New Cup on the Block: At Café Vntg, Come for the Coffee, Stay for the Couches

Nestled away in an inconspicuous warehouse in Kaka‘ako lives a small café with a couple of twists. Café Vntg combines Brazilian flavors with classic coffee drinks—which you sip at vintage tables, couches and chairs that you can also buy.

The Concept

Photo: Chloe Cornforth

For owner Alex Viriato, two important things happened in college: He met his wife, Jennifer, and a friend opened a bar that doubled as an art gallery. After the couple married, they decided to combine their passions for vintage furniture and coffee.

Initially, they were a furniture store in Chinatown, but their collection outgrew that space. So when they heard about a condemned chop shop in Kaka‘ako, Viriato saw an opportunity to expand, and Café Vntg was born.

The coffee counter sits along a wall of the massive warehouse. Shelves of chairs and other vintage furniture rise to the ceiling, and statues and paintings surround you. It almost feels like having coffee in a museum.

The Lineup

Photo: Chloe Cornforth

Being from Brazil, Viriato wanted to bring some of his favorite treats to O‘ahu. The menu includes signature drinks like the Vintage Matcha ($8.50) with lavender syrup and cold foam, ‘Alaea Cold Brew ($7.75), and Honolulu Fog ($6.25) made with Earl Grey tea. A Taste of Brazil menu includes other drinks such as Suco de Milho ($9), Matcha Limonada ($8.75) and the Brazilian House Cold Brew ($7.50). Selections of Big Time Bagels and pão de queijo cheese rolls are on the snack menu.

Photo: Chloe Cornforth

I’m always a fan of matcha lemonade, but the Matcha Limonada is something else. It’s made with lime, sugar and sweetened condensed milk and topped with ceremonial-grade matcha. The lime is tangy and sharp; the sweetened condensed milk is creamy and decadent; the matcha is rich and bright: Altogether, my dream come true. I will definitely be coming back for this one.

The Suco de Milho, or corn juice, is a Brazilian treat I didn’t know I needed. Made with corn, milk and sugar, this is a house cold brew with beans from Tradition Coffee Roasters in Kailua. The medium-dark brew is bold, but the subtle sweetness of the corn creates a refreshing finish. It feels like sipping on a summer afternoon.

Photo: Chloe Cornforth

When I ask Viriato for her personal recommendation, she says the Brazilian Cold Brew. The house cold brew gets all dressed up with sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon and mint. It’s similar to a Vietnamese coffee, but the cold brew makes it lighter. The cinnamon warms you up, and the mint cools you down, creating the perfect balance.

The Paradise Matcha ($8.50) is another fun twist on a typical matcha latte. It’s like the house matcha latte, but made with O‘ahu honey liliko‘i syrup and topped with honey liliko‘i cold foam. The liliko‘i is bright and sweet, turning a familiar matcha latte into creativity in a cup.

Throughout the week, the café hosts events, including open-mic nights, dance classes, late-night events with mocktails and holiday specials like pumpkin carving contests and photo booths. Café Vntg aims to create not just customers, but a community.

Photo: Darin Hiraldo

There’s free parking on the rooftop of Kaka‘ako Commerce Center and along Waimanu Street as well as street parking. They also have free Wi-Fi if you need to get work done while enjoying your drinks.

Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 875 Waimanu St. #107., Kaka‘ako, @cafevntg

Read the rest of the series:
New Cup on the Block: Kooks Need Coffee Too
New Cup on the Block: For Your Everyday Coffee Needs

Chloe Cornforth, Frolic’s fall 2025 intern, is a junior majoring in marketing and management information systems at UH Mānoa’s Shidler College of Business.