Bike-friendly cafes in the Maginhawa area

The coffee and cycling culture has really boomed in the Philippines. Since the pandemic hit, pop-up coffee kiosks coffee and minimalist roadside cafes serving good coffee catering to cyclists have become destinations on their own for weekend rides. You can find a lot of minimalist and pop-up roadside cafes situated in scenic spots along biker’s routes like Antipolo, Timberland, Boso-Boso, Marilaque, offering relaxing spots to rest during longer rides.

But for those looking for a destination for quick city rides, there are plenty of cool coffee shops in and around the metro that you can check out as well. Here are just a few cafes in my own Maginhawa neighborhood where bikers can grab a good cup of coffee and snacks for those chill Tambike sessions.

READ MORE: Outdoor dining and al fresco restaurants in Maginhawa

While most of these specialize in coffee and light snacks, I also included a few full-service restaurants with al fresco or outdoor dining that offer bike racks or secure spaces for cyclists to park their bikes while they eat.

MA+D Manila Café 

Even before the pandemic-induced cycling boom, MA+D Manila Café was already a popular spot for both cyclists and motorcycle riders since it opened its doors in February 2017.

The café offers interesting signature drinks like Korean Dalgona Coffee, Turkish Coffee, Vietnamese Coffee and Portuguese Mazagran, and a few pastries like croissants, Pork Floss, and Garlic 3-Cheese Bomb.

You can also buy locally grown coffee beans by the packs here. Aside from providing a rack for cyclists, there’s also a public bike repair kit stationed right outside the café. Since seating inside is limited, they’ve expanded with tables set out in the open-air garage.

118 Matahimik St., Quezon City. . Open Daily: 9am-12mn. Instagram: @themadmanila

BahayCo Cafe

BahayCo Cafe, short for “bahay community” is a new café in the Maginhawa area, that doubles as a bookstore and will soon have a co-working space. This hidden cafe is ideal for residents looking for a quiet space to work and get a cup of coffee during weekdays, as well as a destination for solo or couple riders on weekend leisure rides.

The cafe serves good coffee and food specialties from Pangasinan. There’s proper bike parking, the tables here have helmet racks, and they offer free water refills to bikers who have their own tumblers. They now sell some bike-related items like accessories and reflectors. Read more about Bahay Co. Cafe here.

BahayCo Cafe, 63 Maginhawa Street (inner courtyard), Quezon City. Open everyday except Tuesdays from 8am to 5pm. Instagram: @bahaycocafe

Pino/Pipino

Pino Resto Bar, a long time institution in the foodie strip, recently reopened again with al fresco / well-ventilated indoor dining and a more bike-friendly set-up. There are now large windows all around the restaurant, which makes the front of the space feel like open air street side dining.

Bike racks are now available for cyclists in front of the space or they can bring in bikes to the back (covered) al fresco area.

The restaurant serves old-time favorites from Pino like Kare-Kareng bagnet, as well as vegetarian options from their sister restaurant Pipino, for those who want something healthier.

Pino also serves coffee, all-day breakfast and brunch favorites, merienda fare and more. While the windows of the main dining space are usually closed and air-conditioned in the morning and lunchtime because of the heat, they open all the windows 5pm onwards for a more al fresco feel.

39 Malingap Street. Open daily from 7am-9pm. Instagram: @pinorestoph

Built Cycles/WideEye Coffee

Built Cycles is a bicycle shop and sportswear store located along Kalayaan Avenue near the Maginhawa area. The shop, which features some cool street art by Archie Oclos and Egg Fiasco on the facade, also has a small coffee brew bar cafe by Wide Eye Coffee that serves a few pastries.

You can now enjoy a cup of coffee while waiting for your bike to get serviced here or browsing at the shop to buy some gear.

Built Cycles, 74 Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. Tue-Sun, 9:30am to 5pm. Instagram: WideEyeCoffee

Garlic Kitchen

Garlic Kitchen is a garden restaurant that serves Asian-Western fusion meals like burgers, lechon baka, chili wings, pasta, and more.

It’s a popular night spot because of the romantic set-up, but they also serve hot and iced coffee drinks and snacks for those who just want a refreshing pit stop for drinks after a ride during afternoons. The area is spacious and we’ve had no problem bringing in our bikes whenever we dine here.

#56 Maginhawa Street. Instagram: @garlickitchenqc

Gedli Coffee

Gedli Coffee or “kapehan sa gilid” is a collective-run coffee shop at the corner of Matimtiman and Magiting Street with sidewalk seating and small benches.

This cafe is in the same space occupied by Terra Bomba, which sells terrariums and plants. They sometimes set up pop-up markets selling different goods. Vegan choco chip cookies are also available aside from the coffee options.

Gedli Coffee, Matimtiman corner Magiting Street. Instagram: @gedlicoffee

Hot off the Press

An old residence that’s been converted into a spacious and airy restaurant that serves good specialty coffee made with beans sourced from Benguet and comfort food like pastries, pasta, sandwiches, and rice meals.

The al fresco area patio offers a cozy spot for bikers who just want to enjoy a cup of coffee and pastries.

163 Maginhawa Street. Open Monday to Sunday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. Instagram: @hotoffthepressph

Kopi Roti at Mayaman Street

For those who want to experience a taste of Singapore in the metro, Kopi Roti on Mayaman Street has become a popular go-to spot for weekend cyclists and riders.

They serve hot, cold and ice blended drinks along with famous specialties like Kopi Bun, Roti French Toast, Kaya Toast, Milo Toast and a small kiosk selling chicken wings. The street side cafe offers outdoor seating and several bike stands for bikers to use.

Kopi Roti, 38 Mayaman Street, Quezon City. Instagram: @kopirotimayamanstreet

Kopii Shack at Z Compound

Kopii Shack is an outdoor coffee shop that offers locally sourced beans and a few pastries. The hip shack is located within Z Compound, the pioneering food park in the area, so you can enjoy a wider selection of food to go with your drinks.

They sometimes hold live music sessions during weekends. The whole food park is very laid-back and you can just bring your bikes inside.

Kopii Shack, Z Compound, 33A Malingap Street, Quezon City, Instagram: @koppiishack

SGD Coffee

SGD Coffee / Bodega is a coffee processing facility, warehouse, and cafe that highlights the work of coffee farmers from Sagada set within a repurposed house.

The cafe offers all-day breakfast fare featuring ingredients from Sagada and in-house made pastries. While the space itself is a bit enclosed, the last time I biked around the area, I noticed that the cafe now has a small bike rack in their parking lot.

Cyclists can also request to bring their bikes in the garage for added security and dine in the al fresco backyard area that used to be the smoking area, instead of inside the cafe.

45 Maalalahanin Street. Instagram: @SGD_coffee

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