year ago

    Yummyyy so sweet people and delish coffee and great location will def come back soon I haven't tried the food yet

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    1 year ago

    absolutely love cafe 'alalā! jean is amazing and always makes every drink with love and you can tell! definitely recommend stopping by :)

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    Review Highlights - Cafe 'Alalā

    . If you love their strawberry matcha but feel like switching matcha for coffee, I HIGHLY recommend this drink

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    Kona Coffee Purveyors

    Kona Coffee Purveyors

    4.4
    (2.6k reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    Been back here multiple times since moving to Hawaii…read more Same great service. Nice coffee shop ambiance. Good outdoor seating space to people watch, enjoy your Koma coffee and some gourmet pastries. Those of you unfamiliar with Kouign Amann - Google it! Definitely must try if you have not had it. Along with Kona Coffee, of course. If you're in Waikiki or visiting Oahu, this is one of the coffee shops I highly recommend.

    I used to absolutely love Kona Coffee Purveyors. For years, my wife and I made this place part of…read moreour Waikiki routine. I've waited in the long lines. I've walked out of the way from hotels just to get coffee and pastries here. I'm not even a pastry person, but this place made me care. The coffee, the croissants, the sandwiches. It used to feel expensive but justified because the quality was there. This last visit felt like the magic was gone. We came back during a long family trip with our two young kids, and the service was cold from the start. One employee seemed more interested in her phone and side conversations than the customers in front of her. The coffee was handed over messily, with liquid spilled on top like nobody cared enough to wipe it down. My wife also asked for a cup of ice when there were barely any people in line and instead of simply helping, the response was curt and dismissive, as if asking for something small was an inconvenience. The frustrating part is that this place built its reputation on details. Great coffee. Excellent pastries. Long lines that felt worth it because you were getting something special. Now it feels overpriced, indifferent and tired. Maybe the pastries are still good. Maybe the coffee is still technically good. But when the hospitality disappears, the whole experience changes. What used to feel like a destination now feels like another expensive Waikiki coffee counter coasting on reputation. I hate writing this because this place used to be a must visit for us. But after this trip, I'm done making the trek.

    Photos
    The famous pastry
    The famous pastry
    Delicious dessert
    Delicious dessert
    A cup of Americano

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    A cup of Americano
    Kai Coffee Hawaii

    Kai Coffee Hawaii

    3.8
    (39 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Overall, I'd skip this spot. Staff is very friendly and location is nice. Tried the lemon poppy…read moreseed bread, the meat breakfast wrap, and a small cappuccino. The line is much shorter than Kona Coffee Purveyors but it costs just as much and the quality isn't the same. The lemon poppy seed bread was good but I'd skip the meat breakfast wrap.

    Came here craving a good coffee one of the first days my husband and I were in Hawaii. The location…read moreis convenient because it's right inside the Waikiki Shopping Plaza, but overall, the experience was just okay. I ordered the Iced Kai Latte ($7.00 for a small), which is their signature macadamia nut-flavored drink. It sounded unique and promising, but I found it pretty bland and not nearly sweet enough for my taste. I barely tasted any nut flavor at all. It might be a better fit for someone who prefers more subtle or lightly sweetened lattes; for such an expensive specialty drink, I expected a lot more, especially because many other places around here have amazing flavored coffee. They do have plenty of drinks on the menu, including espresso drinks, cold brew, teas, and frappes. They also have food options, but we didn't try any of the food, so I can't comment on those options. They offer breakfast sandwich options and crepes on their menu. The cafe has seating with tables and chairs, but we just grabbed our drinks and walked along the street. It was super quiet when we visited, and there was no line and very empty overall. Not a bad place if you're in the area and need a quick caffeine fix, but I personally wouldn't go out of my way for it. Definitely a decent stop for convenience, but the flavor didn't wow me.

    Photos
    Coffee menu
    Coffee menu
    Iced and frappé
    Iced and frappé
    The ordering area

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    The ordering area
    Bean About Town Waikiki

    Bean About Town Waikiki

    4.5
    (125 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    I've known about their Kaimukī location for a while, but finally made an effort to visit the one in…read moreWaikiki. It's located inside the DFS, and has a large area at the back of the mall. The coffee shop can be entered from the mall or outside; they also have outdoor seating where you can order on your phone. Indoors is cozier and more fun, with bar seating, tables, and oversized chairs to relax. They have a lot of merchandise to go, including beans. If you're stopping in for a refreshment, they have a nice menu of hot and cold coffee drinks, teas, sodas, etc. They also have baked goods- I tried the 'ulu banana bread and really enjoyed it. I also had an iced cold brew, which was strong and creamy. Prices were reasonable for the quality and being in Waikiki. They can pour your drinks for dine in or disposable to go. This is definitely a recommended coffee shop in Waikiki!

    Solid coffee shop serving pastries, Açaí bowls and sandwiches. I had a macademia nut latte which…read morewas good. Açaí bowl was solid 7/10, have had better on the island. I wish they would've added more almond butter. My 3 star review mostly coming from the fact that they don't have a bathroom available until 11am because it's shared with the duty free store next door. Not even sure if that's legal, but a bathroom should absolutely be available during their opening hours. Had to leave rushing to find a bathroom nearby. However, good for working with good WiFi and ample seats.

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    Bean About Town Waikiki
    Bean About Town Waikiki
    Bean About Town Waikiki

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    Lion Cafe and General Store

    Lion Cafe and General Store

    4.4
    (331 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Lion Cafe & General Store is located in Honolulu in the Kalihi area. They serve Hawaiian and Kona…read morecoffee and also sells pastries and other merchandise. There is also a little coffee museum in the cafe that features the history of the company (they also provide coffee roastery tours!) My go-to drink is the iced creme brûlée latte. They do make it on the sweeter side and I also sometimes order it as a frappe. The baristas are friendly and quick in making the drinks. Parking here can be a bit hard as it is only street parking and it does get filled up since this cafe is located in an industrial area.

    I go here pretty often and I didn't realize I never left a review…read more They had limited hours during Covid season when I discovered them. Now they are open 7 days a week! I always get the Thai Latte and normally the aunty there will make it, and she makes it with care, I know this much because my drink almost always tastes the same when she makes it. It's kind of a hole in the wall, unless you're looking for this spot you won't notice it's there even with the A frame sign. When you walk in you're greeted with bags of coffee and different types of teas and in the far back corner you will notice a coffee museum. I believe they do little tours here too. They cater to the tourist pretty well and are pretty friendly when they help them out, I have witnessed this first hand.

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    Wide range of coffee and tea available in the general store.
    Wide range of coffee and tea available in the general store.
    A fresh new look for the order bar.
    A fresh new look for the order bar.
    More coffee to shop.

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    More coffee to shop.

    Cafe 'Alalā - coffeeroasteries - Updated June 2026

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