Joanna Marie O. Santos
May 24, 2023

Makati is home to one of the country’s financial hubs, this place is no stranger to the busy and bustling life of the people that live and work there. So it comes to no surprise that you will find a lot of businesses and enterprises that have made their home in the city. This ranges from big brand names that you can pretty much see everywhere to the smaller independent shops run by a dedicated crew! 

 

Among some of these smaller enterprises, the coffee shop craze has not died down at all in Makati. If anything, it still rages on as you will find a lot of coffee shops, big and small, in every few streets! People are crazy about coffee shops because it is more than just the coffee, it is about the values that the shop has, the environment of the shop, and even the vibe with all the other patrons. Coffee lovers appreciate all these factors that make these coffee shops great spaces to socialize with your friends and meet other people in the community!

 

This leaves you with a wide selection of options to choose from, where exactly do you go? Where do you even begin to decide where you want to go? Well, as it so happens we bring you a bunch of recommendations of hidden gems that we think might interest you if you are looking for a place to grab a bite, a place to relax, and even continue your work in a stimulating environment. This will be especially great soon as the rainy season is coming up, so this is a perfect opportunity to get yourself acquainted with some of the cozy and beloved cafes in Makati!

 

Odd Cafe

 

As the name would suggest, this is no ordinary coffee shop and you can instantly get that vibe as soon as you step into the shop. This is a place that took the good vibes aesthetic and cranked it up to 11 with their bizarre and playful design. This cafe can be found on the 7th floor of Finman Center Building 131 Tordesillas, cor Bautista in Salcedo Village. One of the best quirks of the cafe is their interior design, becoming a major hit through their instagrambale space that allows patrons to have easy and fun conversations.

 

Their food items are also pretty unique in that their menu is mainly plant-based, meaning that this cafe is super friendly towards vegans. They have plenty of pastries on hand from Green Bar that will fill you up in no time, and because they are vegan they are practically guilt-free! You can gorge on their selection of breads (P110), cupcakes (P130), biscoff donut (P12) and more! Their drinks consist of the usual coffee classics like espressos (P100), lattes (P190 - 200), and cappuccinos (P180). They also come with signature drinks, one of their best sellers being a drink called the French Kiss (P220 - P230) which is inspired by French Toast having the sweetness of vanilla and cinnamon!

 

 

Spotted Pig

 

Spotted Pig is a comfy sort of beach themed cafe that has opened a branch in Makati City! It can be found at 109 Esteban Street in  Legazpi Village! This cafe is a real treat for patrons as they provide as they go all out in the patron experience, fixing up a menu that satisfies your cravings for pasta, baked goods, sandwiches, and even all-day breakfast! They are especially great in terms of their espresso-based coffee (P135 - P180) and non-coffee drinks (P135 - P165), giving you a ton of affordable options! Among their fabulous drinks, the Bukidnon Mirayon Milalittra is one their most popular choices with hints of vanilla, clementine and sugar cane. Their menu is also friendly for vegans as a common trend in a lot of their items are gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian!

 

The ambience of the cafe is also some of the more impressive feats of the cafe, it gives this vibrant yet cozy feel of faraway beaches where it feels like a second home for your friends and family. The interior design is rich with greenery, murals, and warm lights which set the tone of a friendly and accommodating establishment.

 

 

Assembly Hall

 

Assembly Hall Cafe is a coffee and cocktail space that has patrons tread the lines between business and pleasure. Located at 775 Dr Jose P. Rizal Avenue Street, the cafe molds the coffee shop aesthetic with the chill nightlife aesthetic flawlessly as this place encourages patrons to get their quick coffee-pick-me-ups while also maintaining serving delicious cocktails where you can catch up with friends! The environment soothes patrons with the calming color scheme while also adding just a bit of brightness that has patrons coming back for more!

 

They have varying types of coffees (P125 - P225)  to choose from as well other drinks like their Rose Tea (P150). One of their signature drinks is known as the Campfire Latte (P225) which is topped with a toasted marshmallow square leaving a gooey tasty treat on top! They also boast a bunch of tasty pastries that go along with your choice of drink like an apple crumb pie (P245) and a mushroom and goat cheese empanada (P125).

