I went there recently all of their drinks were great and staff friendly!

Delicious food! There's also a great drink selection. The location also has a very relaxed vibe.

This is a cute little coffee and sandwich place.If you are looking for a place to relax and have delicious coffee and sandwiches, then this is the spot! The menu is simple and the decor is very cozy. We tried the garlic veggie and mixed avocado sandwiches along with hazelnut lattes. The mixed avocado was very tangy and was perfect for a hot summer afternoon. The garlic veggie is an excellent choice if you love garlic and a mix of veggies including kabocha aka pumpkin! The owners were both very friendly and nice. Overall our lunch was very enjoyable and we would definitely be back! read more

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Cute coffee shop with delicious coffee and plenty of tables to hang out and relax. The owners were two very friendly Korean people and we enjoyed taking to them. The sandwiches were bomb for a light snack. The wait time was very short (which is a win on this island). This is definitely a tucked away gem and I would recommend visiting during your stay in Hawaii. read more

Spero Spera - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Stopped in for a quick dessert and it was a cute and friendly place, way more interesting than it looks from the street. Plus .... espresso with ice cream !!! 2 of the 3 major food groups !!! As you can see there's some green stuff sprinkled on the top so that might be a vegetable !!! So healthy !!! read more

Spero Spera - Affogato $5.73 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Our go-to spot if we feel like a guilt-free healthy sandwich. They have this mixed avocado sandwich thats delicious and feels pretty healthy too. Yes it has bacon and some ham in it so its not a vegetarian option, but everything from the pickled vegetables to the accompanying fresh salad feels like it has love put into it. Always packed nicely in a pretty to-go box. Support this little mom & pop business! read more

Showed up 4 hours before closing and the owner would not serve us. Neither advertised on Yelp or Google anything, they have two sets of hours. Hours when the store is open and hours when seating is open. Very odd. The owner was also rude in his approach. read more

I love all their sandwiches, the tomato bisque is especially delicious tbh. It's such a calm and nice place to sit in, & the owners are really good people read more

A cute tiny Korean hideaway in upper Koreamoku, Spero Spera is owned and operated by one of the nicest couples I've met before. From the parking outside shared by Jagalchi, Di's Karaoke and others, it doesn't seem like much, but with an upstairs seating area also available, it's bigger than the quaint shop it appears. The same can be said about their menu - sure, they're a coffee shop with the normal coffee offerings, alongside juices and smoothies. But their sandwich menu is fairly extensive and unique. Menu items like "grilled vegetable" and "avocado steak" seem straightforward at best and possibly confusing, but the sandwiches are incredible. Garlic, veggies and steak come together for a savory, satisfying sandwich, accompanied by either a potato wedge or a salad. (Note that if you get the potato, you will literally get a wedge of a potato. Still good, but go in with the right expectation.) Spero Spera is truly one of those gems tucked away, behind an unassuming facade of a plain storefront, but enter to partake in the amazing sandwich experience. (And meeting an awesome couple running the place.) read more

This place is still cute as ever. Definitely a good spot for a cute morning to afternoon date. Love the atmosphere. Food is all $13 below and the drinks are locally sourced and yummy. read more

Spero Spera - Caramel coffee $5.26 and tomato bisque with grilled cheese $9.55. Delicious. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Drinks are way too sweet. They also out signs on the wall telling their customers to order one drink per person. Additionally, they basically tell you that there is a two hour parking limit when you are there. They should tell you that before collecting your money. Go to Starbucks instead. read more

Cafe Spero Spera comes from a Latin phrase, "Dum Spiro Spero" (While I Breathe, I Hope) This cafe might be humble in size but seems to be one of Honolulu's best-kept secrets for a quiet space to allow "hope" to unfurl it's tightly protective wings. Located in a diminutive corner, vying for space, between a beauty shop and barber shop, Spero Spera offers an open invitation to sit for lunch or dinner, chat with friends, or a loft that is a premium sanctuary for hopeful writers and other introverts. The wall art displays inspiration from their namesake "While I Breathe, I Hope" to quotes in Korean and English from Helen Keller with songbirds and trees. For artists, writers, and other dreamers, this cafe would captivate the Nine Muses of Greece for a spell. I've been here on two occasions so far. The Green Tea Iced Latte is both refreshing, lightly sweet, and keeps your attention well down to the bottom of the glass where you accidentally "slurp" loudly and then look around, hoping you didn't just draw attention. The salami, bacon, potato, and mozzarella cheese sandwich is a carnivorous delight, on baguette bread, served with chips or salad. I personally would have been fine just with Salami and Cheese and maybe avocado, but it was a delicious sandwich that sated my hunger for hours. (Free house coffee comes with sandwiches) The garlic steak sandwich with mozzarella, tomato, and mushroom is hearty and not shy in the garlic department. (Make sure you bring gum, or that you save the other half for your other half!) This is also served with a choice of chips or fresh salad, and a slice of potato. I'm not sure why the slice of cooked potato, but it's delicious. Music is eclectic and can range from classical to jazz to Trap music. Again, the Muses would be amused! With hours open until 9 pm most nights, this caters to students as well as late night writers like myself. Parking is limited to about 5 spaces and is free for 2 hours, but if you let parking detour you, you clearly won't get anywhere in Oahu. It's worth the walk if necessary. Selfishly I don't want to Yelp this newfound oasis of quiet, but I want this place to thrive and stay around for many years to come, and the only way for that to happen is to share the secret and spread Hope. read more

