You've got to try this new place if you're near the area. What I like here is the staff are…read moreaccommodating and friendly. The downside is the coffee is not worth its price. You can taste coffee in it but it lacks uniqueness in flavor vs Its competitors.

Third Wave Coffee Shops have hit Metro Manila in a big way, and Magnum Opus Fine Coffees in BF…read moreParañaque is one of its first advocates. The experience starts when you enter the rather small but cozy cafe. Yes, the smell of coffee fills the air, but it's different. It's more defined, subtle but richer, and it hits you like a velvet mallet. Now comes the ordering. Now Magnum Opus is NOT a place to order a latte and be done with it. No, no, no, you come here to experience coffee like you've never experienced it before. Take a seat at the counter and chat up the barista, who will be more than happy to chat you up as well. Take a leap of fate and ask for their recommendations, nay, an education in coffee. For true coffee aficionados, start with a basic pourover. No milk, no cream, no sugar, nothing but pure unadulterated coffee, curated from the best coffee sources the world has to offer. Sip it, let it swill and envelop your mouth like a lover's kiss, making you regret every single day you settled for Instant. If pure coffee is not your thing, or if you want to try some of their delectable concoctions, go right ahead and ask. They have a fantastic, unique menu, and if you're in the mood for something not on the menu, they can most probably whip it up anyway. But to get you started, ask for the Belgian Heartbreaker. You will thank me later. If you're the impatient type, this place is not for you because all the coffee there takes time to make. You might have to wait 10 - 15 minutes for your cup, an eternity for this Internet-hungry age. But if you're a true coffee lover, know that each cup is done with an artisan zeal and attention to detail. The best time to go to Magnum Opus is at night, where you can hang out outside the cafe, enjoy the clean air sadly missing from most parts of Metro Manila, and check out the traffic at the busy intersection of Aguirre and Elizalde Avenues. Also, check out the totally bitchin' TARDIS bathroom.

Coffee is amazing, good service and cozy ambiance too.. but seems the place closed during the…read morepandemic :(

On my seemingly endless conquest of Metro Manila coffeeshops, I blindly followed my friend to this…read morecoffeeshop in San Juan the day before our exam week starts. I wasn't expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. Located above the Rustan's Supermarket on P. Guevarra, the café is quiet compared to the busy street below and gets tons of natural light from the building's all-glass facade. Great plus for me as it made the place have a very airy feel which went great with the painted concrete floors and industrial seating. The coffee was great too! I got their cold-brew coffee and it was a solid cup of cold-brew. Nothing out of the ordinary but it wasn't offensive. The price was great though! At least 30 pesos less than a comparable brew from one of the third wave stalwarts. They also have a lot of differently sourced beans to choose from, with even a Filipino Benguet option! So even though it might not have same pretentious or hipster vibes that we have come to expect from many of the other third wave purveyors here in Manila, I love how laidback this place is. You can definitely get a lot done here. Cash only!! There are ATMs downstairs though if you're in a pickle.

Backyard Coffee is a treat for coffee lovers like me. They offer single origin coffee beans and I…read morelove them! After eating out with my friends, we tried different drinks that they offer. My friends ordered Iced Mocha, Iced Black, Cold Brew, Strawberry Frappe and Ube cake. As for me and my posh friend, I ordered Sumatra while he ordered Civet coffee. Love the beans that they are using even for their regular coffee drinks. But let me describe my order. I love Sumatra because it is not that bold and not that bitter. It's a little sweet, a bit acidic and fruity in flavor. So if you are in San Juan area and looking for a different cafe or different drink of coffee, checkout Backyard Coffee and try their single origin coffee beans.

Visited this place for the first time. Was initially thinking of having a sweet bun + coffee for…read morebreakfast, was surprised to learn that this place didn't have any! Ordered hot food instead and it was (again) surprisingly good. Oat Latte/Cappuccino were also very good (there are very few baristas who can foam Oat Milk well). We chose to sit at the 2nd floor and service was still very good (we were the only customers upstairs). Only complain I have against this place is that they only have 1 shared toilet which I believe can be a challenge since this place is really big. Will definitely visit this place again, highly recommended!

We love the ambiance, service and of course the coffee. Our go to place for breakfast and coffee.read more

I've been coming to Habitual Coffee for years now, and it still feels like my little secret hideout…read morein the city. Walked in last weekend during a crazy downpour, dripping wet, and the barista just smiled, handed me a towel to dry off, and asked what I felt like without any rush. Ended up with their single-origin pour-over--Ethiopian this time--and it was bright, juicy, and perfectly balanced, like every sip reminded me why I fell in love with coffee in the first place. Sat by the window watching the rain hammer Pasong Tamo, worked on my laptop for hours with zero pressure to leave. The space is still that perfect mix of raw concrete and warm light, never too crowded, always calm. Staff remembered my usual order even though it's been months since I last dropped by. Five stars, easily--still one of the most consistently great coffee experiences in Manila.

