Tea-licous Cafe in Kona Review: Hidden Gem for Tea Lovers
Looking at visiting Tea-licious Cafe in Kona? Let me show you what to expect!
I lived on the Big Island for a year and loved visiting this cute cafe in Kona!
Hiding away on Lunapule Road, just up from Ali’i Drive, is a hidden gem for tea lovers. Tealicious Cafe in Kona whisks you away to an old fashioned tea parlor with many tea choices and cute nooks to gossip in.
Where Is Tealicious Cafe in Kona?
Tealicious Cafe in Kona is located at: 75-159 Lunapule Rd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 on the corner of Lunapule Rd and Walua Rd. Their hours are Mon-Sat 6am-3pm; Sun closed.
This Big Island tea shop camouflages itself by hiding in a nondescript business complex. The small parking lot has just enough space to accommodate the amount of traffic coming through.
Outside a patio table for two sits with a padded bench and colorful pillows. The Tealicious Cafe sign is faint, if you aren’t looking for it you won’t see it. But an “OPEN” sign indicates that there is indeed a cafe here and that there is something to be found inside.
What is Inside Tealicious Cafe in Kona?
Upon entering you feel like Alice walking through the looking glass into the Wonderland world of a vintage tea room. The AC is also a welcome respite from Kona heat outside.
The ambience is immediately homey with rustic wooden walls and an eclectic assembly of mix-and-matched vintage furniture. You might mistake this cafe with your grandma’s house.
To your right, a high-backed loveseat with a round marble table sits next to the window in front of wooden shelving filled with brass tea tin cans. This is prime real estate so if it’s empty, snag it. It’s comfortable, makes you feel like royalty and has “courtside viewing” for people watching.
This is also a great photo op with a Victorian-esque rotary telephone. #instapic !
Fill out the “I am Grateful” journal, contemplating all that is going well with you, like having a cuppa in a cute cafe in freaking Hawaii! 😀
Further back is the cozy dining room. With only enough space for four small tables, the area makes for comfortable nooks to have intimate conversations with your party. Gold framed mirrors grace the walls, china tea sets fill empty spaces on shelves, and potted plants filter the natural light shining through the windows.
Decide what to order off the menu printed and framed up on the wall. Below it you’ll notice rows of test tubes filled with over 30 flavors of loose leaf teas, tantalizing you to choose between them all. If you need more help differentiating between all the tea choices, pull out a tea menu sitting below the cashier.
After you’ve ordered, peruse the antique hutch that is used to display items to buy like teas, jams, and other tea-licious goodies to bring home with you.
While you might feel inspired to host a tea party in this parlor setting, unfortunately they do not take reservations or host private parties. It is strictly a first-come, first-serve restaurant.
Oddly, this cafe does not have wi-fi. Perhaps it’s to encourage conversation and also to keep tables rotating as there is limited seating.
The restrooms require a code and are located outside to the right of the front door.
What Drinks to Order from Tealicious Cafe in Kona?
As I mentioned, they have over 30 teas to choose between. Find Hawaiian and worldwide flavors, anything you could possibly think of: black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, and herbal tea. Order by the cup or by the pot.
Their most unique tea is probably their Kenya Purple. It has “strong piney/juniper notes with some astringency and a refreshing sweetness.” After it’s brewed, add a squeeze of lemon and watch the tea miraculously transform into a purple-y color. Magic or chemistry? You decide.
Besides these hot teas, they have a pre-selection of refreshing iced teas like an herbal mamaki lemon, a black English breakfast, or a tropical green.
Fancy-up your tea with their specialty tea drink mocktail concoctions like Pink Paradise with Strawberry Summer tea, sparkling water, and elderflower syrup or the Mojito with Moroccan mint tea, sparkling water, fresh mint leaves, lime juice and simple syrup.
And let’s not forget about the tea lattes made with steamed milk, beefing up your cuppa. Choose between a London Fog, an unsweetened matcha latte, or a chai latte. If you are avoiding dairy, substitute with coconut, macadamia nut, or almond milk.
For the non-tea drinker they haven’t left out the coffee addicts. Order 100% Kona coffee any way you like: drip, americano, latte, macchiato, espresso, or cold brew.
🤔 Did You Know? Volcano Winery grows their own estate teas on the Big Island and you can get a tea sampling when you visit
What Food to Order From Tealicious Cafe in Kona?
Tealicious Cafe in Kona also serves up full meals for breakfast and lunch; fancier cafe dishes served on china plates. Whether it’s a breakfast sandwich, yogurt parfait or a pasta salad lunch, you’ll find something delicious to eat made with house-made baked goods.
Breakfast is served all day. Try their bowl of chia, oatmeal, and coconut milk topped with honey and fresh fruit. Or perhaps a sweet baked good is more your morning preference, so try their almond croissant or Portuguese custard tart.
Lunch is served from 10am-3pm. I loved their delectable brie and apple sandwich on a fresh baked baguette with fig jam mayonnaise. I highly recommend adding on the prosciutto. Something unique I’ve never seen on a menu before was muffuletta, an Italian sandwich with coppa, salami, olive tapenade, havarti cheese, and lettuce.
All foods can be made to-go if the limited tables are full or if you are passing through on your way to traipse around the Big Island.
For the romantics, order their Picnic Box to enjoy on a beach. It is essentially a charcuterie board for two. It comes with a fresh baguette, cured meats, various cheeses, olives, and edible garnishes. Their specialty teas would pair nicely with this lunch.
➡️ Looking for a Kona coffee oasis instead? Check out Sacred Grounds Coffee Farm
Epilogue: Tealicous Cafe in Kona
Tea lovers will find a home at Tealicious Cafe in Kona. It may not be the Hawaiian vibe one typically searches for on the Big Island but it is a must-visit cafe that will leave an impression with you whether you are an out-of-state visitor or a kama’aina (local).
🌺 Big Island Travel Planning Guide 🌺
🚨 Should I buy Hawaii travel insurance?
YES — I recommend Travel Insurance Master because you can compare multiple options with one click. With plans starting at $5/day per person, why not give yourself piece of mind? Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!
🚗 Is it safe to rent a car on the Big Island?
YES — It’s totally safe to drive on the Big Island. And unless you plan to chill by the resort pool the entire time, renting a car is pretty much a necessity on the Big Island! Jeep rentals are popular. I recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental, as they have some of the best prices around.
📞 Will my phone work on the Big Island?
PROBABLY — Most, if not all, cell providers work on the Big Island. However, be prepared for some dead spots in the more remote parts of the island. For example, I always lose service driving through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
🛏️ What’s the best way to book my Big Island accommodations?
For Big Island hotels, Booking.com is amazing because you can often reserve your room with no money down. If you are looking for an Airbnb condo with a kitchen and more space, don’t forget to check VRBO for potentially better prices and options.
✈️ What’s the best site to buy Big Island flights?
I recommend looking at Skyscanner for finding cheap flights. Pro Tip: check if flying into Hilo is cheaper than flying into Kona.
🛂 Do I need a passport to visit Hawaii?
NO — If you are a US citizen, you do not need a passport as Hawaii is part of the United States. If you are from out of the country, the same passport and visa requirements are the same as entering anywhere in the United States from your country.
🧳What should I pack to the Big Island?
Pack for tropical weather but also prepare for colder than expected nights and early mornings, so a light sweatshirt is recommended. Check out this list of 5 Things Not to Forget to Pack.
