Comfy Hideouts

Studying in the same place over and over again may take its toll on you. One anonymous person once said that, "we thrive in change". From time to time, it may be good for us to have a change in our surroundings. So if you're just around Mayon St., and you're looking for a cafe or two to crash and read or study, or pretend to study, here are a few places to try --- my Top 5 Mayon-ish Study Places:

#5 Caffe Dolce

Located at Mezzanine Level, #848 Banawe St., corner Linaw St., Brgy. Sienna, Quezon City

Caffe Dolce is a nice mix of restaurant and cafe. Being known as a "healthy cafe," they offer different vegan dishes and drinks for prices being more or less a hundred pesos. Aside from the restaurant atmosphere, its large and soft red sofas add a sense of luxurious feel to the place. While a combination of soft yellowish glow of the lights and a large stuffed bear near its entrance give off the comfy atmosphere of a cafe.

The staff are very accommodating, and the comfort room (which is one of my must-haves when looking for a study place) is clean and divine.

What I really liked about Caffe Dolce was their selection of caffeinated drinks dressed with rose petals. I don't know why, but it's just that I have this thing with tasting petals and or leaves in my drink or food.

The drinks we offered weren't just visually appealing, but also tasted great. We also liked the Grandmother's cake (I think that's what it's called), because it was not too sweet, but tasted just right.

I'm not sure as to the opening, but Caffe Dolce closes at 12 midnight.

#4 Burger King

Welcome Rotunda

Aside from the free wifi, the place is relatively more well lit than most cafe's or study places. Although, during the wee hours of the morning, you'd be bugged by the crew to hop from one table to another because they are already cleaning the area. Still, the food is awesome (even though it's fast food)! And, well, it's open 24 hours.

# 3 Myon's Cafe

Located at #390 Mayon St., Sta. Mesa Heights., Quezon City

This newly-opened cafe atop a luxurious French Mediterranean Cuisine located along Mayon St. should be considered as a 'great find'. I haven't tried the restaurant downstairs yet, but I've tried studying in the cafe upstairs. The cafe was smartly conceptualized, was very "maaliwalas"/looks very clean and is the perfect place to read with natural lighting.

The pieces of furniture were also very comfortable and had that vintage feel, and you can actually choose different spots to love anywhere whether inside the air-conditioned area, or outside with the plants. The comfort room is also very well equipped with lots of paper towels and hand soap.

They offer different pastries, pasta, and caffeinated or decaf drinks with prices ranging from around 150 pesos and or above. However, come dark, you may have to transfer to another study place because I think the place closes at around 8 in the evening. They also have free wifi!

# 2 Jollibee

Welcome Rotunda

Although you may have rolled your eyes when you saw Jollibee at the number 2 spot, it is actually a great study place. It even surprised me too, but it actually is really a great study place. It is relatively well lit (upstairs) and they also have free wifi. Although it looks busy during its peak hours, the secret is that you have to stay at the 2nd floor before they close it for cleaning time. To secure your spot, seat at the corner sofas near the restrooms. Look at the picture below.

Then, come around 9 or 10 pm, they'd definitely start clearing other customers out, but your group probably won't be asked to clear --- ours didn't, except for one time when the lady manager asked as to transfer downstairs (most of the time, with the male managers, they'd allow you to stay upstairs, and you'll have the place all to yourselves). Look at us enjoying our private study place at the picture below.

The staff are also very accommodating, they would even tell you that they are closing off the 2nd floor but that it's okay to stay. How nice!

# 1 Kaffe Cafe

Located at #46 Banawe St., corner Ma. Clara (in front of POC), Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City

This would have to be one of the best finds ever. Tucked neatly in front of POC, is a little haven known as Kaffe Caffe. It is a 2-storey cafe offering drinks and food with prices ranging from 100 pesos. But, hell, I'd just have to say that this cafe offers the best-tasting and worth-every-peso drinks  ever --- like Caramel Macchiato. The atmosphere is really comfortable, and the staff are very accommodating as well.

They also have free wifi. And aside from the worth-it-drinks, you can actually leave your stuff lying around and go grab a bite in Yellow Cab, KFC or other fast food chains nearby. Just don't forget to tell the staff that you'll be back.

So, whether you'd be studying, or just simply looking for nice, simple, but fun hideouts, I suggest you try these places. But well, some would say that sometimes, it's not actually in the place or in the food, but in the company that we keep that makes everything seemingly perfect.

Have a nice reading!

xo,

- Keso, OTRP