Island Brew Coffeehouse

The food at Island Brew is consistently good and good value. We like to sit outside and take in the views of the Marina of Hawaii Kaai. Great service and nice an quiet.

One of my favorite places to grab coffee. Very friendly and awesome staff. You cannot come here without having a waffle and Acai Bowl. TOO DIE FOR!

I have to make a stop here every time I come to Hawaii Kai. You can choose to sit inside or outdoor.
This is one of my favorite spots to chill when I have projects to do, so I can sit there, have a coffee, relax, do some readings and drafting… or even just watching change of colors of the sky at sunset.

I was doing my diving quizzes and exams in the shop. Full disclosure, I didn’t try any of their food but looking at reviews, I wish I had! My dive instructor swears by their waffles and pretty much took 3.5 minutes to inhale his, so that’s got to stand for something.
Here are my thoughts:
1) Service was friendly
2) Service was fast
3) Macadamia Nut latte? Hells, yes. Mac nut when in Hawaii dudes — also it was awesome
4) Really clean and hip place with a beautiful outdoor area overlooking the Hawaii Kai bay
5) Very chill clientele — sometimes it isn’t always about the shop but the customers it keeps… Strange fact: A LOT of people read bibles in this place, honest to god. :)
Aloha!

My friend cited this coffeehouse as one of his favorites on the island. Granted, I don’t live anywhere near Hawaii Kai, but my friend says this is a good getaway spot if you’re looking for good coffee and just want to chill.
As it turns out, I’ve passed by this coffee spot before and didn’t even know it was there. It’s toward a corner of the Koko Marina Shopping Center (which I hardly go to), but it’s not hard to find once you’re in there.
I immediately liked the vibe of the café as soon as I stepped inside. It was a Saturday morning so it was rather crowded, but there are a good amount of tables, couches and chairs both, inside and outside. The prices of the drinks were a little steep (at least, I thought so), but my friend told me it was worth it.
We actually came here after breakfast so I passed by the baked goods, but I’m sure if I were coming here for breakfast, there would be something I would love to munch on. My friend and I ended up getting the same drink because he really likes it too, but there’s lots to choose from on the menu.
Even though the café was crowded, service was relatively quick. We managed to snag a table outside to enjoy our coffee. This is definitely a relaxing spot because it’s close to the marina; I know I’ll definitely be back if I want to do some work or enjoy the view while I have my coffee or tea. The drive/​trek out there is worth it.
Here’s what we got:
«Malabar Mocha»: My friend knows I like sweets, so he recommended this drink for me, saying that it was right up my alley because it’s sweet, delicious when iced and it includes chocolate. It was love at first sip. This espresso drink features mocha with cream, caramel and crème de cacao. I just asked for soy milk and I was good to go. The challenge was not to drink this delicious concoction so quickly … it was soooo yummy that it was hard to drink it slowly, especially because it was a hot day. I would order this again in a heartbeat. It tasted really smooth and velvety because of the chocolate, and I could aptly taste the caramel as well. Any chocolate lover is sure to be pleased with this drink.
«Chocolate Waffles»: If I ever came here for breakfast, this is what I would order. This chocolate waffle is infused with chocolate chips and topped with fresh bananas, strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate sauce. I would probably just order my waffle sans the strawberries and whipped cream … let’s be honest, I’m just really all about that chocolate.
«Buttermilk Brownie Bar»: I passed by these brownies in the display case and they looked delicious. Brownies are my all-​time weakness so I’m sure I’ll get my hands on one of these at some point. I’m sure it’ll pair nicely with my already-​sweet drink.
«Salted Caramel Latte»: Salted caramel can be a hit-​or-​miss concoction, as I’ve had some blends that have been too salty or did not contain enough caramel. But, since this coffee shop gave such a good first impression, I’m willing to give this latte a chance. It includes caramel sauce, salted caramel and sea salt combined in harmony. Sounds promising and I’m sure I would enjoy it, as long as I have soy. I’m thinking this latte would be better as a hot drink instead of a cold one; I look forward to tasting it one day.
«Oreo Espresso Shake»: OREOs are one of my favorite cookies, so naturally, this would be first up on my to-​try list if I were getting a shake. This shake is made with real OREO cookies and it’s blended with espresso to make a frappé. This sounds delicious if I want to stick with a tried-​and-​true favorite.
«Da Elvis»: If I’m feeling adventurous, I would order this shake because chocolate and peanut butter is one of my favorite combos. However, before ordering it, I would probably ask if it has a super strong banana taste … I don’t love bananas, but I’m willing to give this espresso shake a try because it contains two of my favorite ingredients. If there’s any way to get «light bananas,» I would go with that!

