Cheers for the Coffee Crowd

It could be the holiday spirit, but business is brisk these days at the chic, modern coffee bar Kissaten. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that it’s right across the street from Ala Moana Center, especially at this time of the year, but there has to be more than just convenience at play here.

And there is. Kissaten in Japanese translates to coffee shop, but more a meeting place than just a cafe. And since it’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and has Wi-Fi, Kissaten lives up to its name — the perfect spot to catch up with friends, get some late-night or early morning work done, or grab a tasty bite and/or a rejuvenating cup of joe anytime you’re in the neighborhood.

And that’s the intention, a Cheers-style bar for the coffee crowd (for you younger caffeine lovers, Cheers was a popular TV sitcom in the 1980s and ’90s about a neighborhood bar in Boston “where everybody knows your name.”)

Kissaten offers a full coffee bar as well as teas and hot chocolate, and has morning, afternoon, evening and late-night menus that feature more than just the usual fare of bagels and muffins.

The afternoon menu, for example lists soups, salads, sandwiches and more, and for vegetarians, co-owner Nesya Tada recommends Roasted Herb Vegetable Wrap ($8, available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.).

“We make our own hummus from scratch,” Tada says, noting that customers are welcome to have ingredients, such as cheese, omitted. The spinach wrap is filled with homemade red pepper hummus, goat cheese, spinach, and roasted green and yellow bell peppers seasoned with oregano, basil, thyme, garlic and more. (The chef can’t reveal all his secrets.) The wrap is then finished on a panini press and served warm with mesclun greens on the side.

With its high ceiling, comfortable seating and cheerful orange decor, a visit to Kissaten can brighten up your day or night 24/7.

Cheers!

Kissaten Coffee Bar