Kaleo Cafe

The New Jerusalem Café is open, replacing the Kaleo!
See my review:
.
Looking good so far…

What!!! CLOSED!!! Ruined my Monday night.
Bryan blames it on the free wifi.

Really cute café with cheap teas and a huge array of coffee creations. There is a super relaxed feeling here.
It is a perfect place to study. Free WIFI and also a room upstairs where it is really quiet. It is on the smaller side, but that’s what makes it so friendly.
There is a pseudo waterfall when you walk in and it makes you want to stay. The staff is really chill and never stares at you when you stay for hours on the computer or read a weird book.
I really like this place and will go here to study more when the school year starts.

Is it just me or does life make sense inside Kaleo Café? Everything from the hawaiin music to the little «waterfall». So serene. So relaxing. Ahhhh.
I’ve been to Kaleo many many times and it’s always been a nice place to get away. I’ve studied here when I was in college, I’ve used their internet when I didn’t have any, I’ve caught up with an old friend, I’ve gone to just sit and enjoy their coffee and live music. I even saw a little birthday party partaking on the upstairs level. It’s a great contrast from Starbucks and I love it. I like their unique mochas/​lattes but not the «triple shot double caramel frap extra whip cream» kind of unique. My favorite drink is their Macadamia Nut Latte. I literally feel like I’m in Hawaii when I drink that.
And now… I hear they’re closed?!? Where am I going to find another? Kaleo, you will be missed.

Yay for Kaleo Café!!! It is a good lil coffee shop, I love it because it’s all Hawaiian style and they always have nice music playing. The coffee is also Hawaiian which is good… love the Kona brew. I always come in here during my laundry time and it’s pretty chill. There’s a cute teenager working there and I got a crush on him… he he.
The only thing they need to make is blended coffee drinks or milkshakes… I love ice coffee but in the end I would rather just drink a millkshake.
My friend went to Ukelele class once, but he brought his Herrana so I think they didn’t accept him or something, he said they were hardcore and kinda frowned at him because his guitar was outta place. ha ha.
I am sad to hear they are closing? Is this true? what!!!

Is there a point reviewing postmortem?
I suppose I just feel like thanking the owners and staff. I did a lot of software development from my laptop here. It was the perfect environment.
Kaleo was everything one would want in a coffee shop. The coffee was good. Past the novelty of it, the Hawaiian music provided a really nice atmosphere. The layout was great for spreading out with work or just relaxing with a book [even had outside space]. It could have been the location, but the crowd was great, not obnoxious like you might find in other parts of the city. And the best part was how it just felt like home. Everyone who worked there made it perfect.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you!
i am mourning…

I spent 2 months studying for 3 licensing exams. The first month of studying was spent trying to find the perfect study spot. My apartment didn’t have good lighting. The library was so quiet it would put me to sleep. Other coffee shops were filled with too many people loudly talking about their crazy mother, first crush, or favorite position. TMI.
Then I found Kaleo and fell into a nice routine. Order a strawberry cream soda, grab a seat by the window, study for hours, groove to ukelele music while spending study breaks daydreaming about hopping on a jet plane to Hawaii to live like Jason Mraz in his «I’m Yours» music video.
I just passed 2 out of 3 of my licensing exams and need to credit this place for providing the perfect atmosphere to get my study and daydreaming on.

Went here with a couple of friends for something sweet to eat, a cup of tea and some great conversation. I didn’t realize this cute quaint place was on Irving. It’s a few blocks away from Andronico’s and is a nice little place to hit up if you want to study or just have a coffee break. There’s a neighborhood feeling you get when you walk in because many regulars seem to frequent the place.
Most importantly, for those that love to study at cafes, if you don’t want to hear someone singing a Spice Girls or Rick Ashley’s, «Never Gonna Give You Up», don’t study on a Friday evening as it is a Karaōke night. Overall, the service is very friendly. I would definitely come back to hang out with all those regulars and the owner!

Super friendly staff and great coffee. I love the little waterfall in the corner. My only complaint is that they don’t have lots of food options, so if you plan to be there all day, there are few options.
Also, there are very few big tables, which makes it hard if you have lots of papers, plus a computer, plus a coffee.

I’m here right now and I had to write this review because there are FLIES flying around everywhere. Not only is that kinda gross but its seriously distracting when you’re trying to study. If not for the flies, I would give this place like 4.5 stars as a study location
PROS:
–not a lot of people chatter; almost everyone is studying
–usually a table will be available
–free wi-​fi
–acceptable drinks
CONS:
–FLIES.omg
–its not so bad but there’s some serious Hawaiian music playing. Its a little on the loud side, but Hawaiian music is pretty chill so… ya know.
–FLIES. ugh… seriously annoyed!
But i’ll probably be here again. I didn’t have this problem last time I was here so there may be an edit coming up to this review.