 

 

Y Cafe

 

Y Cafe is an anime-themed cafe that resides in Salcedo Village, Don Chua Lamko Building Leviste, Dela Costa, Makati 1227. This cafe is unique in that it is not a traditional coffee shop as it takes on more of a restobar setting where you can order a variety of drinks ranging from coffees to alcohol. This place also is known to host events like game night and happy hour. The cafe excels in not only providing patrons with some quality coffee, but also has an extensive list of meals, making it an establishment worth visiting with family and friends for an outing. 

 

The place has that chilled vibe which is great for long and energetic conversations between patrons. This also contrasts nicely with the general theme of the cafe, which is mainly focused on anime. When you enter you will find a bunch of figurines of anime characters which you can purchase from the shop. Moreover, they have these amazing portraits on the walls which can have one anime character in them. Not even the ceiling is safe from the aesthetic, you will find panels of characters from Nichijou in a coffee shop, adding way more character to the cafe.

 

The menu is definitely big where you will find pages of delectable meals that come with your choice of drink. They have appetizers, salads, rice meals, pasta, and many more! One of their recommended items is their buffalo chicken sandwich (P295) which definitely earns its praises from its zesty chicken to its tasty potato wedges! You can also take in some of their fine coffees, one of the recommended being a cup of latte (P130 - P155) that comes with a froth design on the top! They have a wide selection of in-house drinks alongside their other drinks like their line of different coffees (P115 - P160), blended coffee (P145 - P165), non-blended coffee (P125 - P145), chocolate bursts (P160 - P220), frosted twists (P179 - P185) and more!

 

 

PetLife Cafe

 

PetLife Cafe is some of the more interesting cafes to say the least as the place works as both a cafe where visitors can just have a meal and chat while also being a pet grooming service where pet owners can spoil their pets with treatment and even overnight care! This can be spotted at 7427 E in Yakal Street, Makati. Here, you can bring your furry friends into this lovely establishment as they get pampered and play while you can sit back and grab a drink! They take care of both cats and dogs and their services for each one varies depending on the type of service you are asking for and which pet it will be done on.

 

The ambience of the shop is stellar as you will be seated in beaches and wooden tables, with the walls plastered in plant designs! The place is also home to one of the owners’ dogs which you can see just hanging out in the dining area. The place also provides a play area where your pets can play with the tubes and slides while playing with the pets. This place also provides pet goodies for sale where you can buy leashes, shampoos, treats, and food! The last nail in the coffin in terms of interior design is they have a collage of different dogs that have visited the shop, so if you are interested, you may even get your pets’ pictures hanging on the shop’s walls!

 

Petlife Cafe is not short of drinks either, you can get a selection of home-brewed coffee (P115 - P135), teas (P95 - P115), fruit shakes (P150), milk shakes (P165), and even other drinks like Coke and San Miguel. One of their recommended drinks to serve is their iced cafe latte (P125) which can really hit the spot if you are parched. They also recommended that patrons should try their Petlife Sandwich which is a great sandwich made up of eggs, ham, cheese, cucumber tomato, mayo, and spam. 

 

Bad Cafe

 

Bad Cafe is the home to some of the highest quality coffee with trained baristas in the handle behind the counter. This place is a love letter to coffee lovers as they prioritize their high standards of coffee alongside their tasty snacks and meals for their loyal patrons. Patrons also enjoy the overall aesthetic of the cafe as it really has that contemporary but traditional feel to it with their pleasing muted colors and their comfortable wooden chairs.

 

The coffee shop is located in Legazpi Village on the ground floor of the Windsor Tower at 163 Legazpi Street. All their drinks come with a variety, as you can get their different coffees (P150 - p280), teas (P170 - P200), homemade sodas (P190), and other beverages like chocolate and ginger lemonade (P160)! If you are looking to try something different, try out their selections of homemade sodas that are sure to refresh you! You can also check out their extensive menu in their meals and desserts, a must try is definitely their fried chicken with a side of waffles, the very pinnacle of comfort food!

Makati City is a pretty big place, with so many businesses and shops opening up to meet the needs of the financial hub. These recommendations will hopefully help you narrow down where you want to take a load off as you drink down some of the highest quality coffee while also feeling relief as you bask in the noises and smells that make coffee shops such a hot commodity. These cafes have their own unique twists that make them special, so we leave you with the opportunity to go and find out what type of cafe is for you!