Bear’s Coffee
Bear’s Coffee is a wonderful little street-side cafe located in Downtown Hilo. They open late for breakfast and stay open for lunch too. It’s one of my favorite places to go on a slow weekend morning!
The outdoor tables add a nice touch, especially since it’s downtown Hilo. Lots of people frequent here to read a newspaper, sip some coffee, and relax.
Inside is a really cozy atmosphere with fresh orchids on every table and lots of stuffed bears on the wall. The smell of strong coffee fills the air, instantly waking me up. I couldn’t wait to order my first cup of coffee!
After a couple minutes we were served some water and given the menus. The service is really friendly here.
You can click on the menus to view a large version.
Soon later, I ordered a cup of coffee ($1.50).
The coffee here is sooo good! Brewed strong and dark with great flavor. This was a Kona blend. They often rotate their house coffee, but they also have other blends brewed, which you can request. This is some of the best coffee I’ve ever had in Hilo.
My friend ordered a cafe mocha ($3.00).
It tasted very strong and the chocolate had a nice bitter taste to it. It wasn’t too sweet either. They don’t really mess around with their espresso or chocolate.
After a few sips of coffee we ordered our food.
I ordered a waffle with papaya and apple bananas ($4.50). I usually don’t order the waffle with fruits, but since this is for you guys, I thought I’d go all out and add some color. 
The waffles here are AMAZING! The outside is surprisingly crispy and the inside is very light, soft, and fluffy. It has a wonderful light malt flavor. Hands down the best waffle in Hilo. The papayas and bananas were nice and sweet. You can also order a waffle with blueberries or strawberries.
Also ordered were the souffled eggs ($3.25) with cheddar cheese (+$0.65) and ham (+$1.00). It also comes with a choice of english muffin, multi-grain, russian rye, or raisin toast.
The menu says that the eggs are “steamed light and fluffy on our espresso machine”. The eggs were very light and fluffy, but they tasted just a little dry, perhaps because they were steamed? The cheddar cheese and ham was really good, though, and there are a wide range of other toppings which you can add on.
With the great food, nice service, and great prices, I always enjoy it here at Bears, and after one more coffee refill, I was completely satisfied!
Bear’s Coffee
106 Keawe
Hilo, HI 96720
Tel. (808) 935-0708
Cash or Personal Checks only
September 13th, 2005 at 1:18 pm
I may have to give Bear’s a try….always passed by …but never went in.
It looks friendly…not like Starbucks! Thanks James:)
September 13th, 2005 at 11:44 pm
I LOVE THEIR WAFFLES TOO!! What an excellent choice you made!
Especially with the fruit! I love my waffles with fruit on top! … and their coffee… oh wow lau lau! Btw, love your pictures!!! 
September 14th, 2005 at 3:45 am
brah… i no can tink how you going cook da eggs on top one expresso machine….looks ono though. Bears Coffee been aroung foeva!
September 15th, 2005 at 6:42 pm
Hi James,
I haven’t been to this place in quite some time. I think I’m going to have to stop in on my visit to Hilo next month. Thanks for the reminder.
September 20th, 2005 at 9:18 pm
Yo! Looks great! Sure miss some of the Hilo grinds now that I’m in Oahu. Can’t wait to return and grind some Hilo food again. Eh James, do a review of the deep fried crab or the lunch buffet at Happy Valley! Real ono! or maybe the chiso/seaweed saimin at Nori’s (great for the hangovers!!) Mmmmm sure miss the restaurants up in Hilo. But there are some ono grinds in Oahu that keep my tummy busy. Keep posting cause it sure brings back memories to see all the restaurants I used to frequent back in Hilo!
September 23rd, 2005 at 8:33 am
Dean, it’s a really cozy place… i always passed by before and didn’t want to go in either until a friend recommended it to me. It seemed a little intimidating for some reason, I don’t know why.
Bev, can’t wait to bring you here next time you come over! =)
Reid, hope you enjoy your stay in Hilo when you visit.
Dayne, eh brah! Be sure for give me a call next time you come to Hilo… we go grind for real kine.
October 9th, 2005 at 1:22 pm
wow! i just stumbled upon your website and now i’m feeling all nostalgic and teary! i went to uh hilo ‘93-’97 and have eaten at some of the places you’ve reviewed…and bear’s was definitely one of my favorites! luv ur site! makes me wanna move back to the beeg beeg island!
January 8th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Bears’ is like world-famous (or a at least kinda)–so we had to eat there!
(which we what we did in Jan ‘05) It definitely lives up to it’s renouned
reputation! Delightful atmosphere with great food. (I liked the sidewalk seating-as most tourists would.) I highly recommend it! And remember–
“Bye ‘n bye more better go git da kine, das why.”
December 31st, 2006 at 5:12 pm
We found Bear’s Coffee simply walking around Hilo Town this past Friday morning. We ordered the waffle with bananas and blueberries. The waffle was delicious! I had a double espresso - it was nicely done.
We liked what we had but did not appreciate being treated at second class people, i suppose it was too much to ask of the female in glasses who had to leave at 11:00 a.m. to be cordial, but then i witnessed how she doted over the white patrons, hmm. In Hilo?
January 29th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Great website, makes me so hungry! I used to go to Bear’s every weekend and loved the ambience. But, I got tired of the crabby waitress who was downright rude most of the time. Loved the food and the coffee but the service was mostly unfriendly (pretty much just one server though, you know, one bad apple spoils the whole barrel thing!)
April 8th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Hi James,
I haven’t been to this place in quite some time. I think I’m going to have to stop in on my visit to Hilo next month. Thanks for the reminder.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Loved this place, and they are open 7 days inc holidays!