Renowned as one of the world’s oldest Chinatowns, Binondo blends Filipino-Chinese history, culture, and commerce. Binondo is a popular food crawl destination among tourists and locals alike best known for authentic Chinese cuisine like hand-pulled noodles, steaming dumplings, fresh lumpia, and flaky hopia from historic eateries.
If you’re looking to take a breather, Binondo also has a few notable cafes where you can relax after walking around the bustling streets. Here are a few cozy cafes in Binondo that you can visit this Chinese New Year – or bookmark for future visits.
Apologue Coffee & Pastry
Apologue is a modern café located on Benavidez Street, which opened in October 2023. The Binondo Third Wave Coffee shop features a minimalist, traditional-style storefront that blends into the street, with vintage-style interiors and photographs of classic Binondo scenes on display. It’s a great option, whether you want to hang out with friends or need a quiet spot to work or study. It’s also one of the few cafes in Binondo with bike racks, so that’s a bonus for cyclists in need of a coffee break.
Apologue serves unique coffee drinks, including Binondo Latte (ube), Pei Pa Koa Latte, Sea Salt Latte, and house-made pastries like Cereal Milk Tres Leches and Tiramisu. For the Chinese New Year, the cafe is releasing new pastries, including a Pineapple Cake and a Sesame Sable.
Apologue Coffee & Pastry. 934 Benavidez St., Binondo, Manila.
Beanstro
Beanstro is a vibrant, orange-themed café along Tytana Street known for its cozy, retro design and creative, viral drinks. Attracting a younger crowd, this cafe evolved from a coffee truck before transforming into a full cafe serving coffee, pastries, and unique desserts. Try their Hot Tablea with Marshmallow, Matcha Seasalt Cloud, and trending Dubai Chewy Cookie. Some Chinese New Year specials last year included a Dirtea Latte (Chinese Black Tea with coffee) and cookies made from Ube Tikoy and Red Bean Tikoy.
Beanstro. G/F Tytana Plaza Building, Binondo, Manila.
Escolta Coffee Company
Escolta Coffee Company is a specialty coffee roaster and cafe with two locations in Binondo. One shop is located in the historic Burke Building, a 106-year-old heritage building on Burke Street, while another branch is inside the First United Building along Escolta Street. The cafe highlights Filipino-grown beans from regions such as Bukidnon and Benguet, including Arabica and Robusta blends. Coffee aficionados can try their range of pour-overs, cold coffee, and regular coffee drinks, alongside tea, and enjoy the minimalist, heritage-conscious interiors.
Escolta Coffee Company. Unit G3A Burke Building, Escolta cor Burke St, Brgy 291, Binondo & First United Building/HUB, Escolta Street, Binondo.
The Den
The Den is another great spot for coffee lovers to discover inside the First United Building, the renowned 1928 Art Deco structure on Escolta Street. It’s one of the many creative concepts inside the HUB Make Lab, a culture and creative hub for artists, cafe owners, and independent businesses. The contemporary cafe is on the ground floor of the historic building, next to boutique stalls, bars, and a barber shop. Coffee specialties to try include Berg’s (Espresso, Coconut Milk Blend, Muscovado Syrup) and Dirty Matcha (Premium Grade Matcha, Milk, Espresso), and more, which you can enjoy with filling rice bowls, sandwiches, or pasta dishes.
The Den. First United Building, 413 Escolta St, Binondo, Manila.
Grand Cafe 1919
Grand Cafe 1919 in Binondo is a restaurant housed in the historic HSBC Building, originally built in 1922. Previously neglected, this structure near the El Hogar Filipino Building underwent extensive restoration and was transformed into a two-story cafe that now draws curious tourists. If you want to lounge comfortably in an air-conditioned space as a break from the smaller streetside eateries, Grand Cafe 1919 offers a modern and PWD-friendly space. It’s suitable for larger groups who want to dine over cake and coffee or enjoy a full range of meals. The unique history of the building and classic photos of Old Manila and Binondo add to the historic appeal of the cafe.
Grand Cafe 1919. 117 Juan Luna Street, Binondo, Manila.
Whether you’re weaving through Chinese New Year crowds this year or dropping by on a quiet weekday, these neighborhood cafes in Binondo offer coffee, culture, and character.
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