Binondo is not exactly a top-of-mind destination when considering where to go for good coffee and pastries in the metro. As one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world, Binondo is best known for street eats. Most food trips here involve chowing down while standing on street corners or squeezing into humble hole-in-the-wall joints hawking Chinese food where you usually have to wait before you can get a table.
The narrow alleys, limited parking slots, and high foot traffic make driving in Binondo a true test of driving skills for car and SUV owners. But if you’re traveling by LRT-1 (get down at the Carriedo station) or exploring on two wheels and happen to be near the area, it’s easy to swing by for an impromptu Binondo food trip and caffeine fix.
Apologue, the first real sit-down coffee shop in Binondo brings a modern twist to classic Binondo flavors through their quality coffee and delicious pastries. The cafe is relatively young, having just opened in October 2023, but the character of the cafe matches Binondo's old soul and is a great place to enjoy a leisurely cup of joe.
The cafe is located along Benavidez Street, a 3-minute stroll from the bustling corner of Ongpin and Salazar Streets. You can spot it just across Masuki Mami, a long-running Binondo institution.
Apologue Coffee & Pastry is one of the rare bike-friendly cafes in the area. The first time I spotted it after biking in Intramuros, I immediately noticed the bike rack up front, the cat logo bearing the cafe’s sign, and tasty offerings scrawled on their chalkboard outside.
During a recent revisit to the area, I made it a point to pop in for coffee. While the lines were long in some other Binondo joints like Vege Select and Wai Ying, I found a seat easily here and enjoyed lounging in air-conditioned comfort for a while without feeling like I had to rush.
Apologue has lovely interiors, with old tile flooring reminiscent of the types of cafes you’d find in downtown areas of Hong Kong or Taipei and wooden tables that can be adjusted whether you’re dining solo or with a group. Framed photos of old Binondo are hung up on the walls and “Hello, Binondo” shirts and tote bags for sale are on display on a wide shelf.
This is the type of cafe that attracts the co-working crowd and students as seen by the number of people in front of laptops when I dropped by. The cafe has Wifi, sockets, and good lighting ideal for studying or working. Their restrooms are clean and well-maintained, which is pretty rare for the area.
Apologue serves regular coffee like Espresso, Cappuccino, Flat White, and Americano ranging in price from P120-P150. They also have a wide range of signature brews that use ingredients and flavors commonly associated with Binondo like Peanut Cake Latte and Binondo Latte, which uses Sticky Ube and Tikoy with milk. There’s a Black Sesame Latte inspired by Buchi, the fried Chinese pastries coated with sesame seeds. The drinks range in price from P160-P230 (hot/iced).
I absolutely loved their Sea Salt Latte, which is said to be one of the crowd favorites. As someone not too fond of overly sweet coffee and desserts, I found this refreshingly delicious. The sea salt added a subtle, yet distinctive salty edge to the coffee. This cup went perfectly with their slice of Tiramisu, another bestseller.
The cake had that perfect balance of subtly sweet and velvety mascarpone. It wasn’t cloyingly sweet and had an airy coffee-soaked sponge that melts in your mouth. You could share this slice, but you’ll likely finish the whole thing. It’s one of the best Tiramisu slices I’ve had lately.
I hope to try the other offerings with friends next time because everything on their menu sounded great. Apologue offers cookies like Pistachio Cranberry Biscotti, Brownies and Lemon Squares; bread like Ube Cheese Ensaymada, and other chilled cakes like Earl Grey Tres Leches (infused with tea), and Dragon Scale Tres Leches (with strawberries serving as the scales). They recently released flavored Cheese Tarts in various flavors: Black Sesame, Ube, Strawberry Matcha, Tablea for P120 a piece or P600 a box.
In case you want something filling to go with your coffee, they have a few savory options like Grilled Cheese Brioche Sandwiches or Shrimp Aglio Olio Pasta.
As mentioned earlier, street parking for cars is pretty limited in Binondo. If you drive a car, you have a better chance of parking in Lucky Chinatown Mall and walking here.
But if you’re on two wheels, you can easily swing by and park outside Apologue. If you’re traveling by bike, you might want to bring a bike lock to be safe. You can also order takeout from a kiosk and sit outside.
There’s enough space to squeeze in a few scooters next to the bike racks, making it a good spot for spontaneous solo rides or coffee dates.
Apologue Coffee & Pastry. 935 Benavidez Street. Binondo, Manila. Open daily from 9 am to 11 pm.
