ARS Cafe — Restaurant in Honolulu

Lovely place to get some coffee to beat the summer heat. I appreciated that ARS cafe closes much later than other coffee shops/cafes.

I got an iced coffee during an afternoon walk. I usually am a hot latte person as sometimes the cold temperature changes the flavor of the latte, but to my surprise, it was bold in flavor and smooth in texture. It wasn't sour/acidic forward, nor was it bitter.

In one of the attached images, there is a card where it describes the flavor profile of the roast used for their espresso drinks. I enjoyed the salted dark chocolate notes, and it was mocha-esque and not gritty. I also found that the name "rainbow falls" fits Hawaii. The roasts rotate depending on the season, so that they might have a different roast in a couple of months.

After I finished my drink, I had a chat with the barista, Rose. She was well informed about the different roasts they have, and we chatted about different coffee shops and shared our enjoyment of coffee. I usually try the latte to get a gist of what the shop offers, and she likes to try out a shop's cold brew.

I'll be returning to ARS Cafe to try out...

If you're looking for a near-perfect coffee house experience, this is your place. They only use compostable paper and "veg wear" plastic. Their menu features a host of menu items that are vegetarian. Items we ordered: avocado toast, croissant, and their "super green" fruit bowl. Both were sublime, and I think the green bowl would be vegan if not for the honey. My only comment is that they seem to burn their shots a bit, but that could be a style thing for them. Their commitment to local arts is fantastic. We arrived one day and there was an art exhibit; the next day it had switched to another. This place is incredible and I wish we lived closer to it.

Update: keep in mind that they stop serving food at 1:00. We went back for another round of the super green bowl and...

The food was good, but I was quite disappointed with the barista’s attitude. The tone felt a bit harsh and unfriendly, which made the experience less pleasant. After reading other reviews, it seems that others have felt the same way, so I hope this feedback is taken as a chance for some reflection. The sandwiches were tasty, but waiting 30 minutes for two simple ones was longer than I expected, and the coffee was just average — nothing special. It’s a shame because it really spoiled the otherwise wonderful aloha spirit I’ve felt everywhere else in Hawaii. Also, street parking was the only option, but the street is currently under construction until November 25, so I had to park at the nearby park — something to keep in mind if you...