Friends,
I just got out of the water.
Still salty. Hair still wet. And like basically every day, I came straight to The Bird’s Nest, because it’s right on my way home.
So that’s where I am right now. Cortado in hand, laptop open, writing this very post.
This is me working from here. (Yes, this is my office. No, I will not be taking questions.)
People ask me all the time where to get the best coffee on the North Shore of Oahu. So here it is: my totally biased, very caffeinated guide to the best coffee shops in Haleiwa, Waialua, and out by Sunset Beach.
I am not a coffee snob. I’m just a guy who works from home and needs an excuse to talk to humans.
Let’s go.
The best coffee shops on the North Shore of Oahu, at a glance
In a hurry? Here’s the short version.
| Shop | Town | What to order |
|---|---|---|
| The Bird's Nest (my favorite) | Haleiwa | The cortado. Afternoon: sea salt matcha or Earl Grey |
| Mele Mele Bakery | Waialua | The fig scone, a sourdough loaf, and a seat outside the silo |
| Saylors Haleiwa | Haleiwa | Morning coffee or matcha in an old bank (with the vault) |
| Nani's Cafe | Waialua | A $12 plate lunch and the pono potato salad |
| Lucky's | Sunset Beach | Some of the best matcha on the North Shore, then the waves |
The Bird’s Nest coffee in Haleiwa (my favorite, and it’s not close)
Full disclosure before anything else: the owners, Madelyn and Caleb, are dear friends of ours. They’re a sweet married couple, and Gabs and I love them a ton. So yes, I’m biased.
But I’d still tell you to go even if I’d never met them. Seriously.
Caleb and Madelyn first started selling coffee out of a van, their 1966 Ford Econoline, in Waialua. They did that for a long time, slinging great espresso and cold brew, while dreaming of opening a brick-and-mortar shop someday. In May 2024 they finally opened the shop in an old gas station in downtown Haleiwa and turned it into one of the cutest shops on the island. (Honolulu Magazine and Hawaii Magazine both wrote about the opening.)
Some of my friends hanging out on the couch. Look how pretty this place is.
Here’s the thing. There are a lot of coffee shops in Hawaii. There are very few doing proper specialty coffee.
The Bird’s Nest is one of them. Rotating roasters. Really high-quality light roasts. The real deal.
If you’re a true coffee nerd who really loves specialty coffee, I’ll tell you what I actually think. There honestly aren’t many places on Oahu, let alone the North Shore, where you can find coffee of this quality. It’s why I keep ending up back here.
They also sell local goods and some thrifted clothing, so don’t be surprised if you walk out with a cortado and a shirt. (Ask me how I know.)
What to order at The Bird’s Nest (the menu, my way)
The cortado. This is my go-to. Honestly, it’s one of the only places in Hawaii making a really good cortado. The milk is frothed right and the shots are pulled correctly. Sounds simple. It’s not. Most places miss it.
A latte or one of the specialty cold brews with cold foam. Absolutely worth trying, especially on a hot day.
The seasonal menu. Whatever it is, get it. It’s always perfection. I don’t know how they keep doing it.
If it’s the afternoon (or you’ve had too much caffeine. Hi, it’s me.): get the Earl Grey or the sea salt matcha. Absolutely to die for.
And then there’s the baked goods. Kolaches. Cinnamon rolls. Cardamom buns.
Amazing. Dangerous. Don’t go hungry unless you want to leave with three things.
Why it’s more than coffee
Here’s what I really love about the Bird’s Nest.
Madelyn and Caleb are big community people. They’ve hosted some amazing community parties, usually with a guy who brings in a hot sauna and a cold plunge, great music, drinks, the whole thing.
It brings people together. It feels special and handmade. Honestly, it feels more like a community than a money business.
I go almost every single day. And I almost always bump into a friend.
When you work from home, that matters more than you’d think. That’s my water cooler. That’s my office small talk. That’s where I get my dose of people.
I’m friends with pretty much every staff member at this point, and every time I walk in, they’re stoked to show me something: the latest specialty espresso, a new drip they want me to try, whatever’s new.
That kind of excitement is contagious.
