Kaleo Cafe
Categories: Coffee & Tea, Hawaiian [Edit]
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset1340 Irving Street
(between 14th Ave & 15th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94122 (415) 753-2460
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
- Good for: Breakfast, Lunch
- Alcohol: None
102 reviews
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond
"It was tough to bring myself to go all the way to San Francisco for food, but I decided to make the trip and was rewarded with this…" read more »
56 Reviews for Kaleo Cafe
A cool little cafe that has a little waterfall, which makes it very peaceful! Highly recommended, especially since it has free internet! That's 2 starts right there. The only thing I would like if they would have fresh tea's rather than the tea bags. I love the music, I feel like I'm on an island.
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Since my beloved Canvas Gallery has closed, I decided to try this place for studying. Well...I thought the music was being played a tad too loud (and don't get me wrong, I can study with music on) and the nonfat, sugar-free vanilla latte I bought came in this small sized, transparent cup which I don't think should have cost me the amount I paid. I haven't tried their food or their wireless, so I don't know how that is.
It looked like a lot of people were there studying, one table had this guy tutoring a kid, so given it's location, it's a homey type of place. The woman behind the counter was nice and flexible. Perhaps I should give this place another try?
I also am writing this review as I sit in Kaleo, procrastinating from my actual work. I guess that this just illustrates the good and bad of free wireless - I can do my work, but can also be easily distracted! :)
The atmosphere is relaxed, the music (Hawaiian!) soothing and not too loud. And where else can you get Hawaiian goodies, including spam??? I ma not remember much of my life in Hawaii, but what little memory I have makes me happy to be sitting here.
Overall, pretty nice, a little dirty in areas (can they not clean the walls?) but overall nice. Couches or tables with a little upstairs area also.
I was introduced to Kaleo Cafe when I walked from my home in the Richmond to the Sunset via GG Park, and I had to use a restroom. Though the cafe had a "customer only" restroom policy, the staff member still allowed me to use their facilities under the condition that I return there in the near future. So the following Saturday, I visited there. That was 5 years ago. For that first year, my free Saturday evenings were spent there.
I'm normally not a coffee drinker, but their Italian sodas are great, and when I do have a coffee craving, their mint mocha chip is excellent! That first "non-restroom" visit occurred during one of their "luau" nights which happens now I think every other Saturdays. They occasionally offer a kahlua turkey plate instead of the pork. They also offer haupia pies as well as other desserts. Luaus have live Hawaiian entertainment.
The staff and "regulars" are well versed in the Hawaiian culture, so if you spend enough time there, you'll get an authentic feel of what "Ohana" really means. Yes, there's free wifi there too so you could bring w/you your laptop. Just don't bring it there on Friday nites cause you won't hear anything else other than the karaoke singers.
Would be a "5 stars" rating, but their younger high school staff members tend to bring the service level down. The other setback is their hours. Wish they could stay open later.
free wifi, fun music, good coffee (I'm still vibrating from it), and somehow got my brain In The Zone. I was actually productive, rather than the computer equivalent of pushing around the food on my plate. ultra close to my apt, I'll be coming here quite often.
This is my current favorite cafe in the Inner Sunset. Free wifi, chill Hawaiian music, lots of coffee choices, a skylit upstairs nook, friendly staff, and a relaxed, roomy atmosphere all around. This is a big improvement for me from other crammed, frenetic, and rather rundown/dank coffee shops in the city. Also, Kaleo is making an effort to go green with composting - thumbs up! My only reservations are that their tea selection is kind of random, their coffees don't appear to be organic and fair trade, the tables are a bit small, and I wish they had better sandwiches (ham, turkey, tuna - that's it??). But at least re: food, if you're looking for sweet snacks you'll probably be happy.
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I'm actually at Kaleo as I write this-- cause there's free wifi! This is the only cafe in the Inner Sunset with free wifi, and the atmosphere makes Starbucks and Tart to Tart feel like bomb shelters. Really though, after Crossroads, this is my favorite cafe in SF. Where else can you find weekly ukulele jam sessions and also the most delicious mochas? It's very calm and clean, and not overly crowded-- a perfect place to bring your laptop if you have work to do.
