FEEL AT home with nature, awaken your inner kid, try a Maginhawa St. classic, and visit a gorgeous wafflerie. Keep your Instagram aesthetic alive with these photogenic and satisfying cafe finds.
HILLSIDE CAFÉ AND JUICE BAR
57 Mother Ignacia Ave, Diliman, Quezon City
Reunite with the soothing aura of nature in Hillside Café and Juice Bar. The driveway is lined with lush flora that refreshes one’s senses. Once inside, the cozy ambiance takes customers to a quaint countryside house complete with books, music, and pillows.
Start treating your body right with the cafe’s healthy assortment of food. Try the Beancurd Chicharon, which leaves a lasting taste of crunchy tofu dipped in apple cider vinegar; the Aglio Olio Seafood Pasta, a combination of noodles, garlic infused olive oil, shrimp, clams, squid, and nuts, expertly cooked on a pan; or the enticing Soft Taco Chicken—tender chicken overlaid with garlic yogurt and barbecue sauce.
For dessert, the Vegan Chocolate Cake is a must-try. Unsweetened and purely made of cacao, it leaves a strong taste of luscious dark chocolate on the palate.
Finally, detox with a Superfood Smoothie: Hillside Greens—an amazing blend of spinach, moringa, mango, banana, chia seeds, coconut meat, and coconut water topped with slices of mango and sprinkles of cacao.
Take time to de-stress from the pressures of the fast-paced city life by visiting the café that combines the words ‘happy’ and ‘healthy.’
BZ BEAN
Unit 2, TSL Building, 59 E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City
Kids and kids-at-heart will surely be thrilled upon entering BZ Bean Coffee Lounge, where an entire wall is covered with a shedload of board games and card games. The cafe is a haven for satisfying bites, caffeine doses, and fun-filled moments with loved ones.
Owners Hans Ong, and Thomasian alumna Phoebe Cocuaco envisioned a place where good bonding moments meet good food. Cocuaco prides on the 150 board games of BZ Bean—from the all-time-favorite Monopoly and Cards against Humanity, to games you never even knew existed.
The cafe serves delectable appetizers such as Beef Nachos to warm-up your guts for an intense game of your choice, and to keep you energized during the game, try the Teriyaki Chicken or the creamy Carbonara.
BZ Bean also serves coffee, frapuccino, and tea. The hot Caramel Café Latte is the best pick for a chilly weather; its foamy latte art will make your Instagram post irresistibly tappable. On top of every visitor’s list must be the Matcha Frappuccino, topped with a twirl of whipped cream; the simple but tasty Cinnamon bread; and the posh-looking Oreo Cheesecake.
BZ Bean is truly the best place for eating and playing, where everyone will go home as satisfied winners.
THEO’S BAKED AND BREWED
106-C Maginhawa, Diliman, Quezon City
Amid the hustle and bustle of Maginhawa St., Theo’s Baked and Brewed stands out with its mouth-watering and affordable treats for foodies.
Being a family-owned business, Theo’s takes pride in serving heirloom recipes such as Baby Back Ribs, served alongside a hefty amount of rice and special sauce. Meanwhile, pasta lovers will not be able to resist the classic Carbonara, served with garlic bread, mushroom, bacon, and topped with cheese.
Theo’s is also known for its brewed concoctions like the Roasted Almond Latte, which is served nice and hot with just the right amount of sweetness. The Chocolate Butterscotch Latte, preferably served over ice, is the perfect contrast to the aforementioned savory meals.
The cafe also offers a variety of desserts such as muffins, cookies, and cakes to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Theo’s has clearly managed to catch people’s attention with its good food and artsy interior. A visit to Theo’s will ensure a homey and memorable dining experience.
PEGI WAFFLES
333 P. Guevarra Street, Little Baguio, San Juan City
Pegi Waffles—with its light-colored hues of blue, white and gray—has an inviting ambiance perfect for customers who just want to chill. It is decorated with watercolor paintings, pictures, and books, and gives off a European vibe.
The wafflerie offers a break from the routine food choices. Its specialty, Belgian waffles with a twist, goes beyond the typical ice cream and chocolate syrup combinations.
One of the café favorites is its version of Eggs Benedict, with the hollandaise giving off a unique, unforgettable impression—a tangy taste that perfectly sits on your taste buds. The blending of the Canadian ham and poached egg on the waffle creates a heavenly taste.
Another must-try is the Euro-Chicken Waffle, a simple two-piece chicken fillet on top of a Brussels waffle. The salty savor of the chicken and gravy, and the sweetness of the waffle blend into a unique flavor.
The cafe also offers rice meals such as Chicken Cordon Bleu served with rice pilaf, a children’s favorite but also perfect for adult customers. The white creamy sauce complements the chicken fillet and leaves you craving for more.
Dainty place, good food—now all you need is a camera, and you are one snap away from a mouthwatering, Instagram-worthy photo. F JULIENNE MAUI C. MANGAWANG, AARON THOMAS L. DE GUIA, ALISHA DANIELLE M. GREGORIO, and CARMELA JULIAN E. VALENCIA
Art by ALISHA JANA R. MORALES
Photos by THE FLAME PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM
