Furniture, Fashion + Galettes: Tamarind Place Is Makati's Charming New Lifestyle Hub

(SPOT.ph) A few years back, one wouldn’t have thought much of this empty building fronted by a motorcycle parts store in Chino Roces Avenue Extension. The one just across By Sonja, cupcake purveyor Sonja Ocampo’s café known for its very French menu of dreamy galettes and mille-feuilles. But while everyone was looking elsewhere, a community of creatives had slowly moved in, the floors scrubbed and dusted, the walls given a fresh coat of eggshell paint. Now it's come fully alive, and what was previously just known as YMC Building—with the Y representing the Yupangco family who owns the structure and the land it stands on—will soon officially be Tamarind Place, a new lifestyle hub with a decidedly design-led collection of shops, complemented by select tenants who dabble in F&B.

It’s the latest transformation in the building’s  over 50-year history. “The space has actually had quite a few lives,” says Sara Yupangco-de Ocampo, the person in charge of YMC’s latest incarnation. “It originally started as a tennis court and an archery area for my mom and her siblings to enjoy, and eventually became a music school founded by my grandparents, the Yupangco-Yamaha Music School, with auditoriums where music recitals were held. So there were always children, families, friends, music, and a lot of creativity happening here. Some of the earliest memories of the space are tied to that energy and the experiences people shared here.”

Over the years, YMC’s mix of tenants would become more commercial, hosting solar energy companies, automobile equipment shops, and other businesses who needed commissaries (the Antonio’s Group commissary is still here) and storage spaces. But there was always that thought of going back to how it started.

“We wanted to bring back the feeling the space had in its early years - a place filled with memories, creativity, and people pursuing something they were passionate about,” says Sara. “We’ve always loved the location and knew the property had so much potential; it was really just a matter of timing.” It would take pastry chef Sonja; catering entrepreneur Jovy Acuzar; and Thea Uy of the furniture store Tahanan to fully convince Sara to start building what would become Tamarind Place.

Building a home for furniture, decor and other home accessories came naturally for the Business Management grad who took her masters in Fine and Decorative Arts and Design. “Growing up, one of the things I really enjoyed and bonded over with my mom was our appreciation for beautiful spaces, old-world charm, and the little details that give a place character,” Sara tells SPOT.ph. “My mom has always had a very particular eye for design, not necessarily in a way that is about being grand or luxurious, but more about understanding proportion, materials, craftsmanship, and the feeling a space gives you. Luckily, we have very similar tastes, so developing Tamarind Place has also been a very personal experience for both of us.”

Tamarind Place is the latest in a series of lifestyle and creative hubs that have sprouted in the city in the last few years and has found success, beginning with neighbor Karrivin Plaza, followed by Comuna in Makati, and most recently NBS Park in Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City. A less commercial alternative to malls, they’re designed to be fun but culturally enriching destinations where one can spend an entire Saturday, or any day, in.

At Tamarind, one can spend a whole afternoon shopping for furniture and decor, and in between enjoy an iced latte at the cafe inside Twenty Third by Deanne, or a glass of natural wine from the selections at Super(Natural). Or start the day with a blueberry scone and coffee at By Sonja. And there’s more to come in the next few months for Tamarind: an art gallery, a workshop space, a couple of restaurants that include a make-your-own steak place, and maybe more retail spaces.

“Ultimately, we want Tamarind Place to feel like a small, intimate nook in the city,” says Sara. "Commercially viable, but still personal and human. A home away from home where people can create, grow, and hopefully build something lasting.”

Back in 2020 when Tahanan started, the look of their pieces was very Filipino, with lots of solihiya details and beige furniture. They were working with different communities in the country, from abaca weavers in Bicol to rattan craftsmen from the mountains of Cebu to the ukit masters of Betis, Pampanga. Then came an identity crisis two years ago, which necessitated a pause and a return to the drawing board.

And so what people see in their Tamarind Place address, their first ever showroom which is designed like a chic, sprawling modern high rise living room, is all Tahanan 2.0. Which still carries a lot of Filipino touches but the designs are no longer bound by their place of origin. With the help of design consultant Brian Ver, couple Carlo and Thea Uy found a new identity for their brand, one that’s distinctly their own.

“We wanted to have conversation pieces for the home,” says Thea, “(Where) each piece almost looks like a sculpture. We want to bring back details. We want so much details but without overpowering the main design.” “Subtle maximalism” is how the Uys call it.

The results are furniture pieces created from accumulated learnings from different artisans in the country, but this time with more contemporary touches like the use of marble and lacquer finishes, graphic patterns and unexpected shapes. Their Filipino-ness is now just subtly implied but nevertheless clear. They’re weighty, quirky pieces but will not have a hard time finding their place in stylish homes anywhere in the world. A citation as one of the best designs at the prestigious design fair Maison et Objet in Paris last January —for their Bar Cabinet 01–only proved one thing: Tahanan is definitely back in business and on the right track.

Tahanan is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Iñigo Elizalde Rugs at Tamarind Place is not exactly a store but a studio. It’s by appointment only, and Iñigo Elizalde, the creative director, deals largely with interior designers and architects. “We’re B2B. That said, everything here is for sale,” he says with a quiet laugh.

But you’re welcome to come in, to look around, check out the “incredibly beautiful things” this jewel of a space is filled with—from textiles to fabrics, books and photographs, and rugs, of course. Incredibly beautiful rugs each of which began their story here in this cool, well-lighted office he moved into just a few months ago. He has on display, for example, one that’s designed after the skin of a Philippine cobra, one that evokes a rainforest, and another just an incredibly playful cocktail of shapes and forms inspired by his own photograph of a street graphic. He rolls out a fresh one made of wool and Chinese silk but with a design that incorporates images that range from an ikat iconography to a checker board.

They’re made in different places, from mills in India and Nepal to Afghanistan and Morocco to Samar and Bicol. Much as rugs are functional and decorative, Iñigo’s designs have elevated his rugs almost to art pieces. Not only due to their painterly quality but because of his process. While he starts by taking in as much information from clients, it’s always a collaborative exercise and everything is created from scratch. “Everything originates from a photograph that I had to have taken in person, on site. We never just pull graphics from books or anything like that. Anything that inspires—a graphic, a tree, a place a feeling.” Which only makes the work all the more challenging and satisfying for Iñigo, and assures his designs are completely unique.

Iñigo Elizalde Rugs began in New York in 2011. It operated there for many years until his recent return to the Philippines. Why rugs? we ask. “Why not?” he shoots back, laughing. “Do you know any other person who specializes in rugs here? I’ll answer the question for you: no.”

Iñigo Elizalde Rugs is open Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., by appointment. Contact +63 917 818 1256 or email info@inigoelizalderugs.com

The word “design” often brings to mind minimalist forms and cutting-edge technique, but that’s an image that Twenty Third destroys the moment you step into their cozy yet curated space. In one corner, you’ll find vintage tapestries brought in from Turkey; on a shelf, ceramics from Japan and Portugal; and by the entrance, an actual mahjong table. European cottage-core comes a-calling to one side of the room, while a handsome armchair stands proud in Italian leather on the other. There’s a slice of the world everywhere in this showroom, almost like a friendly travel journal—nostalgic, inspired, and cozy. And the way styles blend together is a testament to the skillful curation in interior design that founder Deanne Lim has employed since she started Twenty Third in San Francisco back in 2020.

“A lot of people ask us, ‘what is this style?’” she recounts. “And it’s so hard to just bring it down to one term, but California casual is one. Quiet luxury is also another term. Overall, the design is very modern yet organic. We have a lot of vintage pieces that we mix with contemporary pieces.”  And with the cafe they’ve opened deeper into the space, Twenty Third encourages you to take your time getting to know each piece. Even the menu here is carefully chosen, with bites made in collaboration with neighbor Sunday Street Co. and drinks inspired by Deanne’s favorites from her own travels, best enjoyed of course on the furniture and ceramics she curates even for this purpose.

“For Twenty Third, my inspiration or intention in every piece that comes here is that I really want people to feel at home,” she says. “The feeling you want to evoke is warmth, with pieces with character and story. Because home is so personal, and we want to be part of your home in the most personal way—that is how we lead with our design intention.”

Twenty Third is open daily 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Every artist has a medium, and before 2020, Jed Yabut’s was primarily structures: he designed buildings and megaprojects in Singapore and Tokyo for well over a decade. However, when the pandemic sent him home, he discovered and developed an affinity with a new one: rattan, which he began to shape into furniture.

