Knots Coffee Roasters. at Queen Kapiolani Hotel | Waikiki / Honolulu | Café
150 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu
(808) 931-4482
Recent Reviews
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Well managed! When I encountered a snag in service, it was promptly delt with.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The barista spent nearly five minutes preparing my matcha, whisking the ceremonial green powder with the focused intensity of a tea master. This wasn't Starbucks efficiency—it was something more deliberate, more reverent. At Knots Coffee Roasters, tucked into the lobby of Queen Kapiolani Hotel, time moves differently.
This is the first international outpost of a Tokyo-based concept, brought to Hawaii in 2018 as part of the hotel's $35 million renovation. Plan Do See, the Japanese hospitality company behind Knots, chose Waikiki's Diamond Head end strategically, positioning themselves away from the tourist crush but close enough to matter.
The payoff becomes clear on the open-air terrace, where guests sip coffee beneath a pergola overlooking Kapiolani Park's canopy of coconut palms and monkey pod trees. It's one of Waikiki's most serene views, a tropical treehouse suspended between urban energy and natural calm. The retro-chic design—wicker peacock chairs meet Japanese minimalism—feels authentically 1970s Hawaii without resorting to kitsch.
The menu reflects serious ambition: $18 cocktails crafted with local Koloa rum and house-made macadamia orgeat, plus an extensive selection featuring Big Island and Maui coffee roasters. The matcha program showcases Japanese precision, though that five-minute wait can test tourist patience.
Service reveals the operation's main weakness. A single barista often handles the entire café, creating bottlenecks that previous reviews consistently mention. For a concept emphasizing Japanese hospitality, the understaffing feels counterproductive.
Pricing reflects hotel-adjacent expectations: $17 açai bowls and $7.50 specialty lattes position Knots firmly in the premium category. The quality generally justifies the cost, but portion sizes can disappoint.
What makes Knots compelling isn't just the coffee—it's the cultural bridge it represents. Japan transformed from a tea nation to a global coffee powerhouse through patient strategy, and this outpost embodies that same thoughtful approach. While central Waikiki pulses with frenetic energy, Knots offers something rarer: a space designed for actual relaxation.
The grab-and-go offerings serve hotel guests efficiently, while the cocktail program transitions the space from morning café to evening bar. It's an ambitious multi-concept execution that mostly succeeds.
Knots Coffee Roasters works best for those seeking refuge from Waikiki's intensity rather than amplification of it. The view alone—impossible for competitors to replicate—creates an unassailable competitive advantage. Yes, you'll wait longer for your drink, and yes, you'll pay more. But settling into that terrace with properly prepared matcha, watching palm fronds sway against an azure sky, the pace feels exactly right.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Great atmosphere but the food is wildly overpriced and not good. The service is terrible, they don’t take names they just call out individual items as they’re ready so it’s unclear if the item is yours or not especially when it’s generic like a black cold brew.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Friendly staff, quality tasty coffee 💕
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Knotts had such an amazing staff equipped with fast and reliable service even during the morning rush!!! Food was absolutely top notch delicious!! Very convenient as a guest here at the hotel and over all amazing experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Coffee and breakfast sandwich was great! Very kind staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best coffee we have had in Waikīkī!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great coffee, quick service and decent pricing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had just arrived the night before and came down right as it opened for coffee. Fast service, clean and friendly! We didn’t grab food but the menu looked great with something for everyone.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Drip Coffee
Great service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Warm vibes 😍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I hesitated to try Knots just because it was attached to our hotel, but you know what? Best Mac latte I’ve had on the island so far (and I’ve been to at least 3 other places so far).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lovely baristas and strong lattes! They have a monthly membership too where you can get a coffee everyday. My favorite coffee shop in Waikiki
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very well maintained, loved their playlist in the lobby loved this place :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
They treat you very good here and the food is bomb!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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