And because it’s right on my way home from surfing? It’s honestly hard not to stop. (Case in point: today.) Best post-surf spot on the North Shore, no contest.
Great coffee is nice. A place where people know your name is the sauce of life.
📍 The Bird’s Nest · 66-532 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa · Instagram
More of the best coffee shops on the North Shore (the other spots I love)
Look, I have a favorite. But I’m not a monogamous coffee drinker. Here are four more worth your time.
Mele Mele Bakery, Waialua (coffee, matcha, and an amazing bakery)
Okay, this place is really unique.
Mele Mele is inside an old sugar mill silo at the old Waialua Sugar Mill, just down the road from Haleiwa. Like, an actual circular silo that somebody installed a coffee shop in. It’s a round building. The vibe is so cool.
And there’s tons of amazing outdoor seating, so it’s a great north shore oahu cafe to just sit for a while.
Honestly, it’s arguably the best bakery anywhere on the North Shore. The pastries are incredible.
I’m a little obsessed with the fig scone. It’s the one with figs in it, and I think about it more than I should. (Pastry menus rotate, so if it’s not out that day, ask.)
They also make sourdough, and the sourdough loaves are really, really great. Grab one for home. You won’t regret it.
Mele Mele is owned by Song Ebbesen, and she’s amazing. She’s incredibly gifted at baking, and she’s brought so much community (and great baked goods, coffee, and matcha) to the North Shore.
Fun fact: “mele” means “song” in Hawaiian. Her friends call her Song Song, and the name stuck.
She also teaches spin classes at The Den, a fitness studio in the same silo right behind Mele Mele. So yes, you can earn your scone. (Or just eat the scone. No judgment.)
Coffee people and matcha people are both covered here, so it’s an easy spot to bring a mixed crew.
Fun fact: Mele Mele is also one of our retailers for Ritual Organics, my tallow skincare brand. So you can grab a cardamom-level pastry and a jar of tallow balm in one stop. (That sounds better.)
A matcha latte at Mele Mele. Photo: Mele Mele Bakery
Photo: Mele Mele Bakery
📍 Mele Mele Bakery · 67-106 Kealohanui St, Waialua · Instagram
Saylors Haleiwa (morning coffee in an old bank)
Right in Haleiwa town, in an old bank building. And it still has the vault in it. Which is kind of crazy.
Inside, it’s just a really beautiful aesthetic. They’ve got some really cool paintings on the walls, and the whole place feels calm and pretty.
They’re pretty good at matcha too, and the coffee is really solid.
It’s a vibey spot to grab a coffee in the morning, and one of my favorite coffee shops in Haleiwa to pop into if you’re wandering around town.
Photo: Saylors Haleiwa
Photo: Saylors Haleiwa
📍 Saylors Haleiwa · 66-030 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa · Instagram
Nani’s Cafe, Waialua (coffee and a local bento lunch)
Nani’s is great for a quick, affordable lunch.
Last time I was there, a lot of the plates were $12. Honestly, finding lunch for $12 anywhere on the North Shore is almost impossible these days, so this one’s a gem.
Everything is homemade from scratch, and it’s super delicious. It has that cozy feel, like you’re eating at somebody’s auntie’s house.
My picks: the pono potato salad (I love it), the Cali beef (super rich), and the hamburger with gravy on rice (super, super delicious).
The staff is super friendly, and it’s locally owned and run. Come for coffee, stay for lunch.
Nani's Cafe at sunset. Photo: Nani's Cafe
Photo: Nani's Cafe
📍 Nani’s Cafe · 67-292 Goodale Ave, Waialua · Instagram
Lucky’s North Shore, Sunset Beach (the best matcha with a view)
The location is incredible. Lucky’s is right across the street from Sunset Beach, which I think is one of the most beautiful beaches on the North Shore.
If you’re heading out to watch people surf at Sunset, or just want to go hang, this is the spot. Especially in the summer, when the water is crystal clear.
And the matcha? Some of the best matcha on the North Shore of Oahu. If you’re a matcha person, you have to go.
Full disclosure (again): Lucky’s was started by three friends, Daisy, Hannah, and Julia (I’m really good friends with Daisy and Hannah). They’re great people, and you can feel it in the place.