Took my husband here for the first time & first impressions is the most important to in the food industry to him. He was not impressed @ all & did not feel welcome. He said this is the first & last time coming here. Wow my husband is a very patient person & one who hardly ever complains.

The breakfast crossiant sandwich with bacon was delish!!! I love how fresh their food tastes! The crossiant was so soft and flaky. It was amazing!
I also got the pumpkin espresso latte shake and it was oh so good! Not too much pumpkin! I’m a fan!!!
This place is a healthy, vegan, organic type of place. I love it! Plus, the view is awesome!!! Just a beautiful view of the water. Loved it!!! :)

I went there specifically to try the cold brewed coffee and unfortunately didn’t manage to try it (…again — so unlucky!) so just had a simple bagel for breakfast. It was … ok., nothing special, but the place gets 4* for the staff kindness and their positivity! They told me everything about the brewing process and were extremely nice. This place has a very good vibe and a nice view. Cool to hang out and do some online work or charge ur «batteries» before hiking ;)

This is my favorite coffee place on the island with the perfect view and the nicest owners. They are always so welcoming and always remember your name, our son’s name and that we are the kokohead couple. Ha. The coffee selection is awesome, I love their breakfast and lunch, we come here as much as possible with the best view.

Delicious bagel sandwiches and drinks!
My bf and I stopped by here after hiking the Kuilouou Ridge Trail (a must do by the way). We were pretty hungry having hiked on an empty stomach. My bf got the breakfast sandwich on a sun-​dried tomato bagel, and I got the lox on a jalapeño bagel.
My, oh my, how good that first bite of the lox tasted. The exterior of the bagel was super crunchy, the bagel itself was nice and chewy and everything sandwiched in between (smoked salmon, red onion, cream cheese and capers) was delicious. All of the ingredients that made up that sandwich were so simple yet so tasty. I could have easily devoured two on my own.
I also ordered an iced tea with two shots of simple syrup that was refreshing to drink alongside the lox.
This place is a must-​try!

Oh boy. Of course I’d be the one to write a review that gives less stars than other Unilocalers. Oh how horrible, evil, and down-​right mean I feel! :(Btw, this review is solely based on their acai bowls as I haven’t had any of their meals.
It’s a hot, muggy, rain-​off-​and-​on type of day and I’m on a hunt for a delicious, mouth-​watering acai bowl. I’m searching to find the best acai bowls in each city (and I haven’t tried many in Hawaii Kai yet). [If you have suggestions anywhere on the island, I’m totally willing to take them!] So, naturally, I open my Unilocal app and type «acai bowl». The first suggestion? Island Brew Coffeehouse! The photos looked delicious and a generous portion size!
I step inside this coffee shop and I’m not greeted by any of the three workers. But that’s minor. I walk up to the register to order my acai bowl and the cashier had no personality. She looked irritable, tired, and grouchy. Okay, whatever still not a big deal. She took my name down for the order and I waited patiently for my food to arrive. While waiting, another customer had received his acai bowl which looked huge and scrumptious! I was getting so excited!
Ten minutes later, I hear «ACAI BOWL!» I’m guessing that’s me? Why even take my name down if you don’t use it? So I flag the waitress down and she brings me my bowl. I look down and I’m immediately dissatisfied based on the portion size. It’s a tiny cup/​bowl, way smaller than the other customer’s one. I thought «Oh well, maybe there’s different sizes.»
I dug into this delicious-​looking acai bowl only to be disappointed yet again. :(What is with my luck?! Maybe I have to step on some dog poop or find a four leaf clover! The acai was like a very melted smoothie and not even fully blended. I found frozen chunks of strawberries in my serving. Only 6 blueberries (and they forgot to remove the stems), 4 skinny strawberry slices, bananas, honey, and granola topped the acai bowl. The taste wasn’t strong at all either. And for $ 8.99? I know acai bowls are usually about this price, but I’m so sorry to say that I didn’t think it was worth it.
After looking at the photos on Unilocal,it looks like they use different dishes for the acai bowls. Their menu doesn’t have different sizes so I guess they just use whatever they have available. Not fair if you get stuck with a small bowl!
To top off the already mediocre experience, I noticed that I had some crusted food on my spoon they provided! No, it was not from my acai bowl… I should have looked better before I started eating it, but I didn’t think to double check. Birds were chilling out in their dirty dish bins outside and sitting on the used plates and utensils too. Bleh! Guess I just built up my immune system!
Guess this place isn’t a contender for my top acai bowl :(Maybe when I come hungry for some food and have crossed off all the other places I want to try in Hawaii Kai, I’ll try some of their waffles or a sandwich. Their bagels sound expensive. $ 6-​$ 9? Eh, so it might be a while until I ever come back here if at all. :(I wouldn’t say I’ll never be back, but it’s not going to be any time soon. Hopefully I’ll have a better experience next time and write an updated review with a higher rating! We can only hope! As for you, good luck! Hope you get better luck than me!