There is a lot of third wave coffee in Manila. This is a huge win for us coffee lovers, but it also…read moreups the ante for the purveyors of the coffee as well. Fortunately, Habitual Coffee holds its own. Situated on a super industrial part of Pasong Tamo (though gentrification is very real and will probably make its way here very soon), it's kind of out of the way compared to most third wave coffee spots. This is a good thing though! I've never had a problem finding a seat there. The set up is great too. Very industrial. I like the large amount of natural light and sparse feeling of the place. There's a lot of exposed concrete and metal, making the place very Instagram worthy. There are also outlets, wifi, and pretty large tables so getting some work done here is definitely possible. I just wish the seats were more supportive. The coffee is amazing! I believe Yardstick sourced a lot of their coffee while I was there. Their mocha and Americano are great. Not too bitter. The only downside I have is the clientele was a little snooty. The staff, however, was great.

Stumbled upon this place while walking in High Street Bonifacio Global City. I was looking for a…read morelocal coffee shop type of place and by the looks of the exterior/interior of Luna Specialty Coffee, this is where I decided to have breakfast with my parents. I ordered an iced coffee latte and a regular latte for my mom and I. So good! We also ordered a couple of the Filipino breakfasts which paired well with the coffee. As I entered I had no idea about this place nor did I know what to order. The barista & cashier was patient in answering my questions as well as offering recommendations. It was in fact the barista who suggested our coffee drinks. Orders took a while to come out, but it was well worth the wait. Even my mom said the coffee was delicious and she is a very hard woman to please. Would love to come back in the evening time for an acoustic show!

I went to Luna on one particularly stressful day, after a meeting, with a work friend. It had been…read morea tough week for us, so we thought we'd treat ourselves to some nice merienda. We were hardly getting any sleep, so some good, strong coffee was in order. We both got one Luna Cold Brew each -- brewed for 8 hours, and then chilled overnight -- which sent us bouncing off the walls immediately. We got a lot done that afternoon. I highly recommend their Yema Leche Flan and Inutak Pandan kakanin shots (yes, they come in shot glasses). If those don't count as a perfect merienda, I don't know what will.

Came here on 06/03/24 and the café itself is so cute! The interior has a very warm, woody, cozy…read moreaesthetic that makes it a really nice place to sit and hang out. The overall vibe is welcoming, and the staff were genuinely kind and friendly, which I really appreciated. The drink I ordered actually tasted good, but unfortunately I'm pretty sure it got lost-in-translation when it came to my dairy allergy. Even though I asked for an alternative milk, the drink made my mouth itchy, so I ended up having to throw it out :( Because of that, I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5, not because of the atmosphere or the people (both were lovely), but just due to the allergy mix-up. If you don't have dietary restrictions, I think you'd really enjoy it here. Still a very cute café with great ambiance, and I'd consider giving it another try with extra clarification next time!

There were not enough napkins or silverware…read more The Aperol was the smallest I have ever had in my life. The taste of the rice bowls were very pedestrian, nothing impressive about the meal, other than the scenery outside. I would not return, food was just not that good. Especially for the price. Server forgot I ordered a second Aperol and it then took another 10-15 minutes to arrive.

Upon venturing into the streets of Maginhawa to look for new and undiscovered restaurants, my…read morefriends and I decided to look for a place where we could just stay away from the sun. The Sweet Spot, a cozy-looking and rustic café, is just what we have been looking for. The whole shop is well-lit making it a suitable place for school or work-related tasks and it has two-floors that could easily accommodate more than fifty customers. While waiting for your order, you can even borrow books or newly-published magazines that may pique your interest. They also offer a variety of food; unlike most coffee shops, they serve entrees. Ordering took less than a minute. My friends and I ordered a piece of Grilled Chicken with Fruit Salsa and Pineapple and Bell Pepper Pilaf. The hint of spiciness from the Bell Pepper Pilaf and the tang from the Fruit Salsa with chunks of Pineapples gave the whole dish a balanced flavor; everything was just heavenly. Even after you finish your meal, you can't just help but stay there for a while and appreciate the warm and cozy atmosphere that you wouldn't feel anywhere else in Maginhawa.

Ever dreamt of your own trendy loft in a beautiful city? I do. A lot. And while that dream is yet…read moreto become a reality, maybe you could make do with The Sweet Spot in 189 Maginhawa, at least for the loft part anyway. PROS: Beautifully wonderful interiors with high ceilings, expansive floor space, and cute decors. I could settle down there, really; Book nooks are always a good point for any establishment, and this one has a nice selection; This is the perfect lounging space for friends to meet and catch up, or for winding down date night with a SO; They occasionally hold calligraphy lessons there. CONS: Food-wise, there has been more than one time where they don't seem to have particular menu items available; The green tea latte seemed to have a mysterious aftertaste; I had their turtle pie, and it was a sticky disappointment. TL;DR: Ambiance can take you a long way even if you have mediocre food and The Sweet Spot gets that.