I went to this place about a million years ago when I was visiting a college friend who had recently moved to San Francisco (I was still stuck in the the tar-pit that is Santa Barbara at the time--that place is harder to get out of then a kiddie pool full of molasses. It has more inertia than a two ton boulder in the mud). I loved it, but was sad that it was "the only place to go around here" in Rebecca's words. Hello? It's at 15th and Irving, which is not outer Siberia (shut up, you effing Mission hipsters), but Rebecca was never one to explore much.
Anyway, a couple of years later I moved up here and my brother and I got an apartment at 15th and Judah. I'd totally forgotten about Kaleo until I went out for a soy latte and rediscovered this delightful place. The soft Hawaiian music, the cute little mezzanine area, the 10-foot indoor waterfall...it was like coming home again.
The coffee is good, as are the pastries. I recommend the carrot cake. You should split this with someone unless you are Joey Chestnut or Takeru Kobayashi. My brother tells me that he saw Spam musubi on the menu, but I'm not sure that I believe him. However, I am going to check the next time I go, and if they do, they'll get their 5th star.
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This is such a sweet spot! Such a nice little oasis from the rest of the world. Good coffee (and cheap), free internet, and a cool atmosphere. What more could I ask for?!
So, i totally am changing my review.
Why? hm. the entire place has changed! Their menu includes sandwiches, bagels, and on LUAU night (some Saturdays,) which include music and hula dancing---- KALUA PIG and Macaroni Salad!!!!!!
Parking continues to be a dog from heck here. Very annoying.
PLUS: there is a laundromat kitty corner, where you can get quarters for the meters. at 25 cents for 10 minutes, however, that's 1.50 and hour, and that can add up. (2 hour limit.)
(+)
* Free wifi (though not secure at all, no WEP Key)
* Open till 11pm on Fridays
* Ah-dorable hawaiian theme & gift selection.
* Ukelele lessons and Karaoke nights
* Luaus on some Saturdays with a HAWAIIAN MENU
* Sandwiches! Croissant sandwiches, served warm! YUMMY sandwiches!
* Sandwiches served with chips, no less!
* LOTS of power outlets for your laptop/ cellphone/ charging pleasure. (I walked in to a cafe closer to my house, the Velo Rouge, and there were *no* outlets in sight, so i left.)
* Waterfall fountain, just the perfect background sound to enjoy while sitting for a coffee.
(-)
* Parking= pain, as it's the inner sunset. Still a pain. Deal with it. It's SF, and it's the Inner Sunset.
* Usually pretty crowded- don't plan on having a meeting or a conversation here, as everyone sitting here is either reading or studying.
* The internet connection seems to hate Firefox. The internet runs FASTER in Explorer. Someone wanna tell me why?
With hugs to Stanley K, who loves this place.
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Five stars for diversity of events, though they are all Hawaiian, perhaps a conundrum. Hula lessons to kareoke Friday's and BBQs on weekends, what more could you ask for in a coffee shop.
Free internet!
Great coffee!
Tons of seating!
I was getting a haircut from Ling at Hair Republic and decided to get to Sunset before my appointment in order to land a good parking space. Free wifi + bunch of outlets + extensive flavored mocha selection. A friendly and mellow neighborhood joint. A true gem.
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LOVED this place. Nice, relaxing and not too loud music in the background, good food and drink selection (not tons of food, but bagels and things), nice environment. I spend a lot of time working from coffee shops, and am always looking for a nice place and this was great. They even have a small upstairs area which is nice if you want a quiet work space.
A little piece of Hawaii in the sunset. Chill here with a coco mac and relax while listening to island music. I could surf the web on their free wifi for hours drinking their awesome coffee drinks.
The vibe is peaceful and laid back, can't find that at a chain coffee shop.
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Cafe Kaleo is one of the things i miss the most about living in the sunset. it's such a classic mom n pop shop and i love it for all it's simplicity and unabashed sense of well.. "this is the easiest way to run a coffee shop!" their pastries are from costco, their coffee is brewed and put in carafes so it's self-serve and the last time i was their one of their only "hot dishes" was a chicken teriyaki bowl that was frozen (i'm guessing from costco or from ranch 99). it's so strange that i love this cafe so much, but i do! n
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My niece goes to St. Anne, (right across the street) so sometimes I go to Kaleo Cafe and every time I go there, I get REALLY good service! I really like their chocolate bundt cake and their strawberry banana flavored soda! They have very good food over there. They also have a ukulele class on Mondays at 6:00. That's only if you're interested. I LOVE IT THERE!!!!!!!
