About
Tucked between the
Wharf Cinema Center and the local Burger King is the Maui Swiss Cafe. An
open-air, European-style sidewalk internet cafe in the shade of a
trellised canopy and palm trees, the cafe has been Swiss-owned since
1994.
Recently, Maui Swiss Cafe became a great place to check your email,
eight computer stations (six of which have high tech, flat screen TFT
monitors). A 1.5MBit/s ADSL connection lets users access the internet
quickly and efficiently. At only $0.15 a minute, Maui Swiss Cafe offers
the lowest price on the west side of the island and is a perfect place
to catch up on business or just to casually surf the web.
Like cafes found throughout Europe, the restaurant is an oasis of quiet
from the hustle of nearby Front Street. Regulars and visitors frequent
the cafe everday for an afternoon cappucino or frosty milkshake. They
gather at the front corner table to watch the activity under the Banyan
Tree and chat with the staff on break. Others come daily for the famous
$5.5 lunch specials or $2.5 ice cream special. A personal pizza or a
sandwich served with Caesar salad, chips and a drink. Each sandwich is
carefully created by the managers, Annemarie and Rolf Egli, to complement the
flavors of imported Swiss cheese. All sandwiches are served European
style with Dijon mustard, cream cheese, hard boiled egg, and Swiss
cheese in addition to the usual fixins’. Everything is made to order,
fresh on the premises. Try one of the inventive hot sandwiches such as
the Turkey Broccoli Melt (French baguette with Dijon mustard, tutrkey,
broccoli, tomato, and melted cheese), Spicy Roastbeef Melt (Boboli bread
with Dijon mustard, horseradish, roast beef, tomato, onions, melted
cheese), or the Italian Boboli (Boboli bread with Dijon mustard, salsa,
bell pepper, ham, tomato, and melted cheese). The smell from the ovens
alone has often been known to draw people in demanding to have “whatever
he just ordered.” Try one of the famous Signature Melts (prepared with
imported Emmentaler cheese baked on an Italian parmesan crust) such as
the popular Swiss melt (spicy chicken, mushroom, onion, and tomato,
finished with a Dijon herb spread and melted Emmentaler cheese). For
breakfast, sample a bagel, light roll or freshly baked croissant with a
steaming cup of Italian Lavazza espresso or a mug of freshly brewed Kona
coffee. Or go all out and order the Swiss breakfast (sliced ham,
Emmentaler cheese, salami, fruit, hard boiled egg, and croissant with
butter and jam).
Famous among the thirsty tour guides is the Iced Coffee, made with
chilled Kona coffee blended with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream then
poured over an additional scoop cool the beverage even further. One of
the more popular tropical drinks is the Chocomac(macadamia nuts blended
with pineapple-coconut ice cream, milk, and chocolate ice cream). The
ice cream is among the most famous in the islands. A variety of
different brands is served; each flavor has been chosen as the best of
its kind by the owner, an ice cream connoisseur.
While enjoying the a much needed respite from the sun, diners can rest
amongst the many flowers and plants which decorate the cafe. Maui Swiss Cafe also features art from many local artists.
The Maui Swiss Cafe truly is a taste of Europe tucked into a corner of
Lahaina.
The Swiss owners has made German menus available for foreign tourists. He
is always delighted to chat in his native language, so be sure to drop
by.
Hidden from the usual rush of traffic, the Maui Swiss Cafe is a cozy
place to enjoy the island without the barrage of “tourist traps” found
on Front Street. Taste food flavored with the island’s freshest
ingredients and prepared with a Swiss touch. |