Where to get your artisanal coffee fix in Manila’s city centre
Makati City, also known as “The Wall Street of the Philippines,” is one of the major commercial and economic hubs in Asia. Located in southwest of Manila, this cosmopolitan city attracts tourist from all over the world for its upscale hotels and shopping centres, vivacious nightlife and modern museums. Recently, the city has also been hit with the third wave of the coffee trend that’s been sweeping across Southeast Asia. Here, we round up some of the best stops for even the most discerning of coffee connoisseurs.
Commune
Coffee aficionados who have yet to try local Philippines coffee should definitely drop by this 2-year-old café founded by Ros Juan, located on the corner of HV Dela Costa Street and Valero. The coffee shop only serves coffee beans indigenous to the Sagada, Kitanglad and Matutum mountain ranges of the Philippines, which you can then pair with the café’s dishes made from sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients.
Yardstick
Good coffee and good interior design. Founded in 2013 by coffee lovers and Singapore Management University alumni Kevin Tang, Jessica Lee and Andre Chanco, the coffee shop is not only popular for their specialty coffees and organic espressos, but also for their minimalistic open-plan café where baristas and clients freely interact.
Curator
Curator is a speakeasy spot that is a coffee shop by day and a cocktail bar at night. Hiding behind a wine shop, the café is famous for its inventive coffee recipes such as their Curator Special, which is a blend of citrus, caramel and cacao.
Toby’s Estate
Aside from Brooklyn, Sydney and Singapore, this famous Australian third wave coffee franchise can also be found in LP Leviste Street. Founded by Toby Smith, Toby’s Estate in Makati celebrates the art of coffee-making by using only the finest beans in the world, which has attracted locals, expatriates and tourists alike. Mocha, the café’s bestseller, features Ghana chocolate and Ristretto shots and is a must-try.
