You can find all sorts of cafés in Manila, and for many of these places, there tends to be an overarching philosophy of "more is more"—whether that's in the form of eye-popping aesthetic interiors, high-tech brewing equipment or machinery, and the like. There's nothing wrong with that, but sometimes all that complexity can also feel overwhelming (especially given the fast-paced nature of city life!)—and we just find ourselves wanting to go back to basics. Enter Kape Cinco, an al-fresco all-day breakfast spot and coffee shop in Marikina that stands out thanks to how they highlight simplicity and love for all things local.
Check out Kape Cinco, a cool al fresco cafe in Marikina:
A Place for Those In Search of New Coffee Experiences
Kape Cinco's Maricar Enriquez shares that their family enjoys going on out-of-town trips and searching for "new coffee experiences," and Kape Cinco was inspired by pop-up coffee bars they saw in Tanay. "[The idea for the café] started [with] a very casual barbero conversation, [with] nothing serious planned," Enriquez shares in an email exchange with SPOT.ph. "Then we thought about using just a small part of a lot [that] we were lucky enough to buy three years back, [and this] progressed into adding 'silog meals catering to what Pinoys want to eat. Simple, affordable, nothing too fancy." They named the café after its address—5 Mount Airy Street—and went with a Filipino concept, using rattan and wood-based materials. "It came together nicely, giving [off] a provincial vibe," says Enriquez." True enough, stepping into their wide and breezy space will make you nostalgic for the carefree days of spending vacations in the province, as it's got a free and easy vibe with plenty of greenery and fresh air that stands out from the usual hubbub of the city.
What to Order From Kape Cinco's All-Day Breakfast Menu
Once you've soaked up the sights and sounds of their space, you can move on to treating your tastebuds with their all-day 'silog meals—which include the Tapa (P100), Tocino (P80), and Longganisang Macau (P80). "We highlight Pinoy and Marikina dishes from our rice meals to our panghimagas," says Enriquez. "We support and promote local products. [We're] inspired by how everyone became so resilient especially during the pandemic, [and] supporting each other's local business will hopefully make a difference. Proud Marikeño [here]."
This philosophy extends to their coffee, as Kape Cinco makes it a point to support local farmers in Batangas. "Our go-to beans are Arabica and Barako," Enriquez explains. She admits that they keep things simple and don't use fancy coffee machines ("at least not yet"), but their coffee nevertheless has a certain rustic charm that makes it very much worth the sip—whether you go for the more straightforwar Pinoy Coffee (P70) or Brewed Coffee (P60), or the more indulgent Mocha (P100) or Caramel Macchiato (P100).
What's great about Kape Cinco is that you can come as you are—there's zero pretense, and you can expect to be welcomed onto their premises just as you would be when you're coming home after a long day. Add to that great coffee and tasty eats, and you've got yourself a hangout you'll be going back to over and over again.
Kape Cinco is at 5 Mount Airy Street, Mountain View Subdivision, Santa Elena, Marikina City. For more information, check out KAPE CINCO Breakfast All Day's Facebook page.
*This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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