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Excellent little place! I ordered the Mixed Avocado & it was absolutely delicious. The service was prompt & delightful. The place itself is gorgeous & paired with the music, I felt like I was in heaven. I will be coming back! A relaxing place after a long day. read more

Parking lot is fairly small and shared with other businesses so street parking may come in to play for you. -Interior is very nice, it honestly reminded me of the cafes back in Tokyo. It was a very calm setting as well and I felt very relaxed in here. -The drink of choice I went for was the peach tea which was yummy and I finished that right away. The sandwich of choice I had gone for was the mixed avocado. It was kind of like a club house, but with the added house sauce and extra veggies it turned into something really delicious. I'm not much of a sandwich fan as I barely eat them outside of my trips to Japan. But, this place has definitely made me a fan of sandwiches once again. -The workers are extremely nice here! It honestly was like walking into someone's home and being fed their special home made meal. I urge you to give this place a chance and try it out so they'll be here for future years to come. read more

Spero Spera - Peach iced tea and mixed avocado sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I ordered a green tea latte and they didn't write anywhere that it contained soy milk. I got an allergic reaction and told them about it. The owner laughed and rudely dismissed me. I told them they should at least write it somewhere on the board. This place has good food, but everyone knows their service is bad and that's all due to the owner. read more

This cafe should definitely be more popular, it is a mom and pops Korean cafe, super cute and tucked away in a little local food corner. The only downside is that there's only a few tight parking spaces, they do limit it to 2 hours only if you can even find an open one, or there's some metered street parking. I came by to grab lunch and do some work for a few hours, the whole time it was just me and a couple that came in to get some to go. Plenty of seating, very clean and has outlets for charging! I got the mixed tomato sandwich with a little side salad, they even gave you to boiled potato slices on the side which is super cute. Presentation was on point; My sandwich was wrapped in parchment paper, flavorful and didn't feel too heavy which was nice, they serve it to you in real silverware and decorated plates! I also got the peach tea(a little steep in price $5) it was very refreshing. Slightly on the sweet side but the peach flavor was very prominent which is nice because usually flavored teas only have a hint of the fruit flavor. Im assuming the gentlemen that took my order was one of the owners cause it was him and the wife, but they were both very polite and nice. The whole time I was doing work, I did feel like I was being watched by my parents and being judged if I was doing work or slacking off. Maybe that's just my asian childhood traumatizing memories triggering haha. read more

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This is a fun spot in town that has limited parking and a limited but delicious menu. I've only had the Mixed Avocado. It's so good I can't bring myself to try anything else. I did have some of my son's Grilled Cheese and Tomato Bisque combo and the sand which was average but the soup was great. This is a fun atmosphere if you like locally and family owned hole-in-the-wall spots with great food. Update 07/2017: I had the Spero Spera salad which is great. I also had the Strawberry Banana Smoothie which is fantastic. I have yet to be disappointed by this place. read more

Spero Spera - Salad and strawberry banana smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

A small establishment with food and beverages. Off the beaten path, but worth the trip. The ginger latte was noteworthy. The kind of drink that calls to you. Had it iced and my partner had it hot. And both beverages were good. I recommend this little oasis just for this drink. I usually drink americanos, but was up to try something new. We will return to try other menu items. Parking available, covid protocols in place but they allow people inside to check out the menu and order. read more

The food was amazing, we stumbled on this place on a rainy day and we're so glad we did! The vibe was so welcoming and the music was great, cute little cafe with delicious sandwiches and great service. If you're looking for a great cafe this is it! Thank you to the owners for the great/welcoming service read more

