Bright and Beautiful: Take a Peek into The Coffee Room in Hollywood Square, Quezon City

For food stylist sisters Lady and Steph Badoy, opening up their own coffee shop was a dream come true. The artistic duo, who is probably more known as the ladies behind the Boqueria Lifestyle Market, couldn’t have been happier when the vacant space at Hollywood Square in West Ave., Quezon City was offered to them. Passionate with food and travel, Lady and Steph collect dinnerware of all kinds from their travels abroad, and The Coffee Room is probably the closest thing to being their precious collection’s home.

But more than the intricately-designed plates, animal-shaped containers, and antique-looking cups, Lady and Steph love—more than anything else—one thing we all do: food. Having been blessed with artistic eyes, creative hands, and keen palates, the sisters not only arrange plates and display them on their Instagram account, they also possess special skills when it comes to the kitchen. It is then no surprise that everything at The Coffee Room is made with love: from the beautifully arranged pieces, to the interiors, to the dishes presented to each excited newcomer.

The Coffee Room isn’t unabashed when it comes to impressing its guests; if the bright red door isn’t proof, then I don’t know what it’s for. This striking entry way leads to a small, cozy, bright space dominated by wooden pieces, white walls, pretty knickknacks, books, and almost every item an avid traveler could possibly amass after years of exploration. Looking at each corner, I could almost imagine the sisters digging into flea markets and bazaars in who-knows-where—hoarding all the beautiful pieces they could find. For a moment, I remembered how I rabidly went after rare books back in college and walked home happy, arms piled with hard-bounds and paperbacks. 

I couldn’t decide which corner I liked most—everything was Instagrammable, each nook demanded to be photographed. However, I had a special inclination towards the circular table by the window surrounded by colorful chairs, where you can enjoy your coffee while watching the baristas in action, see incoming diners, and at the same time witness the scene from the street below. I suspect The Coffee Room runs the risk of going bankrupt because people might find it too conducive to overstaying (without ordering anything)—hell, I wanted to sleep there.

In Manila, gorgeous places are commonplace but not all can boast of food to match. At The Coffee Room, the menu is kept simple and compact, yet substantial. Salad bowls would delight the health conscious … and those who are not-so-much. 

I loved the Paleo Mix Salad Bowl (PhP180) made with greens, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, watermelon, candied walnuts, black olives, croutons, and feta cheese—it was terribly delicious and refreshing. The dressing was of apple cider and honey made by Whisk. The burst of vibrant and fresh flavors was an attack to the senses—a good one.

Sandwiches are perfect both for dine-in and takeaways, and if you seek something truly delectable, try the Grilled Chicken Pesto (PhP120), which came in a generous portion, complete with tomatoes, lettuce, grapes, and potato chips. The chicken was moist and flavorful, and the pesto was insanely good—every inch of the pesto addict in me was squirming with pleasure.

The coffees, of course, deserve a try and if you like Vietnamese coffee, they have it. The Ca Phe (PhP110) is a legit version of this favorite Asian blend. I normally prefer just plain black brews, but for this I’m willing to make an exception.

The usual concoctions are also available, and whether you’re a traditional Americano person or one who’s more into the sweeter types, The Coffee Room offers a small selection of blends for you—from lattes to cappuccinos, as well as their iced versions. All are priced reasonably, ranging from PhP60 to PhP120.

Lady and Steph also make their own cold-pressed juices right inside the shop, perfect for those who are craving for something refreshing and healthy. The juices, priced at PhP100/glass, are prepared upon order, and depending on whatever fruit is in season. I tried their watermelon-carrot juice spiced with ginger and I immensely loved it!

For that sweet finish, order their already-famous S’mores Cup (PhP85) and enjoy each mouthful of torched mallows, chocolate sauce, and graham crackers.

Those who wish to do a little food styling themselves—or upgrade their dinnerware—can buy some items from Boqueria displayed in the coffee shop. Any collector would get a fit just browsing through the shelves, and it would be hard not to leave the place without a take-home or two (bought, not stolen, LOL).


When something was born out of love, it will invariably become hard not to love it as well. The Coffee Room is a testament to this—a humble newcomer with so much potential, a lovechild with so much to offer, and a masterpiece teeming with so much passion and beauty that it doesn’t need to raise its voice at all—it just needs to let its own brilliance do the talking.

Congratulations to Lady and Steph for this amazing venture!


~*~
The Coffee Room
3/F Hollywood Square Bldg. (CMS-Asia Sports Clinic), 33 West Ave, Quezon City
+63917.895.5239
Budget: around PhP200/head


Have you been to The Coffee Room? How did you find it?

My meal was sponsored by The Coffee Room. All opinions, however, are my own.

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