Everyone has pretty much said it all but just wanted to add my love for this place with free wi-fi that has helped me get by countless days of job searching that would not otherwise get done if I had to stay within the confines of my apartment. Food is definitely store bought (during the hours of sitting in the cafe I see the new shift person come in with Safeway bags of cakes and pastries) but I've had their breakfast bagel that was egg and cheese (I chose not to have the ham) that was just fine and they have Trader Joe's Mango Black Tea that is yummy. This place fit my needs perfectly and is only a few blocks from where I live!
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I went on my first date with my BF here - so it holds a special place.
The coffee isn't great, but it hot - something Starbucks can't seem to get right to save their lives.
I love Hawaiian music - they had plenty of that.
The atmosphere is reminiscent of the islands - I always look forward to feeling like I'm back in Hawaii!
Cute place, decent drinks, free wi-fi and a great atmosphere.
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I was in the Sunset District and needed a wifi cafe. Kaleo delivered on that need. The fact that I had to suffer through the sound of a waterfall that sounded like a leaky pipe and the wailing of hula serenaders...just added to the ambiance. The guy behind the counter laughed at stuff that was not funny. Kaleo Cafe does not draw a huge crowd, but the few other people who were in there were of the distinctly unhip persuasion, so if you have an allergy to hipsters, then this is the place for you.
Love the relaxing vibe of this local coffeehouse, not to mention the free WiFi! If you're looking for a place to study out in the Sunset, make Kaleo your next stop. Unlike the big chains, or even busier local cafes, service at Kaleo is delightful.
I come here to study and do my homework with my friends and I must admit that this place is NOT the place to go to study. The waterfall is loud and the music playing adds to it. If it wasn't for the waterfall, it might be a little better, but the music would still be a bit too loud. I usually just get some tea to sip on while I'm doing my homework, but I heard the food isn't all that cracking. Not a bad place to do homework, but this is a bad place to read.
Loving the free wifi and the friendly service, but the beverage and food selection are not very distinguished. Coffee and bagel sandwich were both decent, but nothing I'd recommend. Plenty of seating, so if you are looking for a place to relax for a while, this could be a good spot.
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Many stars for having the only free wireless in Inner Sunset. Minus one star for the wireless going down and the girl not being able to fix it. Minus another star for the girl not knowing how to make an iced Americano, and for having absolutely nothing appetizing to eat. And another star is lost because of the annoying Hawaiian music. But still four stars for having the ONLY FREE WIRELESS IN SUNSET!
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It's amazing how many coffee shops there are near 9/irving, but none of them have wi-fi! There are just days you want to escape home and just bum somewhere and how can a cafe no have wifi? com'on people, it's 2008, wifi should be everywhere.
needless to say, any cafe with wifi is good in my book.
coffee is decent, but it's not the strong-keep-you-up-til-3am kind of coffee. There are exotic flavored mocha and lattes, which i have yet to try.
The atmosphere is great, there's a nice waterfall fountain on the bottom level. Patio in the back and a small sitting area above. free (?) ukulele lessons on mondays and karaoke on fridays.
all together a nice little spot to go if youre tired of looking at the four walls of your apartment. wifi a plus, atmosphere and random entertainment another plus, but coffee and food are just average. 3-3.5 stars
When I need to simultaneously chill out and do some work (maybe I should've been a lifeguard?), I bring my stuff over and settle in at Kaleo.
With its high ceiling, mezzanine area and skylight, it's a well-lit, inviting space that provides me with my faux-Hawaii fix. Not ever having been to Hawaii before, and not especially feeling the urge to go, it doesn't take much to satisfy that fix, but I admire them for their efforts to recreate some sort of experience for those who miss the 50th State.
They have free wifi, which is great, but there's no password, so from 6-10 pm the speed goes down a bit as the neighbors leech while downloading terrorist instructions or whatever. Even when I'm the only one in there, the speed goes down.
There's usually a wide variety of baked goods, but I'm doing the low carb thing, so I haven't tried most, if any, of them. They also make sandwiches and some breakfast items which can be quite tasty, like the chicken teryaki sandwich, or breakfast croissant with ham and egg.
I'm not a coffee drinker, either, so I can't attest to the quality of their javas. Why do I go to this coffeeshop? It's relaxing, though I could probably live without the near-constant Hawaiian background music. Perhaps one of those Sharper Image white noise machines, with sounds of crashing waves or rainfall? It would go great with the fake waterfall, which provides soothing sounds when it's on and the music isn't blaring.