So many Yelpers gave this spot 5 stars so I had to bookmark them to try. It took me awhile but I finally came here! I can see why everyone raves about this spot, good food, good customer service and good ambiance. Reviews are correct about the parking here. They do have a private lot but very limited parking spaces. It's best to try find street parking. We got lucky because one of the other businesses that shares the lot allowed us to park for a few minutes as we got take out. When you walk in, you are surprised by how clean and modern this place is. It was not expected when we pulled up into the lot. Goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover. It's a great place to chill, study, have a meeting, enjoy a meal or just have a drink. We ordered the Garlic Steak and the Mixed Tomato. Both had the option of Salad or Chips and we chose Salad for both orders. They separated the salad from the sandwich with wax paper which I thought was genius and they also included some potatoes with the meal. The Garlic Steak was very tasty. The seasoning that infused with the melted cheese and mushrooms really gave the sandwich life. I would definitely order this again. The salad was quite good and had the dressing on the side which is great! Not a big fan when the dressing is already mixed into the salad already. Potatoes were good, I had to add Sriracha to give it some kick but it was a nice compliment to the meal. I only had a bite of the Mixed Tomato and it was good. The bacon and carrots really add a nice texture to the sandwich. Between the Mixed Tomato and Garlic Steak, I enjoyed the Garlic Steak more but the Mixed Tomato was quite good. I'm happy that I finally came here and I can't wait to come back to have coffee and try another sandwich! read more

With a name like Spero Spera which translates to "as long as I can breathe, there is hope", I just knew that I'd have to come here for the comforting coffeehouse beverages and delicious crafted sandwiches. This little coffeehouse is located in the Young Street Center amidst several other Korean businesses. A small parking lot (free) fronts all of the businesses in this strip mall. We walked into the coffeehouse and were greeted by the cheery couple behind the counter. The aroma of fresh brewing Kona coffee wafted throughout the cool air conditioned shop. Being that this was our first time, we took a few moments to read the menu board while the female owner offered both of us a free cup of hot coffee. Fortunately, the menu is somewhat limited but the six sandwich offerings are unique and their descriptions appealing. I chose the Mixed Avocado sandwich while my husband chose the Garlic Steak sandwich (met Auntie Nadine's "Stamp of Approval"). -The Mixed Avocado sandwich is a cold sandwich (light cracked wheat bread) packed with layers of chopped avocado, shredded carrots, sprouts, sliced ham, shredded fresh cabbage, sliced tomatoes, American cheese, dill pickles, eggs, bacon and drizzled with a House dressing. Phew, just the description had my mouthwatering and stomach growling as I started to imagine what this sandwich would look and taste like. I'm a porkaholic ..uh, hey, I do resemble that remark so in those mixed layers, my eyes focused on the thinly sliced ham. When it arrived, I took a bite into the lusciousness and I suddenly felt like the animated character, Anton Ego from Ratatouille. Geez, this sandwich had me seeing my childhood, fireworks went off in my mind and on my palate. What? How could a PREDOMINANTLY vegetarian sandwich be this good? I don't know how Spero Spera came up with this concoction but all of its flavor profiles met and exceeded my expectations. A side salad of mixed greens made a nice and tasty accompaniment. -The Garlic Steak sandwich was served toasty warm between a mini baguette. I had a "Goldilocks moment" when I took a bite from my husband's sandwich...the steak was tender, flavorful with garlic that was not overwhelming or under-seasoned but just RIGHT garlic. The bread was warm as the melting Mozzarella oozed between the slices of sautéed garlicky mushrooms and garlicky beefiness. Sliced tomatoes added a bit of sweet acidity to cut the richness of flavors. My husband generously shared 1/4 of his sandwich as I shared the other half of mine. Spero Spera has seating on two levels that are comfortable and warmly decorated. The service is welcoming and efficient. The coffee was so much better (smooth, mellow yet mildly robust) than at the chainstores. Even with its limited menu, we're planning to return for more while keeping high hopes and wishes for Spero Spera's continued success. #385 read more

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Man who was the cashier was unfriendly and no wifi. The place was empty when I came in and the worker was watching sports on a tv in the middle of the restaurant. He never smiled or said one word just got me my tea and sat back down to watch his tv read more

Four words. Awesome. Korean. Study. Cafe. This place is pretty unique because I do not know any other Korean cafes on Oahu, unless I mindlessly pass them on Koreamoku. Nonetheless, this place is one of my favorite study spots because it is quiet, there is free WiFi, and it is always the perfect temperature! A lot of cafes are really cold...it's like they are trying to force their customers to order another hot cup of coffee or tea. I also appreciate that they play calming instrumental music...it really gets me in the zone. The food here is kind of pricey, but totally worth it. Sandwiches are around $9 for the sandwiches you bring for home lunch....except on steroids. It is surprisingly big and packed with a great assortment of veggies. Sandwiches also come with a free cup of coffee/tea and chips or salad on the side. I am recently getting into tea and I was surprised to find that the tea here is $2 something for those tea bags that you can get for free at a car service waiting area. Kind of a ripoff because I was kind of expecting them to scoop out some tea leaves from a tin can....but that was not going to happen. It's okay though....not really a big deal when you are studying in a great studying atmosphere. Also if you're going to study here, the owners ask that you at least buy something....you know....like not be a free loader? They don't tell you this directly, but they have signs. But omg.....parking totally sucks. There is a parking lot right in front of Spero Spera, but sometimes there are cones blocking available stalls and supposedly, you can only park there for two hours. Junks. Bottom line: If you are going to try this place out, do not come here during finals or get takeout...this is my study place! read more

