VNTG Inc. — pronounced “vintage” without the vowels — might be known as a Kakaʻako-based furniture store with an ever-changing collection, but the biz is also home to a cozy café.
VNTG Inc. started as an expansive personal furniture collection gathered during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to business owner Alexandro Viriato.
“Our family needed space, and so we started selling items through other furniture purveyors, which ultimately led to us losing some amazing pieces,” he says. “We said the best revenge is success, so we started the store. Now, we are helping hundreds of local consignors find new homes for their family treasures, restoring pieces that we hope will live on another 60 years or more.
“We are seeing our vision of creating a community space come to life,” he adds.
VNTG started in 2023 in historic building in Chinatown, but soon needed a larger space. The biz moved into its current location on Waimanu Street last April.
The café has been designed to complement the furniture store space, according to Viriato. Café VNTG officially opened this past spring, and it’s a natural fit for the space.
“We knew we wanted to have a café in our furniture store from when we first started VNTG,” Viriato says. “We wanted it to be a place that would bring people together — and nothing does that better than food and drinks.”
The café emphasizes high-quality and locally sourced ingredients and businesses, and its menu incorporates a Brazilian twist.
“I am from Brazil originally, and love to share some of my favorite treats here in Hawaiʻi,” Viriato says.
The café’s menu currently comprises coffees — espresso, lattes, cold brews and more — teas, smoothies and a variety of specialty drinks. The coffee is roasted by Kailua-based Tradition Coffee Roasters; the biz also sells their beans. Some of the café’s bestselling beverages include its cold foam matcha creations, according to Viriato. The Vintage matcha ($8.50) features lavender and cold foam, while the paradise matcha ($8.50) includes honey lilikoʻi syrup and cold foam. Both are made with Pono Potions syrups.
If you want something unique, check out the beverages under the “taste of Brazil” section of the menu. The Brazilian cold brew ($7.50), made with sweet condensed milk and topped with mint tea, is a refreshing choice. The sweetened condensed milk is reminiscent of a Vietnamese coffee, but a little less strong.
“The matcha limonada ($8.75) combines traditional Brazilian limonada made with fresh limes and sweetened condensed milk with a healthy dose of matcha,” Viriato says. “Our suco de milho ($8.50), a cooked milk and corn drink served cold, is delicious with a splash of cold brew.”
We’re told the matcha limonada is inspired by a classic Brazilian drink. Limes are crushed and put in a blender with water and condensed milk. Matcha is then added to the refreshing concoction.
The café also offers bagels made by Big Time Bagels — a vendor at both the Kakaʻako and Kailua farmers markets — served with cream cheese ($8.50), smoked salmon ($12.50) or avocado ($9). If you want a little of everything, go for The Works ($13.50), which includes cream cheese, smoked salmon, tomato, onion, capers, cracked pepper and a squeeze of lemon.
You can also find pao de queijo (starting at $4.50), or Brazilian cheese bread. Opt for it plain to revel in its cheesy goodness, or opt for toppings like Nutella or salami with jam (the fillings are an additional charge).
Café VNTG also offers baked goods from ‘Ulu + Kalo Bakery, which is known for its specialty baked goods made with breadfruit and taro. Chocolate chip cookies ($5 for three cookies, $9 for six cookies) are featured during our visit, but sometimes the business’s brownies, muffins and banana bread are available.
The biz recently expanded its hours to open on Mondays. Customers can also stay updated with the café on social media — the space is often open for a variety of pop-ups and events.
“VNTG is vintage without the vowels,” Viriato says. “We felt that keeping VNTG in the café name was important to let people know what they were coming in for, which is way more than your typical café setting. Vintage things seem to live and breathe; plus, they incite interest and conversation. We love that feeling in the space — combine that with the smell of coffee and warm cheese bread, and it’s heavenly.”
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CONTACT
Café VNTG
875 Waimanu St. Unit 107 and 108, Honolulu
vntg.inc/cafe
Instagram: @cafevntg
Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays
Rooftop parking in Kakaʻako Commerce Center available on weekdays
Street parking only during weekends
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
