Kaulayaw Coffee — Restaurant in Rizal

I’ve discovered a gem in Antipolo last night! With a multitude of restaurants, cafes and bars on offer, Kaulayaw Coffee stood out for me. We came for a nightcap and boy, what an experience!

Their fresh brew has that strong, wake-me-up aroma only a great cup of coffee can deliver. Coffee at Kaulayaw can rival the best brew in Melbourne, imho. Bold call given I’m a Melburnian! A call I’m making nonetheless as it’s very well deserved. The making of their cuppa starts from ethically sourcing coffee beans from local farmers and as the crema touched my lips, I paused to take in the experience and the pride that Philippines can produce high quality coffee beans to match the Italians and the Greeks.

Our party of four was also treated with an array of Kaulayaw’s own kombucha brews - Mulberry Watermelon & Mango sent me oohing and aahing with delight! For those who’ve been to my place in Melbourne know that my pantry is not complete without a stack of kombucha so to say I know a good kombucha is an understatement. The ruby-red Mulberry Watermelon kombucha was oozing with that deep berry bite matched by the refreshing and cooling watermelon flavour. It was such a revelation that mulberry tree can grow and thrive in Rizal! Their kombucha doesn’t have that vinegary undertone that some mass produced kombucha have. Boost your gut health with these Kaulayaw booch!

Oh and there was another brew we sampled last night and this one will send combo lovers of coffee and beer to heaven! We tried their coffee stout and I can tell you that my friend Cindy Valenzuela inhaled it in between gasps of wow and wow.

A first for me is Kaulayaw’s Saniata - a dragon fruit wine that suits the rose and moscato-loving Filipino palate. Every drop was perfectly delicious! Note to self: must have space for Saniata. Ticked!

What is a nightcap without a cake slice (or two)? Their strawberry angel cake is so airy and light with a smack bang full of strawberry flavour. What is not to love? The pavlova was a standout - it has that delicate meringue crust with soft marshmallow consistency inside. That Ying and Yang is matched perfectly with the tang of mango and passionfruit blend sitting on top of that mouthwatering cloudnest that has given me pure joy. The first bite I had on Kaulayaw’s pavlova transported me to that point in time when I fell in love with this great Australian summer dessert.

And the service? It sparked joy! It is utterly superb. It is like receiving a warm hug on a cold Melbourne day or the happiness a big slurp of arroz caldo can give you on a rainy Manila day. The big differentiation? You can see, feel and taste their passion on local produce, ethical sourcing and sustainability. They all beam with Filipino pride! Special call out to Chef Allysa Janine Balicanta Niño for a fab job!

Did we leave Kaulayaw with our tummies happy? A resounding yes to that. We took home goodies to make our tummies happy again the next day.

Will I come back to Kaulayaw to explore and experience more of what they can offer? For my next trip to Manila, the first thing I’ll insert in my itinerary is a trip...

TL;DR: Not recommended. Unhygienic & unsafe/low food quality. Poor service. Price too expensive for food & service quality. Not wheelchair friendly. No parking.

We’ve dined at Kaulayaw thrice.

The first time was great! We loved the desserts (especially the palitaw) and the drinks. My foreigner friend also enjoyed his experience. Their food was okay. We were unable to park btw. I used to recommend this to friends.

The second time was just average. I asked if we can book a reservation next time we visit and they said they don’t accept reservations but I can send a message to be on the guest list for the day. Being on the guest list means I will be prioritized to be seated. Also, still no parking. I parked beside starbucks and suddenly, they started charging a P50! Take note this is just on the sidewalk! Ridiculous!

Third time. I tried contacting them to be included in the guest list and they were not responsive at all. I just opted to walk-in with my guests (brought a foreigner guest too) and brought with me other guests with physical limitations and guess what, still no parking! (But when i checked, apparently there was parking but I was just not offered to park smh!) I had no choice but to park at the neighboring restaurant and paid double just to ensure I secure that slot and won’t be kicked out. Kaulayaw is also not wheelchair-friendly. Food quality was not as great as my previous visits. And that’s not even the worst part.

I ordered a dish and wow! I might be the luckiest customer ever because I got not 1 but 2! I repeat 2!! 2 strands of hair in one dish! 1 in the sauce and 1 underneath the rice!

I caught the attention of waiter #1, he didn’t apologize and acted like it’s normal and just told me he would send the food back to the kitchen and replace it. BUT he didn’t take the food away!

Caught the attention of waiter #2, showed her the strands of hair. She was disgusted, too, and took the dish back to the kitchen. Again, did not apologize. I asked her to cancel the order.

When I got the bill, that order was still there so I looked for the manager. Forgot his name but it’s the only time I got an apology. I even had to complain first! Ugh! He gave us a free slice of cake and was trying to be kind and helpful. To be honest, that was already too late. I used to love Kaulayaw but every visit gets worse than the last, so I won’t be coming back and will no longer recommend this to friends.

I used to highly recommend this to friends especially the foreigners because this used to be a really beautiful place that foreigners and non-locals can have a wonderful experience near the metro. But what happened was just too embarrassing not only for me but for the...

If you think this is helpful leave it a 👍 Allow me to share with you my review of Kaulayaw Cafe based on the below, as of January 2021:

MUST GO: for the overlooking view from Antipolo of the city

Food 👍👍👍 👍 4 of 5 The orders were served within twenty minutes. We had aglio olio pasta 😓, chicken satay with peanut sauce on rice 🙂, and a sandwich 🙂.

For drinks we had ice cold beer - Alcalde☺️

All was okay except the pasta was too spicy 🔥 like there was nothing to indicate that on the menu, and the server made no mention upon ordering. 😓 It was spicy beyond tolerance we had to ask for water, and even then, we could only finish half of it.

The portions are small, and to be honest, the food is as good as anywhere else. I don't mean to discredit them, but I imagine you won't go here if you're hungry. Go here if you want to chill and admire the night sky 🌃

I didn't try their coffee yet, hopefully that's something excellent. Let me know if you tried!

Ambience 👍👍👍👍👍 5 of 5 The view was amazing. We went in the evening and the city lights were lovely. Given the open air setup, you can feel the chilly breeze of Antipolo.

I tried to snap as much photos without ruining the day for other diners, check those out.

Interior decor and furniture give a relaxed vibe. Comfy? Not so much. I think it was designed that way to discourage overstaying.

Accessibility 👍👍👍👍👍 5 of 5 Direct parking wheelchair ramp at the ground floor what's to complain about. Separate toilet for male, female.

Cost 👍👍👍👍 4 of 5 The menu has been uploaded, judge for thyself. I felt the price was a little but though compared to the food quality, but please by all means, give them a try.

I know they support local businesses so maybe that's part of the cost, but again, I only tried a few from the menu.

For the view and the ambience, I think it makes it up to you. ✌️😉

Service 👍👍👍👍👍 5 of 5 To be fair this is my first visit. The staff were polite, although not as attentive - probably because we came in primetime busy.

Checkout the pictures, let me know if you drop by and if anything is crazy good on the menu....