It was the weekend of trying new neighborhood coffee houses… first Hollow, then Kaleo. They’re within a block of each other, but could not be more different. Hollow is brand new and looks like a little magical fantasy land when you enter (in a dark, charming spooky way if that’s possible). It’s a place to go to get realllly good coffee and will probably appeal mostly to professionals and gourmands.
Kaleo, on the other hand, is a huge coffee house with free wifi that’s been around for years. It probably caters more to students, but it’s a nice place to visit for all. I’ve lived in the area for close to 4 years and can’t believe I’d never been in before. It’s nondescript until you enter and see soaring ceilings and a balcony level even. They have a crazy list of coffee flavors compared to the usual vanilla, almond, mocha, etc… because of the Hawaiian theme. Flavors like macadamia nut, mango, etc… They also have some traditional Hawaiian desserts. And many Saturdays evidently they have luaus with traditional foods, dancing and music.

Waiting to get my car fixed, I wandered into Kaleo and left very satisfied. The coffee was great, the atmosphere was very chill, and the choice of music was focusing and relaxing at the same time. You can actually hear the music, but it’s not too loud which is great.
The free wifi is a big bonus as well.
Kaleo has a great thing going here. Make sure you go enjoy it.

Kaleo Café is great. They have hawaiin coffee that is so tasty, both the light– and dark– roasted. And the ambiance is magnificant. And when they kick karaōke, it’s crazy cool.
ALOHA !!

Yay for the local café! I love Kaleo because this place never lets me down. I can always expect a friendly greeting, a cool iced chai latte for the recent warm weather, and free wifi. Their cakes are phat and fat — chocolate bundt, lemon bundt, carrot cake — they’re all really good and they don’t hold back on the portions. An unemployed girl can really appreciate a hefty slice of cake to fill the void… but I digress… :)
It can get quite busy in the mid-​afternoon, and parking can be a little difficult sometimes, but that’s the city for you.
Cut back on the Starbucks and support your local shops!

I just started working in the area and needed to find a good place to get my morning coffee before work. Since I despise Starbucks, Kaleo gets my business for sure!
While I always get my coffee to go, the atmosphere seems pretty nice with a water fountain and I think there is a deck in back where you can sit. They also serve sandwiches and have free wifi for customers
Did I mention that the coffee is really good?

Sshhhh… it’s my secret hiding place. I guess I’m telling all Unilocalers now. My friend asked me where I was going, I told her a café (we were in Starbucks when she asked). I couldn’t tell her which one, because she would be a distraction.
I’ve never ordered any coffee from them, only canned and bottled juices and water, because I’m not a huge fan of coffee. One day I’ll get coffee from here.
I like the atmosphere of this place, hawaiian music in the background, a water fountain in a middle of a café, there is seating upstairs & outside ahhh I love this place, makes me feel like I’m in Hawaii again. Best place to sit is upstairs.
FYI, this place is filled with UCSF students with their books and laptops.

I admit 4 stars is overrated for this café, but I love the Hawaiian theme and waterfall. The people who work here are usually nice and it has great potential to be an awesome café.
However the coffee can range from 1 – 4 stars. There are days when the coffee has no love (1 star) and it breaks my heart, because I love Kaleo.
I ordered a simple double espresso and could not drink it. Sadly I threw it away in the garbage a block later and reluctantly made my way to Starbucks. You wonder sometimes if the person behind the counter even drinks coffee.
Please Kaleo, please serve better double espressos. I haven’t been there in about a month, because I was scarred by my last experience. I’m in recovery now and I will most definitely visit you soon.

I’ve been coming here since they first opened. Back in the days there was a true Hawaiian feel to this place. All the drinks were themed, the décor, the music, and even the workers uniform. The small patio was themed.
This place has since transformed into a med school library. I recently asked some friends to meet there for an afternoon drink and no one would go inside because it was SOOOOO quiet. We went to Tart to Tart. So, I come here sometimes to study too… but it doesn’t need to be in absolute silence. The patio is also very unkept now… boo.
And yes, parking, since the opening of the chinese restaurant, there is no parking, none.

A friend introduced me to this place and I really adore it.
The café is incredibly clean and the décor is charming. The waterfall and greens make it very tranquil. On Monday nights there is ukulele lessons, so you can sip you drink and listen in on the class and be entertained by the music. There is a cute patio in the back and an open room on the second floor that overlooks the café below so you can retreat to get work done but still enjoy the entertainment in the back ground and from a far.
Prices are pretty cheap and there is free wi-​fi! The kid behind the counter was sweet, service was fine.
Way better than any Peet’s (gag)!

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 Karaōke 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 café 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.