Aloha Coffee & Cafe Club

Missing a bit of Hawaii and what they are famous for? You will find it here! The menu features Macadamia nut coffee, Acai bowls and smoothies, some of my favorites. This place is unique in so many ways. Located on a busy thoroughfare leading into downtown Monterey there is limited private parking, but you can often find space on the street. The staff are friendly, you will be greeted warmly by the owner Richard, or his lovely wife Mai. They will customize your order to your liking. They also feature baked goods from another favorite of mine, Paris Bakery. Also unique to Aloha are Mochi Cakes, you have to arrive early for those as they sell out quickly. You might wonder why the ambience is a bit on the limited lighting side but the atmosphere is festive and upbeat. A locals gathering place where lots of people know each other and are looking for great food, fellowship and fun. Masks are optional because it's a club. The folks who come in are polite and respect one another's space. Come check it out when you come through town, or stop by when you are out running errands for a quick bite or delicious coffee. You will think you have been to the Islands, and long to return again soon. I

Let me start off by presenting you with a brief narrative: Woke up a little late this morning approximately around 11:00am. I'm visiting from out of town and don't know of very many local spots except for the obvious Monterey Wharf. All I know is that I was up and craving for my morning coffee (or in this case, a mid-morning caffeine buzz). I'd yelped several coffee shops with the first being the East Village coffee shop. I get there around 11:40am and they're CLOSED. Ok, a little disappointing so I continue my research to find another cafe just a few blocks down called Captain + Stoker. I arrive to the location within minutes and .... also CLOSED. Next option, Aloha coffee. Ok. Off I go. They were quite easy to find. They're located on a busy main road and parking wasn't much of a challenge. I walk in and my first impression is that it's clean, tiny but welcoming - especially after hearing a warm 'hello' as I browse the menu. "Have you been here before?' i hear 'let me know if you have any questions' she says. Then she politely mentions that their coffee is sourced from Hawai'i - hence the name 'Aloha coffee'. I've been to most islands in Hawai'i and, as a coffee-holic I'm very familiar with Kona Coffee. To my surprise their menu didn't offer Kona blend but they did have a favorite flavor of mine when I go to Island Vintage Coffee in Oahu. They had a Vanilla Macadamia Latte - so, I ordered a medium. Hot not iced. And it was served to me along with a Banana toast I'd ordered to accompany my latte. The toast by the way was reasonably priced at $5.00 and generously topped with what looked like a whole banana (sliced). The latte was delicious! Better than I'd expected. I'd asked for a medium which was probably a 12oz and it was more than enough in terms of size. Latte had great flavor with a subtle hint of vanilla but a great hint of that macadamia for nuttiness. Latte also had a creamy texture and perfect temperature. Highly recommended. Service with Aloha spirit too which topped off my visit.

Their Acai bowl was enjoyable and had us craving for more that we returned the following morning! I love how the Acai bowl included huge, firm, and juicy blueberries. The coffees (including decaf) we tried were perfect for the cool Monterey weather. The hint of Hawaii in the coffees we both tried were perfect for the occasion. The Panini sandwich with the Pesto was SO good. SO good that my husband re-created a similar version for our lunch later that week! We also got to enjoy their homemade Toffee bars, definitely recommend it. The owners were also welcoming and friendly. It is a small mom and pops shop with very limited space and tables to enjoy your coffee/meals. My husband and I had to wait for a table to open up both days that we came here. Personal con for me was that it was uncomfortable waiting for a table being in my third trimester at the time. Restrooms are located out back and I'm happy to report that it was clean enough for a Mysophobe like myself (Key required). We can't wait to return here and try more of their unique and delicious items on the menu! **Don't forget your stamp rewards card :)**

One of the few cafes open during Covid. It's a small cafe, it wasn't that crowded but I'm sure would have been super busy otherwise. Easy to find parking as well. Stopped by for some coffee - tried Vanilla Macadamia Nut latte and Hawaiian mocha. Both were great. Also had the Acai bowl, and it was good too. Friendly servers. They were maintaining social distancing and taking precautionary measures (face masks, gloves etc.) For those who are environmentally conscious like me, they serve in eco-friendly to-go cups :) If you are around the area and looking for good coffee/smoothies/acai bowls, definitely give it a try and support local cafes.

While in Monterey, my husband and I were looking for a healthy lunch and decided to stop by Aloha Coffee & Cafe. We tried the acai and da green bowl and both were delicious and fulfilled our bellies. We both liked the green bowl over the Acai bowl. It was blended to perfection with the right mixture. Overall, we enjoyed the bowls, customer service was superb, parking can be limited. I would come back for the bowls when I am in town.