Nelson Morales

'Toilet' seats and more: 6 unique cafes in Metro Manila and beyond

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News Intern

<p>With the influx of cafes in the Philippines, shop owners will do their best to stand out--from beautiful interiors to fun gimmicks and add-ons.</p><p>And if you&#x27;re looking for a new place to hang out, here are six cafes in Metro Manila and beyond that you can visit.<br/><br/></p><div><strong>Gerbucks Preserve (Monumento, Caloocan City)</strong><br/><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1744712231098481660836_122192258840136687_2564852617027453313_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Gerbucks Preserve/Facebook"/><span class="fr-inner">Gerbucks Preserve/Facebook </span></span></span></div><p><br/>&quot;Flush those coffee cravings with us,&quot; says <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554100629159">Gerbucks Preserve</a>, a name that combines the owner&#x27;s name, a well-known coffee chain, and the Tagalog slang for poop. </p><p>Gerson Abad said he started the business in March 2024 for his children. Beyond the toilet seats and funny name, the cafe offers affordable yet good quality coffee and beverages. </p><div><br/><strong>Afternoon Cafe + Space (San Agustin, Malabon City)</strong> </div><div><br/><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:300px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1744712151725455093159_17968850480771041_2552625759977317256_n.jpg" style="width:300px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Afternoon Cafe/Facebook"/><span class="fr-inner">Afternoon Cafe/Facebook </span></span></span></div><p><br/>Owned by Sofia and Sunil Malhi, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/afternooncafeph">Afternoon Cafe + Space</a> in Malabon is a vintage, mid-century coffee shop that doubles as a co-working space. It shows the couple&#x27;s love for furniture and coffee, and hopes to provide customers a &quot;homey, warm, and cozy&quot; experience. </p><p>The furniture came from different places, with each piece telling its own story. While the couple did not have a specific theme for the interiors, they were pleased with the outcome as guests complimented not only the food and beverages, but also the overall feel of the cafe. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Tucafe Playhouse (San Mateo, Rizal)</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:600px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1744712062480Tucafe Playhouse 04152025.jpg" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Tucafe Playhouse/Facebook"/><span class="fr-inner">Tucafe Playhouse/Facebook </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Coffee, billiards, and board games? <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tucafeph">Tucafe Playhouse</a> in San Mateo, Rizal has this and more. Launched by owner Lance Evangelista in 2023, it is said to be the first &quot;coffee playhouse&quot; in the country. </p><p>The name of his concept is named after &quot;tu cafe,&quot; which means &quot;your coffee in Spanish.&quot; Evangelista wanted to share his and his partner&#x27;s love for sports to their customers--and safe to say, he achieved this goal as they continue to get positive feedback from customers.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Kalyehon Cafe (Imus, Cavite) </strong></div><div><br/><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1744711889280466548658_595053509750224_6807068739098038962_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Kalyehon Cafe/Facebook"/><span class="fr-inner">Kalyehon Cafe/Facebook </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Located in Imus, Cavite, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kalyehoncafe">Kalyehon Cafe</a> merges the worlds of art and coffee. The business was started by Isis Buxani and his father, who is an artist, in 2022 as a passion project. </p><p>Buxani said they wanted to bring art closer to their coffee-loving guests, noting that galleries are rare in provincial areas. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Kape Kape Cafe (Bacoor, Cavite)</strong> </div><div><br/><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1744711817061481249277_641917871557566_5248256320658910954_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Kape Kape Cafe/Facebook"/><span class="fr-inner">Kape Kape Cafe/Facebook </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Still in Cavite is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kapekapecafe">Kape Kape Cafe</a>, a haven for bookworms and coffee lovers alike. Opened in 2021, it is said to be the first &quot;library cafe&quot; in Cavite. </p><p>Co-owner Andi Ordiales said the library theme not only makes the cafe ideal as a co-working space, but also gives them the right to call the attention of customers who make too much noise. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Kapeta (General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite)</strong> </div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1744711709240486023757_122132806316423151_9043265647554617388_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Kapeta/Facebook"/><span class="fr-inner">Kapeta/Facebook </span></span></span>Another Cavite cafe is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562694550208">Kapeta</a>, located General Mariano Alvarez. Co-owned by &quot;Kuya&quot; Lemuel, it blends coffee, nature, and arts and crafts and one of its main features is handmade spiderweb seating.</div><p>Lemuel said the idea for the theme of the coffee shop came from his partner, adding that the spiderweb seating was inspired by Charlie the Webmaster. He&#x27;s happy that customers come back not just for the food and beverages, but also for the cafe&#x27;s unique ambience.</p>

<p>If you're looking for a new place to hang out, here are six cafes in Metro Manila and beyond that you can visit.</p>

If you're looking for a new place to hang out, here are six cafes in Metro Manila and beyond that you can visit.

'Toilet' seats and more: 6 unique cafes in Metro Manila and beyond

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'Toilet' seats and more: 6 unique cafes in Metro Manila and beyond

ABS-CBN News Intern,

Sam Bernardo

Published Apr 15, 2025 06:20 PM PHT

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