Near La Salle, there are 3 Starbuckses, 2 Coffee Beanses (one of which is literally inside our library), a Seattle's Best, and 100 other places where you can get coffee. Lucky Bean is the best coffee shop near DLSU. That's not to say that the other places are bad: I still buy my favorite Venti Dark Mocha Frappucino on occasion. But seriously, Lucky Bean has the best pretty much everything in my book. Price point, flavor, ambiance, and overall everything. There's so much good to say about Lucky Bean.
Let's start with the coffee. I think I mostly order one thing in every coffee shop I come across: I always get a Cafe Mocha. (Yeah coffee drinkers, I'm weak, I am aware.) So the first time I went to Lucky Bean, I of course ordered one of those. I was not in any way disappointed. Their Cafe Mocha is pretty much perfect. Not too much sugar, just the right amount of coffee and chocolate, and very well balanced. Most places I go to either have way too much coffee or way too much chocolate. Not Lucky Bean. It's pretty much perfect. Also, I've tried a few other things on the menu which were fantastic. Their pasta is rock solid, the frappucinos are very good (particularly the Black Forest flavored one, which tastes literally like a cake) and they have these things called "Pizza Pockets" that for some reason I really really like.
And that's not even talking about the ambiance. The place is beautiful. It has a very chill, student vibe; very well-decorated and this pervasively Asian theme across the entire place. It's quaint and small, but just about the right size. It's also a great study/paper place: the WiFi is blazing fast (probably the fastest coffee shop WiFi in Taft) and they have an assortment of plugs near most of the tables. There's also this shelf near the entrance that has a crazy-ass collection of random trinkets from all over the world up for sale. Everything from typical objects like coffee beans and mugs, to premium imported chocolate, European toiletries, perfumes, electronics and ornaments, which actually add to the "discovery" vibe that the place has. One particularly awesome thing I saw was this Lindt Salted Caramel chocolate for P110. THAT'S INSANELY CHEAP. Needless to say, I bought the hell out of that chocolate bar.
I love Lucky Bean. With a passion. And I think that more people should go there, definitely. If you want a refreshing coffee shop experience, that's not exactly mainstream but not dark "third-wave" either, Lucky Bean is the place to be. read more