Nice cafe with local made coffee and cool tasting breakfast. It's a nice place to chill or study with a few table inside. It's more quiet than other coffee shops. They made the coffee well and also have great tasting matcha tea latte. I got the avocado toast which was very delicious! Service was very good and polite. Nice stop after a run around diamond head! read more

ARS Cafe - Breakfast menu looks delicious! - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Had an amazing avocado toast subbing the spicy mayo for the pesto and with s poached egg. Yum! And the kona coffee was smooth and delicious. Definitely recommend. read more

ARS Cafe - Avocado toast - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

I'm beyond impressed with this brand new coffee shop! I ordered an iced latte and immediately tasted a huge difference with the high quality coffee beans used here. I will definitely be returning ASAP and look forward to trying some of their food items :) read more

ARS Cafe - Iced triple shot latte- SO good! - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We wanted this place to be good, but unfortunately our latte's were the worst we've ever had. So bitter and disgusting, just horrible and hard to drink. read more

Sadly, didn't love the place. Maybe I came in right before they closed and they were rushing. I ordered milk tea with sweetener but don't think it came with it. I asked for iced but they poured hot tea right over ice so it was lukewarm...and also pretty watered down. I did love their regular tea though although it was also lukewarm. It did have nice ambience though! Maybe I chose the wrong drink at the wrong time. read more

What a cute little secret! ARS cafe brews up deep and delicious coffee. None of that watered down cup of joe that tastes like old coffee grounds. When I first came with my bestie, we both got lattes, hers cold and mine hot. The taste is so divine. I could almost smell the jitters coming on. The cafe also serves light lunches, pastries, and gelato. Parking is all street which is plentiful on Monsarrat and its side streets. The store front is also an art gallery, so come and appreciate the local art as well! read more

ARS is great. Amazing coffee, great employees, good vibes, gorgeous interior and art gallery. I love everything about this place. They only opened 3 days ago, and I have been twice already! Every detail, from the handmade mugs to the window sign, is all on point. Love it and will be back for more! read more

See all

So far, I came here twice for coffee. I ordered ice americano on both visits and had a Hawaiian Benedict once. Both the drink and food was good. Also the ambiance is great. Unlike it's sister company Pioneer Saloon, this cafe is not crowded and so it is quiet. I hope it stays like that. Service is good too. They were readily available for us. One of the guys looked familiar so i kept looking at him. Ended up to be one of the guys working at Pioneer Saloon. Overall, I would recommend this place for coffee drinkers and brunch eaters who wants a quiet place to chill. I would come here more often but unfortunately, they are not dog friendly. My mom and I frequent the cafes with our dog so we end up usually going to a coffee shop that allows dogs. read more

ARS Cafe - Hawaiian Benedict with iced Americano - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We came in here to buy a cup of coffee. Nice art/coffee bar with space and light. I enjoyed the vibe. read more

ARS Cafe - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Came here specifically for AVOCADO TOAST and we were not disappointed! The avocado toast featured pesto, a generous amount of yummy avocado, feta cheese, and chopped beets which were a colorful and interesting surprise. In addition, I also ordered a lemon bar from their baked goods case. To me, it was just okay, but I am exceptionally picky about lemon bars, so I think it was just me. I also ordered a coffee drink of some sort. It was tasty but I'm more of a cheap McDonald's coffee person. That is obviously no fault of the cafe! The employees were friendly and the decor in the cafe is very attractive and cozy. It seems that it's also pet friendly, because the people next to us had this amazing dog which brightened our morning. All in all, I will definitely be back for the avocado toast but maybe I'll get it to go and then stop by McDonald's for my cheap coffee. read more

Service was horrible each time we went in. Couldn't believe how many different workers were just flat out rude. Their estimates wait times were so off-- we called in an order and was told 20 min wait, but actual wait time was 45 min. We wouldn't have minded the wait if it was accurate because then we would know and not have left so early to pick up our order. Then to encounter the attitude of the staff, we will not be coming back again. read more

Good coffee and nice vibe. Be patient as the one person operation can take time but enjoy the sun and people watching up and down Monsarrat Ave. read more

Hard pass. Would not recommend going unless you want irking, unnecessarily slow service and watered down coffee. Got a scone too and it was dry and had the texture of bread. The premise and setup of the cafe is great, nice wooden paneling sand very old school hipster vibe, good ambiance and I had so wanted to like the place, but ultimately the slow service, long wait time, and poor coffee ruined the experience. read more

