La Condessa Cafe and Lounge — Restaurant in Quezon City

It gives off a feeling of being exclusive or private. From your arrival, the guard/ reception near the entrance will give you suggestions where to sit. Yes one may opt for the ground floor in front, but the second floor is where the comfort room is for convenience. We heeded her and she made a radio call to other guards above.

So we went up the stairs and I was blown away by how nice the interior design was.

(I knew then that I made the right decision to just go here alone with my partner. I already suggested this place many times whenever I am in Timog with my whole family but of course it was not easy to convince others since the elder members always want Chinese food.)

The guards are also welcoming to guests. The other staff there immediately went to us and had a lot of suggestions as well of their bestseller food.

Alas, we already had a hearty dinner elsewhere and are only here for afters.

Of the smoothies only one was available the other 2 are not. But we ordered the house blend (la Verde lemon basil) and a coffee based rose la condessa and a cake with lemon. She said it was like a leche flan. After a while the crew said the drink we wanted (La Verde) was not available and so we reverted to the other one she suggested and got interested in. Later on I noticed that most tables also had this.

The order taker indeed was helpful on most drinks and food and expertly described them but one simple question I had was how much to substitute to plant based milk since I was lactose intolerant and she said 70. Browsing the extensive menu I spotted it was only 29 and told her. She admitted she might have mistook it for another. It gave me the impression that not many people switch to non dairy milk.

Serving time was fast and got mesmerized by the presentation, so elegant. Came with empowering notes as well. Loved the Beso La Condessa, php 249 and the Catalan, php 269, is delicious. And she was right, it was more like a leche flan and not a regular cake. The straw is eco friendly, the sturdier starch and not the easily soggy paper.

Enjoyed the two except the Sueno smoothie, php 279. I love fresh mango shakes, I would have it often. I know how blissfully sweet and refreshing that is. So when I licked away the whipped cream on top and got to the iced concoction, I winced at how terrible (to be brutally honest) the taste was. It was so synthetic and rancid. Well to be fair the order taker did tell us it was syrup and not real mango. I regretted this one and felt like I should have ordered another.

After payment, we're given a feedback card to write our thoughts with.

The hand wash area is fragrant and has soap but it would be better if there were hand towels as well.

The toilet itself is clean, has soap and tissue and bidet I think, with air fresheners as well but there was a funky smell upon entering the enclosure. It was not downright foul but nonetheless unpleasant. Well I guess I had the misfortune that someone else made the 2 before me lol.

Inspite of the rather expensive price (+there is service charge, total came to almost 900), they also do not have free WiFi here.

What else, oh it is an LGBTQ+ friendly place. They have special rainbow selections, called Kineso, and you can see the rainbow and trans flag by the wall. Some of the customers are as well.

I think pets are not allowed inside since I saw a tiny pooch inside a carrier on top of a table outside the resto.

All in all, still a place to go to...

La Condessa Cafe + Lounge ⭐ Rating: 1 out of 5 📍 Visited: August 2025 | Group of 14 | Late Lunch We had high hopes for La Condessa Cafe in Morato, especially after seeing it featured so many times on social media. The aesthetics of the restaurant are undeniably beautiful — very Instagram-worthy — but sadly, that’s where the good experience ended. We came from a long drive and were relieved to get a reservation for our big group of 14. The menu, though pricey (some items reaching ₱7,000), was something we were ready to explore, especially since we had family visiting from the US who wanted to try top-rated Manila spots. Unfortunately, the service was slow and underwhelming. After being told food would take 15–30 minutes, it ended up taking well over 45 minutes to an hour — and when it finally arrived, everything was cold. Not lukewarm. Cold. Including a 7K steak that should’ve been the highlight of the meal. Despite the restaurant being fairly empty (just a few tables occupied), food was delayed, and servers seemed unbothered. There was no initiative to offer anything to munch on while waiting (which is customary in most upscale places), and it was frustrating to see food just sitting there while the servers delayed bringing it up. When we gave feedback about the cold food, we were met with excuses. One server, Jam, even said they had no manager present because she was giving birth. Not only is that unprofessional, but it’s baffling — how does an expensive restaurant operate without a manager on duty? When we declined to pay for the cold steak, we were told, “Eh sana po binalik niyo agad.” Absolutely not the response you'd expect from any trained staff, especially in a fine dining setting. To be fair, they did offer a discount as a gesture of goodwill — but by then, the damage had been done. The food may look good in photos, but in reality, it lacked flavor, warmth, and care in execution. This was our first and unfortunately, our last visit. La Condessa might win points for ambiance, but in terms of food quality, customer service, and value for money — it fails on all fronts. 👎 Not recommended, especially if you're expecting a premium experience.😡😡😡 Disappointing...

Casual yet upscale dining at the heart of T. Morato Circle. The place offers indoor and al fresco dining exuding a tropical vibe with a hint of mediterranean accent for the walls, ceilings and floors. The inside gives a classy and contemporary ambiance which also offers a full view of the cocktail bar. The whole place is aesthetically pleasing. The service was great. The crew is very attentive and accommodating.

Food review: (n/5stars) Queso Fundido 🌟🌟🌟🌟 — these exquisitely prepared nachos served in cast iron with a generous amount of various cheese (mozza included! 😂) tastes so delightful. This is a recommended appetizer while waiting for your steak or main course. The missing star is for the meager amount of meat. Who doesn’t love nachos with lots of beef, right? 😂

Strip Loin Steak 🌟🌟🌟 — The steak, for us, is average. Tho it doesn’t disappoint! It tastes good but just lacks the ‘oomph’ we’re looking for. We asked for a bit of salt to make it more tasty. The meat is 4/5 tender. We can find the same quality of steak at a much cheaper price.

Rose Latte 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 — Bae liked it so much so we’re giving it a 5 star. Despite the light brown color, the coffee gives a heavy kick! The rose petals provide for a unique hint of floral not only in scent but also in taste!

Lychee Tea 🌟🌟🌟 — the cold drink gives a refreshing feeling with the right blend of tea and lychee. Comes with a flesh of lychee fruit 😂

Triple Chocolate Cake 🌟🌟🌟 — somehow looks like WF’s opera cake and Sour Dough’s triple choco but this one pitches in more caramel in it.

Overall 2.5/5 — you can find a resto with the same quality of food with a much cheaper price point. Although one can’t match the ambiance of this cafe. Good place for catch ups...