I always get very excited whenever a new coffee shop opens in Maginhawa. My neighborhood has plenty of good restaurants where you can eat your fill, but sadly, there are only a handful of places where you can relax and sit down with a book while enjoying your coffee. Some of the places are always full, and some close rather early. I really loved it when Magpie opened in StrEAT, not only because they are very close to my house, but also, because they offer really good coffee and real espresso, which is always a plus. I am a big espresso machiatto person, and when a shop makes good espresso with a hearty layer of crema, I'm sold.
Magpie is in the hopping and popping Maginhawa StrEAT Food Park, and when all of the other stalls are chaotic, loud and always filled with the hungry hordes, Magpie seems like an oasis of calm and relaxation. The air-conditioned premises are a far cry from the hot and humid outside seating areas. The glass walls create a sound barrier that isolates the coffee shop from the commotion of the food park. Here, you can pick a table and zone out. The smell of coffee fills the air, and the casual yet reserved coffee shop din is comforting, not distracting and overwhelming.
Russel, the owner is always fun and quirky, and her baristas are friendly, knowledgeable and skilled at making the beverages. They told me that the source their coffees from the North, bringing to their store the best of Kalinga, Benguet and Sagada blends. What I also love about Magpie is its Korean pastries and ice desserts. The green tea bing soo is a refreshing treat when you want to stave off the summer heat. Local coffee and Korean desserts? A perfect marriage, if you'll ask me. read more