I've been wanting to visit this cute, trendy café for the longest time. However, I am usually never near Diamond Head and often dread the parking situation on Monsarrat. I finally went to ARS Café for an early breakfast with a friend who had been to ARS before. Since we were there so early, we were able to find parking on Monsarrat across the café without a problem. Based on the photos I had already seen on Yelp and Instagram, I already had my heart set on getting that signature, social-media-picture-worthy avocado toast, and it did not disappoint. I dare say it's one of the best I've ever had PERIOD (not just on this island). I wouldn't necessarily say this café is the cheapest for breakfast/brunch, but you can taste the quality in their food and the presentation is delightful. And, I loved the ambiance. True, I thought it would be a hipstery, art-filled café that was too cool for me. And yes, ARS is filled with local artists' work, which they change up regularly. So, as modern and trendy as their food and coffee menu might be, there was something still cozy and comforting about this café that invites you to sit and linger over a delicious meal and good conversation. I'm not a coffee snob, so I was somewhat surprised that the majority of coffee drinks cost $4-5 here. But, I guess there's something to be said about the quality of their roasts. I already can't wait to revisit ARS. I'm almost regretting writing about it, since this is quite possibly my new favorite breakfast spot. Here's what we got: "Iced Latte": I've tasted better, and I usually can't justify a drink being more expensive cause it's iced, but I had nothing to complain about for my latte. I always have to get mine with soy milk, and it was the perfect drink on this warm summer morning. I loved the silky texture and subtle flavor. It wasn't as sweet as I'm normally used to, since mochas and caramel macchiatos are my go-tos, but definitely worth trying the coffee here. "Avocado Toast with Egg": This popular brunch item features pesto, avocado, beets, feta and basil; it also comes with a side salad of mixed greens. Adding the egg is $1 extra, but it's so worth it. I ordered my toast sans the beets, and it was one of the best avo toasts I've had. EVER. The toasts here are thick-cut (like Texas toast), which is perfect for sopping up the avocado and the egg yolk, once the poached egg is broken. The avocado spread was unreal. It's relatively smooth; yet, there are chunks of avocado throughout. Best of all, they don't skimp on the amount of avo OR feta cheese. Of course, you can never have too much cheese, but there's a smattering of feta all over the toast. I relished every single bite. Of course, I didn't touch the mixed greens just cause I don't like the bitter taste. But I used every bit of toast to mop up the basil/pesto/avo spread and loved the savory oils and seasonings. Granted, I was super thirsty after because this was a savory item. But, it was well worth the price and experience, and it'll be hard to deviate from this item during future visits. I was satisfied, but not grossly overly full after consuming this; it was a content full without feeling heavy or bloated. "House Smoked Bacon Platter": This savory breakfast platter features house-smoked bacon, two poached eggs, toast, salad and roasted potatoes. My friend ordered this, and the platter looked amazing. It's a good sampler if you want a more traditional breakfast that packs a lot of savory flavors. She enjoyed the bacon--it wasn't as crispy as I would have liked, but she enjoyed the flavors--and the other components. My favorite item on the platter had to be those roasted potatoes; they're delectably soft inside with a perfect, slightly crispy exterior. This is a good breakfast selection for all you bacon lovers out there. "Cajun Ahi Sandwich": Even though we were there for breakfast, I seriously contemplated ordering this because the components sounded amazing. This sandwich featured garlic Cajun ahi, avocado, greens and tartar sauce. Now, I love garlic, so I was itching to try this sandwich ... except it seemed like a better lunch option, so I opted to save it for a future visit. I'm also curious to try that tartar sauce as well. read more

See all

I came here because Lauren from Terrace House had an art show that she hosted in this coffee shop and once I walked in I could understand why. The staff is very kind and helpful - they made our coffee quickly and we sat down to enjoy it in their art section in the back. They have lots of coffee choices (including a milk tea!) and even serve gelato. Above their gelato they have a wall saying whose art is on display. The music is great and the seating area is a great place to chat or get work done. If I lived on Oahu, I would definitely frequent this coffee shop. read more

ARS Cafe - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My fav coffee place in Town. The scones are amazing. The decor inside is great as well with all the wood detailing.

