It's 60:40 o'clock!
If you're going to downtown Iloilo for any errands, drop by The 60:40 Cafe at Citadines Amigo for a good cup of Flat White and a hearty breakfast plate.
It took me a few minutes to ponder what time exactly is 60:40 (it's not even military time) since the cafe logo is a clock! It turns out 60:40 is a blend comprising of 60% arabica and 40% arabica. I'm a Flat White coffee type of person and this is the only coffee concoction I order in any cafe. Wow, the coffee is pretty good and the breakfast plate is decent and filling as well. I will definitely be back the next time I swing around the downtime area.
Happy weekend!
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| Thanks Pixabay! |
The 60:40 Cafe
Shopwise Amigo Mall (Citadines Amigo)
Corner Iznart Delgado Sts., Iloilo City
Store hours: 6 AM to 12 AM
Iced Kapi ni Tomas (coffee named after St. Thomas), cream cheese bagel and a new book are all it takes to enjoy a quiet "me time" somewhere close to home. Located inside the famous Lizards mansion (now Angelicum School run by the Dominican Order in the Philippines), Cafe Año is a good place for a coffee run if you're visiting Iloilo City and have limited time to explore the city's heritage landmarks.
This is a quiet cafe for locals too enjoy some privacy (if you're not the "Starbucks type person"), good conversation and decent grub and coffee. A nice view of an elegant mansion is a bonus too.
Do you have a favorite coffee concoction?
Mine has always been Flat White and it’s the only thing I order if it's available on the menu, otherwise it's just old plain Hot Americano for me. Lately, I have discovered the umami deliciousness of Dirty Matcha or matcha latte infused with espresso. I usually shy away from flavor combinations as I have a sensitive tummy but I gave matcha-espresso flavor combo a try! Turns out, it's a match made in heaven! Got my first sip of this delicious drink (served iced due to the obvious hot weather situation) at Cup Point Coffee and yes, I'm ready to go back to Cup Point Coffee at a heartbeat for the hot version.
I also love the straightforward atmosphere and millennial aesthetic chic of Cup Point Coffee, the in-store cafe of Sunnies Studios at Festive Walk Iloilo. What a good starting point to explore stylish prescription glasses and sunglasses as well!
See you at Cup Point!
Cup Point Coffee2nd Floor, Festive Walk Mall
Megaworl Blvd., Mandurriao, Iloilo City
Celebrating my cat's 1st birthday was a breeze! My busy schedule did not give me any free time to bake cat cookies or cake or even set-up a fancy cat birthday party at home. I'm really happy that all I had to do was send a DM to Sue's Cake Gallery messenger account to order a custom made picture cake that has Macky's adorable, squishable face on it. A six-inch yummy orange chiffon cake would just be the perfect cake to remember Macky's birthday. Unfortunately, the cake is only for hoomans and maybe a pet friendly cake can come later. Knowing my cat, a can of Sheba wet food is really his perfect idea of a birthday cake.
I had to look for a pet friendly cafe in the city to gather a few friends for snacks and drinks. Guess what? The newest cafe in town that I've been wanting to visit happens to be pet friendly! How cool is that! It's like having your own cat cafe! You can bring your furbabies while you enjoy delicious breads and refreshing drinks at How Now Cafe located at Citadines Amigo Plaza Hotel. It was sweltering hot day during Macky's birthday so I decided to leave him at home. Maybe next time when the weather gets a little cooler I can bring him along while I enjoy coffee and cake.
The cafe has short order items in the menu such as all-day breakfast meals, cakes and Korean style bread. The hot and cold coffee concoctions are perfect with the cakes. If you choose to go caffeine free, the refreshing milkshakes and coolers are satisfying and affordable.
Can't wait to go back to enjoy the rest of How Now Cafe's coffee menu.
How Now Cafe
Ground Floor, Citadines Amigo
Conact no:917 848 4782
I don't need to go to Shà key's Pizza if I'm craving for the wildly popular mojo potatoes. I can find it at Yu Chin Dragon Pearl Tea located near West Visayas State University in Luna St., Lapaz. Paired with any of their delectable milk teas and fruit milks, I can enjoy some "me time" and just watch the busy traffic go by.
Bring a book or Spotify ready headphones if you plan to linger. Yu Chin Dragon Pearl Milk Tea shop is my favorite place to have a relaxing milk tea for one.
If there is a cafe in Iloilo City that I really love due to the type of cuisine offered, it has to be Healthy Kitchen Cafe-All Things Green located at Q. Abeto Street in Mandurriao District. It's just a few steps away from Megaworld Business District and is nestled in a cozy garden setting away from pedestrian hustle and bustle.
