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Bike-Themed Cafes in Manila

Kara Santos

*Updated June 2015

Biking has really taken off, not just as a sport but as a lifestyle. Proof of this is the number of bike shops that have mushroomed all over Metro Manila catering to mountain bikers, roadies, fixies, foldies and everything else in between. Another proof of this is the number of cafes and restaurants that use bikes as their central theme.

For those who like to combine biking with food-tripping, here are some distinctly bike-themed cafes in and near Metro Manila. I’ve added some links from Outside Slacker to bike trails & routes you can hit near each establishment to work up an appetite or for post-ride food trips.

ROUTE 88 BIKE CAFE
#88-A Anonas Street, Bgy. East Kamias, Quezon City

Opened just last June 15, Route 88 is a bicycle-themed café right beside our LBS Glorious Ride Bike Shop along #88 Anonas Street in Quezon City. The cafe offers all-day breakfast (beef tapa, adobo longganisa, corned beef, tocino, spam & adobo flakes served with egg & steamed/garlic rice) for P88 pesos, as well as pasta, sandwiches, entrees, appetizers, coffee and soft drinks. We tried the Adobo Flakes (P88) and Grilled Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce (P198), which I found pretty good. Their Grand Tour Ribs (P248) are good for 2!

The interiors are still a bit sparse especially on the second floor since they just opened, but hopefully they add more biker memorabilia and decor. The place is air-conditioned and has free and fast WiFi, so it’s a good place to wait if you’re getting your bike serviced in Glorious Ride next door. It’s also a good pit stop before or after rides in the UP Diliman Area.

 

MTB Trails nearby: UP Diliman Bike Trails

BIKERS CAFE AT SAN MATEO, RIZAL

Founded in 2010, this is the pit stop for bikers heading up to Timberland and San Mateo, dubbed the mountain biking capital of the Philippines. Technically it’s not in Manila, but this open-air cafe located at C6 road near Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal caters to runners and bikers based in the Metro. From here you can get a great overlooking view, rest a bit and recharge with some grub for the uphill ride ahead.

Bikers Cafe Timberland serves budget-friendly meals like suman, mami, tapsilog and the like as well as hot chocolate and coffee, ideal for mountain bikers hitting the nearby trails. They sell bike gear here including jerseys, arm sleeves and other accessories. There are a several other biker stops & carinderias in the area including Marc’s, All Terra Cycles, Giant Store – Maarat & The Breakfast Club at Pestano’s Farm. (*separate post on Timberland restos)

MTB Trails nearby: Timberland, Timberland’s Basic Trail & Roxas Loop, Blue Zone, The Wall, Shotgun, Green Zone

BIKERS’ CAFE
SM Mall of Asia, By the Bay

For urban bikers based in the South, Bikers’ Cafe by the Bay is a good pit stop before and after rides. The cafe in the middle of the Mall of Asia (MOA) Loop, is operated by the umbrella of Red Crab Group of Companies’ Blackbeard’s Seafood Island. This is their second branch which opened in July 2014 following their original cafe based in Centro San Jose Mall, Balanga, Bataan.

Bikers’ Cafe by the Bay serves affordable Filipino and American breakfast and brunch meals, burgers, fast food, sandwiches and seafood. Meal categories also follow a biker theme, including All-Day Riding (breakfast), Carbo Loading (pasta), Meal Sets (lunch), In the Zone (sandwiches) & Clydesdale Omelettes. We tried their Adobo Flakes (P110) and a Mushroom & Spinach Fritata (P195). The Breakfast of the Champions (Duathlon/Aquathlon/Triathlon/Peloton) has a combination of meat/fish.

Food is good enough for the price, but what makes Bikers’ Cafe really cool and bike-friendly is that diners can shower for free and even get their bike cleaned if you dine in the restaurant. The shower rooms are clean and well-maintained and the place opens relatively early at 5 am. This is definitely a bonus for those who want to freshen up after a ride.

Biking routes nearby: MOA Loop, Intramuros, CCP, Binondo or ride a ferry from CCP and explore Corregidor!

GOLDSPRINT KITCHEN & CAFE
#129 Brgy. St. Ignatius Katipunan Ave., White Plains, Quezon City

*NOTE: As of May 2015, Goldsprint Kitchen and Cafe along Katipunan has closed, but they are planning to reopen again.

Bikes, burgers and beer go together in this small cafe along Katipunan. Named after a bicycle rollers racing and social event, you can really work up an appetite in this unique cafe by sprinting on stationary bikes. Two riders can compete against each other in front of the rest of the diners with their time being shown on screen.

The interiors get inspiration from fixie bikes and the bicycle messenger culture. The dishes have quirky bike-themed names as well. There’s Salpicao Indurain (P260), Vuelta Pancake (P140), Peloton Fries (P160), and their bestseller the KOM Burger (P290) (double patty, cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato and bacon with bbq sauce). If you’re extra hungry, try the Goldsprint Platter (P430), which is composed of 100 Tenderloin, 2 Bacon strips, 3 Hungarian Sausages, Spam, 2 eggs and 200g potato wedges. They also have a good selection of beer here including Hoegaarden. Good for biking clubs, parties and post-ride drinks. They also sell shirts and some cool stuff like headkerchiefs from Bike Statement here.

MTB Trails nearby: Camp Aguinaldo Trail

EPIC COFFEE ROASTERY / EPIC BIKE CAFE
#102 East Capitol Drive, Brgy. Kapitolyo Pasig

Epic Bike Cafe is a small neighborhood cafe in Kapitolyo that comes from the same creators of the nearby Poco Deli. The cafe serves breakfast and brunch meals and specialty pour over coffee, matcha, and frappes within a small space dominated by wood and brick interiors.

There are a few bicycle-themed details around including a poster of vintage bikes and several fixed-gear bicycles on display and for sale. I haven’t had a chance to try the main dishes and coffee here, but I tried a slice of their bestselling Rainbow Cake (P195). The cake was a bit dry and didn’t really taste spectacular, though it does look really cute. They also have Belgian Chocolate Cake, Lemon Cake, and Cheesecakes and their own line of ice cream with flavors like Barako, Salted Caramel, Vanilla Bean and Belgian Chocolate.

Biking routes nearby: Not really sure but RAVE Pasig Rainforest Adventure Experience Park looks worth checking out (haven’t been to this one yet)

Know of any other bike-themed cafes in and near the metro? Let me know in the comments section!

RELATED POST: Check out these Unique Date Places in Marikina you can Bike to.

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