I spotted this cafe a couple weeks ago and am happy I finally got to try it out. It has a very chic hipster vintage vibe with soft music playing in the background. It almost makes you feel like you're no longer in Hawaii. The interior is so beautiful. The wooden tables are nice. They have one by the front window and a few more towards the back. They also have a countertop set up opposite the barista's area. Because of the limited seating, the cafe doesn't get too crowded. I ordered a small cold brew. The coffee tasted good. I love the bitter taste of coffee. You definitely get a hint of that but it's not too harsh. The coffee was served in a cute mason jar with a black straw. I will definitely come back again! read more

ARS Cafe - Iced pumpkin spiced latte and cold brew. - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It's not Starbucks, small places just do things a little bit better in my humble opinion. read more

ARS Cafe - Fantastic latte, great atmosphere and decent pricing. - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is right up the street from my home so I spend some mornings here. The ambiance is a viiibe and the coffee/food is great. The coffee may be a little pricey compared to some places considering the sizes, but it's quality. Things I've tried: Drinks: - Latte - Americano - Lavender Latte (My fav!) - Cold Brew Overall, these drinks all taste exactly the way you'd want them to. They're great! But the real reason I come here is... The Eats: - Avocado Toast w/ Poached Egg - Cajun Fried Rice (Dude... so fire!) The food is so delicious and well seasoned. Not to mention pretty to look at :) Will update once I try more. read more

I love this place, The coffee, art, and atmosphere is pretty chill. Especially their fried rice dish that i always order with my coffee. My absolute favorite is their oatmeal lavender hot latter! amazing coffee. read more

This place has the worst employees. I've been here numerous times as it's the closest to my house. You literally have to wait around for 30 minutes before they even make eye contact. Hire some older people with customer service skills read more

It's not so common to find a cafe that is artful and comfortable with attention paid to details in Hawaii. This is one of rare ones. Very good coffee (today I had it iced) and handmade gelato. Woody interior and counter. Will be back for a brunch soon! read more

Yesterday was my 2nd visit during my vacation. Arrived in HNL prior to my wife, so I told her about this place that I tried on my first day and she wanted to try it. We were looking for an afternoon pick-me-up, so we decided to drop in at 3:51pm on 9/19/22. As we walked in there was one other lady, besides the dramatic guy behind the counter. Instead of hello, ALOHA, welcome, we were greeted with "just so that you know we close at 4." The only other lady appeared to see it as abrasive because she tried to ease the tension by saying "it's hard when people come in close to closing." The dramatic worker responded with, "yeah you can't control them". My wife and I have learned to exit when we don't feel our dollar isn't valued. It would've taken this overly dramatic guy 3-4 minutes tops to make our coffees and send us on our way. Instead, he put a negative light on himself and this business, along with lost revenue. I know good help is hard to find currently, but if I were the owner I would definitely reconsider having this POS as the face of your business. read more

From sunny Hawaii to 1920s Paris, ARS Cafe has ambience dialed in. I've stopped in twice - first just for an iced latte, which was great. Second time, I got food and hung out for a bit. I ordered their weekend special, a Cajun seasoned seared ahi sandwich - Amazing! So good! Great flavor, well cooked, good size. The feel is great and their servers are very nice. Definitely going back! **I've been back several times since and while the coffee drinks are still great, my complaint since is that their food service is inconsistent. I understand their need to close the kitchen early due to demand, however their communication of it is inconsistent. I've been told the kitchen closes at 2pm and 4pm by different baristas and their menu even says the kitchen closes 2 hours before closing...none of which line up. Also, if the kitchen is closed, they should really remove the food menus and specials from the counter. read more

ARS Cafe - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

So far, this is the best coffee I have had in Honolulu! The setting is cute and the baristas are good. Definitely happy to come back here again! read more

ARS Cafe - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

When your coffee options in Honolulu dwindle after 4pm, ARS Cafe is the spot to visit. The coffee is delicious, the decor is sharp, and the staff is friendly. ARS can be chilly, which may be desirable if you're enduring an arid afternoon in the Diamond Head area. Two local roasts are available, and fans of dark coffee will rave about the Kona one. Lattes are consistently tasty. The avocado toast is perfected by a pesto spread. Ultimately, ARS is dependable and recommended. read more

Their prosciutto bagel sandwich is sooooooooooo amazing, 10/10 recommended and get more for later. Only thing their kitchen closes at 2 :')

Best coffee on the aina period. I stop here daily when I'm here for business / pleasure which is pretty frequent. Roland makes a mean cup of cappuccino along with mochas, matcha, americano - you name it - they make it and it tastes a little like Paris in a cup to me. The layout of the cafe is wonderful with rotating art galleries on the walls and great tunes on the hi-fi. Do yourself a favor and stop by, have some avocado toast, a damn fine cappuccino and say Hi to Roland and the friendly staff. read more

I loved the ambiance and the jazz music was grea! Can't wait for the full experience when COVID is over!