This is a very great place to have a chill afternoon. It’s a very quite coffeehouse. It’s right along the water. They have all different kinds of tables and chairs. It makes them very original compared to the all the cafes in Hawaii.
Very friendly service!

I really enjoy Island Brew every time I stop in here. The staff are very friendly and the food and coffee are delicious. They have a great view so it’s a favorite place of mine to meet friends or to work for a few hours when I need to focus. The only complaint I would have is that it’s a little more expensive than other coffee shops. However, I think it’s worth the extra cost because of the great location and views and to be able to support a great local business. I always get coffee and sometimes a bagel here but everyone I know says that the açai you bowls are the best in town, açai makes my stomach hurt so I can’t try it but if that’s something you enjoy I definitely recommend getting it here while in Hawaii Kai.

Hubby and I had about 20 minutes to burn before heading to our water sport activity. There was a long line when we arrived. I was pretty psyched and was contemplating on what to order. I looked at one of the display cases by the counter. The Danishes were diminishing and not being replenished.
Their muffin and scones held signs of their specialty of the day. It enticed me to order their mixed berry scone which they heated up for me. It tasted good, but it was questionable whether it was baked on premise or brought in from a store. I was going to order a lox bagel until I noticed they were in plastic bags like the ones that were sold in Costco. I was hoping they made it in house instead of reheating bought bagels. The acai was the same one I saw in Costco being sold in industrialized packages.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that they went to retrieve majority of their products from Costco located less then a mile away. I watched one of the young girls assembling a sandwich. Nothing really made in house, but squeezing mustard from a bottle heating bacon and eggs from a oven and charging 9 bucks for it.
They did have many choices of flavored coffees. Hubby ordered the bulletproof which is butter coffee!!! Yes butter in the coffee. It does not sound appetizing, but he said it was good. I tasted it and it was ok. Overall I like going to places where they use their talents and skills to whip up imaginative patisseries. I can’t say this place is one of them. I probably will be back to order one of their sugar free flavored coffees. It looked to me like they ground their beans fresh. Fresh and local ingredients is always prime;)

Went here for lunch for the 2^nd time today and it is a dream coffee house spot. It has a sweet ambience with soft music in the background and the perfect place to curl up with a book or write. They serve your food on real dishes and the doors are always left open with an outdoor patio to overlook the ocean and other activities such as sailing. They even have comfy sofas to hang out on. They dont have any heavy food but if you want something quaint like a sandwich, quiche, bagel croissant they definitely have that. They do however offer a range of coffee and tea choices — hence the name «coffee house» lol.
The customer service I would say is very sweet and they give a homey feel. I had a relaxing chamomile tea and they offer alot of organic options also. Simply put its an awesome chill spot to just unwind or maybe even for a lunch date. Great place to hang by yourself or have a great conversation with friends. A great mid day get away!