My favorite sandwich eatery. Been coming here for years whenever I was in the mood for a tasty, healthy sandwich. The avocado mix, garlic veggie and garlic steak sandwiches are my fave. You have the choice of organic salad or fries. Also included are baked potato wedges and a hot cup of house coffee with your meal...can't beat that! Their coffee and tea drinks are also popular and their Affogato dessert is the bomb! The inside is decorated with cute whimsical designs, lots of tables downstairs and upstairs, free wifi and easy listening music. Their bathroom is very clean and looks like an extension of the rest of the place with hand painted designs and mottos on the wall. It's the perfect place for studying or small get-togethers, but keep in mind, the volume is kept to a minimum here. So if you want a delicious meal in a comfortable, soothing atmosphere, this is a great option! read more

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I love this cute little coffee shop! It's hidden away on Young street and you can't see it from the street so most likely you'll drive right past it. Yes the parking situation is bad. But this place is so lovely that I don't mind it. I got the iced lemon honey tea which was amazing and a peach soda that was so good I almost had to go back and get another as soon as I left the parking lot! The sandwiches are ginormous and bigger than my mouth can bite. I had to squish my sandwich down a bit and only ate half because I became so full I needed to loosen my belt... *shame rattle* But at least it was fresh healthy veggies and salad and not greasy fried food that filled me up! There's also a small restroom for customers to use so camping out here and working for several hours is totally doable! I'm going to be back here and if there are no seats left because of my Yelping about this awesome find then I'll just have to order my peach soda to go. Wah!! read more

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I start writing this review with mixed feelings. I immensely enjoyed my experience here, and I want to share this place with everyone I know, but on the other hand, I feel like being greedy, and keeping Spero Spera a quiet little secret... Just for me, so it doesn't get overcrowded, like so many of the best little shops out there... Alas, it is my duty to be a good yelpy boy and write my review of this place. I think it's in a contract that I signed in blood somewhere, or else I think I have to give up my first born to the Yelp gods... Well, here goes! This unassuming little shop is tucked between Korean baber shop, and a Korean beauty salon. Strange place for cafe. By the way, watch out... Parking here sucks. You have been warned. Storefront: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/spero-spera-honolulu?select=ykW7VPj3DCccPONOhks2IA#dhioiOVXppX4cMd5ebUvRQ They only have a few different options for their sandwiches, but they have numerous beverage options. If you think the pricing looks a little odd it's because everything is priced so that with tax the prices come out to a multiple of a quarter amount. ($X.00, $X.25, $X.50, $X.75). Menu: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/spero-spera-honolulu?select=ykW7VPj3DCccPONOhks2IA#H2b2rf_ThStLGq-SIAE5hg They've also got some breakfast specials for you early risers. Morning Specials: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/spero-spera-honolulu?select=ykW7VPj3DCccPONOhks2IA#WazCwKK4JKkx--zOTuG8Iw I don't know what it is about the picture they have painted on their wall, but it just seems so very Korean to me. Know what I mean? Art: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/spero-spera-honolulu?select=ykW7VPj3DCccPONOhks2IA#2NeHQyeDNhDT4BQCTuxsJg A few minutes after I had placed my order for the Mixed Avocado Sandwich, it arrived at the table! I was so excited to take a bite into it that I almost forgot to take a picture. Luckily I remembered right before chomping into it. The sandwich was hearty, the flavor of bacon and ham were prevalent even through the veggies slathered in sauce (almost like a cole slaw), and you have a choice of chips, or greens to accompany your sandwich. I opted for the greens this time. I must say that this was one of the better sandwiches I've had in quite a long time. Mixed Avocado Sandwich: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/spero-spera-honolulu?select=ykW7VPj3DCccPONOhks2IA#5A09vlnb1349P_cciB0mzg A little while after I started eating I looked down at my plate in surprise because this is what I saw... Pau: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/spero-spera-honolulu?select=ykW7VPj3DCccPONOhks2IA#a2LToJ2RVbRwI1rzSMqdCA Where did my delicious sandwich go?? I guess that's ok since I was actually pretty stuffed from the meal. I can't wait to go back and try more of their sandwiches. I'm reserving my full five stars for the next visit, or two! read more