“The process of architecture is very similar to the process of furniture design,” Jed describes online. “It’s just that it’s at a very small scale level. So I thought, ‘Okay, why not? Let’s do it.’”

You get your first glimpse of his distinctive work in the lush tamarind-inspired chandelier hanging right above the stairs leading up to the YMC Building’s main corridor—but his showroom is a wonderland reimagining what it means for design to be Filipino.

Step inside, and your eyes won’t really know where to rest, in the best way possible. The Bulalakaw chandelier mimics a shooting star as it arcs across the ceiling, while below, chairs and lounge chairs inspired by anahaw, baskets, and even the bilao dominate. You won’t find respite on the walls, either, as rattan takes on abstract renditions of waves, birds, and even the heart.  Though he’s lived in Singapore and Japan, and now shuttles back and forth between New York and Manila, his focus never strays far from home. 

“These cities give me inspiration,” he continues, “but at the end of the day, I always give the Filipino touch, inspiration, nostalgia, and the memories of Filipino beauty in all our pieces… just pushing the envelope of Filipino design, and being very, very clear with our mission of using Filipino materials, talents, and craftsmanship and bringing [them] out all over the world.”

Jed Yabut Furniture & Design has its open house Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Appointments accepted Thursdays to Mondays. For more information, visit their official website.

In an age of trends that change as quickly as the algorithm, timelessness goes against the grain—but this is the entire foundation upon which slow women’s apparel brand APARA is built. Neutral colors, minimalist silhouettes, and choice fabrics dominate the racks in their little shop, a running theme since founders Ariana Coronel Go and twins Eya and Nana Uy decided to pursue their love of fashion five years ago.

“We ourselves were looking for pieces that would age with us,” says Ariana. “Pieces that weren’t trendy, that I could use now, but also still wear over and over again in five years… Pieces that can transition from day to night, from different roles. And fortunately through the years, we’ve been able to stay very consistent to that core.”

All three of APARA’s founders are also its designers, with each modular piece constructed for easy movement and to flatter many different body types (to the point that even men shop their trousers and bags). And their design philosophy has extended to comfortable genuine leather footwear, too, accessories, and even the partner brands they carry: Pranca jewelry, Saan Saan scented candles, and Ceramics by Mikee Naval. Beyond fashion, they emulate intentionality in lifestyle—something that ties them in with the YMC Building community as a whole.

“Everybody here is a Filipino-owned brand,” says Eya. “And we all have the same love for making our own things, working well together. With this community, it’s not just a destination where people can go to shop for our clothing, but maybe go have a drink or buy scents for gifting. We’re very lucky with who we are in company with.”

Apara is open Wednesdays to Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Walking down the stretch of showrooms, you might catch a whiff of something delicious from an inconspicuous white door. Peep through its window, and you might just find a lean and mean team cooking up a storm in their neat kitchen. This is, however, categorically not a restaurant: this is the HQ of private catering studio Sunday Street Co.

“We started as a brunch concept in 2024,” explains chef and nutritionist Jovy Acuzar, one of three co-founders. “But we pivoted instead to private catering because we wanted to test our concept and test how it was like working together.” Her co-founders Iyay Ignacio and Tara Alvarez are a food consultant and a pastry chef respectively, making them a well-balanced team for the unique menus they tailor for each of their events and regular clients.

“[We make] basically the kind of food that we want to eat,” says Iyay. “It’s a lot of comfort food, and we tend to gravitate towards Mediterranean. We also try as much as we can to incorporate endemic and local ingredients, so we add stuff like sampinit, katmon, and wild mushrooms from Sagada.”

You can order their cult-favorite longganisa-packed Linggo Burger, focaccia sandwiches, and their unique Sampinit Jam & Toast Cookies (P800) on their website and on GrabFood. You can also book one of their blockbuster Pasta Workshops on a weekend. You could even stroll down the hall to try the menu they made in collaboration with Twenty Third Cafe, or the opposite direction for the specials they’ll soon be serving up at soon-to-open (Super)Natural. Though you can’t grab a seat at Sunday Street Co, you can definitely taste and feel their presence in this neighborhood.

Sunday Street Co. is open to visits by appointment only. Visit their website for more information.

