The Hideout Café. You could take its name seriously and let it be your little nook right in the…read moremiddle of the Maginhawa - Malingap food crowd, away from its hustle and bustle. It's quiet and reserved and has the coffee shop vibe without the elitism (char). Hideout serves coffee, deserts, sandwiches, pasta, and breakfast food. Apparently, they got the shop's name from a bible verse. And they play Christian rock songs inside. Do what you will with that information. PROS: Interiors are well-lit and nicely furnished. The wall graffiti is an interesting, intricate piece to look at while you wait for your food; The food is made with effort and presentation. It tastes fresh and well-cooked; Their bread is crisp outside and soft inside; As per my friend's input, Mr. Owner is not too bad on the eyes as well (yeah, I'm putting that on PROS). CONS: Your food takes a while to be served; Not the place to go all-out busog; Not as spacious as I expected from the outside. TL;DR: Regardless of religious affiliation, The Hideout Café is a good relaxing spot to rest your soul with good food.

Artsy Café in Maginhawa lives up to its moniker. The restaurant has kitschy interiors, tall…read moreceilings and accent walls of turf, exposed brick and whitewash. It also has a charming fence separating its front porch from the street. The trellis outside keeps the heat out, making the outside seating comfortable and sheltered from the elements. When the rest of Maginhawa seem to embrace the fun and youthful energy of the students that frequent the neighborhood feeding holes, Arsty Cafe is one of the few ones that seem to have the entire family in mind. For one, the prices are not student-friendly, and thus, you would always see entire families or groups of friends dining here. The food is home-style, and it feels like it was made by your mom for your weekly family Sunday brunch. For a while, the restaurant was still on soft open, but what I really loved about their menu are the pastas, which are well-seasoned, al dente and restrained. Service is a bit slow, especially during the busy hours. The servings are quite small considering the price points, but you will appreciate the care and the thought that went into the creation of your meal. I recommend the Puttanesca pasta, with a bright and astringent sauce of pureed tomatoes and capers. I also love the Frutti di Mare Pasta, which is creamy and rich but not overwhelming. It's probably not the best, but it'll do when you have a whole family in tow and you want a quiet place that serves "real" food.There is usually a waiting list, especially during dinner service.

My brother and I can literally just talk for hours, and since he's usually out of the country…read morelately, we just never run out of topics. We've always known Artsy Café exists and we decided to try it recently and ended up staying there from around 6pm to past 9pm. It became one of our well-loved places to catch up. PROS: Artsy has beautiful interiors and quirky décor that lives up to its artful name. I love the mismatched tiles on the floor and the really high ceiling with the chandeliers. I wasn't expecting it to be so spacious inside when looking at it from the outside. Their porch is pretty cozy too if you feel like going al fresco. Plus, their expansive space is a one-up from the usual space-inferior hipster café/restaurant that litter the area; Our food was served quickly and with ample servings. CONS: Even on a weeknight, this place tends to get packed for dinner rush. We had to cut our convo short when we felt that the space we were occupying could be for other patrons who wanted to eat, so we left. TL;DR: Artsy Café attracts the pseudo-hipster/yuppie crowd but can satisfy anyone looking for a nice place to eat and have good conversation.

I like the vibe whenever I enter the coffee shop because this branch is mostly filled with students…read morewho study and meet up. Like any other branch, it has the perks of Swirl card holders (free wifi) and the usual coffee and food selections. It also has plugs for those who would like to work with laptops / gadgets, and a restroom within the cafe. Plus points because of its the convenient location (nearby an overpass from Ateneo, the Regis building driveway, trike terminal, etc). Minus points for the very limited free parking space (there are only about 3 or 4 in front of the shop), so the basement parking is an alternative. This is a great place to hang out all day, but avoid peak hours (late afternoon to evening) to get good seats. It's also best to carry earphones since it may not be quiet branch too. I would like to try out having breakfast here one time (I heard a lot of people from the gym hang out here in the morning).