They have karaoke on Fridays, which is probably one of the only places where you'll see it without alcohol. There are also ukelele classes on Mondays, and other cultural events scheduled throughout each month.
The employees are very gracious, though sometimes new ones aren't fully up to speed on the menu items.
The bathroom? It's an oasis within an oasis. For an anal-retentive guy with a very low gag reflex, who doesn't like using public restrooms, this one is the sh*t. Or should I say, the sh*tter? A clean, modern, single user facility, it's one of the best I can think of.
I know it's not Hawaii, but it's Hawaii enough for me. For work or play, check it out.
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I really walked into this place prepared to love it: near home, cute set up, hawaiian coffee. my americano was overwatered, and gave me one of those immediate anxiety rushes. that gave me the opening to be okay with hating hawaiian shirts worn anytime (even in hawaiian themed places :( ) and hawaiian music a la elevator music. I'd like to hear the live music, and maybe try their iced tea, but... not anytime in the near future.
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My home internet went down today. That is not good for someone trying to work from home. This is one of the few establishments in my neighborhood that offers free wireless. Luckily, it is also a work-conducive cafe.
Good things:
Soft Hawaiian or other classical music
A soothing indoor waterfall
Clean with lots of sunlight
Spacious interior with a small oudoor deck and an upstairs loft
Plenty of electric outlets
Kona coffe - my favorite!
The food choices are limited, but the inviting work space is great.
If only they served booze. Oh wait, I'm supposed to be working.
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As Lauren H. already stated- this is the only outpost in the Inner Sunset with free wireless.
The good:- Free wireless & the coffee while not the best coffee in town is palatable - I had a latte. The gentleman that works here is a courteous and friendly guy - made me feel right at home.
The bad:- The girl taking over from the sweet man at the counter was abrasive when anyone required her to do her job -namely take drink orders which required leaving her homework. The 'tude' was uncalled for & I wasn't the only one to pick up on it.
WIFI can get a bit spotty so it's not the smartest idea to take an exam here.
Inner Sunset wifi paupers can't be choosers & unless you're willing to pony up for one of the other cafe's around, Kaleo's here to stay...who knows, you may even acquire a taste for Hawaiian music? {I shudder to think!}
Three stars for atmosphere, coffee was so-so.
I strolled in here the other day, ordered a soy mocha. That atmosphere was really nice, very relaxing, quiet and sunny. I love the skylights and the upstairs area and the spaciousness.
As for my mocha...it was just ok. I saw the girl put a scoop full of powdered substance into the soy milk before she steamed it...I hope it wasn't mocha mix or anything. Honestly it didn't taste like there was any espresso in my drink and I'm really really hoping there wasn't dairy in that powder. The drink wasn't objectionable in any way though and definitely better than the one I got at Alvin's a few weeks ago. But...Beanery on 9th and Irving still beats them all.
This place is nice if you can't get to Beanery or forget about the Peet's coffee recently installed in Andronico's (like I did). :-)
I'll go back for the quiet atmosphere, not the coffee.
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I just love the atmosphere of this place. A water fountain inside. A great mezzanine that overlooks the first floor and has great natural lights coming from the skylight. A small patio in the back plus a table out in the sidewalk. Clean and spacious bathroom. Lots of Hawaiian plants/flowers around that gives it an island feel.
I haven't tried the food or drinks extensively here. The iced tea today was just ok. No hint of mango or orange flavor for a mango/orange iced tea. But I did see a lot of interesting drinks on the menu, from specialty coffee drinks to soda drinks that I assume are similar to Italian sodas. The food seems to be the standard cafe flair of sandwiches, bagels and sweets.
This is definitely a great neighborhood spot. If we live closer, we would frequent it more often.
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This review is dedicated to Don Ho - RIP Man!
This is an interesting little coffee shop with a Hawaiian theme. By interesting I mean they have interesting coffee drinks. Mango Latte anyone? What? I know! But they do have the standards too, thank goodness!
Since I have been spending so much of my unemployed time in coffee shops I am always happy to find a new one for change of atmosphere. This place definitely does the trick.
There is a waterfall, an upstairs loft area, couches and tables (options are good), an outside area in the back, free wifi and a small selection of snacks.
There is also a selection of Hawaiian themed merchandise. Its sort of like a mini ABC market (minus the food, yeah, huh?) smack dab in the middle of a coffee shop.