Some design houses are born with the birth of a great idea. Breska Home’s origins begin with a love story in Roxas City, Capiz. Before the hints you get from its vintage narra pieces and its nostalgic hand-carved bone inlay patterns, your first clue to it is actually all in the name: a combination of Brian and Cheska Almalbis, its owners. (“Like a mom and pop shop!”)

“Breska Home is a pandemic baby,” explains Brian. “My wife runs a hotel in the province, and I was in construction at the time. Both of our works stopped because all the borders were closed. So wer were like, ‘Okay, now what?’”

At the time, Brian was only courting Cheska, and he raised the bar high when he started building furniture to give to her, including a desk, a cabinet, and even a record table. With their jobs interrupted, both decided to see if they could sell the pieces he was making—and it worked. They opened a workshop, restoring antique pieces and creating modern reproductions still sustainably made with old narra wood.

Eventually, however, inquiries both locally and from Manila came so frequently that it was time to open a shop—one in Roxas City and one in the Metro, which is how they found their place pushing Filipino heritage among other designers in the YMC Building. Today, their shop goes beyond furniture, now including stoneware, pottery, handblown glass lamps made from old soda bottles, and even heirloom jewelry by Cheska’s mother, Filipina jewelry preservationist Gigi Bermejo.

“And that’s why it’s called Breska,” says Cheska. “These items were actually chosen and collected by us—and we’re actually also coming up with our own Breska pieces already, designed by us.”

Breska Home is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The newest kid on the block is still getting ready to open its doors, but a polite knock will get you a sneak preview of the cozy lounge at the very end of the YMC Building’s long corridor. Decked out in plush fabrics and warm maroon and orange, it’d be easy to mistake (Super)Natural for another design showroom or cafe—until you take in its display of wines, anyway.

A pandemic-born passion project of co-founders Kai Yulo and her uncle Rashid Delgado, this is the first permanent physical space of one of the Metro’s biggest importers and purveyors of natural wine. “The bar has always been a dream of ours—though technically, this is a bottle shop and wine lounge,” says Kai, over a glass of Austrian skin-contact wine. “We were just waiting for the right time. Our friends reached out to us about YMC, and it seemed to be the perfect space for us.”

Grab a seat here, and you’ll be able to order natural wines by the bottle and by the glass from their regularly changing selection. Drop by on the right day, and you may get to join one of their collaborations or more offbeat pairing sessions (say, with street food or pizza). 

“The kind of culture we’re trying to create here is one of openness and curiosity,” explains Kai, “So we actually also encourage people to bring their own food, and we can help you find the perfect pairing for it. It could be anything: you can be adventurous.”

For those not quite in the mood for wine, (Super)Natural also serves classic coffee, as well as daily specials by neighbor Sunday Street Co.–-making it one of your best spots to relax after exploring the building.

(Super)Natural opens soon. For more information, visit its official Instagram. 

Few bakers need as little introduction as Sonja Ocampo, the eponymous Sonja from Cupcakes by Sonja, one of the Metro’s very first shops to ever focus on baking and selling joy-sparking, inner child-healing cupcakes. Its outpost in Serendra has been a bastion for the treat since 2006—but its younger and more serious sister By Sonja took to a much emptier YMC Building in 2018 for commissary operations, officially making it the oldest resident on the complex.

“This place was very quiet for the longest time,” explains Sonja. “And when the building opened up, I said ‘I’ll just put a small cafe next to our commissary. We’ll serve sweet crepes and savory galettes—a bit more adult, more French, and then there’s a lot of Japanese influence when it comes to ingredients.'”

Yuzu and hojicha, for instance, feature in some of their sweet crepes (all made with French butter!), and their matcha drinks have become a staple. But in their glass case of daily offerings, you can also find their signature cupcakes as well as freshly-baked selections like their gorgeous Tomato Croissant Sandwich (P350) and a mean Bordier Butter Scone (P175) that needs no fixings whatsoever to punch you with rich flavor.

“This is a place for us to test new products and have people try it, and that’s how it became what it is now,” adds Sonja. It’s this creative spirit that ties the cafe into the community. “It’s always nice to welcome new neighbors and be able to collaborate. I’m actually very excited to see it continue to grow.”

By Sonja is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.