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Completely in love with their mixed avocado sandwich! Mixed avocado sandwich = avocado, shredded carrots, lettuce, sprouts, homemade coleslaw, ham, American cheese, pickles, eggs, BACON (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/spero-spera-honolulu?select=ZOIIkHKR44_y9MlqmSxGLA#ZOIIkHKR44_y9MlqmSxGLA) WHOA!! I've never tasted a sandwich with so many unique, yet complementary ingredients all combined in one HUGE entity (I could barely take a bite of the whole sandwich at once!). Every bite was the perfect blend of flavors and texture, with lots of veggies to make it seem healthy yet with the creaminess and fattiness (slaw and bacon) you crave in any food. For $8 even, it was a steal for such a delicious meal! Served with salad/chips, a couple wedge potatoes, and ginger/carrots (all very lackluster in taste), I only ate HALF of my sandwich, and saved the rest for later (I definitely could've ate the whole thing, but I was honestly pretty full from the first half). Only drawback is because of the wet slaw and avo, the bread was a little soggy when I ate the rest the following day. This and their other very unique sandwiches are what bring me lots of joy at this adorable little coffee shop. Yes, they also sell coffee, tea, smoothies, acai bowls, and affogato. And no coffee shop is complete without free wifi! Woot! What puts this place over the edge into 5-star territory is its darling atmosphere. The decor kind of reminds me of those at Yogurstory, with its tree elements, artsy stuff on the walls, and cute furniture. Spero Spera is a little smaller and thus, pretty quiet, but good as a study place with the free wifi! I'll most definitely be back. read more

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I'll do you a favor and get this out of the way...parking is awful. And...the menu is small. And... the regular coffee is ok. And...that is where the list of cons ends. Everything else is on the pro list. It is super cute. Super cozy. Super Korean. Family run. Student friendly. Free wifi. Healthy. Happy. Open. It is what you would never expect to find in this odd little group of shops and spas. And yet, it works. I stopped by to have breakfast and to be sure it would be a good spot for a Yelp book club gathering. I was looking for comfy chairs and a relaxed attitude. I was even hoping for a few tasty bites of something. I was not looking for a new regular coffee spot. I found all of those things, especially the regular coffee spot. The cafe is family run, and is staffed mostly by one woman. Her husband, son, and other family members are there as often as they can be, but she does the majority of the work. I asked her how she is able to put in a six day work week and her response tickled me. She said she had been a housewife for so long, and that this was familiar. Sometimes she is busy, sometimes she is bored, but always she is doing the thing that she wants to be doing. What a great attitude for one's work life! My sandwich was delicious, if different. Egg, bacon, pickles, cabbage, and wheat bread. She bakes her eggs, using no extra oils in her food (though the cabbage had mayo and then there is the bacon, which is baked, but still...) and wanting to keep things as healthy as possible. The sandwich was served with a wedge of lightly salted baked potato. This meal left me happy and full far into the afternoon, which was the only reason I did not head back for lunch! On Saturday, I will order a lunch sandwich and a drink. I've been promised that all of the options are good, and are easily made without meat. Then on Monday, when I'm back in the neighborhood, I will stop in for the next sandwich. I'll work my way through the limited menu quickly enough with repeated visits, but will then be able to pick a favorite. Can't wait! read more

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I have been craving a big, hearty sandwich and the pictures of multi-layer colorful, towering sandwiches from Spero Spera finally piqued my interest enough to pay them a visit. It's a clean and cute two-story cafe, located in the small parking lot off of Young street (same parking as Ja Gal Chi). It seems like a great place to cruise, work or study as their menu offers a great variety of different drinks, a good amount of seating and free wi-fi. They offer about 6 different sandwiches and they ALL sound great. Last night, we tried the garlic steak and mixed avocado. Both sandwiches came with our choice of chips or salad (we chose salad) and a couple spears of baked potato. The salad was great - it was an interesting mix of not your standard lettuce, all kinds of greens. I don't know exactly what, but it was tasty! It was topped with shredded pickled carrot and ginger as well as slivered almonds. A balsamic dressing accompanied the salad. The potato spears were just that - plain, skinless baked potato. An interesting accompaniment to a sandwich. I can't emphasize how well all of the different layers complemented my mixed avocado sandwich - It sounded like it would be way too many things going on, but it was the perfect melding of flavors! Carrot, cabbage, ham, bacon, egg, sprouts, a special sauce and toasted bread - I wish I had another right now! A taste of the garlic steak sandwich was delicious as well - warm, melted cheese and lots of beef! I've found my Subway-replacement, I'm sure to become a regular here! read more

Spero Spera - Mixed avocado sandwich with ham, egg, bacon, pickle, carrot and all kinds of deliciousness! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I love this little fob cafe with its adorable and charming hand-painted wall imagery and appropriate Engrish quotes, an overhanging TV playing a nature bird screensaver on loop, darling low-key elevator music, and perfectly detailed sandwiches. As for the sandwiches - Spero Spera is like the fob version of Andy's. I don't think Spero Spera bakes their own bread like Andy's, but the sandwiches are relatively healthy, as the ajummah is adamant about baking everything without any added butter or oil. The sandwiches are meticulously constructed to reveal a glorious cross-section of perfectly stacked components that makes for impressive sandwich porn. All of them are decently priced and come with a choice of chips (Funyuns!) or mixed organic greens with ginger, carrots, and baked potato wedges. As other yelpers have mentioned, I don't really understand the salad toppings, but I eat it because it's there. Mixed Avocado Sandwich - This seems like a hodgepodge of random items, but it's surprisingly delicious, refreshing, and monstrously huge. I'm stuffed after eating half the sandwich, so I save the other half and the salad for dinner. This is my favorite sandwich by far. Mixed Tomato Sandwich - Good, but not nearly as good as the Mixed Avocado. Garlic Steak Sandwich - This sandwich is served warm, and the steak is a little chewy and very garlicky. It's simple, but pleasing and satisfying when you're in the mood for a toasty meaty sandwich. The sandwiches also come with coffee or tea, which is a nice perk. Spero Spera would be perfect if it weren't for the terrible parking situation. The lot looks huge, but apparently, all the different business in that little area get North Korean territorial with their assigned parking stalls. The stalls for Spero Spera are in front and usually blocked off with cones, which you'll have to move. I find it easier to park on the street and walk. read more

