A decade ago, there were only a few places to eat or grab coffee along Marilaque. I remember how most spots along this scenic road traversing Marikina, Rizal, Laguna to Infanta, Quezon used to serve simple fare like bulalo, lugaw and lomi. If you wanted a hot drink, you’d stop at a sari-sari store for 3-in-1 coffee, sitting next to locals who regularly traveled the long route or occasionally other riders on a random weekend adventure to nowhere in particular.
Over the years, more road trip restaurants along Marilaque popped up, and every time I ride there, there's just something new to check out. Since the pandemic, the area exploded in popularity among motorcycle riders, road bikers, family road trippers and hikers on their way to camping sites, mountains and waterfalls. As a result, there’s no shortage of cafes and restaurants that have mushroomed along the highway catering to different crowds and tastes.
If you’re looking for a relatively chill coffee shop with scenic mountain views in the area, Sinag Kapihan in Tanay, Rizal is a pleasant pit stop.
I spotted this cafe during previous rides and always wanted to check it out, but our rides always ended a bit further up in Infanta and Real. I recently stopped by for coffee and brunch here while testing out the Kymco Skytown 150 during one solo mid-week ride.
For those based in the north and east of the metro like Quezon City or Marikina, this cafe is roughly a 1 to 1.5-hour drive, making it an easy escape for quick getaways.
The location is an ideal stopover if you’re planning to drop by Regina Rica (a popular pilgrimage destination for Holy Week) or head down to Daraitan this summer. The cafe is near the junction going to Mt. Daraitan, a little bit further from the usual hangout spots, so chances are you can find a place to park and a table here easily.
Like most spots in Tanay, you can enjoy cool weather and scenery here reminiscent of Baguio and Tagaytay, especially if you ride here early in the morning when it can get foggy. But unlike other spots, parking is not as problematic since there aren’t a lot of other establishments nearby. There’s a small gravel-covered area right in front of the restaurant for parking motorcycles and enough street parking for cars.
Sinag Kapihan's ambiance is cozy, relaxing, homey and peaceful. The airy al fresco two-story nipa-hut style structure has several dining tables and a long bar with wooden seats overlooking the mountain scenery. Whether you’re on a solo ride, a coffee date, or a group ride with family or friends, you can find a perfect spot to sit.
The mural paintings in the main dining space and the restrooms add a nice touch. I also appreciated how clean and well-maintained the restrooms were. The surrounding grounds below have a couple of gazebos and even a small glamping area for those who want to stay overnight.
But first, coffee. Aside from having a great view, of course, coffee rides require good coffee. Sinag Kapihan serves a variety of hot and iced coffees, with beans sourced from nearby local farms.
As of March 2025, their coffee prices range from P108 to P188. They have the usuals like americano, cappuccino, and a lot of lattes: spanish Latte, cafe mocha, salted caramel latte, hazelnut latte, peppermint nutella, caramel butterscotch, Biscoff latte, ube quezon and strawberry latte.
Signature drinks include a Sinag Kopi Lemon, Sinag Signature Creamy Latte, Cold Brew Float and Coffee Affoga-two with vanilla ice cream.
If you’re not a coffee drinker, you might want to try their traditional Filipino Hot Chocolate Batirol, which costs P128. They also have matcha-based drinks, homemade juices and drinks, sodas and more.
The choices are similar to what you’d find in coffee shops in the metro, but you get to enjoy it with great mountain views.
Sinag Kapihan also offers a wide range of Mexican, Italian, and Filipino food. They’re best known for their all-day breakfast silog rice meals which start at P188. Since I dined here solo, I went for the most basic Tapa Mabenta (P198), which the staff said was a bestseller. The homemade tapa comes with a sunny-side egg, garlic rice and vegetable relish.
I’m not really a breakfast person or a fan of sweet tapa, but this is filling enough for hungry riders who want to fuel up. Other breakfast options include Burger Steak, Pritong Bangus, Garlik Longanisa, Porkchop, Spamsilog and House Corned Beef.
They also have lighter fare like pasta and merienda meals starting at P138 like Fries, Nachos, Pinoy Style Spaghetti, Pancitcharon, Chicken Saucy Burger and more.
Most of their dishes are better if you’re dining with a group, as mains are good for sharing. Sinag Kapihan serves traditional 10-inch Pugon Pizzas ranging in price from P298 to P348 like Cheezy Garlik (with shrimp), Savory Spinach, Hawaiian Hane, Cheesy Burger Pizza, and Pepper-only.
If you want traditional Filipino cuisine and family-style meals, they have dishes for sharing like Krispy Kare Kare, Beef Bulalo, Sinigang na Baboy, Lechon Kawali, Chopsuey, Grilled Pusit and more from P288-P538.
There may be other fancier places to eat in the area, but the coffee was good and food was decently priced to match the interiors and view. I enjoyed the quality alone time here. I had the cafe pretty much to myself before another group came in after me. It was pleasant and uncrowded (at least on a weekday), unlike some other restos we’ve previously visited on weekends that tend to get packed and noisy with long waiting times for food.
While I usually like to try new cafes whenever I go out for variety, I wouldn’t mind returning here to try their different coffee brews or dishes in the future.
Have you been to Sinag Kapihan? Let us know what we should try out next time in the comments section.
Sinag Kapihan is located at KM 69.2 Marilaque Highway, Sitio Hinadyungan, Brgy. Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal. Open fron 10:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday to Friday from and 7:00 am to 8:00 pm Saturday to Sunday.
