5 Best Coffee Shops in Metro Manila (Reddit Community Picks)

I previously came up with my own list of Top 5 Coffee Shops in Metro Manila (read more), and I got a little curious as to what others think. I wanted to get real sentiments on it, so I thought of sourcing insights from forums or communities. That's when Reddit popped into my head. I surfed through the subreddits and stumbled upon /CoffeePH. Bingo! It was a great place to start, and from there I combed through the threads to come up with this list.

In this blog post post, I'll be running down that list, and share what the 5 most raved coffee shops in Metro Manila are according to Redditors. Likewise, I'll be including some of the common things redditors say about the cafes. I'll then interject with my thoughts, which will be heavily based on perception or opinion given that I only got to try 2 out of the 5 in the list. I am in the process of visiting the rest, so I can update this post thereafter. Hence, feel free to bookmark this page, and check back on it.

Anyway, to make things exciting, we'll start at number 5, and work our way to the top.

5. SaSa Café

SaSa Cafe is located near the Taft Universities (i.e. DLSU, Benilde and St. Scholastica), and so it was unsurprising when it quickly became a hit among the students. From there, word of mouth spread creating a buzz in Reddit, and since SaSa Cafe recently opened up a stall in Robinsons Place Manila, I was able to give it try.

Anyway, I went for their Black Sesame drink, and I added a shot of espresso. I loved it! It's not common to find a black sesame latte around, so I'm very much happy they offer it. I did notice that the price range is a bit steep, so I guess that is something that prevents it to be more acknowledged and eventually rise up in the list.

📍Location: 1030 P.Ocampo St., San Andres Bukid, Manila or 4F Robinsons Place Manila

What to order: Dirty Black Sesame (combination of the Black Sesame and a shot of espresso)

Possible claim to fame: They serve latte that comes with a cake perched on top. I am guessing that this is something that makes people curious to try. It's dessert and coffee in one cup. Oh, also the beans they use are good!

4. Latitude Bean + Bar

 

Redditors are raving about this, saying that if you happen to be in Malate, Manila, you should visit Latitude Bean + Bar. "An underrated coffee shop", this is the usual sentiment. Given that I'm always around the area, I am supposed to know this cafe, but it is unforgiving to admit that I do not. Worse, it was my first time to know about it in Reddit.

To rid myself of humiliation, I started to research more about the cafe, and that's when I saw that people have mixed sentiments about the food. I guess this explains why it's not ranking that high in this list. Still, the good thing about Latitude is that most users agree that the coffee here is top-notch.

📍Location: 1851 Pilar Hidalgo Lim, Malate, Manila

What to order: Based on comments and sentiments, Malate (Spanish Latte) is one of the 'best Spanish Latte in town'. Others also say that they have great pour over coffee selection

Possible claim to fame: The interior is cozy and modern. There's also a hint of old-Manila in the vibe, which makes it very interesting to visit. Given Manila standard (the city, not the province), it clearly stands out!

3. Blocleaf Café

Since they are located in the same area (less than 1km apart), Blocleaf and Latitude are often mentioned together in the subreddit. However, there's marginally more inclination toward Blocleaf because of a stronger concept. Looking at the photos in Google Maps, I can feel that it's retro and chic, giving it a more realized identity. 

Blocleaf is also closer to Roxas Boulevard, which somehow give it that 'beach side' vibe.

📍Location: 1850 Del Pilar St, Malate, Manila

What to order: Assumingly, since these are what I'll try when I get the chance to, the best sellers are Adriatico (Cookie Butter Latte) and Ermita (Cold Brew with vanilla Foam)

Possible claim to fame: Retro, hipster and chic vibe. It also blends natural elements into its design and interior giving it a very refreshing ambiance. I also feel like they have great cold brew just by looking at the picture. I can imagine how the vanilla foam blends well with the drink. Arrrggggh!