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I'm usually not a fan of sandwiches. Most sandwich spots here on Oahu are just slap things on and call it a day. Not Spero Spera. The sandwiches here are thoughtfully put together. Outside the cafe, you're definitely going to think this might be a run down place since all the neighboring businesses are sketchy. Walking in will be a pleasant surprise. The cafe is tastefully decorated. If someone asks me how cafes in Asia are like, Spero Spera would be the closest candidate to one. There are a few tables on the bottom floor and more tables on the second floor. On weekends, tables are especially full so plan ahead. Ordering is fairly simple with the cafe's menu on the back wall, along with pictures of the items by the counter. Over the course of the past week, I've been working nearby and three days out of five, I ate at Spero Spera. Call me addicted. Avocado Mix - If this is your first time, definitely get this sandwich. This sandwich is completely out of this world. You will be hard pressed to find anything like this on the island. Layers upon layers of goodness. There was so much stuff, I was finding new ingredients with every bite. It is a full sized sandwich that comes with a salad. Coffee included for dine-in. Acai Bowl - Spero Spera's acai bowl is completely loaded. When I mean loaded, the nice lady that owns the cafe puts two layers of food wrap so it doesn't spill because it's coming out of the container. Taste wise, it's as good as the more well known spots and they actually have seeds with their granola. Spero Spera coffee - I got this coffee a few times. Both hot and cold. I would prefer this coffee hot since it is a smoother and lighter coffee and I like my iced coffee strong since ice will dilute the coffee. As mentioned, parking is a huge hassle. There are plenty of street parking near the Department of Agriculture building on Young St and the meters have a two hour limit. Service is excellent. Think Angry Korean Lady and flip that over. She's that nice! read more

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I'm a new yelper! And I made it just to write a review on Spero spera cafe! Some of you may see me because I actually work at Spero~ I am the longest worker (for over a year now) and I must say I know Spero the best! I just went to Spero to study (like everyday lol) and got close with the owners (married Korean couple) and their two sons who used to work too (one still does)! I must commend the owners because they work everyday for 17 hours...I don't think anyone could ever do that. .and both of them have gotten sick and sore from overworking~ I love them and they love the store and positive comments on yelp surely make them happy! They love local customers and the lady tries so hard to speak English^^ Spero spera is awesome and I think people should try it :) they'll go back~ no matter how irritating the parking is (I knoww) read more

Spero Spera - Take out sandwich! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Must order: Garlic Veg sandwich, Garlic Steak sandwich After seeing Quijana's check-in and review, I knew I had to try this place! I drive by it on Young Street when I'm avoiding Beretania traffic and was always curious by the Free Coffee sign. Working from home definitely has it perks but one of the downsides is finding a decent place to meet up for some co-working. I think Spero Spera is going to be the new place for us! There's even a seemingly quiet small loft area upstairs. It's small, yes. The parking isn't so hot, yes. But I like that it's out of the way and not your typical Starbucks and when I went today, not as crowded. GARLIC VEG SANDWICH [4 belly rubs]: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/spero-spera-honolulu?select=5A09vlnb1349P_cciB0mzg#THWVetXSNwR32l9huZUcSw This sandwich was yummy in my tummy! I love garlic and I love all the veggies that was going to be in this sandwich, especially kabocha. My sandwich came out in (4) pieces and it was quite a bit for me! I really enjoyed my sandwich, but then again I can be easily amused by garlic and grilled veggies with cheese. I got mine with the salad but there's a choice of chips which in this case was Fun Yuns. GARLIC STEAK SANDWICH [3 belly rubs]: The fiance got this sandwich and it came out in (3) pieces and he graciously gave me one! The sandwiches were yummy. If anything the steak was a little over cooked for my taste but I personally like my steaks medium rare. My fiance told me he thought he was just going to get a ham and cheese sandwich and gas station coffee. He was pleasantly surprised and even enjoyed his macadamia nut coffee! I'll definitely be back for some co-working and veggie sandwiches! read more

