Wai'oli Lounge & iCafé
About
A Hilo Morning Ritual
Stepping into Wai'oli Lounge & iCafé, you are immediately greeted by the rich, nutty aroma of locally roasted Hawaiian beans. Located in the heart of Hilo, this spot serves as a dual-purpose anchor for the community—a quiet, focused space for morning productivity fueled by strong espresso, and a relaxed lounge as the sun sets over the Big Island.
From Espresso to Evening Spirits
While the cafe side excels at standard lattes and iced mochas, the transformation into the lounge brings a different energy. The menu highlights a curated selection of beverages, often paired with light bites that lean into local flavors. It is the kind of place where the buzz of conversation never quite turns into a roar, making it an excellent choice for a low-key meeting or a solitary hour of reading with a view of the Hilo streetscape.
The Hilo Vibe
The interior strikes a balance between functional and cozy, with a layout designed to accommodate digital nomads during the daylight hours. Be aware that during peak morning rushes, the small space can feel quite packed, and you might find yourself navigating tight aisles to secure a seat near the power outlets. It is a quintessential Hilo experience: unpretentious, dependable, and deeply rooted in the local routine. Whether you are looking for a reliable cup of coffee to start your day or a casual drink to wind down in town, Wai'oli Lounge & iCafé captures the authentic, easygoing spirit of East Hawaii.
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Amenities & Features
Location
71 Banyan Drive Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Hilo, Hawaii, 96720-4693
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Reviews
Showing 10 of 34 community reviewsChelle TGoogle Maps
Recently
A nice surprise with singing and guitar music while we ate and had a drink to start our vacation. We ordered lechon and 2 pina coladas. Service was nice and efficient, the view is lovely. Day 2 we ordered Caesar salad and clams. The bread dipped in garlic sauce was nice. The brownie with ice cream dessert was divine. Day 3 we ordered chicken wings, espresso martini and poke during Happy Hour. The chicken was crispy and flavorful. Poke was good, we ordered a side of rice. Loco moco and coffee for breakfast. Plenty of meat variety, thin beef patty, rice a little undercooked. For most evening meals, it took 30-40 minutes after ordering to get food, at breakfast about 15 minutes.
Cheryl SadowskiGoogle Maps
Recently
Music was amazing. Bartender (Jordan) was so fun
Vaishnavi KumarGoogle Maps
Recently
Absolutely terrible experience. The service at this restaurant was shockingly bad. The server (a younger lady) was extremely rude, dismissive, and outright insulting. It took an unreasonable amount of time for her to even acknowledge our table, despite the restaurant not being busy at all. her attitude made us feel unwelcome,No professionalism, no courtesy, and zero accountability. If you value basic respect and decent service, avoid this place. One rude server was enough to completely ruin the experience.
Ilia PonomarevGoogle Maps
Recently
No any happy hour beside $5 beer, waitress said there is no waioli lounge anymore and only wsw restaurant which is weird since the sign says waioli launge. Terrible experience!
Michael EastmanGoogle Maps
Recently
Good food. Good service. Nice to kick back and relax. Had the smash burger with avocado. Very good. Not to bad of a view either. The price wasn't bad for what I got.
admin waterbottle 6003Google Maps
Recently
Opens at 2:30, we’re waiting 10+ minutes past that and haven’t even been able to order. Not busy at all, one other person was seated.
Hansen LinGoogle Maps
Recently
Wine is not good so I order another beer, waiter today attitude is so bad. I order a draft beer, before it serves, the beer has been put on table for 5 minutes before serving. After my request, waiter put the new beer on my desk heavily to show his unhappy. It’s my second time visit, first time is ok, but second time is really bad.
Alyssa TGoogle Maps
Recently
‘Ono food. Good live music
Christina TGoogle Maps
Recently
We came for the happy hour. Server bar tender lady was late and extremely rude... The happy hour menu on the website isn't accurate at all. The smashburger was dry, sauceless and not good at all.
Curtis J. WashingtonGoogle Maps
Recently
If you love sushi, I highly recommend their Monday Sushi Night between 5-8pm. The rolls are innovative and absolutely delicious. The vibe here is authentically Island Friendly. The live music compliments the up beat atmosphere nicely and the staff are amazingly attentive. Whenever we visit Hilo, Waiʻoli Lounge's Monday Night Sushi Night is our go to.
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