There’s something about a well-made cup of Joe that can brighten your entire day. While regular, run-of-the-mill coffee is great, it’s important to find that special cafe that won’t only serve you a warm drink, but also an experience.
We’ve listed below several coffee spots within Bonifacio Global City (BGC) that you’d want to check out next time you’re in one of Metro Manila’s most happening business districts, whether for a get-together with friends you haven’t seen in years or just a quick coffee run while mall-hopping. While they probably aren’t your usual haunts, these spaces all have something unique about them which, by the end of your Philippine trip, will leave you with a delicious memory that you’ll enjoy coming back to.
1. Auro Cafe
Location: Unit 01 Ground Floor, One Maridien Tower (U/C), 27th St., BGC
Contact details: +63917-1133599, aurochocolate.com/pages/auro-cafe
Price per head: Approximately PHP800
This writer’s personal experience with Auro Chocolate goes way back during a flight where the crew served these delectable Pinoy-made chocolate squares as snacks. They blew my mind, and during that time, there weren’t a lot of places offering them.
Fast-forward to today: Auro Chocolate now has several cafes locally and has even been making waves abroad, holding true to their promise of uplifting Filipino cacao. More than the beautifully warm and Filipino-themed interiors, this cafe is actually a place of wonderful culinary experimentation as they add chocolate to everything.
One of the newest additions to their menu is their Beef Pares Mami. This is a mix of dishes: pares, which is beef cooked in sweet-soy sauce paired with rice and beef broth; and mami, which is wheat flour noodles with meat broth. Auro Cafe blends them together and adds their unsweetened chocolate for a deeper taste and a silkier mouth-feel. Other interesting savory items on the menu include Lechon Pork Belly Kare-Curry and Chorizo Fundido, which both have chocolate in them.
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As this is a chocolate cafe, it’s a must to go wild with their pastries and drinks. Try their Hojicha Choc Au Lait, a blend of Auro’s award-winning white chocolate and Ikeda Senchado’s hojicha. Pair that with their Ensaymada Donut, a cross between two beloved snacks. Why not just try everything on the menu, because everything is just sinfully delicious!
2. Key Coffee Kissaten
Location: Ground Floor Mitsukoshi BGC, 8th Ave. corner 36th St.
Contact details: +63947-7394347, [email protected], keycoffeeph.com
Price per head: Approximately PHP800
Key Coffee Kissaten is one of the oldest cafes in Japan, dating back to the 1920s. Taking from the kissaten or “tea shop” tradition of intellectual conversations and the Hi-Fi culture of music appreciation, this cafe almost has the feel of hush-hush, classy speakeasies.
Since it’s a kissaten, it only makes sense to start with their tea offerings. To cool down, try one of several picks from their Matcha Latte series. If you feel like having coffee, go for their Kuromitsu Black Honey Latte, which is a mix of espresso, milk, and the Japanese sweet syrup kuromitsu.
Pair your drink with a dish. Go from light with a simple croissant to heavy with their Shrimp Salad Roll. If you’d rather indulge in a full meal, try their Ginger Wasabi Salmon set. If you’ll be there for a morning meeting, you should try their hefty Breakfast Specials.
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Come for the food, stay for the music. Being also a Hi-Fi (high fidelity) cafe, Key Coffee Kissaten has its own analog Hi-Fi sound systems and an array of records of different music genres, including jazz, R&B, trip-hop, and Japanese city pop. This cafe is a unique experience (and they serve liquor, too).
3. Yardstick Coffee
Location: 4th Floor SM Aura Premier, 26th St. corner McKinley Parkway, BGC
Contact details: store.yardstickcoffee.com, [email protected]
Price per head: Approximately PHP400 for food + drink
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Yardstick Coffee—a well-loved cafe with branches and outlets in Makati, Pasay, and Pasig—has recently opened near the cinemas of SM Aura in BGC. Following the silver screen vibe, entering this branch feels like going into a neighborhood theater, with its thick, gray curtains and dim interiors. It’s the perfect place for a break from malling.
Yardstick always has exclusives depending on where it’s located. This branch has theater-themed drinks, like Popcorn Latte (popcorn syrup, espresso, and oatmilk), Clockwork Orange (orange creamsicle slushie, espresso), and Now Showing:, which changes depending on the current blockbuster.
Their famous Sea Salt Latte is also on the menu, as well as their cookies and cakes. There are snacks you can bring with you to the cinema, such as the YS Chicken Nugzzz and Rosemary French Fries. You can view the SM Aura branch menu here. Remember that each branch has a different set of exclusives.
4. Malongo Atelier Barista
Location: One Bonifacio High Street, 5th Avenue, BGC
Contact details: +632-82421953, [email protected]
Price per head: Approximately PHP550 for food + drink
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Malongo Atelier Barista isn’t a new fixture in BGC, but it is the first branch of the company outside of Paris and is still one of the best spots to get coffee in the area. Priding itself as a French coffee specialist, Malongo offers its customers only the best and freshest blends—in fact, you’re assured that your beans are always newly roasted and ground since you can watch the process in-store.
Their coffee has a well-balanced taste that this writer’s very sensitive stomach enjoys. If you really want to get into it, try the mellow, delicious—and expensive—Jamaique Blue Mountain espresso, which has hints of flowers and honey.
We recommend their breakfast sets for a hearty meal to start your day. Get the Complete Breakfast, which is a croissant, scrambled eggs, back bacon, and a mix of fresh spinach, sauteed mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes. It comes with a cup of coffee, too. And don’t skip their crepes. Go from sweet to savory, depending on your mood.
