Cafés and coffee shops are everywhere in the Philippines! From popular foreign chains to homegrown brands, you can find one in almost every street corner, especially in Metro Manila. More than just crafted beverages, these establishments also usually serve pastries and meals, and as such, they have become ideal locations for romantic dates, for barkada get-togethers, and even for business meetings
One particular area in the Metro seems to have an especially great abundance of these cafés and coffee shops: Quezon City. Perhaps it’s because of the city’s huge land area or simply because it is home to popular foodie locations like Maginhawa Street, Timog Avenue, and Eastwood City. Whatever the reason, coffee lovers won’t run out of places to get their caffeine fix. If you’re someone who loves taking photos as much as you love your coffee, here’s a good list of cafés and coffee shops in QC. These are guaranteed to serve excellent coffee and picture-perfect ambiances.
Paper Moon Cafe
Where: Trinoma Mall and SM North EDSA
Let’s start off this list with a world-famous chain that originated in Tokyo: Paper Moon Cafe. It’s famous for the “mille crepe” or crepe cake, which in and of itself is a perfect subject for photos. The stores, meanwhile, have simple, clean lines with pale woods and mostly white and brown architectural elements. Order the Cafe Viennois with their crepe cakes for the perfect match.
Paper Moon Cafe has a few branches in Quezon City, but perhaps the most accessible are those in Trinoma and SM North. These malls are within walking distance from the MRT North Avenue Station. They’re also near condominiums and apartments like North Pointe Residences, as well as schools and transport terminals.
Kandle Cafe
Where: Mother Ignacia Avenue
Kandle Cafe features a vast industrial-style indoor space surrounded by vibrant gardens. The interiors feature dark wood and metal details, with touches of brightly colored accessories to liven up the space. You’ll love taking warm-toned photos both in and out of the cafe for a casual, comfortable vibe.
Most of the offerings in Kandle café, like their breads and burger patties, are made in-house, to guarantee the high-quality taste and flavors. Among their signature dishes is the Mr. Egoy and Ms. Eggy (squid ink pasta with poached egg). For the drinks, the house-blend latte and cappuccino are highly recommended. Meanwhile, those who love sweet-and-bitter flavors will love the iced dark mocha.
White Camp Coffee & Kitchen
Where: Sgt. Esguerra Corner Mother Ignacia Avenue
If you think that a place that’s bright and airy can’t be cozy at the same time, then you haven’t been to White Camp Coffee & Kitchen yet. Their interiors combine wood and glass details, along with white chairs and tabletops and colorful mugs and plates. The tall and wide windows also let in a lot of natural light so you can capture the best selfies and food photos.
When it comes to food and beverages, try their brioche grilled cheese with the flat white. For a fuller-bodied taste, try the Campfire. This is White Camp’s signature espresso blend with just the right amount of sweetness.
KKK Coffee (KapeTayo Coffee)
Where: Maginhawa Street
If you’re looking for a coffee shop with a Pinoy theme, visit KKK Coffee (KapeTayo Coffee) in the foodie haven that is Maginhawa Street in Teacher’s Village. The heavy wood furniture, capiz shell windows, and the red KKK banner hung on one wall are all reminiscent of old-world Philippines. The photos you will take here will certainly have a rustic vibe—rough-edged but still so charming.
When it comes to coffee, you’ll love the Kapeng Ginto. It’s Kapeng Barako with cream, sweetened and made more creamy by muscovado sugar and honey. They also have Ifugao Rice Coffee, which has a bittersweet flavor without the punch of caffeine. For a snack, you might want to sample their Suman de Luxe.
Stories by Lilypad
Where: Times Street
Stories by Lilypad is actually the ancestral home of one of the owners. Some of the decor are original pieces from the 1970s, while others have been repurposed—like wooden sewing machines stands that have been turned into café tables. There’s also a garden and a fountain made from ceramic coffee mugs, adding even more charm to the place. Inside, there’s a certain library-ish feel that makes Stories by Lilypad the perfect place to read. In fact, the cafe also has books for sale.
Stories by Lilypad has a variety of coffees available, but a must-try is their Viet Coffee, which you can get either hot or iced. The servings are called “short story” for a small size and “long story” for large. Cute, aren’t they?
Firefly Coffee
Where: Sto. Domingo Avenue
If you want a more minimalist look in your photos, head on over to Firefly Coffee. The shop has a black-and-white theme with dark woodwork that’s simple but not plain. The owner, Aldrich Shih, took inspiration from Japanese design and architecture. This allows the customers to focus more on the experience and the taste of the coffee.
Firefly Coffee specializes in affogatos, particularly their best-selling Cookie Butter Affogato. It uses homemade cookie butter ice cream, with banana slices at the bottom. You should also try the 2401 espresso blend with notes of roasted nuts, muscovado sugar, and dark chocolate.
Quezon City has many, many more cafés and coffee shops that you can explore. This list is just the beginning of your quest to find not just delicious coffee and food but also great experiences.
To read more on topics like this, check out the travel category.
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