Tucked off Soi 24, home to luxury condos and service apartments, Ohana certainly has a willing audience of wealthy expats and this place doesn’t fluff their lines. This petite cafe sticks to the mantra of getting the basics right: great coffee, super-friendly service and a stylish but chilled-out ambience. While the simple menu might not set the heart racing, at least they make sure that the execution of the pastas, salads and sandwiches on offer are spot on. Originally alfresco, the driveway coffee shop now features a lean-to glass-covered deck area, complete with real trees, private space and paneled walls hung with photos for sale. Past this, there’s a small cozy interior with a few more tables and bookcases filled with travel and cookbooks. It’s all very understated but very classy—a pleasant spot to while away an hour or two. Thankfully, the Mediterranean-influenced food is equally pleasant. The grilled vegetable and pesto Panini offers thick crusty bread, super fresh vegetables and a delicious homemade pesto. The salami and provolone panini is equally appetizing, a perfect blend of crisp bread, gooey cheese and rich tasty salami—shame the accompanying fresh salad came with an overly tart dressing. Fortunately, the actual salads like the rocket with shavings of parmesan and caprese (mozzarella, plum tomatoes and basil) demonstrate a much lighter and more flavorsome touch. As a coffee shop, these main dishes are something of an aside, though the set menu of soup, pasta, salad and dessert is an affordable option, in comparison with the desserts and drinks. For starters, the choice of coffee is impressive, with beans from Kenya, Guatemala, Colombia and even Hawaii (Ohana is Hawaiian for family). However, we say go for the frappe: try the caffe caramel, a meal in itself thanks to the use of thick ice cream or the Spanish-inspired cortado, made with espresso and steamed milk. As for desserts the waffle with strawberry sauce and vanilla ice cream is gargantuan: so rich, creamy and satisfying, we strongly suggest sharing. All in all, Ohana isn’t going to redefine the city’s dining scene but it certainly makes a very welcome addition to its coffee culture. Corkage B300.
