Apelu Island Cafe

Apelu Island is by far my favorite coffee shop in Norfolk. I'm only here for 3 months for some schooling, but I haven't found a better place. The iced Apelu Island Latte is SOOOO good. Staff is super nice, the atmosphere is cute and really shows the Samoan culture. Highly recommend.

Apelu Island Cafe is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots in Norfolk. Despite being open for a little over a year, they are already making a big impression!The seasonal latte flavors are phenomenal--they strike the perfect balance of creativity and authenticity, never tasting artificial. There's always at least one flavor I can't resist coming back for. Their spam musubi is a morning game-changer--small yet filling and satisfying every time. And the pastries? Delicious and distinct. I love seeing what new baked goods show up on the counter. I've yet to try one I didn't love. I'm not much of an energy drink consumer, but I recently branched out to try the "Volcanic Ash" Tsunami energy. I appreciate that the energy drinks are plant based with natural caffeine. They aren't too carbonated in a way that burns my throat. Just refreshing and delicious. Now I have a whole new section of their menu to work through because it was I also love how the cafe brings Samoan culture to the forefront, from celebrating Samoan national holidays to creating a space that feels so warm and inviting. The decor, especially the lovely purple tones, makes it such a pleasant place to relax. Families will appreciate the thoughtful touch of a designated play area for kids--a small but meaningful detail that makes everyone feel welcome.If you're looking for a place that serves amazing coffee, food, and culture, Apelu Island Cafe is a must-visit!

Came here on an off day to finally try after multiple failed attempts (they were always closed when I wanted to visit lol) and do some planning. I loved the open atmosphere and everyone was very nice and friendly. I ordered a Spam Masubi with egg, an iced Apelu latte and a taro cupcake. The Spam Masubi was a warm yummy bite and I enjoyed it. The latte was solid and I was surprised and pleased with how light the cupcake was it was moist with more of a mousse like topping instead of traditional buttercream. I ended up not plugging in my laptop as there weren't any outlets accessible to where I was sitting. Instead I just did some work in my planner and notebook which was pretty productive. Overall I enjoyed my visit and can't wait to try other items.

Wow! You get an Island vibe soon as you walk in. Alot of Island decor, so you do get feeling. ,A local Pacific Islander hangout. Not to mention family friendly. They have a little spot where kids can play. I am an Ube lover so tried the Ube smoothie and Ube cream filled tart. Smoothie was tasty, but the pastry I really enjoyed. They have other yummy pastries that I do want to try when I come back. If you want to be transported back to the Island then this is the spot. Great drinks, pastries and the people are so wonderful, warm and welcoming! Definitely will come back!

This place is an absolute Oasis in 95° Virginia. Go over there and get one of the little fruit tarts, a large lava flow and a spam musubi. The three lovely ladies work in the counter will have you squared away shortly. For example, if you're already eating your fruit tart and halfway through the spam delight as well. Definitely a nice environment in here, families have their kids crawling around, some folks doing work and the rest. Rest just enjoying the good music and sitting down. Very happy to have found this spot. Hope to come back soon.

This place is amazing! From the vibe to the food to the service! I can't say enough about this place, I'm so happy my husband found it on Yelp! There are some really fun offerings and I can't wait to go back and try more! We ordered and ate there, but also got some stuff to go.

This place is so charming and totally reminds me of my trips to Hawaii! The ladies behind the counter were so sweet and friendly, and a guy I met in line was so encouraging on which items to get (everything) when I told them it was my first time here. Can't wait to try their breakfast bagel and their White Taro Mocha! Only snit was that they don't have spam musubi in yet.... They don't show until about 1030. I'll be here till they arrive

Apelu Island Cafe is a new locally owned business in Norfolk, VA that offers an array of Polynesian inspired pastries, coffee, lattes, frappes and energy drinks. Ube tarts, taro cupcakes, & chocolate haupia pie line the glass cases. You will also find pastry classics such as muffins, macarons & their bread pudding , which I highly recommend! It's a moderately sweet thick piece of heaven.Their chocolate haupia pie instantly made me a fan! The soft, smooth texture and creaminess was a tropical explosion of coconut and chocolate. Not a sweets fan? They got your covered with some savory eats with musubi, & bagel sandwiches. The spacious cafe's atmosphere emanates a fusion of Samoan heritage & farmhouse chic with incorporation of biophilic interior design. One can sense that family is valued with a kiddie area available with kid sized seating & toys. Not only does the ambiance espouse feelings of calm & happy, but their eye pleasing, vibrant colored drinks exudes an unstoppable energy. Don't delay put them on your regular rotation!