Spero Spera - Garlic Veggie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I know I'm in the minority here. Please brace yourselves, I was not impressed. The parking here is very difficult. The signs are not clear what spaces are designated for spero spera. I worry if I would be towed but the owner came out and told me to park somewhere else. What if this place was busy? How would she direct traffic? The decor of the area was quaint and cute. It is the exact decor a coffee shop should have with a bookshelf and a chalkboard. The coffee was also very delicious. I think I might have ordered the wrong food, but the sandwich left something to be desired. I'm not sure if that was actually egg in my sandwich since it was a pink spongy substance. For all the trouble to park and order, I would expect more. read more

Spero Spera - Loyal customers! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I am so disappointed with this place. I wasted a meal and an hour of my life eating here. And I really hate to eat food that is not worth the calories in them. If rating for food and service alone, I would give it one star but I will take into consideration the potential this place has to be a quiet spot to work with wi-fi access. Thus two stars. And although the staff could not answer a simple question we had about the food, they were very kind and courteous. I wanted to order the Mixed Tomato sandwich but there was bacon AND egg on it so I decided to go with easy and the same my husband ordered: Tomato bisque with grilled cheese sandwich. Husband asked the cashier if the soup was vegetarian but cashier had no idea. Cashier asked cook, cook had no idea. They told us they didn't know. How odd. My husband asked cashier to find out for sure. So he found someone in the back that could confirm to us that there was no meat or fish in the soup. Pretty simple question that perplexed these folks. That is telling. So... about this soup and sandwich... the tomato bisque tasted EXACTLY like Campbell's Tomato soup cooked with milk. They drizzled a little olive oil and sprinkled some oregano on top for effect but this soup tasted canned. I used to like Campbell's Tomato soup but I don't eat that kind of junk food as an adult and I certainly don't want to pay for it at a cafe. We spent just under $23 for our meal. And I wish Spero Spera knew what a grilled cheese sandwich is! It is NOT cheese on toast. A grilled cheese should be buttered and grilled! There is no room for interpretation here. The sandwich was dry toasted and the super orange cheese was sparse. This time they used what tasted EXACTLY like Kraft American processed cheese slices. Not good. I was really hungry so I ate it but I resented every bite. And every bite I ate of the soup was ladled into my mouth with a plastic spoon! We noted later that the folks at an adjacent table had normal silverware. That really irritates me for two reasons: one, I should not have to cut the sides of my mouth on the plastic while eating, and two, the environment cannot afford the use of plastic when not absolutely necessary. I will always complain about this. And styrofoam cups at a sit down cafe are a big downer. They just don't elevate the experience at all. And the environment... The coffee was mediocre in taste but my husband said it was like rocket fuel. So I can say something good about the place. Spero Spera sounds like an Italian name (in fact, the word spero means "I hope" in Italian) so that plus the reviews of other Yelpers raised my expectations. Well, I hope I never have to pay for food that suspiciously resembles Campbell's soup and Kraft American singles, again. I hope no one ever tries to give me plastic utensils at an indoor cafe again. I hope I never have to hear "Life and Death" (the piano music from LOST that played whenever a main character died) while eating, again. It played on a loop for most of the time we were there. I know many other Yelpers love this place but I doubt I will ever be back. read more

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How could I not have written a review about this little gem, already?! D: Spero Spera is a quiet little place that is tucked away in a little cluster of buildings on Young street. In fact, it's quite easy to miss, so be sure to slow down a bit when your GPS says it's coming up. It's not very visible if you're heading eastbound on Young street since it would be on your left. Its also really easy to miss the entry for the parking lot, which is already pretty small. There are about 6-8 parking spaces in front of the coffee shop, but there is street parking (which may be easier to get). They do share a parking lot with other restaurants, so I normally just park right in front. It does get pretty busy though, so there were more than a number of times that I just gave up and went somewhere else. :T This place is really cute. If youre an avid K-drama watcher like I am, then you'd really appreciate the adorable decor of the place. I always wanted to go to a shop like this when watching my k-dramas, and now Spero Spera has made that a reality here in Honolulu. :3 This place may not look like much from the outside, but the inside is pretty. There are two levels, which offers more than enough space. There are a couple of larger tables on the first level, where you can order food, along with some others on the side. The second level has at least 8 tables with a lot of outlets available, which is always a plus in my book. There's also some condiments and napkins upstairs, so you wont need to venture back downstairs for that. There's a small staircase that leads upstairs if you walk past the left side of where you order. Just be careful, the ceiling there is a little low; but their adorable paintings try to warn you as well about the possibility of hitting your head. Lucky for me, im short so this was never a problem. Their menu has a nice little variety, from coffee & tea, to sandwiches and desserts such as cake and acai bowls. Their sandwiches normally come with either free coffee or tea; if you want it iced, you can get it upgraded for a super small fee. I've tried their steak sandwich (which also comes with your choice of either salad or chips), cheesecake, peach tea/soda thing and mocha latte. All of these were pretty good; they really pack on the veggies to their sandwiches (just so you know). The peach tea/soda thing wasn't what I was expecting; its more like an italian soda w/peach flavoring. It was okay, but not my favorite thing here. Overall: The Good: -Decor: Very adorable! The place is always really clean as well -Ambiance: Pretty quiet place, which is good for studying. But be forewarned, it does get quite chilly in here, so bring a jacket! They place classical music, so in combination with the nice cool air, you may want to just fall asleep 0.0 -Food: I liked it. Favorite thing for me is the mocha latte and steak sandwich. -Service: This is a family owned place and is run by a couple. They've always been super friendly and more than happy to help. The Bleh: -Parking: This is the worst thing about this place. The parking lot is super small, and because this place is great, it gets filled up. As Ive mentioned, there were several times I've had to go elsewhere because there just wasnt any parking. read more

