6 Comfy Café Hangouts Around the Central Business District of Makati

Further inside Perea St., a quiet tree-lined street within walking distance to Greenbelt, lies Local Edition. A café that is true to its name, Local Edition espouses only locally grown coffee. They also support local campaigns such as #SinoPinas, wherein Instagram photos taken at various places in the Philippines with the hashtag #Si(place) are displayed on their wall. The café is a small space that encourages people to have collaborative meetings, catch up with friends, or simply to mellow out. It is open from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM on weekdays, and 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekends.

At Local Edition, there are three steps to one’s ideal drink. Whether it’s coffee or tea, one can choose the type of blend, preparation, and add-ons to fully customize one’s drink. For a quick and straightforward drink, they have ready-to-order beverages on the menu. Their best-selling coffee drinks are the milky sweet Azucarado (PhP145) and the bittersweet Caramelo (PhP155). Salad, pasta and sandwiches are also available, with prices ranging from PhP140 to PhP280.

Covered and surrounded by greens, Mom & Tina’s Bakery Café is just right around the corner of Perea St. and Dela Rosa St. Entering Mom & Tina’s is like visiting grandma’s living room. Floral arrangements are on every table centerpiece, while vintage wallpapers and decors cover the walls. It also has an al fresco table setup which is perfect for chitchats. It is open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily.

Mom & Tina’s is known for its pastries and traditional home-cooked dishes. The best-selling dishes are Chicken Spinach Lasagna (PhP125), Lengua con Setas (PhP295) and US Beef Tapa (PhP250). Other must-try items are Caesar Salad (PhP180 for half order), Mini Oreo Cheesecake (PhP190), and Caramel Macchiato (PhP135).

Located on the ground floor of Paseo Center, it is not difficult to spot UCC Café Terrace with its huge glass panels letting one see through and find the café’s classy and minimalist interior. It boasts of its siphon coffee maker displayed at the bar, which is used to make UCC signature coffee blends. The café is open from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekdays.

The menu of UCC Café Terrace consists of Filipino, Japanese, and Italian dishes, the best sellers of which are Omurice (PhP400) and Roasted Vegetable Pesto (PhP320). Besides the best-selling Syphon blends, a must-try coffee beverage is Kori Kohi (PhP220), which is served as separate glasses of iced coffee cubes and warm milk. Prices are subject to 10% service charge.

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For a vibrant and perky hangout, Vanilla Cupcake Bakery can be found at Glorietta 3, along Parkway Drive. It oozes with colors that are food for the eyes. The place is wildly adorned with chandeliers, colorful wallpapers, framed quotes on the wall, and metal garden chairs. It is open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Mondays to Thursdays, and 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Fridays and weekends.

Vanilla Cupcake Bakery is known for its cupcakes and pastries that immediately catch one’s eyes upon entering the café. The Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcake (PhP128) and Salted Caramel Cheesecake (PhP148) are its best sellers, while Sea Salt Chocolate Mousse (PhP158) is a must-try. Among their signature dishes, the best sellers are Beef Salpicao (PhP298), Chicken P. (PhP268), and Australian Prime Rib Eye (PhP398 with rice).

Caffe Pascucci, an Italian coffee shop located along Palm Drive, goes a little beyond the conventional with its red and black interior. Going up the stairs uncovers graffiti-covered walls with the statement, “peace of mind in an unstable world,” which probably sums up what this café offers. It is open every day, from 7:00 AM until midnight.

Paspuccio (PhP125) and Mokaccino (PhP135) are the best-selling coffee on their menu. Caffe Pascucci has different sandwiches and pastries every day, depending on the availability. Prices range from PhP185 to PhP215 for the sandwiches and PhP65 to PhP100 for the cookies and muffins.

Ludo Boardgame Bar & Café is one of the biggest board game cafés in the country with its first branch in Quezon City. After poll results revealed that patrons favor Makati, the second branch opened on Jupiter St. in October last year. With hundreds of board game selections, this café is a very lively place filled with excitement and a competitive vibe, perfect for barkada (friends) bonding or mini team building. It is open from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM on Tuesdays to Thursdays, 5:00 PM to 02:00 AM on Fridays and closed on Mondays. On weekends, it opens at 12:00 PM and closes at 2:00 AM on Saturdays and 12:00 AM on Sundays. Reservation is advised during peak hours.

Each gamer is only required to order food and drinks to enjoy unlimited board games. The best sellers are Sloppy Fries (PhP250), Beef Teppan (PhP250), and Pesto Chicken Alfredo (PhP250). Ludo also offers wittily named cocktails to spice up the games, such as Queen’s Gambit (PhP180) and Ghostbuster (PhP250).

Check our list of cafés in Makati or browse the Dining & Leisure Category of the ShoppersGuide Directory.