Apelu Island Cafe has quickly become one of my new and favorite happy places.It is a Polynesian specialty coffee shop that offers a wide selection of craft coffee and espresso beverages, frappes, loose leaf teas, lattes, and so much more. If you are not a coffee person, such as myself, you are still in good hands. They offer a variety of Lotus Tsunami energy drinks, craft lemonades, refreshers, and smoothies. A number of pastries and a few items from their food menu are also available.Apelu Island Cafe is a small family business that opened in November of last year in the Little Creek Square Shopping Center under the ownership of four Samoan sisters who are as nice as they can be.A Walmart Neighborhood Market occupies the same shopping complex. Apelu is stationed to the immediate right of an Army Career Center toward the left hand end. Parking spaces are abundant.Their front window is etched with the following message that gives you a clue for the type of vibe you will encounter inside: WE-RUN-ON-SAMOAN-TIME.I feel instantly more relaxed as soon as I enter. It feels like an indoor island paradise where time has slowed down. There is a communal sitting area to the right as you enter with a sofa and arm chairs. A number of tables and chairs are available throughout for dining. The decor is splashed with beautiful tropical touches on their walls and throughout their interior.There is a play area for children that adds to its family friendly vibe. A number of their customers have greeted me when I was inside, which made me feel right at home.The word TALOFA is displayed in front of their counter, which means HELLO in Samoan. This is where you place your order with their pastries also displayed and their menus shown overhead.One of the Samoan sisters is always there to greet me and answer any questions I may have. When my order is ready, they bring it out to me.I have enjoyed the following so far from different sections of their menu:THE PACIFIC: This one is listed under their TSUNAMI ENERGY menu with their drinks described as follows: "Made with Lotus! A plant-based energy blend of earth's 7 power plants, B-vitamins, amino acids, and natural caffeine!" This drink is made with Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, Coconut, and Cold Foam. Its flavors came together exquisitely while delivering a mild energy boost that was relaxing as well. My Rating: 5 Stars.TARO-LICIOUS : This is another drink from their TSUNAMI ENERGY menu and is made with Taro, Coconut, and Cold Foam. This one is my favorite of the two, mainly because I love all things made with Taro. Its flavors came through beautifully with a rich and foamy taro taste and texture that was heavenly, along with its gentle energy boost. My Rating: 5-Plus Stars.LAVA FLOW: This is an entry from their craft LEMONADE menu. This one is made with Pineapple, Mango, and blended with Ling-Hi Mui, which is a sweet and salty seasoning made with dried plums, sugar, and licorice.Ling-Hi Mui is popular in Hawaii and Asia and is often sprinkled on fruits, beverages, and other snacks for added flavor. In combination with the other ingredients, it sent this lemonade drink over the top for a uniquely sublime taste experience. My Rating: 5-Plus Stars.LUCKY LEPRECHAUN LEMONADE: This was a special craft LEMONADE drink made available in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. It consisted of Kiwi, Mango, and Cantaloupe Cold Foam, creating a colorful combination that was most fitting for this holiday and was profoundly delicious as well. My Rating: 5 Stars.TARO CUPCAKE: This is the only one of their PASTRIES I have tried so far, and it did not disappoint. It exhibited a moist and flaky texture with a cream topping and a taro flavor that came through with flying colors. My Rating: 5 Stars.SPAM MUSUBI: This was an entry from their FOOD MENU and consisted of Lightly Fried Spam, Rice, and Furikake wrapped in Seaweed. Spam Musubi is a snack dish that was created by Japanese Americans in Hawaii after World War 2.The version served here was a bit smaller than some I've had elsewhere, but its classic flavors came through with full force. The only thing I found missing for my tastes was a little bit of sauce to go with it. My Rating: 4.5 Stars.PIMENTO CHEESE BAGEL: Another entry from their FOOD MENU, this one is made with House Made Pimento Cheese, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Egg, Sausage, and Spinach in an Everything Bagel sandwich.The combination of ingredients was incredibly filling and delicious. It kept me full for the rest of the day, and I never got hungry for dinner. My Rating: 5-Plus Stars.My work here is nowhere near done. I've also got my eye on their Ube Tart, their Ube Cupcake, and their Guava Strawberry Cupcake for future visits, as well as a few more of their specialty drinks.This review comes with a slam dunk 5-star rating, and this wonderful Samoan family owned business can count me in as a regular customer going forward.

I'm a fan of Apelu Island Cafe! I'm always on the hunt for a spot that will be nice for myself and my 2 year old. I knew that when we went, she would be getting a delicious treat. But I was surprised to see that she was able to play in a designated play area in the cafe. It made me feel happy to see that my daughter could partake in something at the cafe! Aside from that, my brother and I ordered from their cold brew menu. I got the French vanilla pistachio with almond milk and he got the salted caramel cheesecake. We loved both of our coffees. They weren't too sweet and they hit the spot. Food wise, we got the taro cupcake and a pistachio muffin to share. My brother got a spam masubi for himself. It was all so good. Literally have no complaints except for that I didn't get enough. lol. I have a reel about it on my foodie insta @joulesdafoodie ... I definitely forgot to take pics so all of these are just screenshots from my video.I'm definitely coming back to this spot when I'm back in town. This is on my list of favorite coffee places in the 757!!! A plus is that this is a Samoan-owned place... the decor is amazing and takes you on a mini trip to the islands. I love supporting minority-owned businesses!!