I adore coffee, but I'm not one to drink it often, because I want the caffeine to still have a kick…read morewhenever I need to pull off an all-nighter. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) Katip has a wide selection though that includes teas and non-caffeinated drinks. I enjoy this branch particularly because it's right across Ateneo, and I can escape here for a more remote lunch and be back in school in time for my next class. I usually get the Moroccan Mint Tea when they have it; the minty flavors perk me right up. I usually stray away from here though during finals week - it's usually packed then with antsy, sleep deprived students who need all the space (and wifi) they can get. Otherwise, it's pleasant enough and lets you enjoy a pasta (the spicy tuna linguine is heavenly) The music is a hit or miss though; it's a tad inconsistent and sometimes loud.

I love their food and sandwich options! I feel that the sandwich flavor on display is not…read morepermanent. I was able to try their pesto chicken version which is filling :) I also liked their brownies (very moist). I did not like their cold brew (plain black)! I've had cold brew coffee (bought and homemade) that should be easy to drink because the process supposedly decreases the acidity and minimize the bitter taste. Their cold brew was very bitter and unpleasant to drink. However, I like their iced americano and other espresso-based coffee :) I'm also glad they sell local beans. I was not able to stick around the place, but I observed that there are many students and yuppies working with their laptops. It's also a great place for conversations. This branch in Katipunan has an extended area behind All Day convenience store and outdoor seats. Parking space is limited (about 6 in front of Vista Residences condominium). I will surely come back for their cakes and pastries!

Good food with a green view…read more There are many reasons to dine at Fika, the view, the ambiance , and most definitely the food. Filipino food being my favourite among all cuisines for it's complex to simply feel good flavours. The Crispy Pata's crunchy bite is addicting even without any sauce. The Gising Gising is soft and comforting, it's actually my favourite Filipino veggie dish, but I prefer it crispier. The Kare Kare was balanced in flavour, which is passable as a main dish. The Monggo soup is a mung bean based soup a classic Filipino dish that holds well with the standards. The pares paired with the a bowl clear soup is something to have after along day, it's the perfect dish to have while watching the sunset. Must Try: TRES LECHES - The milkiest I had so far. Fika is a place where you can relax and have a good weekend brunch with your family. It's expansive view of the Capitol Hills Golf and Country Club really had me yearning to do a round of golf.

If you want to eat traditional Filipino breakfast food, I would recommend Fika. Albeit expensive,…read moretheir gourmet style breakfast set is worth it. They also serve lunch, dinner and cakes. I like how you can also drink beer outside the veranda overlooking the sunset/ stars at night. I rated it 4 because if you are outside, half the time you need to go in to get the server's attention. They're not attentive enough for customers outside.

The Coffee Ministry, formerly Mocha Blends, is the coffee shop to be when you just want to be…read morealone, or when you want to study without anyone bothering you. Located at corner of Royale Place, The Coffee Ministry has everything that you want - hot/cold coffees, cakes, pasta, burger, pizza, you name it. The prices of their food and drinks are very reasonable. One of my favorite drinks there is the Mocha Frappuccino, medium size. It's not too sweet and not too bitter. It costs P135 for a medium cup. I also personally like their carbonara, it's very creamy and cheesy. Garlic bread is also included with it. Apart from that, wifi is free as long as you order drinks/food. This is the place I go to while I was doing my thesis, no one bothered me and I was able to concentrate on my work. The couches there are also very comfortable and cozy. The Coffee Ministry is also a good place if you want to catch up with a friend, because there is privacy and noise is very minimal. They also sell exotic Philippine made chocolates, the Theo bar, that has siling labuyo and salt as their ingredients. There's a smoking and non-smoking area too. All in all, The Coffee Ministry is a good place to just unwind and relax, and if you want some privacy then you'd definitely get it at this place.

Try the Lamayo/Danggit breakfast and the Sagada Dark Roast... Sobrang sarap. The place is also bike…read morefriendly...