The cafe's menu appeals to vegans, vegetarians and occasional meat eaters since the dishes are mostly meat-free. I have a few favorites from the cafe that I order regularly via Grab Food- there's my fave green smoothie drink (chockful of superfood ingredients), Pad Thai, tofu sisig, seafood and lychee curry as well as tasty roti quesadillas. For dessert they have vegan chocolate mousse cake which is my fave.
The cafe also stocks up on healthy pantry staples like dried berries, nuts, grains and other superfoods which are essential for a homemade oatmeal breakfast. I always buy a few packs of flaxseed and dried cranberry if I get the chance to visit the cafe.
Healthy Kitchen Cafe-All Things Green
Q. Abeto St., Mandurriao, Iloilo City
Contact: 09459786995
Dropped by the fountain area of Festive Mall to catch the last day of Iloilo Coffee Festival. With the city becoming a burgeoning coffee shop haven, the festival further reinforced the support of the Iloilo City government, partners and stakeholders in promoting indigenous coffee varieties and homegrown coffee shops and brands.
Teh, ano sa imo? Kape ta anay!
After an energetic run or meditative walk along the scenic 9-kilometer Iloilo River Esplanade and soaking in the heady scent of lush flowering trees and foliage along the way, one would crave for cool drinks, light snacks or an uplifting cup of coffee while watching the river sparkle with life. Walking around the Esplanade is especially inviting in the early morning and late afternoon when the southern sun sets the river ablaze with muted iridescence or playful pastel colors.
As the pandemic is easing down (or up!), the Esplanade is once again open to the public and cafes are sprouting up as people spend more time outdoors to reconnect with self and friends. Iloilo City has had a cafe renaissance of sorts with coffee kiosks or hole-in the wall coffee beaneries setting shop in the most strategic and loveliest of places.
At the entrance of Esplanade 2 (adjacent to Emmanuel Business Center, Benigno Aquino Highway), Café Augusto, an eclectic style cafe serving yummy brunch has recently opened to cater to joggers and runners looking for a sweet spot to unwind. Traditional Ilonggo pastries and heritage dishes are served with your favorite cup of brew. Of course, there are also takeaway goodies to bring home baked by Panaderia de Molo and Yvonne's Cakeworks that are distinctively charming and memorable to the tastebuds, just like the City of Love. For the cosmopolitan inspired, there are fresh croissants and scones to go with your brew.
Drop by the river and Café Augusto can just be the reason for you to come back again and again.
Café Augusto
Esplanade 2, Benigno Aquino Highway, Iloilo City
Shop hours: 6 am-9 pm daily
Some of the coziest cafes can be found just in your neigborhood! For people living in Jaro and Tacas area, this modern rustic cafe located near the entrance of Alta Tierra Village can just be the perfect place if you're looking for some sweet coffee escape. Books and coffee style vignettes adorn dark wooden shelves and if you are Team Kahoy just like me, Barber's Ground Coffee is just idyllic. A lovely place that serves good, no-nonsense coffee, check out their latte range (the butterscotch!) and their wholesome Pinoy breakfast/brunch sets that are hearty and totally friendly on the pocket. For Happy Hour you might want to check out their craft beers- vanilla and caramel beer infused with fruity flavors like lychee and peach.
Barber's Ground Coffee is uncrowded on Sunday mornings, just the perfect place to have breakfast after morning mass or maybe after a haircut at your friendly neighborhood barbero. Do check out the shelves for coffee inspired mementos and souvenirs. They also offer takeaway coffee and grub via Grab Food.
Barber's Ground Coffee
Entrance of Alta Tierra Village, Jaro, Iloilo City
Shop hours: 8 am- 8 pm
Do you like plants? Do you like coffee? Then you would love hanging out in the garden cafe of CINCO, a neighborhood hotspot located at Gran Plains Subdivision in Jaro district. Lush plants greet you as you enter the sanctuary like garden. The place is small and intimate yet very serene- a secret garden if you will for those who want to sip their iced coffees in private. An ideal date place for friends and lovers and plant lovers especially.
Cafe comfort food like grilled cheese, pizza and pasta make up the simple menu. I love a cafe menu that is straightforward and familiar. There's nothing more satisfying than melty grilled cheese washed down with iced Americano. That and between bites of homemade pizza, the cafe life is just best enjoyed al fresco.
CINCO Cafe
Block 6 Lot 4 Phase 5 Daffodils St.
Gran Plains Subd. Jaro, Iloilo City
Shop hours: 2 pm- 10 pm, Wednesdays to Sundays