I’m a breakfast bagel kinda girl, this place more than satisfies that craving. There are the regulars who you have no idea who they are but know exactly how they like their coffee. I love that feeling! This coffee place offers the ocean views, free wifi, lots of indoor seating and outdoors. Staff is super friendly and if your a regular, they don’t ask what u want they already know. I’m very picky, I like my bagel not just with tomatoes, lettuce and eggs. I like ham and avocado. They honor my request every time without saying «we don’t do that here» that to me is service.

Located next ro my condo in Kalele Kai, i just take my paddle board and paddle there on my way to surf the bay. The acai bowl is my favorite menu item there.
Cool staff and great outdoor view. Living the HI life.

Ended up coming here early one morning. I was killing time while waiting for a store to open. I have been in this center many times, but I didn’t even know this place was in here!
They were not super busy on this particular morning, but there seemed to be a fair number of ‘regulars’ getting their morning fix. There were a few tourists as well, but not many.
I was greeted kindly when I went to the counter. I perused the offerings and ended up with:
Lox on an everything bagel with cream cheese, capers, onions, and tomatoes.
The special of the day: pumpkin bar
Bundaberg ginger beer (not a big coffee guy anymore)
Most of the outside seating was taken, so I went outside to take in the beautiful marina. I found a scenic seat, and parked it. My food came shortly after, and I started to grind.
The bagel was pretty good. Lox and bagels to me is one of those perfect combos… and Island Brew’s didn’t disappoint. The bagel was warm, the ingredients were tasty, and it had the right amount of cream cheese on it. I go back and forth on the caper thing… but this bagel didn’t have too many so I was good.
The special of the day was a late decision… I wasn’t going to get it, but I needed something sweet… so glad I ordered it. The pumpkin bar is homemade, but they don’t make it in house… a friend makes it and brings it in. It was so yummy! It tasted of pumpkin, but it had plenty of holiday spice mixed in. It was super soft and moist, and the frosting reminded me of carrot cake (cream cheese based?).
What can I say about the ginger beer… sweet, strong, bubbly (I like my women like I like my ginger beer)…definitely a perfect alternative to morning coffee… it got me going!
I will be back to enjoy more!

I LOVE Island Brew Coffeehouse. There is nothing better than getting up early to do a hike on the east side and then stopping here after for a light breakfast — right on the waterfront! It’s a beautiful place to take in the morning. And the service? Everyone is so nice.
The little shop is tucked away inside Hawaii Kai Shopping Center — right next to Pizza Hut — and there are tables both inside and outside. We sat outside since it was such a sunny day. It’s like you’re having coffee in the comfort of your own patio furniture: sturdy wicker chairs, complete with pillows and large umbrellas to shield you from the rising sun.
You’ve gotta try their famous Malabar Mocha at least once — rich in caffeine without all the bitterness. They sell a variety of local and imported coffees, and their drinks are all made with organic milks (in case you care about that kind of thing). The drinks are reasonably priced — they vary based on the drink, but you can get a small for under $ 5 and a large for about $ 5.50.
I walked in and all I could smell was the delicious scent of fresh waffles — wafting through the air… but since I had just finished a hike, I was looking for something a little more substantial. I ordered a breakfast bagel with bacon, and it was delicious. The croissants they use are crispy and flaky. However after seeing the size of my little croissant sandwich, it didn’t seem to be worth $ 6.50 + $ 2 extra for the bacon ($ 8.50 total). They pride themselves on using fresh, local products so I can understand why the prices are higher than others. The quality is definitely what you’re paying for.
Breakfast is served all day, but they’ve also got some more lunch-​y items like sandwiches and flatbreads. They even serve acai bowls if that’s what you’re looking for. If I lived on this side of the island, I could definitely see myself coming here often. Will be back!
TIP: For all those doing paleo, you don’t need to deprive yourself anymore! They’ve got treats just for you!
PARKING: Free and easy inside the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center.

Came here on a warm Sunday for some coffee and girl time. Such a cozy coffee shop with couches and tables inside and outdoors, overlooking the marina.
The staff are so friendly and answer any questions you might have about the menu. I grabbed the Marble Pound Cake for a snack, and my friend had a flatbread, which was made in house.
Very eco friendly establishment that uses glass plates, real mugs and mason jars. I also appreciated their emailed receipts! Great way to save some trees!
Will be back again!