Lani Coffee

**What makes this different:** While downtown coffee runs mostly mean Starbucks speed or third-wave espresso snobbery, Lani settles into something rarer in the Gaslamp—a genuinely chill Hawaiian coffee shop where staff actually remember your face and the vibe suggests lingering over breakfast instead of sprinting back to your desk. This isn't precision pourover theater or a laptop factory. It's the mainland outpost of a Hawaiian stalwart that runs on island time, even at Market Street foot traffic.

The Kona coffee draws predictable skepticism (one reviewer rightfully questions authenticity at this price point), but regulars don't seem to care—they're here for the whole package. Blackberry nut muffins get rapturous reviews. Acai bowls justify the Hawaiian credentials. Simple breakfast plates anchor morning routines for neighbors who live close enough to make Lani their go-to instead of the Starbucks literally around the corner.

Service tilts friendly bordering on chatty, which reads as either refreshing or inefficient depending on your caffeine urgency. The older gentleman behind the counter sometimes needs orders repeated, but he'll also actually talk to you like a human, which counts for something when most downtown transactions feel transactional by design.

The space works for remote work if you grab outdoor seating and don't mind street noise. Vegetarian options run deeper than most breakfast spots. Prices undercut the chains while delivering noticeably better ingredients—that nut milk in the coffee gets specific shoutouts, which tells you the kitchen sweats small details.

Practical notes: Hours remain mysteriously unposted online, so don't assume. Parking is standard Gaslamp nightmare. If you're chasing certified single-origin Kona, look elsewhere. If you want a friendly neighborhood coffee shop that happens to exist in a tourist zone, this is the spot.