Oh, they have Hawaiian karaoke night as well as ukulele lessons a few nights a week. So, if you have a hankering to hula this could be your place. What this has to do with coffee I don't know!
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I went to just hang out and work in this place. I had a sandwich, coffee, and cake while I was there too. The place is clean and has nice furniture. It is well decorated. I went in the afternoon on a Thursday and there were only a few other people in the place. They have free wifi which makes it nice to work form.
The sandwich was nothing great. It wasn't bad, but it was like something I make at home. The cake, however, was great. It was a leche pound cake with a chocolate drizzle. Tasty. The coffee was above par too.
If you want to avoid the crowds, this is a good option.
03/15/08: I went here again in mid-march and the coffee had gotten worse. The place was also quite busy with many people on laptops. Evidently the word got around that there is free wifi. :)
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Why is it that I came here two mornings in a row and ordered the same exact thing, a hot chocolate and the price was different both times? This is actually a pretty roomy sized cafe. There is an upstairs that has a view of the whole cafe. I like this pace because I can study here and not feel cramped. Nice ambiance, but I think that is about it. The hot chocolate, both times, was just okay. I like that there is free WIFI. I didn't use it , but it is nice to have the option. The staff is nice. Not sure about the menu, I really didn't see one anywhere, but I did notice that people were ordering sandwiches, but it looked like one I could make at home. I was not too impressed with the sweets that they had here, most of the cakes are grocery store bought and not from a bakery. The only reason why I know is because I did see one of the staff come in with a grocery bag with the cake still packaged. All they did was remove the plastic dome covering the cake and put it on the cake platter. I'm not sure if this is a common practice for all Cafes, but if it is, I guess most places are not so blatant about it. I also thought that the music was way too loud.... I guess I would come here again to study.
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My new favorite neighborhood coffee shop. Great Kona coffee with free wi-fi. Great Hawaiian decor with upstairs seating and outdoor patio seating. Great friendly staff. Be sure to get a frequent coffee card if you frequent here more often, you get a free mocha. Woot Woot!
Don't forget , Karoke night on Friday evenings.
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I like this place and especially the running waterfall in the cafe. It totally reminds me of Hawaii. It's really mello, great place to study, the tables are spaced nicely, easy parking and it has that tropical feel. I knew this was a true local hang out when they played the hawaiian x-mas song with "one minah bird in one papaya tree"
Hmm... I think this has the potential for greatness. Even though they have no vegan baked goods, which would ordinarily make me never return. But they DO have...
Ukulele lessons
Hawaiian karaoke
Hawaiian easy listening on in the background
A FREAKIN' WATERFALL!
And my soy chai was yummy... I'm intrigued.
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The Search Begins! Canvas R.I.P.
So, now that the Canvas has left, I need a new coffee shop to hang out at when I want to browse the web, read, or work away from the office. Sure, the Beanery has (indeed has always offered) the best coffee in the neighborhood - but is relatively small and just doesn't offer an ambiance that works for me.
Kaleo Cafe is the closest cafe I've found in the Inner Sunset that fills the gaping hole the Canvas left when it disappeared in favor of Pacific Catch. Free WiFi, good coffee (actually much better than the coffee from the Canvas), comfortable seating, and an interesting decor (i.e. a waterfall and surfboards on the walls).
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I love this place!
The food itself is nothing to write home about, but the selection of mocha lattes is dazzling and the atmosphere is very soothing. It's the closest you can get to Hawaii in the city, and they play Muzak that's so bad, it's endearing.
This is definitely one of those quirky local places that our neighborhood should support, because it's not replaceable and would be missed.
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Good coffee, cute comfortable place, free wifi, good and friendly service...
Couldn't ask for more.
I dropped by late afternoon on a weekend and this place quite peacefully empty. What sets it apart from other cafes is that it has a very island flavor to it, in terms of the decor and atmosphere. Relaxing and laid back Hawaiian music was playing and the soothing waterfall fountain was definitely a good touch. The place is also brightly lit with a variety of different seating options to choose from -- sofa, armchair, table, and tall bar-like tables. There is a second floor with more seating and I thought it was cool. It's also cool that they offer Ukelele and Karaoke on designated days of the week.
I'd say that this place is a great place to hang out and read your newspaper on the weekend, as long as you can get a spot. I wasn't quite as unlucky as other yelpers, I guess. I'm not an espresso connoisseur, but I didn't like the espresso they made.
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