Art Café Hemingway

By Léo Azambuja

The Eggs Benedict are 100 percent made with fresh ingredients, including the sauce. It also has some local flair, such as Hawaiian chili rather than cayenne pepper.

Imagine a place so welcoming to you and all your five senses that you feel immediately at home. In such a place, you forget there is a world out there spinning around itself every 24 hours. Time slows down; it has to. All you want is to enjoy your company, the soft music and the art surrounding you, the century-old architecture and the food. Ah, the food!

You are at Art Café Hemingway.

“Our local customers know us for years. They tell us the restaurant is like a continuation of our living room, and this is it. It’s our home, and we have guests at home,” said Jana Boemer, adding many of their customers became their family over the years.

Jana and her husband, Markus Boemer, opened Café Hemingway about eight years ago. The charming two-story building was built in 1927, and was one of only half-dozen building that survived a fire that swept through Kapa‘a in 1935. When the Boemers first opened the restaurant, it was a dual concept; café and art gallery. After all, they had been deeply involved with arts in Europe, where Jana built a reputable career as art curator for artistic photography.

The quiche is a must-try, one of the best specialties at Café Hemingway.

Over the years, they said, the business changed to become only a café. But it is impossible not to observe — and be immersed into — the strong artistic presence at Café Hemingway. It’s in everything, from the building itself to the art hanging on the walls and the décor, on the French music playing softly in the background and even on the menu design. And of course, on the food. Pure art!

“Café Hemingway is an institution for real food,” Markus said. The menu is rooted in French cuisine, with flair of local ingredients and experiences Markus and Jana collected while globetrotting. Jana has a special gift when it comes to food.

“She’s got amazing taste buds,” said Markus, adding Jana has the ability to balance food and seasonings in ways people have never experienced before.

The breakfast menu is quite extensive and colorful in ingredients and flavors. It’s tempting to try it all at once. If I could give you one tip — OK, four tips — try their homemade bread, a crepe, the eggs Hollandaise and the quiche.

Art Café Hemingway has an extensive choice of croissant sandwiches.

The same goes for the dinner menu. It’s hard to pick between a classic fondue or a blue cheese fondue. Should you have fresh Kaua‘i shrimp or Makawelli lamb? A cold or a hot soup?

Jana said in the last few years, local farm production has increased significantly, and today, she’s able to have at least 85 percent of local ingredients on the menu. Because there are always different produce in season, and also because Jana likes to create new dishes, the menu at Café Hemingway changes a little every week. So returning customers always have something new to try.

Jana said the restaurant opens late in the morning, at 9 a.m., because the food they serve during the day is more brunch than breakfast. Customers are welcome to relax and enjoy their meal. Their concept, she said, is to provide a nice atmosphere; not to feed people and push them out.

The coffee drinks are made personally by Markus, who says brewing good coffee needs three things; a good espresso machine, quality freshly ground beans and a barista who knows what he’s doing.

“Going out to eat is not only a function to get food in your body, but it should be an experience,” Markus said.

And with great food, there should always be great drinks. Café Hemingway has a wide selection of fine wine, European beers and coffee drinks.

Art Café Hemingway is open daily for brunch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and for dinner Friday to Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. You can find them at 4-1495 Kuhio Hwy, on the north side of Old Kapa‘a Town, in the blue building right next to the bridge over Mo‘ikeha Canal.

Visit www.art-cafe-hemingway.com or call 822-2250 for more information.

Art Café Hemingway is a charming, historic building built in 1927 in Kapa‘a.

Art Café Hemingway owners Markus and Jana Boemer.

The coffee drinks are made personally by Markus, who says brewing good coffee needs three things; a good espresso machine, quality freshly ground beans and a barista who knows what he’s doing.