Now famous as the usual date spot for the two main characters in the local film 'English Only…read morePlease,' Cool Beans brings together book and coffee lovers alike. The place is really small, nothing really impressive with the interiors, except for the shelves full of books. They have a good selection including the classics to poetry books to mainstream. I also appreciated that there was a lot of local authors up there. It isn't a library, of course, but it's a satisfying collection. I wouldn't say I would go back for their food. Some of the items I sampled weren't bad but a bit forgettable, like the butterscotch bar and the iced mocha. But I suppose the rest of their coffee, like the brewed ones from Sagada which they take pride in, are must-try's. (Disclaimer: I'm not a big caffeine person, so you should probably try them out and see for yourself.) The restroom had a funny sign reprimanding users from doing "Number 2" because the toilet clogs. It was amusing, but if you think about it, what if you absolutely had to? Unsurprisingly, they also didn't have WiFi. If you're a bystander waiting to pass time or just looking for a nice quiet afternoon with a book and cup of coffee, this place offers exactly that.

Among the many Maginhawa must-go establishments is Cool Beans Café, a cozy coffee spot that also…read morehappens to be a library. Cool Beans is heaven for anyone looking for a great place to work, write, contemplate on life or whatever. First off, with a name like Cool Beans, you'd look for great tasting coffee. Aside from your usual syrup-coated blended drinks and universal lattes and mochas, Cool Beans specializes in roasted highland coffee - strong and smokey, with honest coffee that doesn't need the help of sugar. (Or milk either! This coffee is best served as is.) My favorite is the Kalinga iced coffee, but they also serve Sagada and Benguet roasts. As for food, not to worry. Their menu consists of breakfast sets, omelets, sandwiches, pasta selections, rice meals, and a variety of small desserts. I confess that I haven't really explored their menu. :/ Their coffee grabs my attention too much. Another thing that makes Cool Beans cool - it's a library. This means books, books, books - and a great selection at that! From the classic literature to graphic novels to old fashioned newspapers in the age of technology, there's something for every bookworm on their shelves. I'm a huge bookworm, and I just love that as a library, they encourage their clientele to keep their voices down, promoting a peaceful but productive and creative atmosphere. All in all, this café is a breath of fresh air from the usual mainstream coffee shops filled with people on the go. This place actually makes you want to stay with your cup of coffee, grab a book and a comfy couch, and just read the afternoon away!

Artsy Café in Maginhawa lives up to its moniker. The restaurant has kitschy interiors, tall…read moreceilings and accent walls of turf, exposed brick and whitewash. It also has a charming fence separating its front porch from the street. The trellis outside keeps the heat out, making the outside seating comfortable and sheltered from the elements. When the rest of Maginhawa seem to embrace the fun and youthful energy of the students that frequent the neighborhood feeding holes, Arsty Cafe is one of the few ones that seem to have the entire family in mind. For one, the prices are not student-friendly, and thus, you would always see entire families or groups of friends dining here. The food is home-style, and it feels like it was made by your mom for your weekly family Sunday brunch. For a while, the restaurant was still on soft open, but what I really loved about their menu are the pastas, which are well-seasoned, al dente and restrained. Service is a bit slow, especially during the busy hours. The servings are quite small considering the price points, but you will appreciate the care and the thought that went into the creation of your meal. I recommend the Puttanesca pasta, with a bright and astringent sauce of pureed tomatoes and capers. I also love the Frutti di Mare Pasta, which is creamy and rich but not overwhelming. It's probably not the best, but it'll do when you have a whole family in tow and you want a quiet place that serves "real" food.There is usually a waiting list, especially during dinner service.

Instagram-worthy chic interiors and pet friendly dining place. Brought our pup for a weekend lunch…read more Food is okay and staff are really accomodating. Ordered salpicao and thirst quenching strawberry-banana shake!