Really cute little cafe close to home. The barista recommended a lavender & rose combination latte as I couldn't figure out what I wanted, and she didn't make me feel rushed at all! I got a large with mac nut milk and it was superb. Loved strolling in the art gallery as I waited (not long at all!) for my drink. Will definitely return. read more

ARS Cafe - From the art gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The atmosphere is nice, their espresso was weak. I got an americano and was not impressed in the slightest. They also don't have any flavors or syrups and the guy working was talking to one of his "bros" and charged me for soy but didn't include the soy in the drink. Instead he handed me the carton of half and half to do it myself. read more

ARS Cafe - Cold brew (so good!) and an iced americano with cream. The only thing I wish they had was flavored syrups....vanilla, at least! - Art Galleries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Had breakfast at ARS with a friend on a weekday. Parking - a problem, as you're limited to what's available on the street. Service - ok, not the friendliest people behind the counter (the guy was much more personable than the girl). But I'll chalk that up to her not yet having her morning coffee. Space - lots of tables to sit at with lots of interesting art to look at. Didn't try the WiFi. We stayed for a couple hours and didn't feel rushed or that we had to leave. Food & drink - ordered the mushroom toast and avocado toast. Preferred the latter one more as the bread held up better. They used a regular bread for the mushroom toast, so it got soggy fast. (And soggy bread ranks up there on my grossed-out scale.) However, both had toppings that made them delicious: avocado with fresh basil and tomatoes; mushrooms, balsamic, and gruyere cheese...yum! The macha latte was had a good macha flavor with almost no sweetness. We stayed long enough to have their homemade ice cream for dessert. Velvety rich and chocolatey, but a bit pricey at $5 for a scoop. All in all, a good place for a quick bite or to do some work. I'd go back. read more

Love this place. Lots of daytime parking, great lunch spots nearby, always kind and attentive manager, and lovely space to grab a tea, have a meeting, and work. I meet one of my staffers here often to talk and I always enjoy it. Quirky art if you're into that. read more

Stopped in for coffee while on our way to Diamond Head. The best coffee I have had in O'ahu. Beautiful photos inside and great vintage cafe decor. read more

I went in to try this place because a friend of mine recommended it. The atmosphere looked cool. I ordered a soy no foam latte, kids temperature because it was a hot day. Picked up my order and I thought I heard him say mocha...but I asked "soy latte right?" He said yes. Walked 2 blocks up to enjoy my coffee and breakfast...when I sipped my coffee it tasted sweet...I opened it up and it's a mocha! I called the cafe and explained what happened and he said "you ordered a mocha"...I told him I never drink mochas...he said "that's what I heard you order". And that was it. Silence. If there was a chance I had actually said that I wouldn't have called back to tell him. Disappointed in his lack of empathy (either way). Disappointed in ARS CAFE. There are a lot of other cafes with "more Aloha" on this island. :( read more

Matcha white chocolate cookie and the royal milk teas are delicious here! They aren't too sweet either but you can really taste the tea. Only thing is I can make them but to have them made for me. :) New cafe hours have this spot closing at 7pm as of Jan 2017. Too bad it's a little slow or should I say excellent since I have this place almost to myself... ;) read more

What a cute place! I was recently here for a meeting and loved everything from the menu choices to the art on the wall. I didn't have time to order food, but got a beverage and can't wait to come back and explore more. read more

Super cool little coffee shop! An old school NYC/LA coffee jazz kind of feel. Very trendy. Their coffees are rich and smooth. Service is fast and friendly. They've got cool little coffee mugs along the wall you can purchase, and have art shows every so often. No designated parking, but there's plenty of street parking, especially right around the corner by Open Space Yoga. read more

Quiet Coffee place, with good sweets and Sandwiches. Atmosphere is relaxing. The only reasons I give a four star is because service is cold and unprofessional. Should be more warmer and personal. read more

Stylish and chic, this gem produces unbelievable beverages. Have never had the food there, but it looks good. The only downside for some would be the time it takes for your drink to be made. However, to me, that is part of the beauty--to literally and figuratively stop and smell the coffee in our fast paced modern lifestyles. If you are ordering to go, make sure to exclaim that up front. The default is real cups as if you were drinking there. read more