If you study around the University Belt or want a cozy spot to catch up with friends near UST, Calle Café by Don Gabriel along Dapitan deserves a spot on your list. Students love this place for its aesthetic study vibe, signature drinks, and comforting café bites.
Here is a breakdown of what you should order—from their viral matcha creations to their heavy-hitter savory plates!
The Drinks Battle: Roasted Almond Matcha vs. White Chocolate Matcha
Calle Café serves several matcha variations, but two stand out. They offer completely different experiences depending on your taste:
Roasted Almond Matcha
- Flavor Profile: Nutty, aromatic, and nicely balanced.
- The Verdict: If you enjoy the earthy taste of green tea, pick this one. The roasted almond flavor grounds the grassy notes of matcha without drowning them in sugar. It tastes light, fragrant, and smooth.
- Best For: Anyone who wants a moderately sweet refresher during long study sessions.
White Chocolate Matcha
- Flavor Profile: Rich, milky, and sweet-forward.
- The Verdict: White chocolate creates a thick, creamy base that softens almost all of matcha’s natural bitterness. It drinks like a liquid dessert.
- Best For: Sweet tooth lovers who prefer a creamy, dessert-style matcha latte.
The Savory Bites: What to Order
Nacho Grande
- The Vibe: Loaded, crispy, and shareable.
- The Verdict: The kitchen stacks these chips high with savory ground beef, cheese sauce, and classic toppings. While ₱380 hits a bit high for standard U-Belt student budgets, it offers great value when you split it among 2–3 friends during a group review session. (Tip: Ask for extra pickled jalapeños if you like a spicy kick!)
The Pesto Pasta Series
Calle Café offers three distinct takes on pesto, so you can pick the exact meal for your hunger level:
- Classic Pesto: Tossed in olive oil, garlic, and vibrant basil herbs. Light and herbaceous.
- Cream Pesto: Blends smooth cream with rich basil pesto. Velvety, filling, and comforting.
- Pesto with Shrimp: Upgrades the classic basil pesto base with juicy sautéed shrimp for a satisfying lunch.
Looking to experience a piece of rich culinary history of Manila? Visit Café Adriatico in Malate—one of the city’s oldest and most iconic heritage cafés!
The Ambiance
The moment you step inside, you will notice that students treat this café like a second home. Even on a Sunday, the space fills up with students hitting the books and laptop, creating a calm, focused, yet welcoming atmosphere.
Here is what stands out about the vibe and store design:
- High-Trust Environment: Students comfortably leave expensive laptops, tablets, and phones sitting out on tables unattended while grabbing a drink or using the restroom—a testament to how safe and community-oriented the space feels.
- Relaxed Noise Levels: While you will naturally feel conscious of keeping your voice down to respect those studying, casual chatter and catch-ups are completely fine.
- Friendly Staff: The staff members deliver warm, patient, and welcoming service that adds to the homey atmosphere. Even the Calle Cafe owner, Joseph Odita, gave us a warm goodbye as we left the cafe, lol.
- Distinct Store Concepts: The Dapitan branch features a fun, unique cave-like entrance concept. The España branch leans more into a lush, plant-filled aesthetic.
- Earthy Aesthetics: Despite the differing entrance themes, both branches maintain a consistent earthy interior equipped with warm wooden chairs and tables.
Where to Find Them: Branch Locations
Calle Café expanded beyond its original UST hub, so you can catch their drinks and food across multiple locations:
- Calle Cafe by Don Gabriel UST, Dapitan – 1343 Dapitan St, Sampaloc, Manila
- Calle Cafe by Don Gabriel – España – España Blvd, Sampaloc, Manila
- Calle Cafe by Don Gabriel – Taft Avenue – 2510 Taft Ave, Malate, Manila (near DLSU)
- Calle Cafe by Don Gabriel Montalban – New Location – J. P. Rizal St, Rodriguez, Rizal
- Calle Cafe by Don Gabriel – Tagaytay – Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Hwy, Silang Junction South, Tagaytay City
Have you tried Calle Café yet? What is your go-to order when you study around UST? Drop your favorites in the comments below!