I first learned about DITO: Bahay ng Sining when I was helping out one of my best friends for her…read moreband's second music video. They were doing a cover of an OPM classic and we used DITO as one of our major locations. Upon seeing DITO, I was certainly impressed by its set-up. Half of it was a mini-theatre, complete with stage and built-in spotlights. They had monoblocks chairs, benches, beanbags and an audio mixer for the plays that were staged here. Apparently, the owner of DITO is an award-winning playwright from Ateneo. He wanted a place to stage his own plays so he decided to build one with the help of his parents. A lot of other plays have been staged here and SPIT has also done a show here. Right beside the theatre is the café part of DITO. They don't have an extensive menu but they have a couple of rice meals, pastas and sandwiches. The café also serves coffee and I have to say its one of the best I've had. It wasn't a latte or a frappucino - it was just straight up Kapeng Barako, and it was delicious. They also serve local beers and other cocktails, which comes in handy right after the play. At the back end of the café, you will see couches and a huge shelf full of books and a ton of board games. This gives customers a chance to just really hang out at DITO with their friends, even if they're not into theatre arts. That doesn't stop there. DITO's walls are furnished with some up-and-coming local artists' works. All those that are displayed are being sold so feel free to look around and check out what you like enough to purchase. If nothing urges you to buy, then just take a hipster photo with those pieces as background. DITO: Bahay ng Sining is a pretty cool place to hang out. If I lived near Marikina or easily had access to this place, I'd probably become a regular. I can just sit back, read and have a cup of coffee, and burn the hours away. It's definitely one hipster spot you "non-hipsters" will absolutely enjoy.

As a southerner, I was a bit uncomfortable going into the bowels of Marikina for an impromptu…read moreperformance, which a friend invited me to. But after actually visiting the place, I wouldn't mind going again! Dito is found on the second floor of a two-storey building. The stairway going up is decorated with artworks, including the chandelier and a huge mural on the wall. There were no windows at all, so I was surprised when I saw the interior: a large dining area with enough room for a tech booth, a small stage with basic lighting. There are artworks for sale on the walls and there were shelves with ample reading material. My favorite part of the restaurant: a part of the large bookshelf at the back of the restaurant with books and boardgames slides backward to reveal another room! Well, actually, it's the dressing room for the performers, but still! Secret doors are awesome! :D The dressing room - which is complete with a mirror with stage lights, chairs, and just enough space to warm up a bit - also comes with its own storage area (for costumes, props, etc.) and its own private bathroom. As a performer, I'm soooo thankful for this! Their menu isn't large, just some basic pasta, sandwiches, and appetizers, and beers. I ordered their bacon, egg and mozzarella tarts. Yum. It's got bacon, I don't need to explain anything. Dito has regular events and seems to be a good venue for young, aspiring artists and avant-garde performances. A couple of friends and I did contemporary dance improvisation here, followed by some spoken word, folk dance, and a Japanese koto accompanied by acoustic guitar. I haven't heard of any other place that does events like these, so it's definitely worth more visits!

First time trying Antonio's bibingka. It did NOT disappoint. The bibingka was fluffy and had just…read morea hint of salted egg (not overwhelming) with a few slices of cheese. If you're craving bibingka, check Antonio's out!

Its really delicious, freshly made from their oven; however, sometimes they burn the sides but…read morestill yummy. This bibingka is better than the other brand (Bibingkinita). A bit on the pricey side and Cash payment only. Really pairs well with coffee.

The Coffee Ministry, formerly Mocha Blends, is the coffee shop to be when you just want to be…read morealone, or when you want to study without anyone bothering you. Located at corner of Royale Place, The Coffee Ministry has everything that you want - hot/cold coffees, cakes, pasta, burger, pizza, you name it. The prices of their food and drinks are very reasonable. One of my favorite drinks there is the Mocha Frappuccino, medium size. It's not too sweet and not too bitter. It costs P135 for a medium cup. I also personally like their carbonara, it's very creamy and cheesy. Garlic bread is also included with it. Apart from that, wifi is free as long as you order drinks/food. This is the place I go to while I was doing my thesis, no one bothered me and I was able to concentrate on my work. The couches there are also very comfortable and cozy. The Coffee Ministry is also a good place if you want to catch up with a friend, because there is privacy and noise is very minimal. They also sell exotic Philippine made chocolates, the Theo bar, that has siling labuyo and salt as their ingredients. There's a smoking and non-smoking area too. All in all, The Coffee Ministry is a good place to just unwind and relax, and if you want some privacy then you'd definitely get it at this place.

I love their food and sandwich options! I feel that the sandwich flavor on display is not…read morepermanent. I was able to try their pesto chicken version which is filling :) I also liked their brownies (very moist). I did not like their cold brew (plain black)! I've had cold brew coffee (bought and homemade) that should be easy to drink because the process supposedly decreases the acidity and minimize the bitter taste. Their cold brew was very bitter and unpleasant to drink. However, I like their iced americano and other espresso-based coffee :) I'm also glad they sell local beans. I was not able to stick around the place, but I observed that there are many students and yuppies working with their laptops. It's also a great place for conversations. This branch in Katipunan has an extended area behind All Day convenience store and outdoor seats. Parking space is limited (about 6 in front of Vista Residences condominium). I will surely come back for their cakes and pastries!

Love the pastries! Staff is very helpful and polite. Although the dining area is small, they made…read moresure they keep it clean at all times. I will come back to try their meals.

