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A caffeine boost and a place to chill: 7 hidden ‘coffices’ in Makati
Frustrated with the view from your desk? Looking to gain inspiration from the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the presence of fellow busy bees armed with their laptops? Or are you just a fan of exceptional coffee? Here are seven places to try out in the bustling city of Makati.
Commune, Poblacion
36 Polaris corner Durban Streets, Barangay Poblacion
Hours: Open until midnight every day (except Sundays)
Ambience: Brightly lit with long tables for sharing and some standard tables for separate groups
Beverages: Famous foam art coffee, beer
WiFi, electrical outlets: WiFi fair, outlets ample
Parking: Street, at your own risk
Website: http://www.commune.ph/
Hidden in plain sight in the busy red light district of Poblacion is a brightly lit sanctuary for coffee lovers, culture vultures and midnight owls alike. The ground floor of Commune Café + Bar has long connecting tables lining the walls, encouraging collaboration between strangers with their shared ports for electrical outlets and close-but-not-too-close individual tables. Upstairs, the café opens up to a function room for artsy events like poetry readings, workshops, album launches and talks.
If you don't mind the sketchy area—as most of the young and hip regulars of nearby neighborhood hangouts El Chupacabra, Senor Pollo, Kite and Z Hostel do not—then this is the perfect urban getaway to zone into your work over a cup of foam art coffee or a bottle of beer.
Habitual Specialty Coffee, Legaspi
2135 Chino Roces Avenue, Legaspi Village
Hours: Fair, opens 8 a.m. every day, closes neither too early nor too late
Ambience: Bike-friendly, being surrounded by people working out encourages you to give your brain a workout too
Beverages: Award-winning AeroPress hand-brewed coffee, beer
WiFi, electrical outlets: WiFi slow, outlets ample
Parking: Yes, for bikes and cars but prepare to double park during peak hours
Website: https://facebook.com/habitualcoffee/
In an unassuming green-gated warehouse along the often congested Pasong Tamo, an emerging community of cross-fitters, cyclists, and specialty coffee lovers have brewed up a storm in the way of cool after-work hangouts.
Habitual Coffee's spare industrial interiors set the stage for their award-winning AeroPress hand-brewed coffee to take the spotlight. One of the few places that can pull off a cold brew soda, it would seem that all of their habit-forming beverages are faultless. It's been said that their Baked Eggs are pretty good too.
Although the place tends to get a bit hot, the high ceiling gives enough space for you to breathe and for your thoughts to flourish. A large swinging door connects the café to the rest of the compound, which houses a crossfit gym and a bike shop.
Local Edition, Legaspi
116 Perea Street, Legaspi Village
Hours: Opens early, closes early
Ambience: Small neighborhood café with a relaxing view of Legaspi Village’s tree-lined streets, conducive to working, collaborating and getting creative
Beverages: Tea, locally sourced coffee extracted with their espresso machine for “all natural flavors and aromas,” a mean cold brew
WiFi, electrical outlets: WiFi fair, outlets ample
Parking: Yes, for cars (street, with Makati CBD rates and regulations) and bikes (post/tree)
Website: http://www.localedition.ph
Local Edition fits in effortlessly with the emerging selection of cool neighborhood hangouts north of Legazpi Street. At first glance, the small café would turn away anyone looking for a quiet hideaway as the space is brightly lit with a straightforward square shape that makes it impossible to duck and cover.
As soon as you step inside, other guests will inevitably notice your presence and with the setup of long, shared tables, it will be hard for you not to notice other guests too. Surprisingly, this small space is always big enough to accommodate everyone, along with their beverage of choice, Gooey Grilled Cheese sandwich and creative juices. Any co-working inhibitions should be left outside the door.
Ark, Salcedo
G/F, Classica Building, 112 HV Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village
Hours: Fair, opens 7 a.m. every day except Sunday, closes neither too early nor too late
Ambience: Cozy, cool and dim with couches for lounging
Beverages: Coffee, smoothies, beer, cocktails and a fine selection of wine
WiFi, electrical outlets: WiFi fair, outlets ample
Parking: Yes, for cars (street, with Makati CBD rates and regulations) and bikes (post/tree)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/TheArkSalcedo/
Located along Salcedo’s busy Dela Costa Street, this cozy den will at first seem like a restaurant you can’t linger in. However, the abundance of outlets to plug in your devices will tell you otherwise.
Ark is a rare class of café where you can work in a cozy, pillowed booth with a good glass of wine or an exceptional meal (aside from the wide selection of beverages, their menu of sandwiches, pastas and other mains are worth a try as well).
Metro9 Café, San Antonio
Unit 003, The Linear, Malugay Street, San Antonio Village
Hours: 20/7 (7 a.m.-3 a.m. daily)
Ambience: Small, loft-type space with hardwood features and a central bar
Beverages: Coffee, sweet ice-blended drinks, milk tea
WiFi, electrical outlets: WiFi fair, outlets ample
Parking: Street
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Metro9Cafe/
With nearly 24-hour operations, affordable drinks, and a strategic location, Metro9 is the perfect yuppie hangout, catering to the night owl and early bird alike.
Although quality specialty coffee is not their strong point, this Taiwanese café makes up for it with the variety of their sweet teas and dessert drinks.
Coffee 8065, San Antonio
7700 St. Paul Street, San Antonio Village
Hours: Open ‘til midnight every day, closed on Sundays
Ambience: Cozy house-turned-café in a quiet neighborhood just off the main road
Beverages: Coffee, ice-blended drinks
WiFi, electrical outlets: WiFi fair, outlets scarce
Parking: Street
Website: https://www.facebook.com/COFFEE8065/
Nestled between houses on a quiet street is this tiny café that feels like a cutely decorated home. The beverages are nothing fancy and neither are the prices. If you’re looking for a low-key place to stay, this is it.
Restock, San Antonio
7635 Guijo Street, San Antonio Village
Hours: Fair, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon-Sat, closed on Sundays
Ambience: Artsy, intimate space with a good soundtrack and baristas who could be your friend
Beverages: Coffee, “traditional” or “progressive”
WiFi, electrical outlets: WiFi fair, outlets ample
Parking: Street
Website: https://www.facebook.com/restockph/
With its black façade, Restock can appear intimidating at first. The interior is unconventionally laid out, with mismatched furniture and an assortment of art pieces which make the café appear more like a quirky showroom than an F&B establishment.
Once you get over the initial shock, however, it becomes apparent that the space is designed so that one can immerse in the pieces—from a lounging chair which you can sit in and purchase later on, to a painting that can go from the café wall to your living room. The items on their espresso menu, categorized as either “traditional” or “progressive,” are another art form which will please both dabbler and seasoned collector alike. — BM, GMA News
