Pet cafés are a relatively new concept to Manila. While our neighboring countries of Japan and Thailand have been open to cat café concepts for over a decade, we are just starting out and it has been a good experience so far. The first animal encounter / restaurant concept that I've tried is Barkin' Blends - country's first dog café.
The place was great. Though small, it is well-maintained with a separate area for diners who just want to enjoy their selection of coffee and frappes. They also have some rice meals, pastas and sandwiches. Then there's the dog zone. With an entrance fee of P180, it already comes with a drink.
The dog zone is a nicely decorated area with some witty dog-related pictures like The Beagles (a pun on the Beatles), A Pug's Life and more. It has several tables and benches inside so you can keep your things and your drinks away from the doggies. But inside, you'll see that most people get really comfortable and are on the floor so they can pet the many wonderful breeds inside.
You can interact with their dog residents: Psyche the Beagle, Finn, Marley and Robin the playful Golden Retrievers, Martha the Irish Setter, Smile the Pug, Fiona the Chinese Sharpei, Ella the Chiweenie, Piolo the Labrador Retriever, Skye the Siberian Husky, Bonnie and Clyde the Toy Poodles, Booster, Yoda and Vader the Lhasa Apsos. All the dogs are vaccinated and are well-behaved, so if you follow their rules about handling, you're relatively safe. Most of them are still very young puppies, so it is important to handle them with care. Since they have been in the café for a few months now, they're pretty much used to human interaction and are really very sweet and friendly.
I love how clean this place is and how responsible the owners are for the well-being of the dogs. There are quiet caged areas so the dogs can rest when they get a little too excited or too playful (like the doggie version of a time out).
This is a great place for dog-lovers and even for kids (my two-year-old really appreciated the visit and had a lovely time petting the different dogs that she would otherwise only see on TV). Worth a second, even a third visit for that relaxing, therapeutic experience. read more