All Roads Lead To… Kauai

Kauai has got to be the only place serving shots at 07h00 in the morning. Tall tri-colour towers of layered honey, ginger and turmeric that will earn you sweaty looks of curiousity mixed with blatant disapproval from anyone who doesn’t know what the hell is going on.

I down Kauai’s ‘Floo Shot’ whenever I feel a telltale tickle in my throat and cringe for anyone grunting over a leg curl machine to see.

That’s the beauty of Kauai. It’s in Virgin Active at Maerua Mall. Up two flights of stairs that may very well defeat you before you gasp out the words “coffee!” after swiping your card at reception.

Non-gymmers are welcome. They simply need to make nice with the staff, say they’re going to Kauai and enjoy their meal watching other people keeping the New Year’s resolutions they’ve long since left for dead.

Serving good cappuccinos which earn you neat little stickers on a card that will eventually gift you a free one, Kauai is alive and well though a little trickier to find than it was when it was opposite that biltong shop.

To eat, there is the kind of health fare that actually tastes fantastic.

Harvest wraps filled with feta, avo, cucumber, carrots, greens and onion mayo if you want to keep it deliciously vegetarian amidst a menu that includes the Thai Crunch and classic Princess Wrap as well as a variety of salads, warm bowls and fruit and veg, protein or superfood smoothies.

With friendly staff quick with breakfasts ranging from poached eggs to power oats, Kauai is just good, clean, fresh and filling.

Oddly, as a blossoming gym bunny, it’s also the eatery I visit most often with zero complaint bar the days their muffins are strictly mixed berry instead of cappuccino.

Mixed berry fails aside, look out for their healthy winter menu featuring the Citrus Glo Smoothie and Prince Wrap, pack in some protein with a peanut butter or Cinnabomb or try their red cappuccino, raw juices and salted caramel smoothie to taste health food done yum.

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