10 Best Biker-Friendly Cafés in Manila
Dedicated biker slash TikTok storyteller Buji Babiera lists down his favorites.
(SPOT.ph) A café doesn’t necessarily need to have bike racks or repair kits for cyclists to visit. As long as bikers feel welcome and assured that their beloved bicycles are secure, they will readily come to hang out for coffee and conversation after a bike ride. With more bike-friendly cafés emerging in Metro Manila, I've compiled a list of the best cafes for your next coffee ride.
Here are the 10 best biker-friendly cafés in Manila:
Kuro in Katipunan
Kuro, a café along the busy road of Katipunan Extension, is a go-to spot for cyclists who just came down from biking in Rizal. Run by the Rebolledo family, who are cyclists themselves, this small coffee shop embraces its customers with comforting drinks, delightful bread, and genuine hospitality. While they’ve already built a community of loyal customers, newcomers are equally welcome — whether you come on a bicycle or not. The best combo to try? Their Ube Latte and Chicken Pie.
Kuro is at 146 Katipunan Avenue, Bgy St. Ignatius, Quezon City. Open Tuesdays to Fridays at 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 7.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1C Coffee in Kapitolyo
1C Coffee in Kapitolyo is an easy favorite of many cyclists and biking communities, perhaps because it understands the needs of these customers. Firstly, the coffee is excellent. Additionally, there is ample bike parking, and there's no judgment for anyone who arrives after a long ride. It has a welcoming environment for bike-related conversations and it’s also a bonus that both the owners and the baristas are cyclists themselves.
1C Coffee is at 6 San Francisco Street, Bgy.. Kapitolyo, Pasig City. Open Monday to Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday to Friday from 8 a.m to 9 p.m., Saturdays at 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays at 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Library Café By Gourmet Farms in Roxas Boulevard
Located at the ground floor of the Ramon Magsaysay building in Malate, The Library Cafe by Gourmet Farms is the best place to hang out after a nice morning weekend ride in Manila. Bikers can enjoy a cup of coffee and pastries with the beautiful view of Manila Bay. The entrance is located in front of Diamond Hotel, and you can park your bike in the café’s al fresco area. I went there recently after enjoying the car-free Sunday of Roxas Boulevard, and there was free coffee for cyclists!
The Library Cafe by Gourmet Farms is located at the Ground Floor of the Magsaysay Center Building, Roxas Blvd, Malate, Manila. Open Monday to Friday at 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Yardstick Coffee in Legazpi Village
During the pandemic, Esteban Street in Legazpi Village became a favorite spot for cyclists. Every weekend, you’d see almost a hundred bikes lining the gutter and sidewalk, with cyclists finding comfort in Yardstick's coffee. Now, in the post-pandemic era, this café remains an easy choice for bikers because of the spacious bike rack located just in front of its door. While I love Yardstick’s coffee, I highly recommend trying the Oatly soft-serve, which is only available at this store.
Yardstick is at the Universal LMS Building, 106 Esteban Street, Makati City. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Grouphug Café in Alabang
If you’re in the south and looking for an aesthetically-pleasing café with good coffee, visit Grouphug Café in The Mercedian in Filinvest City. This coffee shop has been very accommodating to cyclists and are supporting initiatives of various cycling communities — they even organize community bike rides and offer biker discounts. Now that they’re in a building, unlike their original location in BF Resort Village in Las Piñas where bicycles could easily be parked in their outdoor space, there are still plenty of bike racks available that can be requested at the counter.
Grouphug Café is located at Filinvest City, 2409 Civic Drive cor. Centennial Road, Alabang, Muntinlupa. Open Tuesday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Monday and Saturday at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Also read: Mornings in Poblacion: Charming Cafes with A+ Coffee to Match
Magdamag Market Café in Esguerra Avenue
The Mobility Awards recognized Magdamag Market Café along Esguerra Avenue in Quezon City as the “most bike-friendly standalone establishment” with a silver ranking. True to its accolade, this biker-friendly café, run by the De Guzman siblings, demonstrates evident care for the cycling community. Aside from offering dedicated bike parking and bike repair tools in the coffee shop, Magdamag Market Café also hosts various cycling-related events to promote an active lifestyle.
Magdamag Market Cafe is at 14 Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, Bgy. South Triangle. Opens weekdays at 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Resonate Coffee in Marikina
Marikina has already cultivated a cycling culture in the city, even before the biking boom during the pandemic. Many shops and cafes are very welcoming to people on bicycles, but if there’s a coffee shop that I’d recommend, it’s Resonate Coffee located at the corner of Bayanan-bayanan Avenue and Dao. Resonate’s story began with the owners selling cold brew online, then they sold coffee at the cycling hotspot Timberland. It eventually evolved into a pop-up kiosk. Now, they offer specialty coffee in a brick-and-mortar shop, attracting a bigger crowd, particularly cycling communities.
Resonate Coffee is at 113 Bayan-bayanan Ave. cor Dao Street, Marikina City. Opens daily from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The Curator Coffee & Cocktails in Makati
Dubbed as one of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, The Curator in Legazpi Village is a favorite coffee shop during the day before it transitions into a bar at night. Every weekend, especially on Sundays, cyclists flock to the al fresco area of The Curator. Cyclists love it there because C. Palanca Street is shaded, there’s ample bike parking, and the coffee is excellent.
The Curator is located at 134 Legazpi Street cor. Palanca Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City. Opens Sunday at 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., Monday at 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Friday and Saturday at 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Type A in Mandaluyong
Located along Sheridan in Mandaluyong, this small coffee shop is a gem in the bustling area — you'd never even think there's a shop offering specialty coffee in the vicinity. Type A Coffee offers one of the best cold brews in Metro Manila, but don't miss out on their hot drinks either. Bike parking is very convenient if you want to grab a quick drink before heading to work or if you need a caffeine boost in the afternoon.
Type A Coffee is located at 7 Sheridan Street, Mandaluyong City. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bikes and Coffee in BGC
Bikes and Coffee Manila in BGC’s Uptown Parade might seem like it targets people who are into performance cycling, but it welcomes everyone, regardless of what kind of bicycle you have. There’s good food and coffee from Refuel, and it is an official retail partner of the world renowned cycling brand Rapha. Check out Bikes and Coffee Manila on their socials because they also host community rides and events.
Bikes and Coffee Manila is located at Uptown Parade, 9th cor 36th Street, Uptown Taguig, Bonifacio Global City. Open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6.pm., Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Buji Babiera is a storyteller on TikTok and a cycling advocate. He's been regularly biking for the past four years and runs the Facebook group First Bike Ride.