A short Uber ride east of Waikiki, The Curb Kaimuki is Honolulu's third-wave coffee headquarters — a sleek, light-filled bistro on Waialae Avenue with curved windows, polished concrete, and a steady weekend line out the door. As a multi-roaster, The Curb rotates beans from Olympia, Onyx, and Cat & Cloud, which means the espresso program tastes different week to week and the regulars come back to find out what's new. The cortado, in particular, has a near-cult following — short, dense, and balanced — and the cold brew rivals anything on the mainland. The bakery next door supplies buttery scones, soft cookies, and artisan loaves. Skip the Kalakaua-strip caffeine and make the pilgrimage to Kaimuki; coffee tourists routinely call it the best cup of their trip.
"By far the best coffee of our entire trip to Hawaii. We waited in line about thirty minutes and didn't regret a second — the cortado was exceptional, and the space itself is beautiful."