Find the best restaurants, cafes and bars in Metro Manila

This reminds me of Archie comics. Do you know Pop Tate? The owner of the Choclit Shoppe where Archie and the gang usually meets? Yes. This is similar. They have everything sweet and nice--ice creams, milkshakes, floats! Go ahead feel like a child. (but i know they also sell beer

I think i have found the most beautiful coffee in town. Yes. You've read that right. Beautiful.

Toby's Estate coffees in my opinion are does not have the best coffee, i think that they are just a little above the high average coffee. What i could say is their presentation. Just look at those tulip and rose latteart.

According to most baristas, the easiest coffee to do a fine latte art would be the mocha. I dont know. Maybe it is. The rose latte art is cafe mocha while the tulip is Gibraltar.

The cakes were good. I advise you to order their Bruce Bogtrotter dark chocolate cake and you will not regret that smooth and moist dark chocolate cake. I could even eat a whole. A slice qould cost you 250 pesos.
The calamansi pie is too sour for me. I agree with that the whipcream should be eaten with it. The crust is with oats.
The pecan pie has a bit of alcoholic taste. They're just ordinary for me but i love the flaky crust.

So if you want some IG-worthy coffee. You know where to go. Place is not bad i tell you, good for meetings too (specific to this branch).

Century park hotel lobby is cozy enough place to hang out while waiting for an event. Hear the piano playing, soft cushioned chairs, a variety of people chattering, and a cafe bar to serve you.
Now, i just opted for desserts, i got their nippon coup. Just having read the name of the dessert, i already sense that i'm gonna like it!

EDSA is way too traffic... Good thing we evaded half of it by employing waze (oh you have been very helpful lately!)
We arrrived 7pm and the HEAT is just starting. Boom. It's quite traffic in here as well. People walking thru and fro. Over that side are the meat section, over that section are salads, oh there' the dessert section! Yeah food quality here is quite good. Here are some of the good things here

Tea ceremony? Non Iwamoto described the word unfitting for the vast meaning of this ritual So yeah, it's more than just drinking a matcha tea
I got lucky to have a discount on the tea ceremony, Iwamoto san also gave me a tutorial as to how the ritual is done One on one Before we go deep on that, let me just tell you what i got for lunch 

veggie appetizer
Not in the menu but it was offered to me by Rose, the server She said it was a complementary It was a few sticks of carrots, cucumber and jicama ( that's singkamas!) It goes with a peanut-sesame paste to taste

cold soba
The soba was infused with tea I could tell the the leaf taste The green onions, ginger and wasabi were equal in quantity just enough to flavor the dip

Matcha surprise
It's basically an icecream freezed in a cup Then it goes with a warm concentrated matcha You know Japanese affogatto style and i really love it

After that was a session with the host of the ritual Iwamoto san told me that this ritual originated from the Buddhism This ceremony is suppose to set apart yourself from the whole world and just think of nothing So it is expected during a tea ceremony, bawal ang maingay  (like Yay! )
She mentioned, that to your right, most important person should sit Bawal ang mayabang din kasi this ritual also encompasses respect for others and humility

The table will be taken away during the ceremony, and you will have to sit the japanese style

1 The sweets will be offered to you You need to bow down to the host after the host bows to you (yes there is a correct posture for that)

2 Then if you have companions, you need to ask permission first before getting yours (this is done again by bowing to each other)

3 Then in just three steps, use the common chopsticks to get your sweets and place it on paper provided to you (It's actually an envelop with clean paper and a wooden pick inside for the sweets)

4 After that, in three steps again, place your chopsticks back then pass to your left (make sure you give it presentable and kust enough to respect your companion's personal space)

5 Enjoy your sweets while the host is prepping your tea

6 Once your bowl of tea arrives (yes, bowl! But there are only a few ounces of tea inside) you need to bow to each other again

7 In three steps, you draw the bowl near to you Rotate it using your right hand such a way that you will be drinking from the side of the bowl (yes!! They respect even bowls not to drink from front or back of it!)

8 Finish your tea cleanly Make loud slurps 3 huge slurpings will do 

9 Return the bowl in three steps Then bow

The host shall do this one by one to all its visitors And only advisable for a group of 4 (just in case you are more than 4, everyone else will have to sit back and watch the ceremony

The ambiance is no doubt very japanese! Music too is really authentic japanese Chef is japanese What else? It's japan in philippines! Check IG account for some pics

Iwamoto san also sells (makes) pili nuts covered chocolates cause it's a good gift for japanese (since pili nuts cannot be found in japan)

It's an experience you should try if you want to try tea ceremony Iwamoto sa told me that she only taught me the basics (wow) food is great here but tge experience is unforgettable

Parking has at least 5 slots in that area, they're open until 8pm, but they can extend if you have reservations (they have the facebook to do that) Credit cards check as well!
You will never be dissapointed if you visit