Good: Nice ambiance…read more Not Good: Really really bad service. I don't want to get into all the details but basically... barista was not welcoming and was very rude. I ordered a Chai Tea Latte, paid for it. I was served... a green drink... a Matcha Latte. I asked about it. The answer I got was "ah! Wala kaming chai tea latte today. Narinig ko kasi matcha latte. Sorry." And he leaves for the back room. I sit there... trying to figure out what just happened. By myself. I feel bad. Very bad. I got excited to have a chai tea latte. I paid for a chai tea latte. I got a matcha latte instead. I try it anyway. What else was I going to do. The barista was gone. It was bitter, like matcha usually is. But a matcha latte isn't usually that bitter either. It was okay. I've posted on their FB. They've contacted me too. It's good to see there's an effort on their end to make things better. The person I chatted with has apologized for my experience and has made an effort to make it up to me. Hopefully their service does get better. Hopefully no one will ever have to start their day the way I started mine today.

Whenever I need to grab a cup of coffee that isn't the commercial kind, I run to Third Cup Cafe. I…read morealso like that on my previous visits, it's never too noisy or filled with college students hanging out or studying. My favorite drink at Third Cup Cafe is the Mochachino. It has the right caffeine punch to keep me awake in the afternoon (to be honest, after lunch carb sleepiness is counterproductive!) The drink itself isn't too sweet and the blend of chocolate and coffee is just right. The cafe's interiors are also very conducive for studying and working. Although sockets for laptops are a bit hard to come by, it's either you seat yourself by the window or on the couches so you can have access to the socket. Also, WiFi is free, but you'll have to like them on Facebook first to be able to access it. Overall, I really like Third Cup Cafe. It's not too expensive and the coffee is really good. The ambiance is also nice for a quick chat with a friend, or if you need to work or study, and if you want to go solo flight and just cozy up with a book.

UP Diliman is full of quiet places where you can settle down with a book or with your notes as for…read morewhen you are cramming for your next exam or final, but nothing beats the Art Circle Gallery when it comes to comfortable places in the campus where I can sit for hours and ponder on my lessons or my readings. Art Circle Gallery is located at the ground floor and towards the back of the UP Bahay ng Alumni. This quiet pocket in the edge of the campus is also a perfect location for a quaint and intimate cafe that serves lunch, breakfast and coffee-time favorites. I particularly love the vegetarian pita wrap and their Kalinga coffee, which they usually serve around snack time. You can order from a menu of dishes and light snacks such as pasta, rice meals and sandwiches to pair with their coffee and tea. The main cafe area is air-conditioned and the WiFi is reasonably fast considering it is free. But what I love the most about Art Circle Gallery and the adjoining Gallery Cafe is you can always request to be seated in the gallery of paintings and atwork. If you are looking for a bit of creative inspiration, or if you would just like to surround yourself with the beauty and the artistry of the Philippine artists on display, you can have your coffee and enjoy it in this explosion of color. I have spent many quiet afternoons with a friend or a classmate, enjoying a slice of their tablea chocolate cake with coffee in a press. Such bliss.

Sometimes, all you want is an escape. Some time for yourself in a world full of motion is rare, and…read morethese free moments are the times when you want to appreciate beauty and nature, or to simply relax. During my free time, I sometimes like to walk around campus or talk to my friends. Sometimes, I go to Art Circle. It's definitely a calming place where I can sit by myself and contemplate the present while looking at the beautiful artworks that line the walls. When hunger starts to gnaw at my peaceful disposition, I order and eat some of their light snacks such as sandwiches and coffee before I zone out once more. A person really needs times like these, and for me, it's best to spend them comfortably in Art Circle.

My boss loves Cafe Breton's brewed coffee, so most of our early evening meetings are spent here…read more Most days I order a bacon and gruyere crepe. It's all right. Can't complain. I ordered a dessert crepe once, and I just wasn't digging it. I wish there was at least one rice meal on their menu.