2. Niseko Coffee

 

Niseko Coffee floods the thread with positive feedback. People are raving how the cafe is able to capture the essence, vibe and experience of a Japanese Cafe. That may have something to with its partnership with an actual coffee shop in Japan, Kurasu, a highly respected Japanese specialty coffee brand. 

Also, users rave about how the beans are roasted in near perfection, being quoted as something 'balanced, nice and friendly for the palate'. The black coffee is even liked by those who normally don't enjoy it bare (i.e. not adding any milk to their drink). What made this cafe rank higher compared to others is the apparent friendliness of the baristas, which are specifically mentioned and highlighted by several users.

Update (March 29, 2026): I got to personally visit Niseko, and truthfully there was a bit of underwhelming feeling to it. Maybe the uncomfortable temperature of the mall made me more critical, or perhaps I overhyped myself, but the experience was not as excellent as expected. First off, the quoted 'friendliness of the baristas' didn't materialize. They were not rude or anything, but I just didn't feel any difference. Plus, when I asked about the bestsellers, they seem reluctant or even unenthusiastic to talk about it. I've also added a strikethrough above because when I asked the staff, they were not aware of any partnerships with a Japanese cafe. All the beans are also locally sourced and roasted, so nothing really is from Japan. Basically, it's a Japanese-inspired cafe. Thankfully, the drinks were as good as Redditors say. The iced coffee were magnificent, clean, balanced taste! Now, having personally tried it, does it deserve the #2 spot? Hmmmm, I have yet to decide on it. Maybe I need to try all the others in this list first.

📍Location: Greenhills Promenade, San Juan City (there are cited other branches, but this one receives the most mention and positive sentiments)

What to order: Niseko Signature Latte, Japanese Iced Coffee and Match Latte

Possible claim to fame: Their black coffee has the power to convert those who usually don't go for one. Most of the beans are sourced straight from Japan, which gives the beans their unique taste. Japan is also big on pour over coffee, and users claim that Niseko does not disappoint in this department.

1. Firefly Coffee Roasters

 

If Niseko Coffee flooded the threads, Firefly Coffee Roasters made waves. While they are often mentioned together, Firefly Roasters wins by a few margin, particularly attributable to how they are roasting their own beans guaranteeing a fresher brew in every cup. 

However, based on assumptive observations, Firefly Roasters tend to be more for those who are technical or particular about how they enjoy their coffee. Meaning, the more experience and/or knowledge you have with coffee, the more you'd get to enjoy Firefly Roasters. Meanwhile Niseko caters more to casual drinkers, especially those who are exploring coffee for the first time. 

Unfortunately, as of this writing, Firefly Coffee Roasters is finding a new home for its cafe. It was used to be in Banawe, Quezon City, but they've temporarily closed that one. Some discussions in Reddit mention that they are in the processing of finding a better location. It's just hearsay. The good thing is, they are still operating online as a roaster, and sells their beans via IG and even in Lazada. Anyway, despite being temporarily closed, Firefly still merits the inclusion in this list. After all, it's the most talked about in /CoffeePH. 

📍Location: Unit A, 739 Banawe St, Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City, Metro Manila (temporarily closed)

What to order: Coffee beans for now

Possible claim to fame: Given that they roast their beans in-house, Firefly provides higher precision on the taste and overall coffee experience. They are also viewed as an establishment with strong 'authority' in coffee-making, and thus earning its recognition.

Afterthoughts

Given that Firefly Coffee Roasters is temporarily closed, that makes Niseko Coffee No. 1 by technicality. This still makes sense because at the end of the day, majority of us still tend to be casual drinkers, and are still in the process of 'discovering' more about coffee, and Niseko is known to excel in that area.

Secondly, it's fun, yet frustrating, to know that there are top-notch cafes in Manila City, where I currently reside. The fact that there are 3 cafes in this list around here makes me feel like I'm completely missing out. I guess I just need to hurry up and try them! 

Anyway, which among the cafes in this list have you tried? Do you approve of the list? Share them through the comments below or email me at renz.cheng@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!