It’s easy to feel a sense of ease and belonging once you set foot in Mabuhay Craft Coffee.

This San Juan cafe has the charm of a Filipino home, where you’re free to enjoy slow days with a refreshing drink in one hand and a comforting snack in the other. Here, bright red elements give its rugged walls and facade an oomph, but it’s the attentive service, welcoming people, and well-thought-out menu that give it some soul.

During the day, you’d see casual runners stop by for a cup of joe and chat for a while as you munch on a Kouignsaymada (Kouign-amann + ensaymada topped with buttercream and keso de bola) or Tocinossant (tocino + croissant bruleed with tocino butter and stuffed with salted egg) with equally unique drinks on the side—from Gatcha that mixes gata, matcha, and latik, to Dirty Skrambol, the classic Pinoy street concoction topped with espresso and served with some good ol’ Mik-Mik that takes you back to your childhood.

The cafe gets going even after the sun is down, when you can just turn on the TV and have a blast at karaoke with some of the most exciting Filipino-inspired cocktails you can find in the city. Think Panda Coco made with pandan gin, fresh lemon, and desiccated coconut; Noypi Negroni spiced up with pandan gin, vermouth rosso, tapuey, cacao campari, and dark chocolate; and Langka’t Saging that combines bourbon, jackfruit rum, banana skin, coffee bitters, and banana chips.

At Mabuhay Craft Coffee, you’d want to hang out long after your table is cleared. You’re here to be here—and that’s the point.

Mabuhay Craft Coffee is located at 191B A. Mabini St., San Juan City. It’s open 24 hours daily.

Price range: P150-P280 for coffee; P140-P290 for pastries; P320-P420 for cocktails

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