The Den — Restaurant in Manila

Came to this place with a friend who’s quite active in the Escolta scene. He loved the cafe and so we brought friends from outside Manila, eager to do a walking tour. Right off the bat, the place had a creative and relaxing atmosphere. It seemed great and we heard nothing but good things about it. We love coffee and loved supporting local cafes, and we tried their signature Handcrafted Berg’s. It was refreshing and also a bit nostalgic, the molasses-like taste of the muscovado sugar played well with the full bodied espresso and light coconut milk. Unfortunately, the good things end there. Our friends had their camera with them, and were fond of doing casual photo walks. Since we were the only customers at the time, they started taking photos while enjoying our stay. we were politely asked by the server if it were for our “personal use” and we were quick to clarify that it was. The server then returned to inform us that it was not allowed because of conflicts with their conduct of business which we completely understood and so went back to just enjoying the drinks. After a while, our friend was then approached apparently by one of the owners, like a boss would an employee, and within an earshot, berated him about what “disrespect of his place” he did and if it was done to him, how would he feel. We were stunned by this assumption of malice and aggressive tone that we didn’t know how to react and our friend apologized for something that he didn’t even understand he did. There were no signs saying that photography was not allowed, and even if there weren’t any, we were amenable to follow any house rule that the place imposes anyway, had we been told to do so. This crude behavior was entirely opposite of the image of community they are trying to promote. This sort of mistreatment goes beyond poor customer service, it’s a lack of basic decency and courtesy. We were utterly disturbed but kept silent despite the awkwardness after. Needless to say, we were left traumatized by the experience. Even my friend who has visited the cafe since 2017 was shocked by the owner’s behavior. What was supposed to be a wonderful afternoon capped by some good coffee turned out to be one of the more discouraging experiences we had as local business supporters and coffee lovers. And looking at the google reviews, we are not alone in this experience. What good is it that your cafe has a distinct creative identity if you lack basic manners for food service? 2 stars, 1 for the coffee which was good and refreshing, and 1 for the servers who are doing their job well. Customer experience? Zero. We...

I’m such a sucker for hidden and low-key coffee shops in and beyond the metro. One of them is The Den, tucked inconspicuously inside First United Building — the 90-year old establishment along Escolta Street that is now home to independent shops, and is a booming art hotspot.

Like a true-blue millennial, I discovered The Den through Instagram. Dragging the BF with me, we forayed to this part of Manila one rainy Saturday afternoon. 😂

The Den isn’t your typical crowded and busy coffee shop with its dark industrial interior and amazing artworks displayed around. It gives off a mysterious and laidback vibe which I immediately loved! It’s the perfect hideout for when you want a place to chill, a coffee date, or just a quiet afternoon with friends.

Lezzgo to our orders shall we? Had the following —

☕️ Berg’s The Den’s original creation, made of espresso, coconut milk and muscovado syrup. The first sip tasted of coconut milk and then the bittery taste of espresso kicked in. I’m usually not into super sweetened coffee but this one worked for me. It’s something new and unique. Completely loved this! Will definitely venture into Escolta again just for this. 😄😍

☕️ Mocha Okay, so what is a coffee shop visit without ordering my default coffee drink? Naturally, I had to sample their mocha. I always have ‘em hot for me to fully appreciate how it tastes. This one didn’t disappoint. It’s rich and chocolatey without overpowering the espresso. It’s so good it almost levels with my current fave mocha drink (Mozaic Living). Haha!

☕️ Chorizo Pasta Ordered food because I was hangry already. Commuting from the North to Manila is no joke. Lol. Their pasta is made from scratch, yasss to handmade pasta, BB! 😍 It was super good! Pasta was al dente and I loved the abundant amount of chorizo tossed in it. Also, huge serving! It’s flavorful but this is just me ‘coz I prefer it to be a wee bit on the salty side. 😛

Aside from coffee and pasta, they also serve pastries and other non-coffee drinks. The owner was there when we visited, was super nice and even approached our table to ask for feedback on the pasta. And all throughout our stay, I noticed that he was really hands-on and was all smiles to all the customers coming in. Coffee shop owners such as him gets bonus points in my book! 😅 It completely shows his passion not just for his business but for serving kickass coffee.

For peeps who don’t mind going to far places just for good coffee, don’t miss out on...

Coffee shop in Escolta??? Yup I was also surprised when I saw Cindy S. review about this place. So given a chance to be in Manila area we took the opportunity visit this place. Its like treasure hunting for this hidden coffee place. Tucked inside First United Building along Escolta you’ll find the Den. People familiar with Hub:Make Lab will now this building. Yup it’s the place where Escolta bazzar is being held. Treasure finds of old manila relic and antique items. The Den perfectly blend with the place with its industrial interior. Unique design of table and chairs. Love the unique artistry of the place. Dark and mysterious kind of vibe. Perfect like a hidden Den in Escolta. Love that this place is a sure hideaway that people will have a hard time looking for you.

For our order I got my Mocha latte and it was really coffee chocolately good and strong. They use blend of Kalsada beans. I love how the barista told us that with their coffee old people around the area are starting appreciate the complexity of coffee flavors. I also got to try the flat white and again I love it! We also love to try their Peach danish but it wasn’t available on our visit. While the pasta start to be served at 12noon. Anyway another good reason to visit the place again.

Overall I highly recommend this place for coffee and art...