Apologue Coffee & Pastry: A Third World Coffee Shop at the Heart of Manila Chinatown (They Have the Best Tiramisu!)
When you go to Manila Chinatown for a food crawl, you would expect to see Chinese or Tsinoy (Filipino-Chinese) eateries and restaurants. But recently, hip cafes began popping up, which are perfect resting stops for your food crawl. One is Apologue Coffee & Pastry.
Apologue Coffee & Pastry
Apologue claims to be the first sit-down cafe in Binondo. It’s located in Benavidez Street, where mami (noodle soup) legend Masuki and dim sum spot Wai Ying Fastfood are located.
Their interior is reminiscent of old Chinatown shops, with wooden furniture and vintage flooring.
Inside Apologue
Apologue is conducive to remote working, because they have sockets where you can plug your devices.
There are sockets in Apologue
The word “apologue” means “a short story or fable with a moral lessons.” I think the cafe is trying to tell the story of Binondo.
Artworks of Binondo at Apologue
But more than just a stop in your food crawl or a shelter from the heat, Apologue is a great cafe with good pastries and espresso-based drinks, with some that are Binondo-inspired.
Cakes and Pastries at Apologue
An is their Binondo Latte, which has ube or purple yam, a popular flavor for Filipino-Chinese pastries like buchi and hopia. It is velvety, has a nice ube flavor, and not sweet at all!
Left: Binondo Latte
Other Binondo-inspired drinks are the Black Sesame Latte and Peanut Cake Latte.
But my favorite is their Tiramisu, which is possibly the best version I’ve ever had!
Tiramisu
It’s creamy, tart (because of cream cheese), and has the perfect coffee flavor! I’ll definitely be back in Apologue for this, even if it’s just for takeaway.
We also tried their Chewy Brownie, which is fudgy but on the dry side, and Cheese Tart, which is creamy and tart, with crumbly crust that could be more buttery.
Chewy Brownie
Cheese Tart
Apologue Coffee & Pastry is truly a hidden gem in the heart of Manila Chinatown. I think that it should be a stop for your Chinatown food crawl. They make good pastries and have a chill vibe. I I highly recommend it to you.
Address: 934 Benavidez St., Binondo Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines | Operating Hours: Daily, 9AM-11PM | Facebook | Instagram