I've worked around the area for years and I never knew for the longest time that this place is a coffee shop. The shopping center it's in is a little run down, so I never would have expected to find such an adorable coffee shop located there. Funny thing, I only found out about this place after other Yelpers listed it as a nice coffee spot in my area. They just recently added a new sign out front, but before that the sign was partially torn, so the place seemed to be run-down just like the rest of the shopping center. Parking is easy in the morning and that's the only time that I stop by. There is a parking lot, but the space could really use some fixing up. Watch out for pot holes! I usually order the cafe latte with a breakfast sandwich. The coffee is a standard latte, nice and foamy on top. The breakfast sandwich is, well, strange. I've ordered the ham and egg sandwich which contains: a slice of ham, a omelette-like egg with chopped carrots and vegetables, shredded lettuce with some kind of creamy, sweet dressing and sweet pickles. To top it off, they give you a slice of baked potato on the side. It's a bizarre combo, but maybe some people are able to appreciate it. Also, I find the place a little pricey compared to more generic coffee spots, but I think you pay for presentation and atmosphere here. The decor inside is very simple and quaint--completely different from the outside. It's really a huge contrast. The staff is so warm and welcoming, it always feels so peaceful whenever I go in. They play soft, classical piano music in the morning and the way the sun shines through the window is just beautiful. It feels so relaxing to just gaze out and sip coffee before a long day at work. read more

I come here a lot to study because of the FREE wifi. It's a small cozy Korean cafe with the concept of eating healthy. Their sandwiches are good. It comes with free house coffee! If you like meat, I recommend the garlic steak sandwich. The owners are nice and friendly. I always have a short conversation with them every time I visit. Korean that's why ;) Parking can be a drag but they valet for you, for free! read more

Spero Spera - Free coffee with your choice of sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I've been going to this place for three years. Its my top three favorite coffee shops. Possibly #1. Cuz a lot of the stuff they offer, u can't get anywhere else. My favorite sandwich is still the mixed avocado. I think they adds relish to it nowadays so I would do without it. Better that way. Their acai bowl beats a lot of places. It's simple & nothing extravagant but it's just perfect for me. I've tried other bowls & it just isnt the same. I really like all their food and drinks. They added new items such as the spero spero salad. It's good & an organic green salad that comes with strawberry, almonds croutons, chia seed, & sesame or balsamic dressing. Great taste but I don't like fruit in my salad & it's not filling for me. Great for the thin girls. All my skinny friends LOVE it I'm a fan of their new item- the tomato bisque & grilled cheese. I double up on the cheese. Cuz it's just yummier that way. But I'm really happy about that add on! For some reason, whatever this place does, it always beats out other places on taste. Always. Service.... Nothing short of amazing. It's family run. They're so warm & friendly. The husband's a little less smiley but he's cool & always accommodating. The wife is always smiley & welcoming. Great ppl. Great service. All the items are under $10, except the garlic steak sandwich: $10.55. The drinks are average: $2-$7. I actually think it's more value for what u pay. The only way I'd go to a place like Starbucks over this place is for convenience Cuz there's no way in hell someone can convince me that Starbucks drinks, price, food or AMBIENCE even comes close in comparison to this place. Spero spera... U da REAL CROWN WINNER!!! I fully support u if u expand. read more

Love this place! Glad I finally got to try Spero Spera with one of my friends yesterday. It was kind of hard to find since you can't really see it from the street and the name on sign is super small. It's right before Krazy Karaoke and in the world's worst parking lot. I'm just really glad that the owner was there to help me find parking. Anyways, once you get past the parking situation, go inside and get ready to enjoy one of the cutest cafes! There were not that many tables, but I was lucky to get one upstairs. I ordered the avocado sandwich and it was huge, filled with avocado, bacon, coleslaw, and other stuff. Super yummy and filling! It came with a salad and iced tea all for around $8. I tried my friend's garlic steak sandwich which was also really good. I need to come back here and try other stuff on their menu! Service was great too. read more