The crew at Lucky's. Told you it's cute. Photo: Jon
It’s also a super, super cute cafe. Worth taking a picture at. Grab a matcha, snap your photo, and go watch the waves.
Sunset on the North Shore. This is why you hang around after your matcha. Photo: Jon
📍 Lucky’s · 59-158 Kamehameha Hwy, across from Sunset Beach · Instagram
My perfect North Shore coffee morning (a little coffee crawl, Waialua to Sunset Beach)
If you’ve got a free morning (and a strong heart), here’s how I’d do it:
- Start in Waialua with a pastry and coffee at Mele Mele.
- Swing into Haleiwa and hit The Bird’s Nest. Get the cortado. Trust me.
- Walk around town and grab a cold one at Saylors if you’re still going.
- Lunch at Nani’s for a $12 plate and the pono potato salad.
- Drive up the coast to Lucky’s for a matcha across from Sunset, and actually sit and watch the ocean for a minute.
A few tips:
- Go after a surf or a swim. Coffee hits different with salt in your hair.
- Bring a friend. A coffee crawl alone is just a caffeine problem. With a friend, it’s a memory.
- Talk to the baristas. Ask what they’re excited about. You’ll get a better drink and maybe a new friend.
- Pace yourself. I learned this one the hard way. Switch to matcha or tea by the afternoon. Your heart will thank you.
The view along Kam Highway, just south of Waimea Bay. Photo: Daniel Ramirez, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
North Shore Oahu coffee FAQ
What’s the best coffee on the North Shore of Oahu? For me, it’s The Bird’s Nest in Haleiwa, and it’s not close. Proper specialty coffee, rotating roasters, really good light roasts. (Yes, the owners are my friends. I’d still say it.)
What are the best coffee shops in Haleiwa? The Bird’s Nest first. Then Saylors, a vibey morning coffee spot in an old bank building that still has the vault.
Where’s the best matcha on the North Shore of Oahu? Lucky’s, right across from Sunset Beach, has some of the best matcha on the North Shore. Saylors is pretty good at matcha too. And if it’s the afternoon, the sea salt matcha at The Bird’s Nest is to die for.
What’s the best bakery on the North Shore of Oahu? Mele Mele Bakery, inside an old silo at the Waialua Sugar Mill. Arguably the best bakery anywhere on the North Shore. Get the fig scone and a sourdough loaf. The Bird’s Nest also has kolaches, cinnamon rolls, and cardamom buns.
Is there a coffee shop near Sunset Beach on Oahu? Lucky’s. It’s right across the street. Grab a matcha and go watch the surf, especially in summer when the water is crystal clear.
What’s on the menu at The Bird’s Nest in Haleiwa? My order is the cortado. There are also lattes, specialty cold brews with cold foam, a seasonal menu, Earl Grey, and a sea salt matcha, plus kolaches, cinnamon rolls, and cardamom buns. (Menus change, so check their site before you go.)
Where’s a good post-surf coffee spot? The Bird’s Nest, because it’s right on my way home. Coffee hits different with salt in your hair.
Where can I get coffee and lunch on the North Shore of Oahu? Nani’s Cafe in Waialua. When I’ve been, a lot of plates were $12, everything is homemade from scratch, and the pono potato salad is a must.
The real reason I go
I’ll be honest with you.
I don’t go to the Bird’s Nest every day because I can’t make coffee at home. (I can. It’s just worse.)
I go because somewhere along the way, a coffee shop in an old gas station became one of the places I feel most at home on this island.
That’s what a great local shop does. It gives you a reason to leave the house, bump into people, and be known.
Which is exactly where I’m sitting as I finish this post. Cortado’s gone. Hair’s almost dry.
So if you’re on the North Shore, come say hi. There’s a decent chance you’ll find me right here, salty and over-caffeinated, laptop open.
Sending love and hugs from Hawaii!
Jon
About me: I’m Jon Caliguire. I surf, work from home on the North Shore of Oahu, and run Ritual Organics, a tallow skincare brand. Photos credited to a shop are theirs; the rest are mine or shared with me by friends.