Kahili Coffee

Okay, the only reason I came in was because I ate brunch at Hector’s across the street. Yes, I’m slumming it in Kirkland today. And I regret it already. The vibe was too yuppie, Kirkland hipster, which has got to be the worst kind of hipster of all. Couches looked comfy, but the atmospher wasn’t, so I walked out without even trying the coffee.

Kahili is closed. My husband (huge fan of this place) came back with this sad, sad, face and said, «Kahili is turning into a italian restaurant or somthing.»
Too bad.
I loved their artisanal coffee, yummy treats, sofa so huge and cushy that gulp my whole body.
No more. We don’t know where to go now!

Gone? It was covered with brown paper, but no sign indicating what happened. Looks like it’s gone to me…

This place has gotten better with age.
Not only has the décor improved, but the taste of the espresso and the quality of the baristas has gone up since opening.
Kahili also has a fireplace that you can sit and read by.
The downside is seeing all the same guys in there every time you go. Downtown Kirkland is full of a bunch of thirty-​something year old software engineer men who drive BMW’s and hang out in coffeeshops all day flirting with girls ten years younger than they are.

My gut tells me to rate this place at 3 stars. It does have some pretty good things working for it. There are a few comfy couches and chairs in the place which make it nice to plop down and read a book. The coffee was pretty decent and they played some good tunes while I was there.
For the negatives, it is a kinda small and they have a lot of tables jammed into the space which makes it feel cramped. There is also apparently free wi-​fi but I wasn’t able to get it to work, although you can pick up the Kirkland city wi-​fi here.
I’ll probably be back but this won’t be my 1^st choice in the Kirkland area.

I used to work out of Kahili on a pretty regular basis. The vibe was similar to what you would find in many Eastside coffee shops (lots of people working, small groups meeting and college students). I always enjoyed the coffee, but then about a year ago the menu board changed from a chalk board to a preprinted menu that looked cheaply done. This was a apparently a sign of the end. The quality and cleanliness of the store has really declined and all of the Barista’s that used work there are gone. The staff seems much less friendly. I haven’t visited for months, but I moved on to the Zoka that moved in down the street. The few times I have tried to go to Kahili the hours had changed and I was forced up the street to the Starbucks. It is kinda sad to see the decline of what was one of the best Eastside coffee locations.
Perhaps if they got back to their roots and hired a hire quality of staff and focused on the coffee things would improve.
Update: They went out of business…

Out of necessity I have become a coffeeshop aficionado (I do my work in coffeeshops when I can’t concentrate at home). Their coffee is decent, though I think it used to be better. If I recall correctly, they used to serve Zoka coffee but probably switched because Zoka opened a location next door. They have free, reliable wi-​fi, but the reason this place is so great to work is the furniture. They have big open tables with lots of outlets if you need them, or if you are reading, I would recommend their nice plushy couches, complete with ottoman. :)

Kahili is a pretty good coffee house. The biggest problem I have with it is the management. Me and my buddy used to come here all the time for coffee. It got to the point where we knew the baristas by name.
Then they all quit. Why? The owner was being a jerk. I don’t like to support a jerk’s business.

KAHILI HAS BEEN CLOSED PERMANENTLY: Full disclosure: I’m a tea drinker, and base most of my comparisons on the quality and selection of teas. Kahili brews fresh, loose tea, though they put it small tea bags when they prepare it.
If you want to work out of the office on your laptop, they do have free wifi, but more important, the café is a little quieter overall than Starbucks or Tully’s.
They also have huge front windows that swing open, so on a nice day you can have fresh air and keep your laptop plugged in.
The service is above average. They can get backed up, but no more than your local Starbucks.
Bonus points because they put out a water bowl for dogs.

When I came in, the two girls (probably in late teens, early 20’s?) working were swamped. Or at least it seemed like it. It was kind of weird because it seemed like they were moving around super fast, but it didn’t seem like much was getting done and the line was moving very slowly.
I had a northwest berry smoothie and it was decent. I kind of wish I would have gone for the cheaper iced Yerba Mate Latte instead.
The interior seems nice. They had some guys playing guitar when I came in, which seems like a good idea… but not so much considering how LOUD it was. I was surprised that anybody could stand to stay in there for longer than necessary. I felt kind of bad for being happy that they finished right after I came in.

Well, I wrote my initial review in 06. They opened with a wonderful manager, changed managers… yadda… update is, it still lacks. Beautiful place but horribly inconsistent hours. Not unusual to find a paper sign in the window «closing early.» Sad. Ladro with WONDERFUL beans on the north corner, Starbucks with WONDERFUL employees, and now Zoka’s opening in a few weeks. Kirkland is coming of age for coffee drinkers. (Yes, I know I didn’t mention St. James and Terra Byte east of Kahili. Save your walk.)

