Best merienda spots in Metro Manila

Perhaps in an attempt to squeeze in a fourth and fifth meal into the day, we Filipinos have taken Spain’s merienda and made it our own, with filling eats like ensaymada, pandesal, pancit canton, and puto dominating our midday menu. From traditional pinoy delicacies to luxurious five-star English tea to fine French pastries, we let you in on the best places to take five for an afternoon treat. 

 

1. Writers Bar

If you’ve got the luxury of time, make a beeline for Raffles Makati’s Writers Bar, which is outfitted with plush sofas, crystal chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. This cozy lounge offers their Simply Classic Afternoon Tea (PHP1222) daily from 2:30pm to 5:30pm. The tea includes a selection of gourmet teas paired with a tiered platter of assorted finger sandwiches, scones, macarons, and French-style bite-sized cakes and pastries. Stay on for a liquid merienda cena during happy hour at the neighboring Long Bar, which includes unlimited cocktails, beers, wines, and house pours for a mere PHP695 per person. Raffles Makati, 1 Raffles Drive, Makati; +63 2 5559840.

 

2. Mary Grace

Go the classic merienda route and get your ensaymada and hot chocolate fix at Mary Grace. These  warm buns, which are baked fresh on the daily, are fluffy, buttery, and topped with just the right amount of salty cheese — it’s not called a classic without reason. To get more mileage from your buck, order the Mary Grace Tandem (PHP216) which includes one classic or grilled ensaymada with a Mary  Grace Hot Chocolate. But if you’re looking for something a little different, try the deliciously ingenious hot chocolate variants like the orange-infused Valencia (PHP121) or the peppermint-filled Mint  (PHP101). 18 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig; +63 2 6382451. With branches in Metro Manila. Call for opening hours.

 

3. Eric Kayser

Fuel up with carbs to beat the midday slump at Eric Kayser. This traditional boulangerie offers some of the best, and most authentic, viennoise, pan de mie, and French pastries in the metro. Bite into the near-perfect chocolate croissant (PHP75), which is flaky and sweet with just the right amount of bitter chocolate, or the raisin danish (PHP85) which is punctuated with saccharine dried fruit. For something  on the savory side, there are more substantial eats to be had too, such as the Chicken Cobb Salad (PHP 270) with cherry tomatoes and Parmesan and the Four Cheese Sandwich with Honey (PHP225) which  includes gruyere, cheddar, mozzarella, and fontina. The Podium Mall, ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong; +63  915 8646113. With branches in Metro Manila. Call for opening hours.

 

4. Mangan

Cabalen’s Mangan offers us a spot for the most comforting merienda eats at easy prices. To be had here are favorites like bibingka with salted egg, grated coconut, and either quesong puti or quesong de bola (PHP45 for small; PHP130 for regular) as well as puto bumbong with grated coconut, margarine, and  muscovado sugar (PHP95). There are also more typical midday meals to indulge in here like seafood pancit luglog (PHP155), dinuguan with puto (PHP220), and sotanghon guisado (PHP110).  2/F Glorietta 2, Ayala Center, Makati; +63 2 6255288. Mon-Sun 10am-9pm. With branches in Metro Manila.

 

5. Farmacy Ice Cream and Soda Fountain

Perk up with a little sugar and cream at BGC’s Farmacy Ice Cream and Soda Fountain. This retro-style ice cream joint proffers a selection of irresistible sundaes (PHP280) which cater to virtually every craving. There’s the terrific peanut butter and chocolate dream, Dusty Road, as well as the classic banana split, which comes with a trifecta of ice creams (chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry), fresh  banana, whipped cream, crushed peanuts, chocolate sauce, caramel, strawberry sauce, and a cherry. From the soda fountain, sip on an ice cream float (PHP270) which is made with house-made sodas like blueberry, which is paired with strawberry ice cream in the Very Berry Float. G/F Netlima Building, 4th Ave cor 26th St, BGC, Taguig; +63 2 8873622. Mon-Wed 11am-12am, Thu-Sat 11am-2am, Sun 10am-10pm.

 

6. Lugang Cafe

Sometimes there’s nothing like bite-sized steamed dumplings to settle your stomach in between meals. Chinese chain restaurant Lugang Cafe cooks up authentic dim sum alongside roasted meats, noodles, and claypot rice dishes. Not to be missed are the steamed pork xiao long bao (PHP248 for eight pieces) and the even more luxurious steamed crab roe and pork xiao long bao (PHP288 for eight pieces). Stick to small plates during merienda and graze on light bites like Spicy Sliced Offals (PHP280) and Tofu with Preserved Egg and Floss (PHP160). 115 Connecticut St, North East Greenhills, San Juan; +63 2  5420196. With branches in Metro Manila. Call for opening hours 

 

7. Kape Chino

Right across from the Malacañan Palace is the elegant restaurant Casa Roces, which is housed in a beautifully-restored ancestral home. The venue also includes a more casual café, Kape Chino, named after the late Joaquin “Chino” Roces. This eatery has an entire menu devoted to merienda, which is populated with classic Filipino dishes, Western eats and fusion dishes. For something simple, go for  the arroz caldo (PHP95) which is soothing and savory with chicken, garlic flakes, hard boiled egg, and  spring onions. But for something a little more interesting, we recommend the Ensamaida Bacon Cheese Burger (PHP 385), a burger made with pillowy ensaymada buns, salty bacon and Irish white cheddar. 1153 JP Laurel cor Aguado Sts, San Miguel, Manila; +63 917 5509743. Mon-Sun 10am-10pm.



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