If you’re heading to the City of Pines this coming long weekend (make that a looooooong weekend), you should schedule a visit to the sprawling cafés in SM Baguio. Apart from the selection of brews, there are also delectable pastries to pair with your cup as you sit back, relax, and enjoy the view. Here, we listed down our recommended coffee shops ~espresso-ly~ for you:
James Wright Café
Location: Ground Floor, North Terrace
Wright this way for affordable yet quality coffee! James Wright Café is under the 30-year-strong company Valley Bread, so you’re assured that the baked and brewed items on their menu are worth giving a try. Our top picks are the Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Ube Oat Crumble, and Choco Dacquoise. For drinks, order the Greek Frappe, Hot Mocha, or Cheesecake Latte. The homey James Wright Café in SM Baguio also doubles as a study and work area so you can catch up on your emails (only when it’s *super important*).
North Brew
Location: Lower Ground Floor, Main Building
Every cup of coffee prepared by the homegrown café North Brew is made from roasted coffee beans of diverse origins. Start your day with their aromatic Cordillera Cold Brew Latte or the simply striking Brewed Coffee. Coffee lovers will surely love it here since they can also bring home Kalinga and Sagada-sourced coffee grounds.
Coffee and Pine
Location: Lower Ground Floor, North Terrace
Iced coffee is superior but when you’re up in the City of Pines, it’s best to have a hot cup instead. Fall in love at first sip with Coffee and Pine’s signature Caramel Macchiato or their milky Atok Haze Latte. The café also serves other beverages such as Matcha Cream Cheese Milk Tea and Blueberry Smoothie. Enjoy your drink with the Mac & Cheese or Triple Decker.
Vizcos’s Restaurant And Cake Shop
Location: Lower Ground Floor, Main Building
There’s no surprise why Vizcos’s Restaurant And Cake Shop is a part of every Baguio traveler’s itinerary—you just can never go wrong with their bestselling and mouth-watering Strawberry Shortcake! It’s made with locally sourced strawberries with a pillow-soft chiffon as its base. Have a slice at the café or bring an entire box home, plus a Tres Leches or Mango Cake. Yum!
Nanyang
Location: Upper Ground Floor, Main Building
Nanyang may have multiple branches in Manila but it’s also great to see their branch in SM Baguio that greets you with a spectacular landscape. Famous for their Singaporean treats that won’t break the bank, this establishment offers more than the famed Laksa and Hainese Chicken meals: They also have specialty coffees like Kopi, a brew with evaporated and condensed milk (ofc you have to pair that with the Nonya Kaya Traditional Toast).
Volante
Location: Level 2, Sunset Terraces
Anyone up for waffles with maple syrup, strips of bacon, and brewed coffee? At Volante, it's not only their fresh-out-of-the-oven pizzas and savory pasta that you should indulge in! Choose from desserts including Mama Lou’s Apple Pie and Choco Vanilla Affair, plus their French Press Coffee and Hot Cocoa. Despite the fancy name, everything at Volante is budget-friendly!
Highland Brew
Location: 3rd Floor, Main Building
Now here’s a comforting coffee shop that gives a brew-tiful view of the city. Highland Brew is situated on the top floor of SM Baguio which you’ll love to visit after spending your day walking and doing some serious shopping. Their drinks like the Mt. Ulap Tiramisu and Mt. Pulag Cloud are like a big hug while the flowery beverages Purple Lavander Lemonade and Hibiscus Rose Garden calm your senses. Try any of these with the Bibingka Cheesecake Espesyal and Baguio Ube Cake.
