Holly's Coffee in Taft opened during my final year in Benilde, and for a time, it was a welcome respite from the repetitive and monotonous afternoons in the two Starbucks branches that flank our school. The Starbucks branch in D' Students Place is notorious for being the venue of pusoy and tong-its games, prompting the management to ban the use of playing cards in their premises. If you wanted to avoid that kind of juvenile behavior in a coffee shop, Holly's Place is where you went. I was able to go back to this branch a couple weeks ago, and it still hasn't lost its appeal.
The decor is minimalistic, and the seating is sufficient for quite a coffeehouse crowd. However, there seems to be a shortage of electrical sockets. The coffee is not bad at all, but what gives this coffee shop an edge is the Korean inspiration in the desserts, cold drinks and the food that they are serving. I like Holly's for their strong espresso, which is the only thing I get from there anyway. Here, you are guaranteed some peace and quiet that will allow you to study, write, or read a book. read more