10 of the Best Cafés in Makati City

(SPOT.ph) Makati has the reputation of being one of the busiest cities in the Metro. And if you’re someone who works and lives here, you might have realized you need a certain amount of energy to keep up with the pace of the city. But sometimes, you also just need a place to chill after a long day.

Also read: Iced Coffee Hacks You Can Do At Home

Here are the 10 best coffee shops in Makati where you can either energize with a good cup of coffee or just sit back and relax:

Habitual Coffee

Space is hard to come by in a city like Makati. Thankfully, Habitual Coffee offers a lot of it—making this coffee shop an ideal spot for both work meetings and after-office hangouts. The café also specializes in hand-brewed coffee made using an AeroPress machine. This technique not only brings out the coffee's flavors and tones, but it also makes for a smoother brew.

Must-tries: Flat White (P120), Latte (P140), Long Black (P90) 

Habitual Coffee is at 2135 Chino Roces Avenue, Legazpi Village, Makati City.

Neighborhood Café

At first glance, Vengo’s Neighborhood Café might seem like any other coffee shop with floor-to-ceiling windows and the occasional hip wall accent (in this case, the café uses neon lights). But what makes this place stand out is its next-door neighbor: A taqueria. While you can opt to order pastries from the café’s own in-house menu, you can (and probably should) cross-order from the restaurant next door. Try pairing their Love, Rosie, a pink iced-espresso drink, with any signature taco. It may seem like an odd combination at first, but the drink's delicate floral notes goes well with the punchy flavors.

Must-tries: Love, Rosie (P180), Shiitake Mushroom Tostada (P168), Chili Con Carne Tortilla Bowl (P228)

Neighborhood Café is at C. Palanca Jr. Street corner Dela Rosa Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.

Toby’s Estate

With their solid brews and coffee blends that come straight from Australia, Toby’s Estate has become one of the best places to grab a cup of coffee right before a busy workday. But their branch along Pasong Tamo Extension is arguably a must-visit. It has the usual Toby’s Estate aesthetic—white walls, reclaimed wood, and subway tiles—but it’s infused with a few splashes of color here and there. Besides cold brew and espresso-based drinks, their extensive menu also offers all-day breakfast, dessert, and even wine. It’s the perfect neighborhood hangout, whether or not you work in the area.

Must-tries: Chai Latte (P150), Flat White (P160), Bucky’s a la Mode (P250)

Toby's Estate has branches at V Corporate Center, 125 L. P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village; Senta Condominum, 140 Legaspi Street, Legazpi Village; 3/F Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Poblacion; and Whitespace Manila, 2314 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City.

Yardstick Coffee

Although Yardstick Coffee has been around for over five years now, their lone branch in Legazpi Village is still a go-to for people who love specialty coffee. The interiors here are completely minimalist—some would even describe it as bare. But that’s because they choose to focus on their coffee, rather than on flashy aesthetics. The baristas are also more than ready to go into the details behind your chosen brew, even offering lessons on coffee making. Pro tip: Their homemade waffles are some of the best in the city. In fact, they bagged the the third spot on our recent Top 10 Waffles in Manila list.

Must-tries: The Original Cold Brew (P180), Yardshake (P180), Barista’s Breakfast (P330), Waffles (P230)

Yardstick Coffee is at G/F Universal LMS Building, 106 Esteban Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.

The Curator 

This hip coffee shop is a hidden gem located right in the heart of Legazpi Village. With sleek minimalist interiors and a brightly lit space, it's easy to feel right at home here. The baristas here also love to experiment, creating unique blends on an almost daily basis. But explore a little bit further into the café and you just may find yourself in a speakeasy, which has snagged a spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list.

Must-tries: Cold Brew (P160), A.O.J (P250), Honey Grilled Cheese (P350)

The Curator is at 134 Legaspi Street corner Don Carlos Palanca Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.

Cartel Deli

Tucked away from the tall skyscrapers and busy intersections of the city, Cartel Coffee + Deli can be the ideal place to get away from the hustle of Makati. There’s a welcoming and homey vibe to the café, thanks to its use of wood paneling and dim lighting. The menu is also relatively simple, as the chef lets the ingredients speak for themselves. The coffee is sourced directly from Yardstick Coffee, but they also have non-caffeinated drinks for non-coffee drinkers.

Must-tries: Italiano, Salami Ham, Cheese and Arugula (P290), Spinach Quiche (P160), Hot Chai Latte (P140)

Cartel Deli is at 119 L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City.

Single Origin

Single Origin prides itself on their single-origin beans, which are harvested from a single country or farm. This gives you a deeper understanding of where your brew comes from and how exactly location can have an effect on flavor. Single Origin’s baristas are more than happy to share their wealth of knowledge on that. This focus on flavor is also evident in the café’s food, which is made with only the freshest ingredients.

Must-tries: Salted Caramel Latte (P175), Café con Leche (P150), Classic Waffle (P295)

Single Origin has branches at G/F Edades Tower & Garden Villas, Rockwell; and Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City.

ABKD

Stepping into ABKD in Poblacion feels like walking into someone’s cozy family home; the interiors have a distinct local touch, with capiz lighting fixtures and retro batibot chairs. That coziness extends to the café’s menu, with familiar dishes that come with unique twists, like a carbonara that trades in the usual spaghetti for bucatini. Another twist? The café is also home to a secret bar on the second floor, making this the perfect place to wait for day to turn into night. They even have a takeout counter where you can order classic Pinoy bread like pan de sal from their mini bakery.

Must-tries: Eenie Meanie Bucatini (P405), Chori Burger (P398), Mintmelon (P100)

ABKD is at 5663 Alfonso Street, Poblacion, Makati City.

West Town’s Coffee

From a laundromat-slash-coffee shop in Chicago, West Town’s Coffee eventually found its way to the Philippines, being the first coffee shop in Manila to carry a coffee-profiling machine. This unique machine allows baristas to extract 100 different flavors from just one type of bean. And with West Town offering coffee from countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Brazil and local places like Benguet, Sagada, and Mount Apo, you can just imagine the variety of flavors that they offer. It’s sure to make even the non-caffeine drinker fall in love with coffee.

Must-tries: Cortado (P125), Latte (P145/regular, P155/large), Mt. Apo Pour Over (P170)

West Town's Coffee is at The Milano Residences Piazza, Valdez Street, Century City, Makati City.

Poison

With their dim and neon-lit interiors, it’s clear that Poison is far from your typical doughnut shop. The menu here is limited as chefs Miko Aspiras and Kristine Lotilla have decided to focus on quality rather than quantity. While you can get classic flavors like chocolate and vanilla, you can also try doughnuts with more eccentric ingredients like garam masala or blue cheese. Either way, the doughnuts pair well with the shop’s coffee, which they source from Yardstick Coffee.

Must-tries: Garam Masala (P70), Salted Dark Chocolate (P50), Egg Custard Brulee (P70)

Poison is at The Alley, Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Chino Roces Extension, Makati City.