Sol Café
711 Queen St, Honolulu, HI
Crema's Take
“Tucked in Kaka'ako, Sol Café is a genuinely warm hideaway where owner Ramiro and his team (especially the wonderfully welcoming staff) have created something truly special around espresso-forward drinks and house-made chocolate. The cozy, book-friendly space pairs perfectly with creative signature drinks like their lavender blueberry chocolate coffee and those heavenly canele pastries with unexpected flavor combinations like lilikoi and hazelnut. It's the kind of place where you feel the care in every cup and every interaction, making it feel less like a coffee shop and more like discovering a beloved local secret.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
The space is cozy and perfect for a coffee and a good book. The canele pastry had a subtle, heavenly flavor, I got both the lilikoi (passion fruit) and hazelnut flavor toppings and I can’t choose which is better! You also can’t find authentic mocha lattes like this anywhere else on island. 美味しい !!! On top of that, they use the chocolate made *in-house* at the Lonohana coffee factory which you can see them actually make if you do the tour. But the highlight of the shop is the friendly and sweet hospitality from the owner and staff!
This cafe is absolutely wonderful! The staff—especially Ljubisca (name likely misspelled!)—is incredibly friendly and welcoming. She even offered us free chocolate samples and is truly the reason we’d keep coming back. So warm, chatty, and full of joy—you can genuinely tell she loves what she does. The chocolate selection is impressively diverse, with unique and interesting flavors like jasmine, cardamom, and hibiscus. The ambiance is lovely and the overall vibe is just right. Highly recommend! (The hot Americano is very tasty)
Sol Café is a total hidden gem in Kaka‘ako, and Ramiro—the owner—is genuinely the secret sauce behind the whole experience. This place isn’t just good… it’s category-defining. The coffee here? Easily the best I’ve had in my entire life. No exaggeration, no fluff. Just straight excellence. Ramiro runs this café with the kind of care, craft, and good energy you only get from people who seriously love what they do. Every cup tastes like it was brewed with intention. You can feel the pride in the product and the hospitality the second you walk in. If you’re anywhere near Kaka‘ako, Sol Café is a non-negotiable stop. Hands down a must-try. Once you taste their coffee, every other shop starts feeling like background noise.
A must visit while your in kakaako. Chocolate made in house! The cafe is nice, great impromptu visit if you're in the area. They have chocolate tours you have to reserve for, didn't get a chance to try that yet but looking forward to it. The mocha chocolate uses the chocolate they sell there! 😋
Edited: visited again and got their popular/signature drink. From the mocha bar menu, I ordered the lavender blueberry chocolate coffee (hot) comes with two shots of espresso with frothy whole milk. I have to admit, it's very good. Frothy, light, aromatic, and easy to drink. The lavender blueberry flavor is subtle in smell; in taste the flavor is there just not two strong. I recommend everyone to try the mocha bar menu since the chocolate used in the coffee is made in that factory. My first visit. Cold brew was okay, slightly tangy/bitter, watered down, and cost slightly over $6.00. I still need to try their signature coffees with chocolate mixed in it...will update after more visits. Note: I think its the lonohana chocolate factory. Sol Cafe is a kiosk within the entrance/ lobby area. The interior is surprisingly spacious, cozy, and inviting. Appears to be a good place to relax and chill. Customer service was friendly and helpful.
Crema Reviews
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