Cafe Laufer, Honolulu

Every morning begins the same at Cafe Laufer. Chef and owner Cyrus Goo arrives with his team and, by 5:20 a.m., has already begun making fresh bread dough. While the sun continues to rise, the chef and his crew hand-make every single one of the cakes, pastries, and other treats that will eventually fill the gleaming display cases. Although this routine may be the same each morning, the creations rarely are. The selection of pastries—which Frommer's hailed as "sublime"—changes from day to day and features everything from fresh fruit eclairs to flaky apple strudel. These daily specials can even be additions to the menu's bistro-style sandwiches, soups, and salads.

With an espresso drink and a bite to eat in-hand, patrons can snag an intimate table and settle in for a quick meal. Vibrant pictures of newly-invented colors adorn the custard-hued walls, although the most striking features may be the sculptures in the center of the room, which resemble thin, leafless trees complete with spindly branches reaching up toward the ceiling.