Malongo Atelier Barista’s BGC branch is its first, but they’re also in McKinley West (likewise in Taguig) and Legaspi Village, Makati.
5. Del Union
Location: 3rd Floor Fully Booked, Bonifacio High Street, BGC
Price per head: From PHP120
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From the waves of La Union to the streets of BGC, Del Union opened its doors in early 2024 to bring the beach-favorite Dirty Orxata to the metro.
Vibe-wise, this cafe is the total opposite of the homey shack of its sister resto El Union, with its ‘50s diner/brutalist design. Nevertheless, you get the same warm service and delicious drinks that their La Union branch is known for.
It goes without saying that you have to order the Dirty Orxata. It’s not a visit to either El or Del Union without it. (They have an oat version of this, too!)
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Looking for something filling? Go for their Smoked Chicken Sandwich and add a Side Salad. Then take your cup with you and settle into a comfortable nook with the book you just bought from Fully Booked, where the cafe is located.
6. Masa Madre Bakeshop
Location: G/F Cocolight Building, 11th Ave., BGC
Contact details: +63967-4970920
Price per head: Approximately PHP500 for a pastry + drink
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Are you someone who loves pastries, particularly the crumbly goodness of Viennoiserie? Then head to Masa Madre Bakehouse for some of the best croissants, rolls, and other breads you’ll have in this part of Metro Manila. This bakehouse/cafe is well-known for their freshly-baked goods and quiet interiors.
The best thing about this place, aside from the food, is they’re pet-friendly! This is definitely where you should meet family or friends who need to bring their fur babies with them during your catch-up session.
If you can’t choose from all their pastries, you can never go wrong with starting with their Classic Croissant. If you’re adventurous, try their Turon Croissant, a local take on an old favorite that features caramelized bananas, latik, and torched sugar. Masa Madre Bakehouse offers boxes and bundles of different pastries as well, so you can easily take them home with you. And of course, you need to try their line of coffees and teas (matcha included).
7. % Arabica
Location: Shangri-La The Fort, 30th St. cor. 5th Ave.; and Mitsukoshi BGC
Contact details: arabica.coffee/en/locations/philippines
Price per head: Approximately PHP350 for a drink + pastry
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% Arabica has two locations in BGC: one is their Roastery at Shangri-La The Fort, and the other is within Mitsukoshi. % Arabica interiors are always white, bright, and minimalist, and while they are conducive for short conversations, these are better spaces to either stay in one corner and read a book, or to pick up a quick cup and snack to go.
Their drinks are simple and straightforward. If you like it sweet, we recommend their popular Spanish Latte, served either hot or cold.
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If you like that balance between sweet and bitter, go for their Cafe Latte and a Pain Au Chocolat. Don’t forget that they’ve got matcha ice cream, too!
8. Sawada Ichigo Cafe
Location: B1 Mitsukoshi, 8th Ave. cor. 36th St. Grand Central Park, BGC
Price per head: Approximately PHP500 for a drink + dessert
“Ichigo” is the Japanese word for “strawberry,” and the Sawada Ichigo Cafe, which opened in December 2023, has lots of it coming in fresh from Japan’s Chiba Prefecture. Located amidst stores of the ever-bustling Mitsukoshi BGC, this cafe has a very tight but efficient menu that would satisfy your dessert cravings.
In this unforgiving summer heat, the best thing you can order is the Kenzui Ichigo, which is a simple but delicious serving of shaved frozen Beni Hoppe strawberries and Hokkaido milk. No sugar, no syrup—just pure, unadulterated fruity goodness. If you want something on the go, try their Ichigo Premium Smoothie.
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There’s also something for coffee drinkers, of course. Go with their Cafe Latte, and as recommended by the store, pair it with their Ichigo Pie.
9. Kevin Ong Patisserie
Location: 4th Floor, Food on Four, SM Aura Premier, 26th Street corner McKinley Pkwy., BGC
Contact details: [email protected]
Price per head: Approximately PHP800 for a drink + pastry, upwards of PHP1,200 for a box of bonbons
Kevin Ong is a pastry chef known for his delicate sweet creations, and his very own patisserie is his venue to showcase his skills. You can enjoy the fruit of his creativity and labor in his newly-opened branch in SM Aura. If you want to truly indulge, this is the place to be. Just check out how beautiful this Limone is:
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Craving for an elevated classic? Try the pecan pie and pair it with their White Mocha Coffee.
A visit to Kevin Ong’s Patisserie isn’t complete if you haven’t bought any of his chocolate bonbons, so make sure to grab a box before heading out. Chef Kevin and his team also cater to bulk and/or online orders. Simply fill out this form.
10. Good Neighbor
Location: Ground Floor Verve Tower 1, High Street South Block, 26th Street, BGC
Contact details: +63956-7258040, +632-83741899, [email protected]
Price per head: Approximately PHP1,000
Good Neighbor isn’t just a cafe, it’s a bopping brunch spot. Call in your amigas for a late morning brekkie with delectable things to fill your belly. Start off with their Grilled Cheese Sandwich because—just look at that cheese stretch.
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If you want rice (because we’re way past avocado toast—although it’s still pretty good), go for their popular Good Morning ESL, which has crispy fried squid, sunny-side up eggs, fried chili, and garlic rice. Dessert? Their Callebaut Chocolate Cake slice has your name on it.
Don’t pass up on their coffee. Try their Peppermint Mocha for a nice, cool kick. Those who prefer a boozy brunch would be happy to know they serve cocktails, too. Try their Mystery Cocktail and find out what’s really in it.
