Staying productive is pretty important, but sometimes tried and tested strategies just won’t cut it. Construction work outside your house, an office going through pest control issues, or loud voices in the library— any one of these things is enough to throw anybody off their groove.
And even if your usual place has the best set-up, sometimes it’s good to check out what other places are good in case of an emergency. Luckily, cafés-come-co-working spaces are the new rage in the Metro, and you won’t find a shortage of affordable places to get your to-do list done. Here are some of our favorites.
Diligence Café
For students burning the midnight oil and office workers with afterhours deliverables or flexible work hours, Diligence Café is the perfect spot to get those gears going. At Php 60 per hour and Php 350 for an overnight stay, loads of power outlets, conference rooms for rent, unlimited coffee and juice, plus two branches in Taft and Katipunan, this is prime co-working space for when you need to stay focused. While this isn’t strictly a café, the affordable price tag and late night hours (12nn to 7am) make it perfect for working under a deadline.
Diligence Café can be found at 2F Elizabeth Hall, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, or at 1963 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila. Contact them on Facebook for more details.
The Fat Seed Café + Roastery
The cornerstone of all good working spaces is free wifi, and surprisingly not a lot of cafés fit that bill. But if you’re in the Katipunan area and looking for somewhere quiet to squeeze in some studying in between classes, then The Fat Seed in UPTC is the perfect place to be. Located away from the busy central section of the mall, it’s secluded, has free wifi, and some truly delicious food and coffee. And luckily for students, it’s open from 10am to 10pm daily.
The Fat Seed Café + Roastery can be found at Phase 2 G/F, U.P. Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. Contact them on Facebook for more details.
Refinery
Meeting spaces have to have the right ambiance, and depending on what you’re discussing you could need anywhere from a conference room to a quick discussion in the hallway. For meetings that are more casual, The Refinery is a great choice. With free wifi and delicious food and coffee— the Valrhona Mocha (Php 185 for hot) is a favorite— it’s the perfect spot for talking over decisions. Plus, it’s got a great wine selection for those after work dialogues.
The Refinery can be found at Joya Lofts and Towers, Joya Drive, Rockwell, Makati, and at G/F Greenhills Promenade, Greenhills, San Juan City. Contact them on Facebook for more details.
Cerebrew
Co-working spaces are the new frontier for students, freelancers, and workers with flexible hours, and the more options the better. Cerebrew is located in the heart of food hub Maginhawa, near two major universities. They serve unlimited tea, coffee, or lemonade, have an ample supply of wall sockets for your chargers, unlimited Fibr wifi, and all-day breakfast meals (Php 100-140). It’s also available for rent, and for only Php 4000 you can rent the space for three hours with unlimited beverages for conference or team-building activities.
Cerebrew can be found at 80 Maginhawa Street, Quezon City, Philippines. Contact them on Facebook for more details.
Magnum Opus Fine Coffees
If you’re in the South and looking for the best spot to just sit down quietly with some coffee and work, then Magnum Opus Fine Coffees is exactly the place you need. With generous parking space, fast wifi, and one-of-a-kind coffee (Php 175 for the Chilled Heartbreak, which has 60% dark Belgian coffee and espresso), you’d be hard-pressed to find a nicer spot. The layout of the café is soothing and no frills, and settling down to work here feels like a treat.
Magnum Opus Fine Coffees can be found at The Prime Building, 115 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Parañaque City. Contact them on Facebook for more details.
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Looking for more places to eat, drink, and be merry? Check out the Food category on Daydreaming in Paradise.
If there’s one thing Jonah De Jesus loves, it’s food. He practically grew up in the kitchen, following his mom around as she put together delicious dishes (although he was sometimes more of a hindrance than a help). Although he eventually ended up taking a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, that love for all things gastronomical followed him well into his adulthood.
When he’s not watching reruns of Parts Unknown or trying to imitate Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen, Jonah spends most of his time scouring Manila for all the newest and best places to eat.