I waffle between two and three stars. Ok three. I keep coming here to support the indie coffee house (as opposed to Starbucks or Tully’s) but I do have issues.
The service is inconsistent and teeters between friendly and downright rude with a median being around disinterested. I like the coffee and assortment of menu items and you can get wine by the glass. They offer free wi-​fi but beware: often the music is way too loud and abrasive for any type of effort requiring serious concentration (they attract a hipper crowd than Starbucks/Tully’s but there is this atmospheric trade-​off).
Parking is catch-​as-​catch-​can and is fastidiously monitored by the Kirkland parking patrol in a near ADD state of fervor. I grew up in Kirkland, some things never change. The location is sweet. Right on the Lake Street, just steps from the marina.

Kahili Coffee… Other than brewing Kona coffee (amongst others), please tell me what makes you Hawaiian. Is it the fake palm trees, or maybe the Tommy Bahama-​like ceiling fans?
I was totally psyched when I saw the sign — I’m a lover of all things Hawaiian, and love the Hawaiian coffee places down in SoCal. But this place is far from anything Hawaiian.
With that said, the coffee here is just ok, but I have a feeling it was because of the people making it. Aside from their mocha-​making skills, the service wasn’t actually bad! They were friendly and talkative. That’s more than I can say of the patrons. Everyone seemed so morose, though that wasn’t the first time I experienced that at a Seattle-​area coffee joint… hmmm (could there be a Vitamin D correlation?).
I think I’ll try some of the higher-​rated coffee places in Kirkland from now on. Aloha, Kahili!

I love Kahili Coffee, however often times there is really funky music playing. It varies, as sometimes more smoothing and normal music is being played, however when studying and trying to concentrate the techno or alternative music without words (don’t know the exact terminology for what its called) is kinda annoying and makes it hard to concentrate. Several other people around me have mentioned it as well.
This place is great and like coming here, yet often times I have to leave due to the music. This is more of a comment than anything else, just wanted to let management know that later in the evening the music volume goes up and the weirder music comes on the later it gets…

Strolling through Downtown Kirkland, I made a coffee stop at Kahili Coffee. The atmosphere inside is very laid back with ample seating (couches, armchairs, table seating, and high wood seating at the coffee bar. There’s also a fireplace in the back and framed local pictures hanging on the walls. Several customers are taking advantage of the free wi-​fi, including myself as I type this review sitting at the coffee bar. They offer drip coffee, espresso, chai, lattes, smoothies, Kahlua drinks, spiced caramel apple cider, paninis, soups, baked goods (I saw cakes & eclairs), & organic granola. Live entertainment here too. I’m drinking a medium drip coffee, which is pretty decent. The place is quiet as a library with the one barista keeping the prep area clean. The vibe is pretty cool here. Gotta get going, more to see. Those «Take It To Make It» pedestrian flags are pretty neat!

Finally a coffee house that isn’t Starbucks and is open past 7pm!!! The décor is fabulous, couches are comfy, coffee is excellent and they are open till 11 PM on weeknights!
Kahili almost makes me think living on the east side isn’t so bad! The only down side (when I was there at least) is their obsession with playing Depeche Mode! Hello, the 80’s are over! I lived through it and would like to not repeat them, thank you!
This is my new favorite coffee house (Well Diva will always be number one in my heart!).

Want some exotic blends? This is the place to be…
Plenty of space for free wireless activities or just kicking back and catching up with some friends.
Attached to sister restaurant in the back with great view of Lake Washington.
As my Unilocal friend would say, «Can you say yummy coffee?»

I like the Middle Eastern crew that hangs out there. They bring the much needed culture to the eastside.
Their Zoka Espresso Blend is good; The Kona coffee is fine if it’s fresh. Although I haven’ t had a great cup yet.
Not happy with the current crew that runs it. The free wi-​fi and couches are a plus, but you can find that anywhere. My feeling is if Triple J’s wouldn’t have converted into a bistro, and there was another independent to go to, they wouldn’t be as busy there. Although, a better choice compared to the starsucks that is going in.

Once, a place where I would travel to for many reasons: baristas that had a passion for making good coffee and a calm/​relaxing atmosphere to name a few.
Times have changed.
Now, I would still drop by if it were on the way simply because of the great location they have down by the Marina Park which very well could be my favourite spot to hang out in in all of the Seattle area during the summertime. All the businesses in the area open up their windows, the sidewalks are bustling with beautiful people of all ages, and there’s a wonderful street market that goes on every Wednesday.
It’s still the best café I know of on the eastside, but it is no longer a destination point for me but rather a place to drop by for a while if it’s convenient.

GREAT place to hang and enjoy some good Kona coffee. Free Wi-​Fi and really good pastry’s and sandwiches too. They are right across the street from Hector’s. Kahili is also trying to do a Wine event every Thursday night. Check the web site for updates regarding the wine events.(14 Hands winery was March 2^nd) They serve wine AND beer in the evenings. This place is a great addition to downtown Kirkland!
I’m thinking of moving in and living here…