Apelu Island Cafe

The atmosphere here is always great, and they have the cutest themes for all the holidays and seasons! Everything I order is delicious, and the employees are so nice.

My wife and I cook everything from scratch and with that comes a natural distaste for most restaurants. This is one of the few places we enjoying coming to. They have a great atmosphere, reasonable prices, and delicious food. Our favorite is the pistachio macaroons, pimento cheese bagel and the Apelu island latte. Such a great place to come enjoy with your family. The environment inside is nice and relaxed and the staff is so friendly and welcoming. We love having our dates here!

Today was my first time trying Apelu & it didn’t disappoint! I don’t live on this side of town, so I didn’t even know it existed. It was the perfect spot to grab coffee before heading over to sit & enjoy the water this morning. The service was absolutely fabulous! The staff were friendly & the wait for my drink was less than 5 minutes. It was clean & well kept. I will definitely visit again when I’m over that way!

I had so many questions, and the staff was incredibly nice, understanding, and patient with me. The Apelu Lu Iced Latte is absolutely delicious, coconut and hazelnut make it so refreshing for a morning pick-me-up! The Cucumber Watermelon Mint Refresher hits all the taste buds with bright, natural flavors. Both the drinks and the staff made the experience wonderful! We went back for more! You really can’t go wrong with whichever drink you choose, everything has been amazing!

Apelu Island Cafe is a hidden gem in Norfolk—just a few minutes from the airport, making it a perfect stop before a flight. We tried the iced matcha latte and the iced Apelu Island latte—both were full of flavor without being overly sweet. The taro cold foam was a great touch. We also sampled a few bakery items and really enjoyed the chocolate chip caramel and banana pudding cookies. We’re already looking forward to trying the house coffee cake on our next visit! The space is quiet, family-friendly, and ideal for getting some work done. There are thoughtful touches throughout, like diapers and wipes in the restroom and a play area for smaller kids. The decor is inviting with a mix of seating options—tables, lounge chairs, sofas, even a picnic bench. Just a heads-up: check the hours before heading over—they close early most days. Highly recommend this cozy spot for a flavorful and relaxing experience.