I've had French Baker's french onion soup before, and I didn't like it very much. Not sure what…read morepossessed me to try this again at a different outlet, but I'm glad I did. I love the huge improvement in the flavor, and the portion size was just right. I like lifting the puff pastry off the edge of the cup, and dunking it whole in the soup. It makes for a filling mid-afternoon snack to help tide you over till dinner time comes around.

I only learned about this place just this weekend when a former colleague-turned-friend asked to…read morehang out here. I've always liked Maginhawa but it's just really complicated to go to for someone who doesn't own a car so admittedly, I wasn't too thrilled about the idea. I still agreed to go, though since it has been a while since we last saw each other. Since I wasn't familiar with Maginhawa, I decided to take a cab and Waze it. YAY, WAZE! It was situated right in front of the famous Artsy Cafe. WUMS (When Uan Met Sally) Cafe had a conjoined store of all things kitschy! They have bracelets, necklaces, boho-inspired garments, boho bags and a ton more! If Phoebe Buffay swung by this place, she'd probably live here. Too bad though, most of the items are pretty expensive. Think a bracelet for 1,000 bucks or more. On to the cafe part. Okay, first off, I love Mumford and Sons, and I feel like if they ever made a Mumford and Sons-esque cafe, it would be similar to WUMS. It just had that very down-to-earth, hippie vibe that I love! Just walking into their small cafe and seeing the interiors, I knew I was going to love this place. I got to try their French Onion Soup and to be honest, there wasn't anything special about it. I'd still prefer Friday's French Onion Soup any day. Their Margherita Panini, however, was pretty good. I also loved their frozen house blend iced tea. Overall, this place is a delight to have been discovered. If only it weren't too far from me, I'd probably visit this place more than a few times in a month.

I just love this place…read more I live about a block away from this place and I would pass by it ever since it was still being constructed. I watched it evolve from an empty garage to a construction site, and now, a really hip and cool place to eat, to shop and to hang out with a couple friends over good food and wine. I love the artistic vibe and the very artsy inspirations that went into the design and the concept of the store. It combines a lot of intricate Byzantine frescoes and paintings with distressed furniture, lots of bronze and wrought iron, and lots of soft textures from the silks and the clothes that are being sold. They have antiques and flea market finds from all over the world that you can buy and add to your collection of curios at home. This antique shop/vintage store/gift shop/knick knacks paradise/cafe/restaurant (whew lots of slashes there) is a fun and quirky neighborhood joint that will have you coming back for more. I am a big fan of the squash and sweet potato soup, which is just the right consistency and creaminess. Squash soup is simply my favorite, and I love how they do a good job with that here. The service is top-notch and the ambiance is just lovely. I would recommend it for a date with a special someone, or if you want a cute space for a meeting with a client. I will surely come back for more!

The Tea Rock in UP Town Center is one of those hideouts that's got it all for college students -…read moresockets, fast wifi, good food, and reasonably priced drinks. They've got great a great selection for tea drinks and unlike most stores their drinks really aren't too sweet unless you set the sugar level to 75% or 100%. At 50% sugar level, my drink actually tasted like tea, and the egg pudding sinker at the bottom was really yummy too. Their snacks are great too, and are great to split with friends. When I went there, they had a Beyonce playlist on; while it proved to be a bit distracting to our meeting, you couldn't really get mad at their choice of music because - Beyonce. The place was well-lit and filled with other people who didn't want to be disturbed also, so I definitely had a great, productive time there. Definitely going to suggest having another meeting there!

I was never into the milk tea trend but I was desperate for a place to stay in one impossibly hot…read moresummer afternoon that wasn't too crowded and had decent cold drinks. For some reason, all the other small cafes in UP Town had air-conditioning problems that time, except for Tea Rock. So I eagerly ducked in. Good thing they served a lot of things aside from milk tea. When you enter you're faced with this giant menu behind the counter. I decided on an iced cappuccino (trust me to get coffee at a milk tea place, sorry) but I was surprised when they asked for my "sugar level" and "pearl or crystal" preference. I'm no coffee-snob but why would you put that in coffee?? It's a tea place though so I guess that's just their thing. I got the lowest sugar level (10%) and pearl so it would have the most minimal "damage" to my coffee, but it actually wasn't bad at all! Plus the cappuccino looked real anyway. Food-wise, the bento boxes were huge so that was a highlight. The cuisine was Taiwanese but it was much of a mix already. They had lots of bento choices, rice bowls, short orders, and even pastas & sandwiches. I don't think I'd ever encountered any other tea place with this extensive a menu!