Gandiva Café and Archery Range
Unit 704 One Corporate Center, Julia Vargas Avenue,
Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Tel. No. 638-8771
Open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Mondays to Fridays);
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Saturdays); closed on Sundays
On the hunt for vegetarian food and a new hobby? Click for more.
(SPOT.ph) In a business district filled with fast food options, restaurants and after-office hangouts, this vegetarian café and archery range is the odd man out. In fact, one does not wander into Gandiva Café serendipitously. Located on the seventh floor of an Ortigas high-rise, Gandiva is a spot for people who intend to veg out, and maybe even learn how to hit the bull’s eye.
A café which features an earnest all-vegetarian and vegan menu, Gandiva aims to debunk the notion that vegetarian food equals tasteless fare. Stand-outs include the Veggie Supreme Pizza (P275, 12-inch pizza; P420, 18-inch pizza) with a crispy crust made from malunggay and cheese substitute. It's topped with chewy veggie meat and has a rich, savory flavor. The Basil and Tomato Pizza (P220, 12-inch pizza; P350, 18-inch pizza) is also an easy vegetarian favorite while their eggless desserts provide a sweet alternative to your usual sugar-laden treats: Gandiva stocks apple walnut loaves and banana slices, perfect for pairing with their organic coffee. Since the café also caters to an office crowd because of its location, rice meals are available for lunch. Also a must-try on your first Gandiva visit: carbonized ginger beer and their refreshing tanglad iced tea.
Right next to the café is an indoor archery range that welcomes both newbies and archery enthusiasts (hourly fee is P150, equipment rental is P200 and trainer’s fee is P200/hour). “The range is borne out of the owner, Joseph Bismark’s, love for the sport and the desire to grow archery at a grassroots level. He is not only into healthy food but the family is also into archery as well,” says Marti Bismark, one of the trainers at Gandiva Archery Range. Gandiva sells starter bows for those who are keen on pursuing the sport after a few lessons.
Photos courtesy of Gandiva Cafe
